How to Get Beach Waves: A Step-By-Step to the Summer Look

Nothing says summer quite like effortless beach waves. Soft, textured and full of movement, this style works for everything from beach days to brunches. The good news? You don’t need to be on the sand to achieve this look - you can get it in the comfort of your home. Read on as Chloe Whittle, Senior Digital and In-Salon Educator here at Neäl & Wølf shares how to achieve long-lasting beach waves.

What are beach waves?

Beach waves are soft, loose curls, named after the way that hair looks after swimming in the sea and air-drying. Rather than polished, defined curls, the style uses ‘s-shaped’ waves, giving the impression of hair that has been lightly tousled by the sea air.

The look works with almost every hair type and length, adding body to fine hair and enhancing natural movement in thicker textures. Beach waves can be worn casually during the day or dressed up for social occasions, making them one of the most versatile hairstyles to choose.

Read more about beach-inspired styles: Shoreline Style: The Beach Hairstyles We’re Loving This Summer

Video Credit: Instagram @sophiehairstylist

How do you do beach waves?

There are a few ways to achieve beach waves depending on your hair type and styling preference. The most popular methods are:

• Using a straightener for modern, relaxed waves
• Using a curling iron or wand for more defined texture
• Overnight twisting techniques for natural-looking waves

Read on as we explore and tell you how to achieve each one.

How to get beach waves with a straightener

Achieving beach waves with a hair straightener involves wrapping your hair around the irons to create soft curls. Read on as we show you how to achieve the look, step by step.

You will need:

• AMPLIFY Volumising Shampoo and Conditioner 
• ENHANCE Volumising Mousse 
• GUARD Heat Protection Spray 
• UPLIFT Volumising Mist or ELEVATE Volumising Lotion 
• CONTROL Flexible Styling Hairspray
• VELVET Nourishing Hair Oil 
• Wide-tooth comb 
• Hair clips
• HERØ Ionic Technology Hair Dryer
• 44mm HERØ Ceramic Round Brush 
• Hair straighteners

Step 1: Cleanse & prep

Beach waves hold best on freshly washed hair with plenty of natural body. Wash with a volumising shampoo like our AMPLIFY Volumising Shampoo and Conditioner, which gently cleanses while adding lift and fullness without weighing your hair down. Towel dry until your hair is damp rather than soaking wet. 

  Step 2: Add volume & protection

Work a generous amount of hair product like ENHANCE Volumising Mousse through your hair, concentrating on the roots and mid-lengths to build volume and help your waves last longer. Follow with GUARD Heat Protection Spray ensuring every section is evenly coated before heat styling. 

  Step 3: Blow-dry for volume

Blow-dry with a hair dryer like our HERØ Ionic Technology Hair Dryer for fast drying. Lift roots using a round brush such as our 44mm HERØ Ceramic Round Brush, to maximize body and movement whilst drying.

  Step 4: Boost texture

Once dry, spritz hair products such as our UPLIFT Volumising Mist or ELEVATE Volumising Lotion to add texture and ensure long-lasting waves.

Video Credit: Instagram @ashtonpoolehairstudio

  Step 5: Curl in sections

Take a section around 1-2 inches wide and clamp the straightener a few inches below the root. Rotate the straightener 180 degrees away from your face, then slowly glide it down the length of the hair. Alternate the direction of each wave, curling some sections towards your face and others away, to create natural-looking texture rather than uniform curls. Leave the last inch of each section straight for a modern beachy finish.

  Step 6: Set and cool

Avoid brushing your hair immediately. Instead, allow each wave to cool completely before touching it. If you want extra longevity, loosely pin each wave while it cools to help set the shape. 

  Step 7: Loosen the waves

Once your hair has cooled, gently run your fingers or a wide-tooth comb through the waves to soften them into loose, tousled texture. Avoid using a paddle brush, which can remove too much definition.

Step 8: Finish with style

Lock in your waves with a light mist of CONTROL Flexible Styling Hairspray for hold that moves with you. Finally, smooth a few drops of VELVET Nourishing Hair Oil through the ends for added shine and a frizz-free finish.

How to get beach waves without heat

Did you know you can achieve effortless beachwaves without using any heat at all? This involves leaving your hair twisted overnight, then brushing it out the next day.

You will need:

• VELVET Nourishing Hair Oil 
• CONTROL Flexible Styling Hairspray 
• Wide-tooth comb
• Hair ties

  Step 1: Start with almost dry hair

Allow your hair to air dry until it's about 80% dry. Hair that's too wet won't dry fully overnight, while completely dry hair won't hold the wave as effectively. 

  Step 2: Add nourishment

Apply one or two pumps of hair oil, like our VELVET Nourishing Hair Oil, through the mid-lengths and ends. This helps smooth the hair, minimise frizz and create a glossy finish once the waves are released.

  Step 3: Twist your hair

Divide your hair into two to four sections depending on its thickness. Twist each section tightly away from your face, similar to the beginning of a French braid, before securing each twist with a soft hair tie or scrunchie.

  Step 4. Leave overnight

Sleep with the twists in place, allowing your hair to dry completely while setting into soft waves naturally.

  Step 5: Release the waves

In the morning, gently unravel each twist without pulling or stretching the hair. Separate the waves using your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to create a relaxed, beach-inspired finish.

  Step 6: Add the finishing touches

If needed, lightly mist CONTROL Flexible Styling Hairspray to help the waves last throughout the day. Finish with another small drop of VELVET Nourishing Hair Oil on the ends for extra softness and shine.

How to get beach waves with a curling iron

Using a curling iron or a wand is ideal if you prefer slightly more defined beach waves with volume. You’ll need to ensure you keep the curls loose and avoid curling every section individually.

You will need:

• AMPLIFY Volumising Shampoo and Conditioner
• ENHANCE Volumising Mousse
• UPLIFT Volumising Mist
• VELVET Nourishing Hair Oil
• CONTROL Flexible Styling Hairspray
• Hair clips
• 44mm HERØ Ceramic Round Brush
• Curling iron

Step 1: Prepare the hair

Wash your hair with a cleansing solution like our AMPLIFY Volumising Shampoo and Conditioner to create a lightweight, voluminous base. Apply ENHANCE Volumising Mousse throughout damp hair before blow-drying with a  44mm HERØ Ceramic Round Brush to smooth the hair while maintaining body.

Step 2: Build texture

Once your hair is completely dry, spray UPLIFT Volumising Mist evenly through the mid-lengths and ends. This creates grip, helping your curls last longer without feeling heavy. 

Step 3. Divide into sections

Separate your hair into horizontal layers, clipping away the top sections while you begin curling from the bottom. Working methodically ensures every section is styled evenly. 

Step 4. Curl away from the face

Wrap 1-inch sections around the curling iron, always leaving the final inch of hair out of the barrel for a more natural beach-wave finish. Alternate the direction of each curl to avoid a uniform appearance and create effortless texture.

Step 5. Allow the curls to set

As each curl comes off the barrel, gently pin it into place and leave it to cool completely. This helps the style hold for much longer, particularly if your hair struggles to maintain curls. 

Step 6. Create soft beach waves

Once every section has cooled, remove the clips and gently shake out the curls with your fingers. Resist the temptation to brush through immediately - using your hands helps preserve the texture while softening the overall look. 

Step 7. Finish the style

Complete the look with CONTROL Flexible Styling Hairspray for lightweight hold. If desired, smooth a small amount of VELVET Nourishing Hair Oil over the ends to tame flyaways and add a glossy, salon-quality finish. 

How to revive beach waves

Beach waves often look even better on day two. If they've started to fall flat, simply refresh them with dry shampoo like our TEXTURE Dry Shampoo & Finishing Spray. Spray lightly at the roots to absorb excess oil and add lift before scrunching the lengths to revive texture and movement. Finish with a touch of VELVET Nourishing Hair Oil through the ends if they need extra hydration.

Video Credit: Instagram @quirky_hair

The best hair products for beach waves

Creating effortless beach waves isn't just about your styling technique—using the right products and tools will help you achieve more volume, longer-lasting texture and a healthy, glossy finish. Whether you're using a straightener, curling iron or opting for a heat-free method, these Neäl & Wølf favourites will help you create salon-worthy beach waves at home.

AMPLIFY Volumising Shampoo & Conditioner

Every great style starts with the right foundation. AMPLIFY Volumising Shampoo and Conditioner gently cleanse while creating weightless volume and bounce, leaving hair feeling fuller without any heavy residue. The result is hair that's perfectly prepped for soft, voluminous waves. 

ENHANCE Volumising Mousse

For body that lasts all day, apply ENHANCE Volumising Mousse to damp hair before blow-drying. It helps build volume from the roots, adds flexible hold and keeps your beach waves looking full and defined without feeling stiff or sticky.

GUARD Heat Protection Spray

If you're styling with heat, protection is essential. GUARD Heat Protection Spray helps shield your hair from heat damage while maintaining smoothness and shine, allowing you to style confidently without compromising the condition of your hair.

UPLIFT Volumising Mist or ELEVATE Volumising Lotion

To create that effortless, lived-in texture, use UPLIFT Volumising Mist or ELEVATE Volumising Lotion before styling. Both products add lift, grip and lightweight texture, helping your waves hold their shape while maintaining natural movement. 

CONTROL Flexible Styling Hairspray

Once you've perfected your waves, finish with CONTROL Flexible Styling Hairspray. Its lightweight formula provides soft, long-lasting hold, keeping your hairstyle in place throughout the day while allowing your hair to move naturally.

VELVET Nourishing Hair Oil

Complete your look with a few drops of VELVET Nourishing Hair Oil through the mid-lengths and ends. It helps smooth frizz, enhances shine and leaves hair feeling silky soft without weighing your waves down.

The best styling tools for beach waves

The right styling tools can make all the difference when creating effortless beach waves.

HERØ Ionic Technology Hair Dryer

The HERØ Ionic Technology Hair Dryer dries hair quickly while helping to minimise frizz and enhance shine. Its powerful airflow creates the perfect foundation for styling, allowing you to build volume before creating your waves.

44mm HERØ Ceramic Round Brush

Designed to smooth the hair while adding lift at the roots, the 44mm HERØ Ceramic Round Brush is the ideal companion when blow-drying. Its ceramic barrel retains heat evenly, helping to create volume, movement and a polished finish before you begin curling or waving your hair. 

Get ready to perfect your beach waves

Whether you prefer creating beach waves with a straightener, curling iron or a heat-free technique, the secret lies in building volume, adding texture and finishing with the right products. Explore our collection of products to give you long-lasting beach waves every time: Wavy Hair Products