Ask anyone with medium or long hair about their dream look and they will likely tell you it's all about the effortless beachy waves. After all, who wouldn't want a sun-kissed style that gives off chilled beach vibes?

The good news is that achieving stunning beachy waves might be easier than you think. In this article, we explain what beach waves are and how to achieve them with some carefully selected products. We then introduce you to five beachy wave styles that are suited to different hair types.

What are beach waves hair?

It's accurate to say that beach waves are the ultimate look if you're keen to rock a sun-kissed, chic style that looks totally effortless. Classic beach waves are tousled and loose and wouldn't look out of place on any one strolling down the beach with the wind in their hair and the sun on their skin.

There are several ways to wear beach waves, from super short looks to long, voluminous waves that reach past your shoulders. Let's look more closely at how to get beach wave hair, before exploring some of the signature styles you can achieve with this look.

How to make beach waves in hair

Is there a secret to beach waves? Well, yes and no. There are undoubtedly some beach waves hair products you can use to achieve this look, including the following:

Sea salt spray

Sea salt spray is absoultely the best product for anyone looking for beach waves long hair. This look gets its name because so many people achieve beachy waves after taking a dip in the ocean, so it stands to reason that sea salt spray can be transformative for beach waves shoulder length hair.

It's the perfect ingredient for adding texture to your hair, so apply it liberally onto damp hair to accentuate your waves. Then, run your fingertips through your hair to achieve the volume you desire - it really is that simple!

Beach hair waves curling iron

After washing your hair and adding sea salt spray, you can to use a curling iron. We recommend applying a heat protectant, then you can work your curling iron through your waves to achieve the look.

The best curling iron for beachy waves is one with a large barrel. This is key to achieving looser waves, so invest in one if you want voluminous and loose waves.

Blow dryer with diffuser

If you don't have a curling iron, you can use a blow dryer with a diffuser to achieve beachy waves. The Laifen Swift Speical is an ionic blow dryer that comes with a diffuser attachment and is a great way to accentuate your waves.

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Use a large round hairbrush and work it through your hair as you're blow drying it to add volume and texture to your waves. You can then finish things off with a light-hold hairspray to keep your waves in shape throughout the day.

Hair pomade

Should you be hoping for beach waves short hair, a hair pomade is an essential product to turn to. If you have cropped hair, you can use pomade to twist sections of your hair, scrunching them lightly to amp up the texture. This also helps to create loose waves on short styles.

Beach wave hair ideas

Now you know how to achieve wavy beach hair, here are some styling ideas to consider, with all hair types and lengths considered:

1. Classic long beach waves

Big, bouncy, and voluminous beach waves are the ultimate look when you think of this style. Run your waves down past your shoulders and add some bleached highlights for the perfect sun-kissed look.

2. Shaggy beach waves for medium hair

Embracing shaggy waves is a great way to frame your facial features. You can achieve this look with a flat iron or a blow dry and it's the ideal way to rock medium-length beach waves that run down to your shoulders.

3. Short, wispy waves

Proving that beachy waves aren't only for long hair, short, wispy waves are a stunning reimagination of what's possible for this iconic style. The key here is pomade, which can help your waves stay in place.

4. Beach waves for short hair with bangs

Following up from our wispy waves is this timeless look with bangs. Wispy bangs are a wonderful complement to beachy waves, framing the face and adding depth to the look.

5. Beach wave hair perm

Are you keen for something more permanent? You can go for a perm. Permanent beach waves for long hair can be achieved by asking your stylist to restructure your hair.

Though perms are a little more expensive than standard styling, you can go for a thin hair beach wave perm or a look that's better suited to longer, thicker hair. We recommend a perm if you want to rock beach waves throughout the year.

Final words

Few styles are as chic and effortless as beachy waves, which is why they've long been the choice of celebrity stylists. You don't need to take a dip in the ocean every morning to achieve this stunning look.

Rather, invest in a sea salt spray and use a blow dryer or curling iron to achieve your loose waves. You can also task your stylist to create any of the above five styles for a signature wavy look that will turn heads for all the right reasons.