This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Kroger and DiMe Media. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
Summer is finally paying us a visit here in Seattle! Whenever it’s nice and sunny, my go to’s are a floral jumpsuit or dress and beachy, effortless looking waves. They’re certainly not effortless waves to create but they look like it, right? I have always been a fan of gently tousled waves rather than tight ringlets. My favorite part about this hairstyle is that I can recreate it with products that I can easily pick up while grocery shopping. As much as I love trips to specialty beauty stores, I go to my neighborhood QFC much more often. Convenient, but also affordable. You guys know how much I love my drugstore beauty finds!
Beachy waves do take a little bit of work however using the right products and tools, they will usually last for days or at least until your next hair washing. I think that beachy waves look better with time too because they relax and look more natural. After several years of trial and error, these are a few easy tips to help you recreate beachy waves and make them last!
Pick the right curling iron.
Funnily enough, my curling iron is one that I’ve had for over 6 years! It’s a Conair curling iron that I bought at Fred Meyer. I even have a backup that I bought at my local QFC a few months ago. It was so affordable but don’t let that deter you – it heats up really fast and the 1 inch barrel is perfect if you have shorter hair like myself. If you have longer hair, go with a larger barrel but don’t go too large. I know it might seem like you shouldn’t use a small barrel to create waves but we want to actually create some defined curls first before we tousle the hair.
Get the curling technique down.
Two main things to note when you are creating waves: you want to curl in alternating directions and leave the ends out. I tend to leave out most of the hair on the bottom layers because they will get covered. Spend more time on the top layer of hair and curl in alternating directions. Don’t be afraid to create a tighter curl because you will loosen it up after. You should leave about an inch and a half of the hair out of the curl. When releasing the curling iron, pull downwards so as to keep the bottoms nice and natural. If you curl all the way to the end of your hair, it looks a lot less beachy.
Spray with a light hairspray.
Once your curls have cooled down completely, lightly mist your hair with a hairspray. I really love the Suave Natural Hold Micro Mist Hairspray because it dries instantly and doesn’t leave any sticky residue. It also adds some extra shine to your hair! After spraying with hairspray, use your fingers and gently tousle your hair from the root all the way to the bottom. Loosen up the curls and very gently comb through to relax the curls and to create that natural ‘lived in’ look.
Keep it looking natural!
To keep your look fresh, dry shampoo is another key! I always try to wash my hair every 2-3 days because it keeps my color lasting longer and helps my hair stay healthy. In between those washes, I use a dry shampoo to keep my roots volumized as well as smelling and looking fresh. This also helps prolong the life of your waves! Like I mentioned, waves tend to look better after you’ve been living in them. You could add a few waves here and there if your hair doesn’t hold curl but that’s why the hairspray step is so important. You can shop my Suave hairspray and dry shampoo and plenty of other great beauty finds on Kroger’s website here. There is a whole section just for beauty! One of my favorite Kroger products that I have used for years are the Kroger Calming Makeup Removing and Cleansing Cloths. They are very affordable and they take off everything, even waterproof makeup and lash glue!
Hopefully these tips are helpful if you’re new to creating beachy waves! I love this hairstyle and think it is so perfect for any occasion. You can recreate the look yourself by picking up brands like Kroger and Suave at your local Fred Meyer or QFC!
