Ever notice how fab your hair tends to look after a day spent by the ocean?
Even if you can’t make it to the beach anytime soon, you can still get perfectly tousled waves, AKA “beach hair“, regardless of your hair type, and with very little effort!
Try one of these methods, and you should be rocking that beach waves hair look in no time!
Table of Contents
Method 1: Salt Spray
Most people have some sort of natural wave to their hair, and a good salt spray is great for really bringing this out. Salt sprays should do the job for pretty much any hair type, from thin and straight to thick and wavy. They also add volume (especially great for girls with thinner hair) and help get rid of frizz.
Using salt spray to create beach waves is pretty simple. You’ll have to experiment to find the method that works best for your hair, but you should spray a little (seriously – less is more, especially for girls who already have super thick hair) onto wet or damp hair, and then cup some ends in your hand and scrunch up to your roots. Either let it air dry or use a diffuser, and you’re good to go! Personally, I find that this method gives me even better second-day beach hair than right after it dries – just apply a little dry shampoo, if needed, and a spritz or two of salt spray to rejuvenate your waves.
If you don’t want to spend money on a salt spray, making your own salt spray is relatively easy and can still give you good results.
All you need is a spray bottle, 8oz of water, a few teaspoons of sea salt (the more you use, the more textured your results – just experiment to see what works best for you), and just a drop or two of something moisturizing (such as moroccan oil or conditioner) to help combat the drying effect the sea salt has on your hair. Shake well and apply the same as you would a store-bought bottle.
Since salt sprays can be pretty drying, it’s not a good idea to use these every day, unless you’re also using a super moisturizing conditioner, a leave-in conditioner, and/or a good moisturizing serum.
Method 2: 3-Barrel Curling Iron
3-barrel curling irons, or “waving irons” can also get you the beach hair look. For loose waves, you’ll want a waver with larger barrels; small barrels will get you tighter waves.
Before testing out a 3-barrel waver, you’ll want to make sure you’re using a heat protectant so that your hair doesn’t retain any heat damage!
Using one of these wavers is super easy – all you do is separate your dry hair into sections, spraying your heat protectant as you go, and (starting closer to your roots) clamp down and hold for a few seconds, move down that section of hair, and repeat. Finish with a holding spray, and you’re all done! It’s super easy and pretty quick (depending on how much hair you have).
Method 3: Hair Buns
To try and get beach waves without having to purchase any additional product, wash your hair, section it into equal parts, and twist and wrap damp hair into two to four low buns (experiment to see what works best for you; smaller sections will give you smaller waves). You can spray a little hair spray (or even salt spray) for extra hold and definition.
This is best to do at night after you get out of the shower, since your hair should be dry by the time you wake up in the morning – just make sure your hair isn’t too wet when you try to do this, since it probably won’t dry all the way especially if your hair is very long or thick.
When you wake up, undo the buns and lightly brush through your hair with your fingers. You can also apply more salt spray and scrunch if you wish, in order to give your waves extra definition (this is especially useful if your hair is really straight and doesn’t hold a curl very well).
Alternatively, you can try plaiting your damp hair into a loose braid before you go to sleep.
What do you think?
Have you tried any of these methods? Did any of them work for you – if so, what worked best? What didn’t work? Do you have any other tips as to how to achieve this hairstyle? Let us know!
I love beach waves! I’ve wanted to try the Bumble and Bumble surf spray for a couple of years now but haven’t gotten around to shelling out the money.
Any tips for girls with curly hair looking to get this look? I have boticelli curls and am curious about how i can achieve this look. Otherwise, I loved the post :)!
My hair mostly does this look naturally, but I have to say that it looks a million times better when I use a salt spray!
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Would you prefer I link to you using your site
address: http://www.collegefashion.net/beauty-and-hair/3-easy-ways-to-get-beachy-hair-without-hitting-the-sand/ or website
title: 3 Easy Ways to Get Beachy Hair Without Hitting the Sand.
Be sure to let me know at your earliest convenience. Thank you
i tried the beyond the zone spray from sallys and i have very thin medium length hair (almost shoulder length) i have a side part and it seems to work better on the side with more hair, it just seems to dry straight on the other after i scrunch it a million times
Ladies, I used the Sally Hershberger wave spray, and it works wonders! I have long, straight hair, and have been looking for something to get my hair wavy without looking stringy, sticky, or wet, and THIS IS IT!! My hair has perfect waves and looks natural. I definitely recommend using it! It’s a little pricey for such a small bottle, but WELL worth the price. I also tried the twisting hair into buns method, and my hair looked HORRIBLE the next morning. It was frizzy and unmanageable, and looked like I never heard of a hairbrush! Go with the wave spray!! Trust me!
I tried braiding my hair last night and it looks fantastic! 😀
I’ve been dieting to do this, it I don’t get how I’m supposed to do the buns! What’s the technique?
I love the sea salt spray! Just a question, does more sea salt give more curls or looser waves? It would be great to have loose waves:)!
I do the bun thing all the time, works better if you use butterfly clips to hold them in place cause hair ties can leave the ends of your hair all kinked and frizzy. Try using those twister things at night too, can’t remember what they are called. They are sort of padded wire that you roll your hair up in and twist them up. They give you a natural curl, carefully which way you twist them, I’ve had an oddly curled one which wouldn’t stay down one day lol 🙂
oh jeez i forgot to say even though my hairs thin it still looks thicker when i leave it curly and also it frizzes quite a bit
hi ive got curly hair, not the really tight curls (except closer to my ears) or anything but i was wondering which method would be best for my hair type, also my hairs really thin and practically black 🙂 would appreciate the help
i’ve never tried salt spray. i just usually braid my hair into 3 sections after washing it at night and when i style it in the morning all i do is take out the braids and spritz some Garnier Fructis wave enhancing spray and tada…beachy waves
The salt spray method works great! I also put my hair in lose french braids sometimes, but it gives a different form of waves.
I also love the bus as well. I have curly hair but it frizzes when I go out, so I have to use one of the above methods to keep my hair tame.
Thanks for the great advice!
This might sound weird, but how do you use one of the wavers? I can’t seem to use it correctly :/
i Love it.. I have straight hair, so it is difficult for me to get the beachy hair… I will try these tips out though, excited to try out the sea-salt..
Terrific article!!!!! Thank u very much for it!!!