Beach waves are quintessentially the perfect summer hairstyle. There’s a reason why this effortless style comes back year after year with a fresh twist. A beachy wave evokes the carefree spirit of 1960s LA, blending the effortless glamour of Brigitte Bardot with the bohemian vibes of Stevie Nicks.
Today’s iteration, modeled by the likes of Hailey Bieber, Sophia Richie, and Laura Harrier, is easier than ever to achieve thanks to advanced styling tools. Take a Dyson Airwrap, for example, which can create soft curls and—once smoothed with a large paddle brush—leave you with the most graceful waves.
For this season’s iteration of the perennially cool hairstyle, the memo is nonchalance. “Think looser, half-done, and less ‘styled,’” says Nataliia Bumford, stylist at Hershesons Belgravia. Unlike the crispy coils of the 2000s, “today’s version is softer and shinier—more polished, less matte—focusing on natural shape and healthy texture rather than grit and stiffness.”
That said, aughts beach waves were a major moment, and for good reason. Gisele Bündchen and the Olsen twins led the surge. Think Valley girl meets VS Angel. The trusty “twist and pull” with a flat iron marked the distinct beachy blowout of the day. Alexa Chung (circa 2010) gave beach waves the indie sleaze treatment. Alternating curl direction and left-as-is ends gave an edgier cool-girl kink to coils. No matter what decade, beach waves have stood the test of time.
How to Achieve Beach Waves
“Start with damp hair, apply a little leave-in conditioner or curl cream, then mist on the new Hershesons Air Dry Spray,” advises Bumford. “It defines the wave, adds hold, smooths frizz, and offers UV protection—while leaving a soft, touchable finish that’s never matte or crunchy.”
For that lived-in look, let it air-dry, or braid or twist for extra shape, according to Bumford. You can touch up the ends of your hair with a smidge of oil for added shine and softness.
- For straight hair: If your hair dries straight, build out texture with mousse, then braid overnight or use a waving iron. Finish it off with some salt or texturizing spray.
- For wavy hair: For those with natural waves, beach-ify them with some curl cream and a diffuser. As it dries, twist a few sections and fluff it up with your fingers.
- For curly hair: A leave-in curl cream is a must. Brush out a few coils once dry for that Turks and Caicos-type texture.
- For coily hair: Start with twist-outs with a styling butter or curl gel. Fluff it up with a comb and you’re ready to roll. If you’re looking for a protective style, goddess braids are built-in beach waves.
Tools and Tips for Achieving Beach Waves
Whether you’re embracing your natural texture or reaching for next-gen tools, the beauty of beach waves lies in their flexibility and finish. Here’s how to master the look, with a little help from some industry icons.
Go Heatless
For soft, undone waves without the damage, overnight braids remain a tried-and-true technique. Satin-covered rollers or a DIY robe tie wrap offer a gentle, bougie workaround for heat styling. Wake up, shake out, and finish with Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray for an airy, editorial finish.
If You’re Using Hot Tools
Alternate your curl direction for that effortless, unstructured wave. The Dyson Airwrap i.d remains the gold standard for damage-minimizing curling, while the GHD Creative Curl Wand creates seamless, beachy bends with a single twist. For a nod to early-2000s texture, a Mermade PRO Waver delivers that sculpted mermaid effect without veering crunchy.
Brushes and Diffusers
Once styled, smooth waves with a Mason Pearson Paddle Brush for polish, or finger-comb with a touch of Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil through the ends for shine and separation. If air-drying is more your speed, scrunch in R+Co Cool Wind pH Perfect Air Dry Crème and diffuse with the Curlsmith Diffuser for shape and volume, especially on textured or curly hair.
Set the Finish
Finally, lock it in without losing softness. Reach for Rahua Enchanted Island Salt Spray, a chic, botanically charged mist that mimics that just-off-the-beach texture, even if you’re nowhere near a coastline.
Beach Wave Essentials
Kent PF17 Large Cushion Paddle Brush
Rahua Rahua Enchanted Island Salt Spray
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Repair Serum
The Multi-Tasker
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
Hershesons Air Dry Spray with UV Protection
Beach Waves Summer Inspiration
Bella Hadid
Hadid’s salted mane is, and always will be, right in the center of the summer mood board.
Simone Ashley
Dark brown waves will never not be chic.
Lily-Rose Depp
Depp gives the beach-ready styles a bit of French zhuzh.
Ashley Graham
Shift the tide with a swanky side part draped over your shoulder.
Rosé
Rosé’s brushed out waves look effortlessly chic.
Emily Ratajkowski
EmRata’s face-framing bangs are incredibly easy to maintain.
Tyla
Beach waves serve just as hard with protective hairstyles. Tyla’s goddess braids are a perfect example.
Laura Harrier
Harrier’s beach waves work perfectly with the natural curl pattern and texture of her hair.
Miley Cyrus
Ever the arbiter of an edgy hairstyle, Cyrus brings some grit to summer beach waves.
Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain’s long, flowing hair is the perfect embodiment of beach waves.
