What’s the hottest hairstyle in Hollywood today? Simple: big, loose curls. But for everyday, this hairstyle can look a little too polished. A slightly unkempt hairstyle like Kate Hudson’s over there is more wearable around town and still cute enough for an impromptu date with the Starbucks guy. Here’s how to style it yourself:
1. Wash hair and towel dry just until damp. Rub in some mousse to give your hair a little volume – if your hair’s flat on top, this style will look like you got rained on. Blow-dry upside down without combing; just run your fingers through it. Brush your part to one side – Kate’s is on the left – and grab your curling iron.
2. Use a curling iron with a big barrel, like 1 1/4 inch. (I know these curls are little. Just listen to me, dammit.) Spiral one-inch sections of hair around the iron, hold for 20 seconds or so, then release the iron by pulling it out downward. This will keep the ends from getting too curly. Make sure you’re twisting the iron towards the back of your head when curling the big chunk of hair on the left.
3. Spritz some hairspray at your hairline underneath the big chunk of hair we just talked about. Run your fingers through the curls in that section angling toward the back of your head. As soon as it looks cute, hairspray that section and leave it alone! Now run your fingers through the rest of the curls downward, spritzing them with hairspray as soon as they look right. Don’t start your fingers too high in your hair, or all of the volume and curl at the top will disappear; instead, start at about 3 inches down from the top of your head. Finish with a little shine serum spray, and bada-bing, you’re beachy!
Hi!
Is there a particular curling iron or brand that you would recommend? I bought a revlon one from Walmart, and either I don’t know how to use it, or there are better ones out there.
I have a Chi flat iron that does what it is supposed to do without any problems, and I was expecting the same ease from a curling iron.
What is the answer?
Great site, by the way.
I have always trouble curling my hair. I love the wavy look but I never get it perfect. I have a vidal sassoon curler but never get the curling perfect . could you suggest any curling gel or any good curler for me.
Hope so it works on my hair….
Will you recommend some particular curling iron and hairspray brand?
Hey i really love wavy hair but it someone never turns out. i am definately going to try this out! hope it works! this explained to me how easy it seams to waveeee my hair! thanks
you can use a flat iron to curl you hair and it comes out really well
Antoinette,
I use a Babyliss Pro curling iron – for wavy looks, get the biggest barrel available (2″ or so). My current favorite hairspray is by a brand called Sebastian; it gives great hold without being sticky or helmet head-ish. I believe they sell it at ULTA. As Erin mentioned, you can also curl with your flat iron, but I find the curls I get that way don’t look as natural as I’d like from a wavy style.
So curling irons are great and all, but if you’re like me, the hassel and arm ache is too much for everyday. But I’ve found a way to get virtually the same result overnight. Here’s how:
Shower at night and wash your hair. Towel dry until just damp (dripping wet hair will not work). Then add a little bit of mousse if you’d like. My hair holds a curl pretty well, but I use it just in case. Then part your hair to one side, keeping any bangs you have in the front. Take the front half of your hair, like you would if you were making a half back, and smooth it out on top. Then using this section of hair, twist it into a loose bun at the top/back of your head (too tight and it won’t dry) and secure it with pins. Then take the other section of hair (bottom half) and do the same, underneath the first bun. I like to put my bangs in a small sponge roller sometimes, but if they wave/curl nicely by themselves, then don’t worry about it. Then just lay down for the night, and wake up with lovely waves! Note: If your hair is still damp in the morning, refrain from brushing/combing it out til it’s dry, otherwise you’ll pull the curls out.
Honestly, you may have to experiment with this one. I tend to do a bigger section on top and smaller on the bottom so the curls under there will stay longer. But really, it’s so easy. And when you find a combination that works, you will love it!
Happy Waving!!
PS This is more of an everyday “bed-head chic” look, definitely not formal.
my hair is naturally like that
I have natural frizzy hair. The type of hair you can’t go out with unless you straighten or curl it. It’s a big pain and my hair is starting to get ruined. I Was wondering if anyone has any ideas of what I could do with it, without having to use straightener or curler..
Please help
It didnt work on my curlyish hair just made it frizzy and hard
Chloe – use a smoothing weatherproof serum like the ones by Paul Mitchell.
Unhappy – maybe you’re using too much product? If you have naturally curly-ish hair, try to work with your natural curl. How long is your hair?
my hair always sponges up real ugly when i let it air dry, and looks super damaged when i blow dry it. im trying to find a shampoo or curler or whatever it is i could use to make my hair look like hudson’s or cocktail from the love of ray j. i loved her hair, and it seemed so natural…what can help me to get hair like that…
Jackie- Well, I have the same kind of problem too. If you blow-dry your hair, use a good conditioner. Doesn’t matter if it weighs the hair down a bit either. And I get around the problem of having frizzy hair after I blow-dry by dipping a comb in water and combing my hair like that, dipping it in again a few times. Yes, seems asurd to wet, dry then wet your hair again but if you do it right it’ll become super-smooth if your hair is like mine.
Sasha- Dammit. I’ve tried it before but my hair defies such methods(must be coz I’m Asian). It’s all right if you don’t brush it(even if it’s dry) but then you have the ugly bed-head look and I HATE that.
Coz you see, the curls fall right off the minute I brush it.
omgg i hope this works(: my hair is naturally wavy and has looootsa volume. but i hate it!!! i’ve always wanted the pin straight look. but this page shows me how pretty wavy hair can be!! i’m gonna start working to get my hair to look like this. i hope it works with medium hair that has lotsaaa layers(:
ok my hair is naturally curly, like little ringlets. and when i curl it, it stays curled for a few minutes, but after a while it just goes straight?! and i cake it with hairspray!! any suggestions?
my hair is super naturally curly, crazy layered, and pretty long as well and i had to experiment a few times to get the beachy wavy look.after trying this way it sooo worked
.. Once my hair is dry i straighten the entire thing. I then part it into sections and spiral curl each section around a curling iron without clamping the iron. leave it for about 10 seconds and let go && wa la..magic (:
o and for CHLOE just try this once and see if it works. (: after your morning shower DONT dry your hair at all, it may feel a bit gross but it should work, then lather a small amount of regular hair conditioner through your wet hair. brush it right after putting the conditioner. just let it dry after that without messing with it. it may take a while to dry but once its dry it shouldnt be as frizzy or anything. hope this works
Wow! this worked out very nicely on my hair. I have been forever trying to figure how to do this! My hair is naturally curly so it make it a little easier