How to Get Beach Waves With A Curling Iron

I want to give each and every one of you the biggest bear hug for showering James with such kind comments on his first post yesterday!  It’s one thing for y’all to be so sweet to me, but when the love is directed toward my son, it really touches my heart.  Thank you!  He read every comment and was so thankful!  You guys are seriously the best.

Some of you also asked me to include the link to LOG YOUR EXERCISE at the top of every post, so I’ll do that from now on.  If you want to join our 30-Day Fitness Challenge, start here! #HWHFitnessChallenge 

HOW TO GET BEACH WAVES WITH A CURLING IRON

Today, I’m partnering with Nordstrom and we’re talking all about hair and how to get beach waves with a curling iron! I watched my genius hair guy, Chris, at M Salon in Houston curl my hair with a regular curling iron and liked how it looked and how much faster it seemed to go.

When I shared this photo on Stories, I got lots of requests for a hair curling tutorial, so I tried to imitate his technique so I could show you here.  I curled my hair the same way, the only difference in styling is that he leaves the curls tighter and I tend to fluff mine out more.

Here’s the pic from when I left the salon:

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

Floral Top

THE MIRACLE PRODUCTS

Below are the miracle products Chris always uses on my hair and I incorporate them into my routine too.  They sell the whole Oribe line at the salon, but I buy mine at Nordstrom and just get them shipped to my house with my other orders.  #convenience Nordstrom carries every hair and beauty product you could ever want and it’s all available for FREE 2-day shipping.

I started with the Dry Texturizing Spray and used that for months before also investing in the Flexible Finish Cream and recently the Royal Blowout.

beach waves oribe hair products

ORIBE Royal Blowout

Okay guys, hold onto your hats because this stuff is pricey, but so worth it!  First of all, it’s a heat protectant and Chris says this is the number one thing you need for your hair if you use heat on it.

I have naturally frizzy, sorta wavy- but not wavy enough for it to dry pretty – hair.  #blessed Whether I let my hair air dry or use a hair dryer, it always comes out frizzy and dry looking and I have to curl it to get it to look smooth.  BUT, when I found this spray, it made my hair soft and silky smooth and eliminated any frizz.

You just spray it evenly on your wet hair before applying any heat.

ORIBE Dry Texturizing Spray

If you want extra volume and texture in your hair, this spray is a game changer.  It can be used as a dry shampoo to absorb oil at the roots, but I really love it for adding texture and volume throughout my hair.

ORIBE Flexible Finish Cream

This is the newest product I’ve been using.  It’s a paste I rub it into my hands to warm up, and then add to the ends of my hair to give it a ‘piecey’ look.  I also use it at the top of my head to tame flyaways and to control my pesky cowlicks.

STEP 1 : DRY YOUR HAIR

To keep my hair as healthy as possible, I usually let it air dry most of the way, and then finish it off with a hairdryer.  Since we are curling the hair, I don’t worry about round brushing it dry to smooth it.  Also, the Royal Blowout will make the hair a nice, smooth texture on it’s own.  I will flip my head over to blow dry my hair upside down for more volume.

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

Cold Shoulder Blouse

STEP 2 : TAME COWLICKS

Before I start curling, I have to tame my unruly cowlicks!  You might be able to skip this step, but I was blessed with two cowlicks that stick straight up at the front of my hairline.  I prefer the hair lays down to help cover some of my forehead, which helps soften the face.

I use a round brush alternating directions and aiming the heat of the hairdryer specifically on that part of the hair.

How to Tame a Cowlick

STEP 3 : DIVIDE HAIR INTO SECTIONS

When the hair is all dry and the cowlicks are tamed, brush through your hair (I use my Wet Brush), then section off the top part of the hair to make the curling part easier.  My hair isn’t that thick, so I only need to section off the top part.  If your hair is thicker, you might want to create another section.

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

STEP 4 : GET BEACHY WAVES WITH A CURLING IRON

The trick here is to start the curl at the top of your hair as opposed to at the bottom.  And use a 1 1/2 inch curling iron.

Take a 1-inch section of hair.

Open your curling iron and slide the section of hair around the barrel.  Keeping the clamp slightly open, turn the curling iron until the hair is wrapped around the barrel all the way to the end, leaving out the last 1-2 inches.

Then pull down as you release your hair from the curling iron.

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

I curl the right and left sides away from my face, but you can alternate the curls going away from and toward your face for a more natural, tousled look.

Then take down the top section of your hair and part where you want it.

Curl both sides the same way you did the right and left sides.

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

STEP 5 : SPRAY WITH TEXTURIZING SPRAY

For more volume and texture, give a few spritzes of the texturizing spray at the roots.  I seriously love this stuff!  It just gives your hair that added cool finish.

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

STEP 6 : SOFTEN THE WAVES

Chris uses a wide comb to brush through the waves, which separates them, but also keeps them tighter.

I use my hands to soften the waves, which makes the waves looser.

You can do whichever you prefer depending on the look you want.

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

STEP 7 : APPLY FINISHING CREAM

Next, take a small amount of the flexible paste, rub it into your hands to warm the product, and rub it into the ends of your hair and wherever you need to tame flyaways.

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

I put it at the top of my head to tame flyaways and also to keep my cowlicks down.  Then I add to the the ends of my hair for a more ‘piecy’ look.

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

The finished looks is pretty beachy waves that don’t take forever to achieve!

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

Finally, finish off the whole look with some flexible hold hairspray.  I like this one by Moroccan Oil.

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

SHOP BEACY WAVE HAIR PRODUCTS

how to get beach waves with a curling iron

Do you curl your hair with a wand or regular curling iron?

Have a great day friends!

Affiliate links used in collaboration with Nordstrom.

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

13 Comments

  1. I first heard about Oribe products by listening to Fat Mascara podcast in March (their Top 10 list is awesome). Seeing what they can do vs hearing about it makes a big difference! Now I need to try this on my short bob! Love your blog, by the way

  2. What do you do between washes? Do you use a special type of brush or pick to avoid pulling your curls apart? Or do you recurl your hair?

  3. O.M.G yes yes yes this tutorial is so basic and easy that anyone can do it at home. Thank you Megan for sharing this, I can’t wait to try this on my own

  4. Love, love, love this tutorial! Thanks for sharing. I have fine hair and have a hard time getting curls to hold. Cant wait to give this a go.

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