For some people with straight hair, attaining that beachy wavy style might be all they need to switch up their appearance, but it is quite difficult to achieve with or without heated tools.
Waves have an undeniably beautiful appearance, and this article will show you exactly how to get them with or without heat.
You have wavy hair if your straight hair has defined waves after a wash that vanishes when it dries. In this situation, following a specific routine and using a product that provides hold-gel and mousse would ensure longer-lasting waves.
How to Get Wavy Hair with or without Heat
To begin any of the processes outlined below, start with washing your hair with a moisturizing shampoo and products suited for enhancing wavy hair types.
Moisturizing shampoos are gentler on the scalp; follow up with a conditioner to balance and hydrate the strands. Detangle hair thoroughly, rinse out and apply a leave-in conditioner. Most of these processes would require damp hair.
1. Getting Wavy Hair with Braids and Twists
Doing some braids and twists is one efficient way of getting those lovely waves. Braids such as Dutch braid, French braid, fishtail braid, single plaits, Bantu knots, and even twists!
The Dutch Braid and French Braid
The Dutch braid and French Braid isn’t complicated process; it is do-it-yourself friendly but would require practice to come out neat and perfect. Section your damp hair; using a rat tail comb, create a horizontal line beginning from the middle part of the front section to the nape of the neck.
Clip a section away, and for the section left, comb through to ensure there are no tangles, and split the hair into three pieces at the front section.
With the third finger of the left hand holding the top piece, the pinkie and second left finger holding the middle piece, and the right fourth finger holding the third piece.
Braid by inserting the fourth finger holding the third piece underneath the middle piece, and grabbing the top piece bringing it to the middle with the right hand holding both the middle and third piece. The left finger holding the top piece is inserted underneath the middle and grabs the third piece to the middle.
This process is repeated while adding hair from the sides. French braid follows a similar process, except the strands are crossed over and not underneath. If it is too complicated to grasp, put the two sections in a ponytail; either do a fishtail braid, plait, or a twist.
Single Plaits and Twist
For the single plaits, split each ponytail into three sections and braid by placing each piece over the other. Twisting follows a similar process, split the ponytail into two and twist by stacking the halves together; pretty easy.
The Fishtail Braid
At first glance, it looks complicated but surprisingly easy to do, but it would require a huge deal of patience. This would require putting your hair in a ponytail, combing through, and separating it in halves, with your two hands holding each section.
With one piece, take a small strand at the backside and wrap it over the hair, bringing it over to the other section of hair, and repeat those same steps on the opposite sides. You want to ensure that the strands you take are smaller because larger pieces would disrupt the look. Thumb placement can help hold the braids.
Bantu Knots
Bantu knots require sectioning your hair into your preferred bits and giving the hair a good twist, after which you wrap around the scalp and secure it with a pin or hair band.
With the braids, you could sleep with them overnight, in a silk or satin bonnet to prevent frizz, or air dry for a couple of hours and unravel.
2. The Headband Method
Now, for the headband method. Divide your hair into two parts, place a headband over your hair, take a section, twist, and begin to wrap around the band. Do this for the other section.
3. Velcro Rollers
Divide your hair into three sections; a left, right, and a middle section. Start sectioning from the front middle section and work downwards to the nape of your neck.
Roll one section at a time, then repeat for the remaining sections to give yourself a mohawk-like appearance and do the sides! This is unarguably the quickest way to roll hair and ensure you roll each section tightly. After which you can either blow-dry or sit under a hooded dryer.
4. Getting Wavy Hair with Hot Tools
Using hot tools is a quick approach to getting the desired wavy hair inspiration. The drawback of heat is that it might harm hair if used frequently since it changes the protein composition of the hair. Before heat styling, it is essential that you use a heat protectant and limit your use of heat.
Curling Iron
It would be much easier to control the curling process if you divide your hair into four sections and split each area into smaller pieces. Start curling from the back; you might need to clip or tie up your front strands. Before separating your hair, ensure the curling iron is heated.
Grab a small hairpiece while holding the curling iron firmly in place and wrap your hair around it, starting at the roots and moving away from your face. When you reach the end of your hair, hold the curling iron in place for a few seconds and gently pull away. To each part, repeat this.
After using the iron to curl each piece, let it cool for a split second before wrapping the curls around your fingers, pinning them to your head, and letting them cool and set.
Wait as long as you can before taking the pins out. stoop over and softly shape curls. For beachy waves, use a brush or comb, then mist a light setting or shaping product over the style after it is done.
Diffuser
A diffuser, an attachment for a blow dryer, can be used to add waves to hair. To diffuse, hold the diffuser over the roots to quicken the drying process. To add volume, sway and flip your hair from side to side as you diffuse.
After that, add a small amount of hair to the diffuser bowl, put on the heat at a low setting, wait ten seconds, turn it off, and repeat with the remaining hair sections. Be sure to add curl-activating and moisturizing products before diffusing.
A Flat Iron
To attain that ribbon curl look, take a small section of hair and use the iron vertically straight up and down, turn it once, and slide it to the end while holding on to the hair end the entire time.
Hold the iron horizontally, start sliding it, flip it down, slide it again, flip it up, alternate between the downward and upward motions, and go vertical when you get to the ends for Victoria’s soft beachy waves. And all you need to do to achieve a flat, wavy look is press the hair into the iron in an S-pattern while shutting the iron one section at a time.