6 Easy Beach-Wave Hacks For Gorgeous Instagram Hair

Courtesy of the Beachwaver
Courtesy of the Beachwaver

If there was a hairstyle to define the past decade, it would be beach waves. The now-classic style features textured waves, meant to look like you just got back from a day of surfing. You can see this effortlessly chic look everywhere from popular blow-dry bar menus to celebrity red carpets and, of course, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runways.

For the second season in a row, celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa's brand the Beachwaver was the official sponsor of the 2016 show in Paris.

"Victoria's Secret waves are the perfect combination of sexy, glamour, and relaxed all at the same time," she told me. "Women love this style because it is so versatile. Beach waves can be worn on the red carpet or with a t-shirt and jeans. This feeling of a natural, yet glamorous look will always be beautiful."

Also, the relaxed waves are flattering on most. "Beach waves enhance a women's natural beauty by adding volume and movement to the hair," she noted. "The iconic is created when the waves go away from the face, opening up right at the cheekbone to accentuate the face. This effortless style feels beautiful and touchable, with volume at the root and relaxed ends, making it a more comfortable, lived-in feel."

OK, so now you want to DIY beach waves at home, right? To help you get started, Potempa shared six hair hacks she relies on to easily get flawless waves every time. Keep reading!

Courtesy of the Beachwaver

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Hack: Sleep with your hair wrapped up overnight to wake up with a natural wave.

DIY it: This works best when you apply a bit of mousse to damp hair at the root. Brush half of the hair up into a ponytail. Then, use a moldable, soft tool, such as the Wrap Up, to secure your hair on top of your head. Open it up, pull the hair through, pinch it closed, roll it up, and bend it into a loose bun. Twist the remaining bottom half of the hair into a low ponytail bun. Get some beauty rest!

When your hair is released in the morning, it will have a loose wave in it from holding that bun shape. You can then spend just five minutes touching it up with a curling iron, like the Beachwaver S1.25. This will "polish the waves and get that tousled Victoria’s Secret look," Potempa said.

Courtesy of the Beachwaver

Hack: Curl along the sides of your head to eliminate having to reach all the way to the back.

DIY it: Getting organized before you start twirling your hair with a hot tool will save time later. To do this, bring all the hair forward, and split it into two sections: the right side and left side. Use double spring clips, such as these Darby Clips, to section hair from the bottom working up to the top on each side of the head.

"If you curl clean, even sections, you won’t need to reach the back of the head because the Beachwaver rotates in both directions to give you an even curl," Sarah explains.

Courtesy of the Beachwaver

Hack: Leave the ends out for instant "second-day" waves.

DIY it: The ultimate trick to making your waves look effortless is to leave the ends out. Curl strands with a 1.25-inch iron, such as the Beachwaver S1.25, and leave two inches of the ends out.

"You only need to focus on curling the middle section of hair to get that lived-in, gorgeous bend," Potempa explained. "It saves you time because you’re curling less hair, and keeping the ends out works with your natural texture to give it that beachy look."

Hack: Spritz hair spray on a brush to look runway ready.

DIY it: After you’ve curled your entire head and let the curls cool, take a flexible hair spray and spray it onto a nylon-and-boar bristles brush (like the On Set Styling Brush). Then comb the curls out. "This ensures even distribution of the product and gives hair a smooth finish!" Potempa said.

POPSUGAR Photography | Larkin Clark

Hack: Add clip-in hair extensions for volume and length.

DIY it: Use Laced Hair Extensions to get a boost of volume and make hair appear extra long — just like the Angels'! "They’re super easy to use," Potempa said.

She went on: "Section the hair starting at the bottom. The Laced Hair extensions have small clips on each piece (1-4) based on the width of the piece. Tease a small section and spray with a flexible hair spray where you will apply the clip. Then clip the small clip near the root of your hair. Continue to section up and place rows of extensions in. Trim the hair to blend in with your layers. Then continue to style."

POPSUGAR Photography | Benjamin Stone

Hack: Use hand lotion to tame frizz for the final look.

DIY it: "If you don’t have a cream for the ends of the hair, use a dime-sized amount of hand lotion to smooth the ends and combat any frizz," Potempa explained.

The Finished Look
Courtesy of Beachwaver

The Finished Look