8 Ways to Get Beach Waves, Plus 21 Best Beach Hairstyles (2020)

Beach waves are textured, tousled, loose curls (similar to when you’ve been at the beach, hence the name). Although popular for summer, it’s a timeless and gorgeous trend with celebrity fans such as Gigi Hadid and Margot Robbie.

Whether you have medium, long or short hair, pay attention: creating beachy waves at home is so easy you can literally do it in your sleep.

Read on to get inspired by the best beach wave inspiration and also learn how to create the best beach waves with and without heat (no matter your hair length).

8 Ways to Get Beach Waves

How to Get Beach Waves With a Curling Wand

Step 1. Spray damp hair with heat protect spray. We suggest the TRESemmé Heat Defence Spray which protects hair from heat styling and helps to prevent hair becoming brittle and dull.

Step 2. Section your hair. To curl the underside of your hair, section the top using section clips.

Step 3. Curl hair. Wrap your hair around a curling wand, away from your face, and hold for a few seconds before releasing.

Step 4. Repeat this process on all of your hair.

Step 5. Finger comb your hair when cool.

Step 6. Add a final spritz of hairspray to finish your look. We love the TRESemmé Firm Hold Hairspray for its all-day natural hold & 24-hour frizz control.

How to Get Beach Waves Hair With a Straightener

Step 1. Apply VO5 Express Primer Spray to damp hair and blow-dry.

Step 2. Clip the top half of your hair up.

Step 3. Take a small section of hair and spray it with the VO5 Flexible Hold Hairspray.

Step 4. Run your flat iron through, twisting as you go.

Step 5. Roll the curl up from the bottom, pin in place and set with hairspray.

Step 6. Repeat until you’ve curled all your hair.

Step 7. Once cooled, release your curls and gently brush through.

Step 8. Finish with hairspray.

How to Get Beach Hair Using the Twist Method

Credit: Rupert Laycock

Step 1. Rake some of the VO5 Volume Foam through damp or dry hair. Then blowdry your mane using a diffuser to protect against humidity and bring out a natural wave.

Step 2. Divide your tresses into 4 equal sections and twist each section around itself. Continue to twist until you’ve created a loose bun, securing it with some bobby pins.

Step 3. Once you’ve done this, blast each bun with your hairdryer with medium heat.

Step 4. Now time for the fun part: shake out your twists! Use your fingers to loosen waves and you’re all done. You did it, you total beach babe!

How to Get Beach Waves on Short Hair

Credit; Rupert Laycock

Thought your cropped tresses meant you had to miss out on this trend? Not anymore! Creating beachy waves in short hair is effortless: just follow the curling method above if you have a long pixie cut, or the straightening method if you have a bob or lob-length tresses!

Editor’s tip: To make sure your short, beach wave hair look stays put, spritz a small amount of the VO5 Flexible Hold Hairspray throughout your mane. This will ensure you have soft-looking curls with tonnes of natural movement!

Step 1. Apply VO5 Heat Protect Spray and section hair.

Step 2. Take a section of hair and rotate the straightener away from your face as you pull it down the lengths.

Step 3. Repeat on each section until all of your hair is curly.

Step 4. Finish with hairspray.

How to Get Beach Waves Overnight

Step 1. Apply the TRESemmé Botanique Air Dry Curl Cream.

Step 2. Create small sections and braid all of your hair.

Step 3. Gather your hair into a bun and wrap it in a silk scarf overnight.

Step 4. Remove the scarf and undo your braids and gently finger comb hair.

Step 5. Finish with VO5 Invisible Ultimate Hold Hairspray

How to Get Beach Waves Without Heat

Credit: All Things Hair UK

Step 1. Brush hair to remove any tangles and apply a small amount of the TRESemmé Botanique Air Dry Curl Cream to your mid-lengths and ends.

Step 2. Section hair, leaving a small 2-inch section.

Step 3. Wrap your small section around two fingers, rolling the hair up, and secure using a hair pin.

Step 4. Repeat this process, working in small sections, until all your hair has been pinned.

Step 5. After a few hours, or ideally overnight, release your pins.

Step 6. Finger comb your hair to loosen your curls.

Get Beach Waves With Emily From The London Blogger

We turned to lifestyle blogger Emily Hunt AKA The London Blogger to help you create stunning tumbling waves. Emily in her own words has “generally flat and quite dry” hair that is prone to lots of split ends! So, if you are fine-haired and looking for a fab way to wear your tresses in waves, this is for you.

Step 1: Start by washing your tresses with TRESemmé Biotin + Repair 7 Shampoo.

Step 2: Take the TRESemmé Biotin + Repair Instant Recovery Mask and apply to the mid-lengths to ends. Leave on for the designated amount of time and rinse off.

Step 3: Apply a few pumps of the Nexxus Nutritive Serum to the ends of your towel-dried hair, combing through with your fingers.

Step 4: Spritz your tresses with TONI&GUY Sea Salt Texturising Spray.

Step 5: Blowdry your hair straight by keeping the nozzle of your dryer pointing down to smooth the hair and don’t forget to softly brush your tresses while drying.

Step 6: To achieve the effect of the kinky wave, the trick lies with how you angle your straighteners. Start towards the root and twist your straightener halfway under for a few inches, and then twist the straightener in the opposite direction for a few inches, until you reach the tips of your hair.

Step 7: Repeat this wave process to the rest of your hair.

Step 8: For extra volume, reach for TONI&GUY Root Lift Sculpting Powder. Simply sprinkle onto your roots and use your fingers to zhoosh up your hair. And there you have it, kinky waves made easy with the help of Emily.

Ready for our close up!

Get Undone Waves With Elle From Bambi Does Beauty

We’ve enlisted the help of Elle from Bambi Does Beauty to show you how to create gorgeous undone waves. Elle has thick hair, yet because she bleaches her hair she also has dry ends and struggles with frizz! If this sounds like your hair, too, then listen closely…

Step 1: Start by washing your hair with the Nexxus Youthful Renewal Shampoo.

Step 2: Next, take the Nexxus Emergencée Mask and apply to the mid-lengths to ends. Leave on for the designated amount of time and rinse off.

Step 3: Towel dry your hair and take a small amount of the VO5 Frizz Free Air Dry Cream, run between your palms and apply to the ends of your hair.

Step 4: Blowdry until completely dry, then straighten your hair from the mid-lengths to the ends.

Step 5: Take your straighteners and now run it over the ends of your hair, twisting it as you go to create slight waves.

Step 6: To build up that undone texture, spritz some of the TONI&GUY Sea Salt Texturising Spray into your hands and run through your hair, scrunching to add more texture.

Step 7: Finish it all off with a dose of the TONI&GUY Flawless Sleek Creation Hairspray to hold it all in place. Et voila: undone waves in a flash. Thanks, Elle!

Elle’s finished undone waves!

21 Best Beach Wave Hairstyles

No matter your hair type of length, there’s a lot of stunning beachy waves looks you can try. Scroll down to see our top picks for 2020.

Beach Waves on Long Hair

Credit: Instagram.com/hobbschelsey_hairstylist

When you’ve got all that lovely length, why not show it off with an effortless beachy hairstyle like this one? Credit: @hobbschelsey_hairstylist

Beach Waves on Medium Hair

Credit: Instagram.com/insidershair

If you want a heatless way to make your short hair look holiday-ready, just plait your hair and leave them in overnight to wake up with cute waves. Credit: @insidershair

Editor’s tip: Say aloha to summer with the TIGI Bed Head Beach Freak Moisturizing Detangler Spray. This moisturising mist will complete your beachy look and help protect your hair against sun rays.

Beach Waves No Heat

Credit: Instagram.com/jennifer_aniston_the_official

If the Rachel haircut isn’t your cup of tea, you’re certainly going to fall in love with these tousled waves. Credit: @jennifer_aniston_the_official

Kim Kardashian Beach Waves

Credit: Instagram.com/kimkardashian

We’re getting major mermaid vibes from Kim Kardashian’s wet-look beach hairstyle. Credit: @kimkardashian

Editor’s tip: To get that wet-look effect, spray some VO5 Mega Hold Gel Spray

Messy Beach Waves

Credit: Instagram.com/sofiajamora

A hot date or a girl’s night is the perfect opportunity to take your look up a notch — so, make sure to copy this sexy wavy hairstyle. Credit: @sofiajamora

Thin Hair Beach Waves

Credit: Instagram.com/brittsully

Anyone else screenshot this picture? From the glossy brunette hue to those sultry textured waves, this ‘do is the definition of #hairgoals. Credit: @brittsully