How to Look Like a Beach Babe Part II – The Hair
This is part 2 in our series on How to Look Like a Beach Babe. In case you missed it, see Part 1: The Tan here!
A beach babe can’t be beachy without rocking wavy hair! As much as I would love to hit the beach every day (and therefore get beachy-wavy hair), most of us, myself included, don’t have the resources or time to do so! So here are some tips to help you create perfect beach waves without a trip to the seashore.
Prep:
The key to beautiful beach waves is minimal frizz, which can be especially hard for those of us living in humid climates. To keep frizz at bay, make sure your hair is as moisturized as possible! A great way to do this is by using deep-conditioners. Great deep conditioners that I’ve used include Garnier Fructis Haircare Fortifying Deep Conditioner 3 Minute Masque ($7.79 at drugstore.com) and Joico K-PAK Intense Hydrator ($12.83 at Buy.com). These will keep your hair healthy, shiny and frizz-free!
Notes:
- If you have color-treated hair, do not use any products containing sea salt! Products with this ingredient will make your hair color fade much quicker.
- We all have different hair! I’ve tried to outline products that will work for most hair types, but if you’re curious about a product that I didn’t recommend for your hair type, make sure to check review sites like makeupalley.com for other reviews.
The products:
1 & 2) Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Mousse & Totally Twisted Mousse
Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Mousse & Totally Twisted Mousse ($3.50 each at Amazon: 1, 2)
Best for:
Tousle Me Softly: Fine/Medium hair with some wave that needs definition.
Totally Twisted: Medium/Thick hair with some wave that needs definition.
Undoubtedly you’ve seen the commercial for Tousle Me Softly which features a girl rocking out in her bedroom with a gorgeous mane of tousled hair. I have to say, having hair similar to hers- longish and thick, this mousse didn’t provide enough definition for me. This would probably work for those of you with thinner hair! However, its sister, Totally Twisted, gave me some amazing, frizz-free, defined waves.
To use:
Apply as much product as you need (for my chest-length hair, a golf-ball sized dollop was enough), flip hair over and scrunch- like the commercial. Let air dry and voila!
3) Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray
Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray ($22 for 4 oz. at Bumble & Bumble)
Best for: Any hair type that wants serious beachy waves.
This product is definitely the most expensive for its measly 4 ounces- but it works seriously well. A few spritzes of this all over your hair and your hair will transform into a beachy mane. Be warned, though- this is a product that works almost 100% better when used with heat, so it might take more effort to achieve perfect locks!
To use:
This video (Build Volume, on the bottom) is super helpful! Spray a liberal amount from root to ends, flip hair upside-down and blow dry.
4) Frederic Fekkai Wave Creating Spray
Frederic Fekkai Wave Creating Spray ($20 at Sephora)
Best for: Any hair type with some wave to it that wants to add shine & hold.
Out of all of the products I’ve outlined, none add shine like this spray does! What I love most about this product is that you don’t have to use a lot- only a few spritzes all over to get shiny waves. I’d use this product over any other “shine-adding” product because this complements my waves instead of making them look crunchy or stiff. Plus, it smells great- what more could you ask for?
To use:
Spray on hair anytime during styling process- a few sprays and you should be covered!
5) Sunsilk Waves of Envy Sea Mist
Sunsilk Waves of Envy Sea Mist ($4.99 at Amazon)
Best for: Any hair that wants to add texture.
Many people compare this product to John Frieda’s now-discontinued Ocean Waves. What I love about this product- apart from its low cost- is that it adds so much texture to my hair! It’s also very lightweight and won’t leave your hair crunchy, and I hear that it works well with most hair types- straight/wavy/curly! I hear this product might have been discontinued recently- so if you see any at your CVS, stock up!
To use:
Shake well and spray on towel-dried hair- you can either blow dry for added volume or just let it air dry!
Other Beach Girl Hair Tips:
Left,a still from Blair’s video and Right, the finished look from Emily’s tutorial
This video by Blair Fowler (Juicystar07) will teach you how to scrunch hard-to-curl hair and this tutorial by Emily Schuman of Cupcakes & Cashmere will show you how to get her perfect beach waves!
What do you guys think?
What products do you use to achieve perfect waves? Will you try any of these? Tell me in the comments! I want to hear from you!
Posted on on June 15, 2010 / Filed Under: Beauty & Hair / Tags: beach babe, Hair, Hair Products, Hairstyles, waves
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BreaD
I really like using the Wave Creating spray by Frederic Fekkai. I have naturally super thick, extremely coarse hair and when I get it relaxed to take out the coarseness it’s still super thick. Not all products work on my noggin, but Fekkai works wonderfully, and the Wave spray makes my thick black hair have pretty, soft waves (that last!).
Also, I love Juicystar07′s videos. She has the best hair how-to advice.
Good job on part two. I’m excited for part three! :)
Nafisa
Hey I was using your mobile site on my iPod and it doesn’t let you load more entries. I was wondering if you guys could fix that
Kaytee
I have super straight hair that won’t hold any sort of wave or curl. Do you have any products that might be able to turn my straight hair into something more wavy?
Gabby
I love that you guys give great fashion advice, but sometimes I feel left out on alot of the hair and beauty products. :( I’m Black and I have relaxed hair and none of these products coud be beneficial to me, not to mention, my hair is also short. Therefore, there arent alot of styles that I could try from these posts. Is there anything that you could recommend for my short relaxed hair?
Amber O
LOVE this. Thanks CF!
Catherine
I would love if you guys did an article for short (bob length) hair, and different styles for us girls with short hair! :)
Gracey
I’m definitely going to try out some of these products.
I use totally twisted right now and it works pretty well but sometimes I accidentally over-apply and then my hair is all crunchy.
Carolanne
I have been rocking the beachy wavy hair ever since spring since i absolutely love this hairstyle! Personally, I found youtube beauty guru Bubzbeauty’s tutorial found at the link below to work perfectly for me, and I have long, layered thick hair! =]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtQJsONY20Q
alex
I have very thick/curly hair naturally and the “Totally Twisted” product gives me the most beautiful of curls, so I also recommend that. Sometimes it’s a little too heavy though, so a little bit of product can go a long way.
Melissa
I have extremely curly hair, and use mousse everyday. I have tried many, many products, even really expensive curling sprays that did not work. Best advice if you are going to use mousse is to shop around and see what works best for you. After years of going through a bunch of products, I have finally found one, (suave healthy curls) and its only $2!
Good luck and dont give up! If one type of product doesn’t work for you, there is plenty more at the store!
Milana
I love Emily’s hair! Very Jennifer Aniston :)
Audrey - Ohio State University
I use the Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly mouse a lot. I have really curly hair and it weighs it down to more of a wave, which I like. I also use Aveda BeCurly creme…it gives a great loose, beachy curl.
I’m dying to try the Bumble & Bumble surf spray…but so expensive!
Maile
This is sooooo helpful! Thanks a ton. I’m thinking about using tousle me softly as a test run, to see how my hair looks. I might invest in bumble if that goes well! Thanks again!
Sarah
L’Oreal Tightly Wound Curl Boosting spray (it’s like 6 dollars at meijer) works SO WELL for me. I have really think, really long hair and my hair is just a little wavy and it does so much for my curls! My roommate uses it too and she has much shorter much thinner hair and it works for her too. It’s my top pick for sure when I’m going for a beachy look. :)
steph
8i love love love tosle me softly. I have super thick shouldr length hair. I usually use it on days when im in a hurry. I shower, towel dry, put it in,then drive to work with my windows down. I get compliments every time and people are impressed it take me 10 min to do.
Kristina
I have long thin, slightly wavy hair and I am never able to let it air dry without it becoming a flat, frizzy, wavy mess. I’ve tried almost everything, Herbal Essence, B&B Beach Spray, Living Proof, mousses, gels, etc. I’ve even tried spraying my hair with salt water to get the great beach waves I get from the ocean or the pool. The best thing I’ve found is Sally Hershberger Style Primer for normal to thick hair (it’s a mousse). At first I was afraid to use something for normal to thick hair but it works. It doesn’t weigh my hair down at all and it gives me great, thick waves without the frizz. After I jump out of the shower, I squeeze excess water out of my hair (don’t rub or towel try too much!) then run my hands through to separate it (i try not to use a comb on anything but the top to create a part) then run the mousse through lightly with my hands. Then just let it air dry. Works great every time. It also makes your hair super soft!
Deven
My secret to perfect beachy waves (worn every single night of summer in South Jersey):
I take a shower and put my wet hair into two tight braids (not french). Sometimes one works, depending on humidity. I leave it in for like a minimum of 4 hours while I’m at work (or however long your hair takes to dry) and then I run my flat iron over the braids a few times. I take the braids out, and then run some kind of product through my hair. Herbal Essence’s “Tousle me softly” is good (and cheap) but I’ve found that even a little hair spray will work. Perfect, beachy waves every time.
I may have stolen this from Cosmo, but I’ve been doing it for so long that I can’t remember.
JuliaM
I have straight + thin hair. When I try to make it wavy it holds only for an hour or so. Hope those will help me!
Rose
I live in Sydney, right near Bondi Beach, so beachy waves are pretty much uniform here, even in the dead of summer. I love the look because it is so pretty and relaxed. I’m lucky because I have lots of fine hair, just past my shoulders, that is naturally quite wavy. For me, I tend to just scrunch dry my hair a bit and then let it dry naturally, but if I’m looking for more texture I use a home-made sea salt spray. That’s in winter. In summer I spend so much time in the ocean that the waves come even more naturally from all the salt!
jerry
Hi, I was once very fussy about my curly hair, but after I tried out your spray, the hair style immediately becomes straight and forceful, really thankful.
Ange
these are 3 easy, great summer hairstyles!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI4rYm1x-7A
Christine
My favorite is Beach Girls UV Leave in Conditioner! Great for the beach!
Hope
Having very thin hair, I don’t like to use much on it. When I’m dying for waves, I shower at night and then braid my hair into about 30 tiny little braids. I then braid all all those into their own little braids. Then braid the double braids together and so on until most are bundled together. I then wrap those that aren’t braided in around the super braid, and use a hair tye to put them in a messy bun. I hair spray it all, and go to sleep.
In the morning, when I take them all out, my hair is super curly. I use dove low hold hairspray, then brush it out. My hair is then in beautiful, relaxed waves. It’s a pretty long process, but it has beautiful results!
Kat
I have hair that when i dont do anything to it gets really curly/wavy in the back and straighter to the front. if I am going to wear my hair with waves, I start with the totally twisted shampoo and conditioner. it helps define the waves enough that i could not do anything but scrunch them up! usually add a bit of surf hair paste from garnier fructis and sauves’ captivating curls for good measure.