How to get Beach Waves – Beach waves hair – Waivy hair

Have you ever tried braiding your hair before bed, sleeping with the braids in, and then letting them loose in the morning? That’s basically what beach waves are. Beach waves are long, loose curls that look slightly tousled, a bit wavy, and sometimes a little frizzy.

They’re called beach waves because this is how long hair naturally looks after spending time at the beach. The salt water and humid air near the ocean make many people’s hair turn wavy and textured. When you swim in salt water and let your hair air dry, it takes on a bumpy, wavy shape.

While the beach can create this look naturally, it’s not always flattering or healthy for your hair. The salt and sun can cause damage, dryness, and breakage. Sometimes only parts of your hair will wave, while other sections stay straight. Other times, your hair becomes too frizzy or messy to look polished.

That’s why many people choose to create beach wave hairstyles at home or at the salon instead. You get the beachy look without the damage from salt, sun, and wind.

How to Get Beach Waves

You can create beach waves at home without going to a salon or visiting the actual beach. These methods are affordable and easy to do yourself. However, the results may vary depending on your hair type, and the waves may not last as long as professional treatments.

Below are several methods you can use to create beach waves at home or at a salon, depending on your schedule, hair type, and styling goals.

How to Get Beach Waves Overnight

If your mornings are rushed and you don’t have time to style your hair, this overnight method is perfect. You can prep your hair the night before and wake up with ready-to-go waves.

Step 1: Wash and Prep Your Hair

Start by washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner. Gently towel dry your hair until it’s damp, not dripping wet. Apply a styling product like mousse, curl cream, or leave-in conditioner to help hold the waves.

Divide your hair into three sections: one down the middle and one on each side. Use a comb or your fingers to create clean parts.

Step 2: Braid Each Section

Braid each of the three sections. You can use regular three-strand braids or Dutch braids (also called reverse French braids). The tighter you braid, the tighter your waves will be. For looser waves, braid more gently.

Secure the end of each braid with a soft hair tie. Avoid rubber bands that can crease your hair.

Step 3: Combine and Sleep

If you made three separate braids, braid all three together into one thick braid. This keeps everything in place while you sleep and creates more uniform waves.

Sleep with your hair braided. In the morning, carefully undo the braids. If your hair is still damp, use a blow dryer on low heat to finish drying. Let your hair cool for a few minutes, then gently separate the waves with your fingers. Avoid brushing, which can make your waves frizzy.

How to Get Beach Waves Without Heat

You don’t need heat tools like flat irons or curling wands to create beach waves. Heat styling can damage your hair over time, causing dryness, breakage, and split ends.

This no-heat method works best on damp hair, but you can also use it on dry hair. It uses the rope-twist technique to create natural-looking waves without any heat damage.

Step 1: Dampen Your Hair

Wash your hair or spray it with a water bottle until it’s damp. Gently squeeze out excess water with a clean towel or cotton t-shirt. T-shirts are gentler on hair and cause less frizz than regular towels.

Step 2: Apply Sea Salt Spray

Spray sea salt spray onto your hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. Avoid spraying directly at your roots, as this can make your scalp feel dry or greasy. The sea salt adds texture and helps the waves hold their shape.

Step 3: Twist Your Hair

Part your hair down the middle from your forehead to the back of your neck. You should have two equal sections, one on the left and one on the right.

Take the left section and twist it away from your face. Keep twisting tightly until the entire section looks like a rope. The tighter you twist, the more defined your waves will be.

Step 4: Wrap and Secure

Wrap the twisted section around your head like a headband. Secure it with two or three bobby pins. Make sure the pins are tight so the twist doesn’t come loose.

Repeat the same steps on the right side. Twist the hair away from your face, wrap it around your head, and pin it in place.

Lightly spray your hair with hairspray to help the waves set. Let your hair dry completely. This can take several hours, so this method works best if you do it in the evening or on a day when you’re staying home.

Once your hair is fully dry, remove the bobby pins and gently untwist your hair. Use your fingers to separate and fluff the waves. You can finish with more beach waves hair products like texturizing spray or light hairspray.

How to Get Natural Beach Waves

If you’re short on time and want natural-looking waves without much effort, try this simple bun method. It takes less than two minutes to set up and creates soft, relaxed waves overnight.

The Bun Method: Before bed, divide your damp hair into two sections. Twist each section loosely and wrap it into a bun on either side of your head. Secure each bun with a soft hair tie or bobby pins.

Sleep with the buns in place. In the morning, take down the buns and lightly mist your hair with water. Scrunch your hair gently with your hands to encourage the waves and add volume. The water reactivates the wave pattern and helps separate the curls naturally.

Quick Tip: You can also apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner or curl cream to the ends of your hair before creating the buns. This adds moisture and helps define the waves.

For longer-lasting results, consider getting a body wave perm or beach wave perm depending on how loose or defined you want your waves to be.

If you want to avoid heat damage while still getting beautiful waves, explore heatless hair styling methods that protect your hair and create natural-looking texture.

To keep your beach waves smooth and shiny without frizz, try using a frizz-control serum that tames flyaways while maintaining your wave pattern.