HOW TO GET BEACH WAVES

Beach waves are the ultimate effortless summer hairstyle - casual, tousled, and full of texture. Whether you're heading to brunch or a beach party, this look suits every occasion and longer hair lengths. With the right techniques and products, achieving those dreamy, salt-slicked waves is easier than ever.

What are beach waves?

Beach waves are soft, loose curls that mimic the natural texture your hair might have after a day at the beach. They offer a relaxed, undone look that's both chic and easy-going. Unlike tight curls or structured waves, beach waves are all about embracing imperfection and movement - you want to look carefully undone, and not over styled.

Which hair types are best for beach waves?

Beachy waves are a versatile style - the only thing you’ll need to carry the look off is medium-length hair - a shoulder length haircut is ideal.

The trick to full, lustrous beach waves is working with your hair’s natural texture - not against it - so your waves look natural and nicely-tousled, not overdone and heavily-styled.

• Straight hair is ideal for creating defined beach waves using heat tools like curling wands or straighteners; applying a texturising spray pre-styling will add volume and hold.
• Wavy hair is naturally suited for beachy waves. Enhance your natural texture with a sea salt spray or mousse to define and hold the waves.
• Curly hair can be styled into beachy waves if you have a looser curl type. To get beach waves, gently ‘stretch out’ your natural curls using larger barrel curling irons or loose braiding techniques. A light styling cream will help you maintain this temporary wave pattern.
• Fine hair can be styled into beachy waves, but you’ll need to style with volumising products to give your hair the body and texture it needs. A lightweight volumising mousse or spray can add body without weighing fine hair down.
• Thick hair is especially-suited to beach waves. Divide your hair into sections to ensure even styling, and use heavier products like curl styling creams or curl jellies to manage volume and frizz.

How to get beach waves

Using straighteners to create beach waves

If you’ve got naturally-straight hair, your straighteners can be a versatile tool to achieve texturised, gently-voluminous beach waves.

• Start with clean, dry hair and apply a few spritzes of heat protectant.
• Take a small section of hair, gently clamp the straightener near the roots, and twist this small section away from your face. Be careful that your straightener heat is set to ‘medium’ - you don’t want to burn or damage your hair.
• Slowly glide the straightener down the length of the section, maintaining the twist.
• Repeat throughout your hair, alternating the direction of the twists for a more natural look.
• Once you’re done, gently tousle your beach waves with your fingers to loosen the waves. Finish with a light-hold hairspray.

Getting beach waves overnight

No heat? No problem. Creating beach waves overnight is a gentle method that works while you sleep.

• After washing your hair, towel-dry until it’s damp.
• Apply a curl-enhancing mousse or styling foam to add texture and help with wave definition. To evenly spread product throughout your hair, you can always apply a small dab to your brush, then brush through your lengths. 
• Divide your hair into 7-8 sections and braid each one. Secure the end with a no-snag elastic band.
• Sleep with the braids in place. If you’re worried they might press into your head and keep you awake, use bobby pins to clip the end of each braid into one place just above the nape of your neck - this will help keep them tidy, too.
• In the morning, undo the braids and gently separate the waves with your fingers.

Use a curling wand to create beach waves

A curling wand is ideal for creating more defined beach waves, especially for medium to long hair.

• Apply a heat protectant to dry hair.
• Wrap medium-sized sections of hair around the wand, starting from mid-length to ends. Ideally you want the wave to start from your mid-lengths.
• Hold for a few seconds, then release. Don’t leave your hair wrapped around the wand for longer than 10 seconds, otherwise you risk it burning and potentially snapping off.
• Alternate the direction of the curls for a more natural, tousled look.
• Once all sections are curled, let them cool, then gently run your fingers through to loosen the waves. Finish with a few spritzes of hairspray.

Maintaining beachy waves after styling

To keep your beach waves looking fresh and defined, try the following tips:

• Avoid touching or brushing your waves throughout the day to prevent frizz and maintain their shape.
• Before bed, loosely braid your hair or twist it into a bun to preserve the wave pattern overnight.
• Use a silk or satin pillowcase to reduce friction while sleeping - it'll help prevent frizz and keeps waves intact.
• In the morning, lightly mist your hair with water and gently scrunch to revive waves without overloading them with products.

The best products for beachy waves

Eye-catching beach waves need the right products to keep their salt-slicked body and bounce - here’s our pick of our top products to keep them looking fresh and defined.

1. Apply a small amount of Dream Curls Advanced Hydrating Jelly to damp hair to define curls and reduce frizz.
2. Refresh your waves on non-wash days by spritzing our Dream Curls Daily Styling Spray through your lengths to revive bounce and shine.
3. Apply a few pumps of Dream Curls Air-Dry Waves Styling Foam to damp hair to enhance natural waves and provide soft hold without crunchiness.