The days when sleek, super straight, rebonded hair were the most sought-after hairstyle are now long gone. Hairstyles with curls and more volume are becoming increasingly popular. You might be having qualms about getting your hair permed due to costs on your time and your wallet for this one hairstyle. If that’s your beef, give beach waves a go! Luckily (sort of) for us, it’s summer all year round here in sunny Singapore, so beach waves will always be in-season. It’s a natural tousled look that you can switch up anytime.
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However, there is a learning curve here. Getting this seemingly “effortless” hairstyle to look just right may take a bit of effort, and Singapore’s perpetual humidity doesn’t make hair any smoother. Don’t worry, though. We’ve sussed out these ten tips to guide you towards getting those perfect, casual beach waves in your hair, and keeping them there for the whole day. P.S. no beaches required!
- 1. Beach waves need sea salt
- 2. Or you could make your own sea salt spray
- 3. There are no beach waves without volume
- 4. Hairspray is your beach waves’ armour against humidity
- 5. Wear your hair in a bun overnight
- 6. Tie your hair in braided pigtails overnight
- 7. More braids, more beach waves
- 8. The “twist and pin”
- 9. Where would we be without curling irons?
- 10. Flat irons or a straightener could work too
1. Beach waves need sea salt
Beach waves, as you might have guessed, first came into fashion because of the way beach babes looked after a day close to the ocean. The salt in the air and in the ocean breeze clung to their hair, making it wavy and textured.
Sea salt sprays are a convenient way of bringing the beach to you. Spritzing a good sea salt spray onto your damp locks will make it easier to achieve beach waves.
Original & Mineral Surf Bomb Sea Salt Spray retails for SGD15 (50ml) and SGD35 (150ml) at Sephora.
2. Or you could make your own sea salt spray
If you’re just interested in trying out beach waves, and aren’t sure if you’d be using a commercial sea salt spray enough to justify the purchase, we have good news for you: you can make your own!
You don’t have to be daunted by making your own sea salt spray. It’s simple to make, and the ingredients are affordable and readily available at any convenience store or supermarket.
In a container, mix in the following ingredients:
- 1 cup of hot water
- 1 teaspoon of sea salt or Epsom salts (available at local drugstores)
- 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or leave-in hair oil
- 1 teaspoon of leave-in conditioner
Be sure to mix the concoction thoroughly before you pour it into a spray bottle. You can find affordable empty spray bottles at neighbourhood beauty stores, Daiso, Miniso, drugstores, and so on.
Make sure you give the mixture a good shake before every use, and you’re good to go.
3. There are no beach waves without volume
Before you start getting those beach waves ready, put some mousse or volumising cream onto your tresses. After all, beach waves look best when your hair is more voluminous! Find one with a texture that you enjoy and stick to it.
Living Proof Full Thickening Cream retails for SGD39 at Sephora.
4. Hairspray is your beach waves’ armour against humidity
Once you have perfected your beach waves, set them with hairspray to really lock in the style and protect it against all the dire effects of Singapore’s humidity.
Just remember: don’t use a comb on your hair after hairspray! To settle flyaway hairs, simply twirl your curls or run your fingers gently through the curls to neaten them.
Lucido-L Designing Air Hair Spray Airy Arrange retails for SGD9.20 in Watsons.
5. Wear your hair in a bun overnight
Source: Emma Pickles YouTube
This method is by far the easiest way to get beach waves. You just have to tie your hair up in any messy, low bun before you head to bed. Secure it in place so that it won’t unravel in your sleep.
It is imperative that your bun is tied nearer your neck and not too high on your head, so that the beach waves will begin about halfway down your hair.
When you undo your bun the next morning, spritz on sea salt spray or hairspray to set it in place.
6. Tie your hair in braided pigtails overnight
For tighter waves, braid your hair into two pigtails tightly. If you prefer looser beach waves, braid your hair loosely. Take out your pigtails the next morning and set it using your preferred hair product as mentioned above.
7. More braids, more beach waves
Source: Musely
For messy beach waves style, where each curl is different, tie your hair in multiple braids.
For tighter curls, divide your hair into more sections and tie each braid tightly. For looser curls, use more hair in each section, so you have lesser braids overall, and tie them looser.
Of course, you should only try this method if you are sure that overnight braids gives you the style that you are trying to achieve, or if you have nothing on the next day just in case the braids don’t turn out the way you want them to.
8. The “twist and pin”
First, dampen your hair with a designing whip hair foam and scrunch it up. Depending on how thick your hair is, separate your hair into sections and twist each section tightly. Pin it up securely and leave it overnight.
9. Where would we be without curling irons?
Source: Courts
OK, this is cheating a little bit, but hey, it’s all about the hairstyle you want to achieve at the end of the day, right? To achieve a natural tousled style, use a curling iron with a bigger barrel for looser waves.
It will take some practice to perfect achieving beach waves with a curling iron at first, but the learning curve isn’t too steep here. Make sure you use a heat protectant spray on your hair before any heat tools, and be careful not to scald yourself!
10. Flat irons or a straightener could work too
Source: Beautiful Shoes
If you already have flat irons or a straightener and don’t want to spend more money buying another heat tool, you might be able to make it work for you.
Divide your hair into sections. Place a section of hair between the prongs of your straightener, and turn it 360 degrees away from your face. Maintaining it at the same angle, pull your hair out of the flat iron. The slower you pull your hair through the flat iron, the looser curls you get.
When you’re done, simply spritz on some hair spray or scrunch hair with mousse to set the style.
Have fun experimenting and let us know which hair product and method worked best for you!
