How to Style Curly Hair to Be Wavy

In a few steps you can style curly hair to be wavy.

If you have curly hair, at some point you might want to change up your look and have wavy locks. Altering the appearance of your hair seems simple enough, but you always want to make sure you have the right products and styling tools to achieve the perfect wavy look. If you use products that work to combat frizz and smooth out your natural curls, you are well on your way to achieving the beachy waves you desire.

Things You'll Need

• Shampoo
• Detangling conditioner
• Comb
• Hair dryer
• Hair serum
• Defining mousse
• Flat iron
• Anti-frizz gel or spray
• Curling iron
• Straightening balm
• Flexible rollers
• Hot rollers

Instructions

1. Wash, condition and towel dry your hair. Comb through while wet. Focus on smoothing from root to tip, but do not forget the part and hairline. Apply a hair serum to combat frizz. Braid the hair in one to two large braids and secure the ends with a hair elastic band. Allow hair to dry for 6 hours or overnight. Undo the braid and gently finger comb hair. Avoid excessive combing as this will frizz the hair. Apply a defining mousse to your tresses.

2. Use a flat iron to loosen curls in your hair. Do not work from root to tips, as this will straighten the hair. If you want beachy waves you can always use a heated styling tool to loosen the natural texture of your own hair. Wrap hair around the flat iron as you would a curling iron. This will loosen your curly hair, giving it the appearance of waves. Once you are finished, apply an anti-frizz gel or spray that also works to hold hair in place.

3. Create waves with a curling iron. Begin by washing, conditioning and towel drying your hair. Work a straightening balm through the hair. Brush hair with a paddle brush so product is spread all over the hair. Blow dry straight. Curl 1-inch sections of hair using a wide barrel curling iron that is 1 inch or more in width. Create waves by wrapping each section of hair around the barrel of the curling iron. Curl large sections of hair with soft, flexible rollers and sleep overnight. In the morning, undo the curls and style with your fingers. Spritz with a hair spray for shine and hold.

4. Section off dry hair and curl with hot rollers. Begin at crown of head and work your way to back. For natural looking waves, avoid being too neat in terms of roller placement. You do not want your curls to look contrived. Remove rollers and finger comb. Spritz with a hair spray for staying power.

Tips & Warnings

• Once curls are set, avoid brushing or combing hair, which can often lead to frizz. Instead style with fingers and set with hair spray.

References

• LHJ: How to Get Tousled Tresses
• Washingtonian.com: A Curl's Best Friend