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Wavy hair has been a beauty goal since forever. It may have something to do with our top millennial style muses, which include the Olsen twins, Miley Cyrus, Nicole Richie, and Kate Moss. Or maybe it’s because wavy hair is like the Goldilocks of hair–not too straight or too curly, but with just enough body.
After decades of envying celebs’ effortless hair, we decided to go straight to a professional hairstylist for a crash course in wavy hair. Bradley Leake, celebrity stylist and founder of Santa Monica salon Brdy Jay, says when it comes to creating the perfect wavy texture, less is more: “The more ‘imperfect’ your waves, the better they look.”
So, as we prep our smoked suede brunette strands for fall, we’ll also be putting our new wavy-hair routine to work. Read on for Leake’s step-by-step tutorial for creating the perfectly imperfect waves, wavy-hair product recs, and more.
While some hairstyles work best on second- or third-day hair, making waves starts in the shower with clean hair. Leake recommends a shampoo and conditioner combo that’s lightweight and won’t weigh the hair down. His picks: Redken Volume Injection Shampoo paired with Kerastase Nutritive Lait Vital, which he instructs to only apply from the midlengths down.
The shower is also the time for your detangling routine, as Leake warns you shouldn’t use a brush post-shower; “that is the key to setting your waves or curls.” To detangle, opt for a wide-tooth comb and run it through your conditioner-covered strands, which will make for fewer tangles and overall smoother strands.
Once your hair is freshly washed, you’re going to want to use a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt– these will be the most gentle on your hair and won’t rough up the cuticle, leading to frizz. And “scrunch, don’t rub,” instructs Leake, which is important for keeping the cuticle smooth and frizz-free for your wavy hair style. Then, he recommends misting the hair with a leave-in like Pureology Color Fanatic, which offers a whopping 21 benefits, including frizz control, heat protection, and added shine, to name a few.
A beach spray is going to be your best friend. All you have to do is spritz and scrunch upward. I personally swear by the Dae Hibiscus Wave Spray. My hair is relatively straight, but a few mists of this on almost dry hair, and all of a sudden I’m a mermaid. For straighter hair types, sprays and mousses will be best because hair needs more grit, explains Leake. If your hair is on the curlier side already, Leake says that Color Wow Curl Wow Shook Mix will offer more control.
For the easiest wave-making style, I tossed my hair into a bun and secured it with a Slip Silk Scrunchie to avoid any hard kinks. For more uniform waves, though, Leake recommends loose twists and rope braids with six sections—this will make for tighter bends—always wrapping them away from the face for a more voluminous, and overall more flattering, style. For looser bends, you could go for a low braid; for waves that start higher up on the strands, go for a French braid.
Leake recommends flipping and scrunching every 20 to 30 minutes while your hair dries for the best results—i.e., the most volume and movement—but if you don’t have the patience for that, a few good zhuzhes will do. And you can always add more product or touch up with a hot tool if you really need to.
Which brings us to the final step! If any pieces didn’t air-dry the way you wanted them to, it’s way easier (and better for your hair) to use heat on a few strands rather than waving your whole head with a hot tool. Leaks says the T3 SinglePass Curl X 1–1.25" barrel is “chef’s kiss.”
He recommends wrapping the hair away from the face and leaving the ends out, and not clamping too tightly. “Slide the curl off before it gets too perfect,” he instructs; once it cools, rake through with your fingers to loosen up the pattern, so it can blend with the rest of your air-dried waves. Doing this on a few pieces throughout and alternating the direction of the curls will help you achieve the coveted undone look that appears au naturel. To keep your waves locked in, finish with a light-hold hairspray such as Redken Triple Pure 32. Craving even more cool-girl texture? Leake says to add some dry shampoo or texture paste on ends—that’s the only time you’re allowed to touch your hair!
What hairstyles create natural-looking waves?
Leake says that some of the best hairstyles for creating natural-looking waves include loose Dutch or French braids, the twist and clip method, messy buns or ballerina buns, bubble ponytails, and wet scrunched buns (which he points out are especially great for beach days).
How to maintain wavy hair throughout the day
“Don’t touch it once it’s dry,” he says. “Period.” This is because touching will lead to frizz and mussed-up texture, and if you’re touching it with your hands a lot, it can cause the hair to look greasy faster. If you need a midday refresh, he says to use Kerastase Curl Manifesto Refresh Absolu “to help define curls and eliminate any frizz.”
How to get wavy hair naturally
Follow the steps above, starting with a lightweight shampoo and conditioner duo. Detangle in the shower, then use a microfiber towel to remove moisture. Add a leave-in, followed by a texturizing product for your hair type, maybe a spray, mousse, or gel, depending on your natural pattern. Then try one of the air-dry styles that Leake recommends. Once dry, finish with some hairspray.
Can I get wavy hair permanently?
Yes, you can get wavy hair permanently. Leake says to seek advice from your stylist, specifically inquiring about a body wave perm or a digital perm for soft, modern texture. “These work best on healthy, untreated hair,” he points out.