How to Get Loose Waves for Summer

Step one: Prep air-dried hair

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I try to let my hair air-dry as much as possible, which I think is the main reason why I’ve managed to keep it so healthy over the years. I also like that air-dried hair provides more texture and wave than blow-dried hair. When it’s wet, I like to apply a sea salt spray like Verb’s (all their products are free of Parabens and Phthalates–more on that in another post) or Bumble & Bumble’s, and also run a dab of their “Don’t Blow It” air-drying cream. Usually I shower at night, so I go to bed with it wet and wake up with it in messy waves–I also like that second day hair tends to hold curl better than freshly washed!

When my hair is dry, right before curling, I give it a thorough spray with hair spray–I really like Tresemme’s formula and it’s usually what I grab off the shelf if I’m doing a CVS run. You can use any spray you like, but make sure it’s a flexible hold spray–you don’t want to end up with crunchy waves! I think spraying your hair before you curl is a step that people miss, and it will help your curls hold their shape much better than only spraying afterwords. I also like to give the roots and midsections a spray with Oribe’s texture spray, which I also follow up with afterwords for a finishing spritz. (More on that below!)

Curl chunky sections with a large curling wand

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Using a thick curling wand (I’ve been using T3’s 1.5″ wand!) take chunky sections of your hair (width of sections will depend on how thick your hair is–I work in about 2″ sections. Since it’s a thicker wand, you can get away with larger sections than you usually would with a thinner barrel–which means, this method is quicker than usual, too!) Hold wand upside down, and wrap hair around it from front to back–away from your face. Hold for a few seconds, and release.

My trick for bouncy curls that last:

Catch the curl as you’re releasing it in your other hand, and hold it in your palm for a few seconds to let it cool before you release the curl. For even bouncier curls that really stay–you can pin the curl using a hair clip and let it cool completely. (Those will not be loose waves though, so it just depends on the look you’re going for!)

Repeat with the back, and other side, until all hair is curled. Sometimes I’ll go back and do a few sections around the crown of my head too, for extra volume!

A note on the T3 iron:

I really like the T3 iron because they make so many different attachments for it based on what kind of curl or wave you’re wanting. You can get this set which comes with the base + 3 wands (so it’s essentially 3 curling irons in one) and they also make barrels with clips for those sleeker curls.

My favorite parts about this is that unlike so many other curling irons, it doesn’t have those screws on the base that pull your hair out, and also, the tip of the wand doesn’t heat, so you won’t burn your fingers on the ends.

The iron also heats up super fast (has several heat settings) and has an automatic shut-off in case you accidentally forget to turn it off before you run out the door!

It’s available at most beauty retailers but I always recommend buying any new beauty or hair products (especially if they’re a big investment!) from Nordstrom or Sephora because their return policy is unparalleled.

Okay, anddd onward with the hair tutorial!

Finger comb and finish with texturizing spray

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When I’m all done, I let the curls sit to completely cool for a few minutes. (Remember, the shape your hair cools in is the shape it stays in!) Then, run your fingers through it to mess it up and loosen the curls a bit. Finish with a texture spray to set it (I LOVE Oribe’s texture spray–it not only gives your hair the most gorgeous texture but also makes it smell like straight up HEAVEN.) Fun fact: I usually buy this in a travel size, so I can take it everywhere with me. I never like being without it! Also, if you don’t know how to pronounce it–don’t worry, I didn’t either for a long time! FYI, it’s pronounced “OR-BAY”…in case you were wondering!