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Beachy waves with a flat iron are an easy way to add relaxed texture and movement without curling every inch of your hair. This technique works on short or long hair, and alternating the direction of each bend helps create a loose, natural-looking finish.
The method below is shared by AnnaRose Kern, a professional makeup artist and hairstylist based in Los Angeles. Follow the steps on clean, completely dry hair, and use a heat protectant before styling.
How to Create Beachy Waves with a Flat Iron
Gather a flat iron, heat protectant, sectioning clips, and optional styling cream and hairspray. Use a heat setting suited to your hair type and the manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid applying a hot tool to damp hair, and try not to make repeated passes over the same section.
This approach creates bends through the middle of the hair while keeping the ends straighter. That contrast gives the finished style a relaxed, modern appearance.
1. Prepare and section your hair
Start with clean, dry hair and apply heat protectant evenly. Divide your hair into manageable sections. For shorter hair, clipping up the top may be enough; longer or thicker hair may be easier to style in three sections. Working from the bottom upward is one practical option.
Keep unused hair clipped away so you can reach each section comfortably. Smaller, even sections make it easier to create consistent bends.
2. Create alternating bends
Take a section about 1 inch wide. Use the flat iron to bend the hair away from your face, rather than curling it all the way around the iron.
Stop about three-quarters of the way down the section. Leave the ends out instead of curling them; this is an important part of the loose beachy effect.
Take another section of the same size and bend it in the opposite direction. Continue alternating directions as you move across your hair. This helps separate the waves and gives the style more movement than bending every section the same way.
Repeat until all sections have been styled. If you have layered or shorter hair, work carefully around the ends so they remain easy to finish straight.
3. Separate and finish the waves
Let the hair cool, then loosen the bends gently with your fingers. Separate the waves and shape them into the amount of texture you prefer. Avoid brushing vigorously if you want to keep the individual bends defined. A small amount of styling cream can be used for extra definition.
Lightly tap the very ends with the flat iron to straighten them. Use a gentle touch and avoid lingering on the tips, which are often more delicate than the rest of the hair.
Finish with a light mist of hairspray if you want additional hold. Start with a small amount; you can always add more if needed.
The finished style should feel relaxed rather than perfectly uniform. For beachy waves with a flat iron, the key details are alternating the direction of each bend, leaving the ends mostly straight, and separating the waves with your fingers.
Technique by AnnaRose Kern, professional makeup artist and hairstylist.
