How to Get Beachy Waves Without Using Heat

Beachy waves have been in style for quite some time now, and unlike a lot of popular hair trends, this style is as easy and effortless as throwing your hair up in a simple ponytail.

In this tutorial, I'll share my method for getting great waves without using a heat appliance. I feel like a lot of styles demand that you fight your natural texture either by pressing it out with a flat iron or using a curling iron. This style is a way of embracing your hair's natural texture and giving your locks a break from all of the heat and the damage that accompanies it.

Regardless of the texture of your hair, this method works pretty well. I will say that it does hold better if you have a bit of natural curl or wave to your hair. It also has more staying power if your hair is lengthier, and I've noticed that after getting my hair cut drastically, my waves fall out a lot easier.

Step One

It's important to begin with damp hair. If your hair is dry, the waves will not hold. I suggest doing this the night before you go out, after you've gotten out of the shower, but you could also use a spray bottle to dampen your hair if it just happens to be dry.

Starting with damp hair, apply a generous amount of mousse and flip your head over to scrunch strands, forming messy waves. It doesn't matter what mousse you use, they all pretty much work the same. I use Aussie's Catch the Wave mousse because it has a leave-in conditioner.

Step Two

This step is optional, but I find that I get more hold and less frizz if I use a spray gel and apply it throughout my hair while I scrunch. Once again, you can use any spray gel, but I use Aussie's Catch the Wave Sprunch Spray.

Step Three

After scrunching and while hair is still damp, pull it into one French-braid. If you don't know how to French-braid, that's okay (I only learned how to do it this year). I would suggest French-braiding because it keeps the top of your hair near the roots from being flat while the rest is wavy. If you don't know how to French-braid, traditional braids work great as well. You can experiment with different types and combinations of braids, but for looser waves, one low braid does the trick. If you have a lot of hair, the waves may come out better if you section your hair into three parts and braid each part close to your head (which also works to avoid flat roots).

Step Four

Sleep in the braid (or braids) overnight.

Step Five

In the morning, carefully tug your braid loose, checking for any large damp chunks that remain. While you don't want your hair to be completely dry, any large chunks of hair that are still wet will likely frizz. This is optional (it involves a little bit of heat), but you can quickly run your hair under a blow dryer for a few seconds to dry the chunks of wet hair to match the dampness of the other strands.

Step Six

This is also optional, but to enhance texture and hold, you may want to use a sea salt spray. I make my own at home by boiling water, a couple tablespoons of sea salt, letting the salt dissolve, and pouring the solution in a spray bottle once it cools, but Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Spray also works well.

Step Seven

Play around with the waves until you're satisfied with the look, set with hair spray, and you're finished!

If you have bangs, depending on how they set overnight, you may or may not want to straighten them. I have sideswept bangs, and most of the time, they turn out fine. Straightening them can make them look a little awkward because the rest of the hair is wavy. Avoiding heat, if your bangs look a little crazy, you could also braid them back into a simple goddess braid (worn frequently by reality star Lauren Conrad) and pin them with bobby pins. You may also just brush them back and pin them, if you prefer.

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