Splash into Summer with Beach-Worthy Waves

Whimsical waves are the perfect summer hairstyle. Nothing goes better with a stylish swimsuit and cute shades than the perfect beach waves. But effortless-looking beach hair is harder to achieve than it looks. The blogosphere is full of various ways to achieve beachy waves, including some bizarre tips like “baby wipe curls” and “paper towel curls” (yes, really).

While we’re sure there’s some merit to these funky do-it-yourself ideas, we still prefer the tried-and-true method of using professional tools to create a beautiful, effortless summer look. Follow these 5 simple tips to achieve the perfect beach waves:

1. Pre-treat for heat. Before you get to work on your waves, it’s important to treat your hair with a heat-protecting product, like this natural Thermal Protect Spray by abba. Prepare your hair for style and eliminate the risk of frizz and hair damage that can occur with frequent hot iron usage.
2. Prep with a hairoduct. If you have naturally straight hair, apply a texturizing spray that will help add volume to your lank locks. Alterna Bamboo’s Summer Ocean Waves texture spray is a great option, especially for color-treated hair. For hair that is naturally curly, tame your tresses with a straightening balm, like this one from It’s a 10.
3. Blow dry and curl. Make sure your hair is blow-dried straight, then get to work on creating your waves. To create those loose, unstructured waves for a beach-ready look, a larger barrel curler is the easiest option. The T3 BodyWaver works great for this purpose. With a 1.75” tourmaline and ceramic-infused barrel, this professional tool adds creates waves that are shiny and smooth, without damaging hair—and it works well for any hair type, including chemically-treated locks. The way you style your waves is up to you and depends on how tousled of a look it is you’re going for. For a more put-together look, place medium-to-large sections of hair into the curling iron and roll away from your face. For a more unkempt, loose style, use larger chunks, but feel free to vary the section sizes to create a more laid-back feel.
4. Make it stay with spray. Although your beach-ready hair shouldn’t appear to be sprayed into place, the reality is that you’ll probably need to use some hairspray to keep it from losing its shape. A good option if your hair is usually receptive to being style is Lakme k.style Pliable Style Control, which offers a light, natural hold. If your hair is naturally straight and/or heavy, and isn’t so great at holding a style, you’ll probably want to top your waves off with something a little more heavy-duty, like Goldwell Style Sign Big Finish spray.
5. Work it out. Work your fingers or a delicate comb through your hair to loosen the waves and help create a more natural appearance to your style.

Have additional tips for achieving the perfect beach day waves? Feel free to leave us a comment! And remember to follow Fashion & Beauty Store on Facebook and Twitter, or visit our website for more beauty tips and fabulous deals!