Beachy waves hairstyles have been my go-to for as long as I can remember, and honestly, they never go out of style. Beach waves became particularly popular in the 2010s among influencers and celebrities, but this look is a timeless classic. The best part? Perfection isn’t the goal here. Whether you’re rocking short beachy waves hairstyles or long beachy waves hairstyles, there are countless methods tailored to different hair types and textures. I’m sharing 15 of my favorite beachy wave styles, as well as easy tutorials on how to get beachy waves that actually last.
Classic Loose Beachy Waves
What Makes This Style Timeless
Classic loose beachy waves are the foundation of every variation you’ll see. I’ve styled countless clients with this look, and it never fails to flatter. The beauty lies in its versatility—it works for casual brunches, professional settings, and formal events. Unlike tighter curls that can feel dated, loose waves have that effortless quality that’s been popular since the style took off in the 2010s. It’s the look that makes you appear like you just stepped off the coast, even if you’ve been nowhere near water.
How to Create Classic Loose Beachy Waves
Start with completely dry hair—any leftover moisture can cause damage. I blow mine out straight using a paddle brush so the ends don’t flip out too much.
Grab a 1-inch curling iron or 25mm wand, which works for every hair length. Here’s the secret I learned early in my career: curl your front pieces away from your face, then alternate directions throughout your head. This creates that natural, tousled effect as opposed to uniform curls.
The most important step? Leave your ends straight and don’t mess with them for that undone look. Run a flat iron over just the bottom two inches to keep your waves from looking too polished. This detail makes all the difference.
Clamp your curling iron in the middle of each 2-inch section and twist away from your face, winding up toward the scalp. Hold for about five seconds, then loosen your grip slightly, wind in a few more inches, and hold a few more seconds before releasing.
Once you’ve curled your entire head, work your fingers through the curls to break them up as much as possible. Wait a few minutes for your curls to cool—this helps them set and last all day. After that, brush through your hair to blend the curls together into soft, natural waves.
Best Hair Types for This Look
This style adapts beautifully to different textures. Fine hair benefits from the volume this technique creates, while thicker, straight hair holds the waves with proper product. Given that you’re building texture from scratch, naturally wavy hair enhances beautifully with this method.
My Styling Tips
Apply working texture spray toward the root and middle section of your hair for dry, matte texture and light hold. In addition, use beach wave spray on dry hair. The combo of these two products creates the prettiest beachy waves. To refresh day-old waves, working texture spray will revive them and provide volume.
Textured Short Beachy Waves
What Makes This Style Perfect for Short Hair
I spent years thinking beachy waves were reserved for long hair, until I chopped mine into a bob and discovered otherwise. Short hair actually holds texture beautifully when you work with the right foundation. The secret starts before you even pick up a styling tool: choosing a haircut that complements your hair type and face shape. Opting for a lob or layered bob creates natural movement. Those layers reveal texture and smoothness that make styling waves much simpler.
How to Create Textured Short Beachy Waves
A 1-inch curling iron or flat iron works perfectly for short hair, letting you create defined waves without that overly tight curl effect. I teach this technique in my workshops because it’s foolproof for beginners.
Start by wrapping each section of hair around your flat iron in alternating directions. Hold each curl for 5-10 seconds before releasing. Here’s what makes this different from longer styles: leave your ends completely uncurled to maintain that soft, undone appearance. The flat iron can grab hair right at the roots, creating small bends that longer hair struggles to achieve.
For an even more piecey, textured look, rub a small amount of pomade between your fingers and twist it through sections of hair. Scrunch lightly to amp up texture and create those loose waves.
Best Hair Types for This Look
This style adapts well across different textures. Fine hair gains body through the curling technique, while thicker hair benefits from the layered foundation that prevents heaviness.
My Styling Tips
Short hair gets weighed down fast with too much product. Apply heat protectant first, then stick to a few sprays of leave-in conditioner and styling mousse. Always use your styling tools at the lowest effective heat setting to avoid damage. Schedule regular trims to preserve the shape and prevent split ends.
Mermaid Long Beachy Waves
What Makes This Style Magical
Mermaid waves remind me of those dreamlike photoshoots where hair seems to flow like water. This style encompasses long, flowing lengths with plenty of movement, dimensional color with multiple tones, and soft undulating waves that mimic ocean currents. What makes it different from standard beach waves? In truth, mermaid waves are a hybrid between traditional waves and nostalgic crimping. They lean into that polished yet playful esthetic that feels both modern and wearable.
How to Create Mermaid Long Beachy Waves
The fastest method involves a triple-barrel waver or deep waver, which works exceptionally well on wider sections. For those without specialty tools, a 1-inch curling iron delivers gorgeous results.
Start with towel-dried hair and apply your styling product. Pre-dry completely, then divide into sections. Hold your curling iron downwards and wrap 1-2 inch sections around the barrel, starting near the handle and wrapping toward the end. This wrapping direction creates waves throughout rather than ringlets at the bottom. Hold for 5-7 seconds, then release while catching the curl to maintain its shape.
Work through the bottom section first, then move to upper layers. Start curls around 6 inches from your part on top sections. Once finished, run fingers loosely through the waves for definition.
Best Hair Types for This Look
Medium to long hair showcases mermaid waves most effectively. Those with shorter hair can still achieve a similar effect, though waves may appear slightly different. The style adapts across textures when proper technique is applied.
My Styling Tips
Always begin with heat protectant to minimize damage. Spritz texture spray before styling to add grip and help curls maintain shape. Finish by running shine serum through waves to define and add the perfect amount of shine. For enhanced beachy feel, apply sea salt spray or texturizing product.
Beachy Waves with Curtain Bangs
What Makes This Style Frame Your Face
Curtain bangs do for your face what artfully draped curtains do for a window. They create softness and balance, whether you choose a longer version with a center part to open up your cheekbones or more forward framing around the brow line. I’ve watched countless clients light up when they see how curtain bangs bring out their positive features. Combined with beachy waves, this pairing delivers both structure and movement.
How to Create Beachy Waves with Curtain Bangs
Start your curtain bangs on damp hair using a round brush at a 45-degree angle. Pick up your bangs, rotate the brush backward, and blow dry at a vertical angle, encouraging the hair to push back with the brush. This develops the swept curl look.
For the waves themselves, position your iron facing upward on your right side, rotate back toward yourself, and push through hair at a downward 45-degree angle. Draw the iron down toward the floor at the end to elongate each wave. On your left side, start with your iron angled downward and follow the same process.
Want extra dimension? Grab a small section at your crown, start the curl at the top by rotating immediately to create a peak, then drop out your curl at the halfway mark in a valley. Twist the curl back in your hand so it flows seamlessly with the previous section.
Best Hair Types for This Look
Curtain bangs complement all face shapes by softening sharp features or balancing rounded ones. They work for straight, wavy, curly, and coily textures. Round faces gain length, square faces get softened edges, oval faces enhance their balanced proportions, and heart-shaped faces frame beautifully.
My Styling Tips
Apply volumizing powder spray under your top section, using fingertips to work it in for a lived-in, lifted look. Continue throughout your hair for texture and separation. Finish by spraying the underside of your bangs while encouraging them backward, then pinch both sides together at your forehead center and spray again.
Messy Half-Up Beachy Wave
What Makes This Style Effortlessly Chic
Half-up hairstyles have saved me on countless occasions when I needed something polished yet relaxed. This look offers the perfect blend of elegance and practicality. You show off your length while keeping strands from falling in your face, which makes it ideal for everything from workdays to weddings. The beauty lies in how it showcases your natural texture while maintaining functionality. I’ve worn this to photoshoots, client consultations, and even casual weekend outings because it transitions seamlessly between settings.
How to Create Messy Half-Up Beachy Waves
Start by lightly misting your hair with water to rehydrate and refresh your texture. Apply your wave-enhancing products and volume foam throughout. Smooth a small amount of frizz rescue serum through your strands for a glossy finish.
Leave two small face-framing pieces at the front to soften the overall look. Split your hair where the top of your ears meet your head. Use your fingers to gather the top half toward the back of your crown. Secure with a snag-free hair tie just underneath your crown, keeping it snug but not tight to avoid flattening your waves.
Tease the base for volume. Gently loosen the ponytail to create that lived-in appearance. Use your fingers to separate and fluff the waves in both the top and bottom sections for definition and fullness. Texture spray adds the real lived-in texture effect.
Best Hair Types for This Look
This style works effortlessly for all hair types and lengths. Wavy hair adds natural volume and pairs beautifully with tousled, relaxed looks. The technique adapts whether you have fine, thick, straight, or curly textures.
My Styling Tips
Work a leave-in treatment through your ends to fend off frizz and enhance shine. Use curl-enhancing mousse or sea salt spray to create texture and volume. Finish with light-hold hairspray for a natural, bouncy result.
Bohemian Braided Beachy Waves
What Makes This Style Festival-Ready
During my first music festival experience years ago, I watched someone style their hair backstage and fell in love with the combination of braids and waves. Searches for boho braids have climbed over 5,000% recently, and I’ve seen this craze reflected in my own salon’s waiting list. What draws people to this look? It delivers that relaxed, undone finish with waves and curls left free for a floaty, ethereal appearance. The style feels effortless yet intentional, blending structure with movement. People no longer want overly neat hair—they want that beachy version of themselves. Plus, boho braided waves are much quicker to create than traditional braids and stay lightweight since you’re not braiding the entire head.
How to Create Bohemian Braided Beachy Waves
Braiding your hair with a little product delivers next-day beach waves with minimal effort. Start by applying a light hold mousse like Shu Uemura Kaze Curl and Wave Defining Mousse to damp hair, then lightly dry or allow most of it to air dry before braiding.
For more volume, opt for French braids from the top of your head through the length. For looser, less voluminous results, choose a single low braid. Tie your braid about an inch from the ends and pull to loosen for that authentic beachy look. Spritz with hairspray before bed.
Once you remove the braids, run your fingers through and add a hydrating product like Kérastase Huile Sirene Hair Oil Mist to bring moisture and softness to your ends. For extra root volume, use a texturizing spray like Shu Uemura Wata Wave Dry Texturizing Spray to build height.
Best Hair Types for This Look
The volume and length of your hair affects the outcome. Thinner ends produce much kinkier waves compared to thicker hair. Every hair type behaves differently, so expect a few tries before achieving your desired look.
My Styling Tips
Keep hair hydrated with leave-in conditioner, follow with nourishing hair oil, then finish with curl cream to add softness and natural sheen. Daily moisture matters most.
Volumized Crown Beachy Waves
What Makes This Style Add Height
Flat roots can sabotage even the prettiest beachy waves. I’ve witnessed countless clients walk in frustrated because their waves look gorgeous at the ends but fall completely flat at the crown. This style targets that exact problem. Adding height at the crown creates balance and prevents that weighed-down appearance. The result? Beachy waves that look intentionally tousled from root to tip rather than limp on top with texture only at the bottom.
How to Create Volumized Crown Beachy Waves
Start by applying a volumizing spray mousse or root lifter when your hair is damp. I prefer working this product directly into the crown area where lift matters most.
Flip your head over and blow-dry from the roots down. A careful rough dry helps get the hair off the scalp, lifting the root off the head. For fine hair especially, rough-dry with your fingers rather than stretching too much with a brush.
Here’s a trick I learned from dealing with stubborn flat spots: part your hair dry before showering straight down the center. This helps curls clump correctly when you flip upside down later.
Once roots are dry, tease the crown area with a teasing comb. After teasing, smooth the surface gently with a brush. You’ll notice significant added volume from this step. Diffuse your hair upside down as the primary method for maintaining crown volume.
Coarser or frizzier hair needs double the product—around four pumps, plus one extra on the crown.
Best Hair Types for This Look
Fine hair benefits tremendously from strategic product placement using half your normal amount to avoid weighing it down. Thicker hair requires stronger products and more generous application. Coarser textures need moisturizing cream or oil before salt spray.
My Styling Tips
Apply volumizing primer specifically along the roots at the crown. For extra lift, flip your head over and give your roots one last spritz of hairspray. The combination delivers lasting height without crunchiness.
Side-Swept Beachy Waves
What Makes This Style Romantic
Sweeping waves to one side brings Old Hollywood glamor to modern styling. I’ve created this look for countless brides since 2016, and it remains one of the most requested styles. The asymmetry adds visual interest whereas traditional down styles can feel ordinary. This works beautifully for showing off illusion backs and low-back gowns. For instance, positioning all your waves over one shoulder creates that flirty, face-framing effect that photographs stunningly.
How to Create Side-Swept Beachy Waves
Work with day-old hair for better hold. Part your hair in line with your eyebrow arch rather than too deep to avoid flatness. Here’s my secret: create a mini french braid in the under section of swept-back hair for grip. This provides a secure base for bobby pins.
Use a 1-inch curling iron to create soft waves, wrapping sections toward your face for forward-framing bends. Apply texture or wave spray for volume and hydration. Sweep everything over one shoulder and secure with criss-crossed bobby pins. Leave slight volume on the swept-back side by teasing gently before smoothing.
Best Hair Types for This Look
Medium to long lengths showcase this style most effectively. In reality, it adapts across all textures.
My Styling Tips
Use product sparingly to avoid stiffness. Consider leaving hair unpinned for a relaxed alternative.
Heatless Overnight Beachy Waves
What Makes This Style Damage-Free
Heat damage was something I witnessed constantly during my early training years. Clients would come in with brittle, over-processed hair from daily curling iron use. Heatless overnight methods became my solution for styling damaged or bleached strands without causing further harm. Because these techniques skip hot tools entirely, your hair maintains its natural moisture and protein structure. Additionally, you’re styling while you sleep, which means zero morning stress and maximum convenience.
How to Get Beachy Waves Without Heat
Work with hair that’s about 75% dry to ensure waves last all day and you won’t wake up to wet or matted strands. Here are three methods I rotate through:
- Overnight braids: Part hair down the center and create a braid on each side. Bigger sections yield wider waves, while tighter, smaller sections produce a crimped look. Coat damp strands in leave-in conditioner to minimize frizz from friction while you sleep.
- Sock bun: Cut off the toe of a sock and roll it into a doughnut shape. Gather damp hair into a loose, high ponytail, slide the sock over it, then twist and wrap strands around, tucking ends underneath. This creates bigger, bouncier waves compared to braids.
- Heatless rollers: Wrap sections of damp hair around foam or fabric rollers and secure in place. This requires zero hairstyling knowledge and has become popular because anyone can do it.
Best Hair Types for This Look
Fine or very straight hair tends to drop waves more quickly, often lasting just a day without touch-ups. Medium to thick hair, or hair with a natural bend, usually holds wave patterns longer. Curly textures often see the best longevity, as the wave builds on existing movement.
My Styling Tips
Apply a texturizing spray, mousse, or curl-enhancing serum before styling to help hair remember the shape. Invest in a silk pillowcase to prevent damage and wake up to softer, smoother hair. Even if waves soften, revive them the next day with a light mist of leave-in conditioner.
Tousled Bob Beachy Waves
What Makes This Style Modern
When clients ask me about the biggest hair trend, I point to the tousled bob. While precision bobs dominated previous years, the tousled bob delivers effortless, versatile, and flattering results. Hair experts favor it because it genuinely works for every hair type. Soft, shattered layers infuse movement and texture into the hair, adding volume to fine strands or removing excess weight from thick hair. Daily styling remains remarkably simple—just a quick spritz of texture spray or serum on the ends.
How to Create Tousled Bob Beachy Waves
A flat iron works best for short hair since its plates grab hair at the roots without slipping. Start by curling away from your face, then alternate directions as you move toward the back for that messy, undone appearance. Keep ends straight and use a 1.5-inch curling iron to create a few loose curls. Run your fingers through to separate curls into effortless waves. The curls may look tight initially, but that’s intentional—they relax into voluminous beach waves after finger-combing.
Best Hair Types for This Look
Strategic layers versus a strictly blunt cut make this style universally flattering. The layering adapts to fine, thick, straight, or textured hair seamlessly.
My Styling Tips
Air-drying creates the most natural-looking texture. Use air dry cream or serum for a touchable finish. Schedule trims every 6-8 weeks to maintain the shape.
Sun-Kissed Highlighted Beachy Waves
What Makes This Style Dimension-Rich
Color depth transforms standard beachy waves into something remarkable. Highlights create gradient effects that go from darker at the root to lighter at the tips, mimicking hair naturally bleached by the sun over time. Balayage, which means ‘to sweep’ in French, refers to the hand-painted motion of creating a seamless blend. Since balayage uses no foil, it creates a softer, more natural effect without harsh lines. I’ve created this look for countless clients since my bridal styling work began, and the dimension it adds makes waves appear fuller and more dynamic.
How to Create Sun-Kissed Highlighted Beachy Waves
Balayage works on all hair colors and textures, making it a versatile option. Your colorist hand-paints color onto strands in a sweeping motion. For subtle brightness, babylights add fine, delicate highlights that blend effortlessly into your base color. Face-framing highlights focus lighter color on hair around your face, opening and brightening your features where sun would naturally lighten it.
After coloring, create waves by wrapping random pieces around a curling wand and lightly tousling with your fingers. Keep your ombre looking fresh by washing strands with sulfate-free shampoo and using a weekly moisturizing hair mask.
Best Hair Types for This Look
Balayage looks stunning on brunettes and redheads just as much as blondes. Choose a color just a few shades lighter than your natural tone for low maintenance.
My Styling Tips
Wash with sulfate-free products to prevent fading. Apply weekly deep conditioning treatments to maintain healthy, vibrant color.
Beachy Waves with Face-Framing Layers
What Makes This Style Flattering
Face-framing layers enhance your natural beauty while giving your hair movement, dimension, and sophistication. I’ve recommended this technique to clients for years because layers complement almost all face shapes. Your stylist customizes the length and placement to balance round cheeks, soften a square jawline, or highlight your best features. For naturally wavy hair, layers accentuate your texture and create an effortlessly tousled, beachy vibe.
How to Create Beachy Waves with Face-Framing Layers
Face-framing layers are easy to style, making them ideal for anyone who wants a polished look without spending hours in front of the mirror. Apply a lightweight texturizing spray to damp or dry hair to enhance the natural movement of your layers without weighing them down. Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to distribute the spray evenly, then let your hair air dry for effortless waves. For special occasions, curl the layers around your face with a large-barrel curling iron to add soft, face-framing curls that elevate your look while maintaining a natural feel. Finish with a light mist of hairspray to hold the style in place without stiffness.
Best Hair Types for This Look
This style works seamlessly across textures. Layers enhance features and soften your overall appearance regardless of your hair type.
My Styling Tips
Keep styling minimal for best results. Air-drying produces the most natural texture with this cut.
Sleek Roots with Beachy Wave Ends
What Makes This Style Polished Yet Casual
This hybrid look became one of my signature styles when I moved to Los Angeles. The contrast between smooth roots and textured ends creates visual interest without commitment to fully styled hair. Whereas traditional beach waves start at the crown, this technique keeps roots intentionally sleek for a more refined appearance. The result feels polished enough for professional settings yet relaxed enough for weekend outings.
How to Create Sleek Roots with Beachy Wave Ends
Start with heat protectant on clean, dry hair. Use a 1-inch curling iron to create waves through mid-lengths, leaving the bottom two inches untouched. Once you’ve curled everything, here’s the key step: run a flat iron over just those bottom two inches to straighten the ends. This keeps your beachy waves from looking too polished.
Wait a few minutes for curls to cool, then brush through your hair to blend waves together. The brushing creates that soft, natural texture rather than defined ringlets.
Best Hair Types for This Look
Type 2A hair naturally starts waves a few inches from roots, making this style easy to achieve. Types 2B and 2C work beautifully since their wave patterns don’t typically begin right at the scalp.
My Styling Tips
Apply lightweight products that won’t weigh down your style. Finish with a gentle pat to tame flyaways.
Undone Ponytail Beachy Waves
What Makes This Style Perfectly Imperfect
The undone ponytail became my saving grace during a particularly hectic bridal season. This look captures that lived-in texture without overthinking placement or precision. Wearing your beachy waves swept into a casual ponytail adds that cool-girl finish to an otherwise simple updo. The charm lies in how relaxed it appears while still pulling your look together.
How to Create Undone Ponytail Beachy Waves
Work with second or third-day hair since grittier strands hold the style better. Apply finishing texture spray throughout to add volume and control. Use your hands instead of a brush to gather hair at your desired height—this maintains the messy appearance. Secure with a hair tie, then gently loosen by pulling slightly to release tension. Take a small section from underneath your ponytail and wrap it around the elastic to hide it, securing with a bobby pin. Backcomb the ponytail itself to add volume.
Best Hair Types for This Look
Day-old hair works best across all textures. The natural oils provide grip and prevent slipping.
My Styling Tips
Apply a small amount of dry powder volume paste to create that perfectly-imperfect texture. Resist over-smoothing—embrace the undone quality.
Natural Air-Dried Beachy Waves
What Makes This Style Low-Maintenance
Air-drying became my salvation after years of daily heat styling left my hair brittle. This method requires zero hot tools, which means your hair maintains its natural moisture and strength. Given that you’re styling overnight or during your morning routine, there’s no rushed blow-drying before work. The best way to keep hair healthy is to leave it alone as much as possible.
How to Get Beachy Waves with Air Drying
Never brush your hair after showering—this creates frizz instantly. Instead, finger-comb conditioner through your hair while still in the shower to remove tangles. Dry with a microfiber towel using a scrunching motion rather than rubbing[711].
Apply leave-in conditioner followed by sea salt spray to damp hair[731]. Pull hair into a very loose French braid using big sections[731]. The bigger your braid sections, the bigger your waves will be.
Remove the braid when hair reaches 90% dry—not completely dry, or you’ll get crimpy texture instead of soft waves[731]. Alternatively, twist sections different ways and let air dry completely.
Best Hair Types for This Look
Wavy hair enhances beautifully with this method. Fine hair needs volumizing products to avoid flatness.
My Styling Tips
Finish with texture spray for definition or dry shampoo for volume.
Conclusion
Beachy waves remain my absolute favorite hairstyle for countless reasons, and now you have 15 different methods to explore. Whether you’re drawn to heatless overnight techniques or prefer the precision of a curling iron, there’s truly a style for every hair type and lifestyle. What’s more, these looks adapt beautifully from casual weekends to formal occasions without feeling overdone. My advice? Start with one method that suits your current hair length and texture, then experiment from there. Not every technique will feel right immediately, and that’s perfectly fine. The beauty of beachy waves lies in their forgiving, imperfect nature. Happy styling!
