There’s something about beachy waves that never goes out of style. They’re soft, a little messy, and totally effortless—like you just stepped off the sand with sun-kissed hair and zero worries. Whether your hair is short, long, blonde, or brunette, there’s a beach wave look waiting to elevate your vibe.
Let’s dive into 24 gorgeous beachy waves hairstyles, plus how to get each look just right.
1. Classic Loose Beach Waves
This is the gold standard of summer hair. It features soft, relaxed curves that look completely natural and undone. It’s the perfect “everyday glam” style that works just as well for a coffee run as it does for a sunset dinner.
To get the look, use a large barrel curling iron (at least 1.25 inches). Wrap large sections of hair loosely around the barrel, leaving the ends out for a more natural finish. Once cool, brush through with a wide-tooth comb.
Keep waves from falling by using a lightweight flexible-hold hairspray. Avoid heavy creams that weigh hair down. A quick refresh with dry shampoo at the roots will maintain volume and keep your waves looking bouncy for days.
2. Textured Beach Waves
These are the “cool girl” waves—messy, piece-y, and full of grit. This style is all about volume and movement, giving off a carefree vibe that looks even better when it’s a little bit windblown.
Start with damp hair and apply a generous amount of sea salt spray, like Bumble and bumble Surf Spray. Scrunch your hair upward while blow-drying with a diffuser to encourage a rough, salty texture and maximum volume.
Maintain this gritty texture by avoiding over-brushing, which can lead to frizz. Instead, use your fingers to reshape pieces throughout the day. A tiny bit of texture paste on the ends will keep the “piece-y” look defined and sharp.
3. Beachy Waves with Middle Part
This style offers a modern, balanced look by combining a sleek center part with soft, flowing waves. It frames the face beautifully and works perfectly for those who want a “model-off-duty” aesthetic.
Cleanly part your hair down the middle using a rattail comb. Curl your hair away from your face on both sides to create an open, symmetrical look. Use a shine-enhancing heat protectant to keep the top section looking smooth.
Keep the part sharp by using a tiny bit of clear brow gel or hair wax to tame flyaways along the hairline. This contrast between the sleek part and the wavy lengths keeps the style looking intentional and high-fashion.
4. Short Beachy Waves (Bob Style)
Who says you need long hair for beach vibes? This chic bob style adds volume and playfulness to short hair, using subtle bends to create a tousled finish that prevents a short cut from looking too stiff.
Use a flat iron instead of a curling wand to create “S-waves.” Gently clamp the hair and rotate the iron back and forth as you move down the strand. This creates a flatter, more modern bend than a traditional curl.
Short hair loses its “tousle” faster, so use a dry texture spray to add “grip.” This prevents the waves from clumping together and keeps your bob looking airy and voluminous throughout your summer adventures.
5. Long Mermaid Waves
These are extra-long, flowing waves that scream beach goddess. The texture is more uniform and continuous than classic waves, creating a rhythmic pattern that looks stunning on hair reaching past the shoulder blades.
The secret weapon here is a triple barrel waver. Simply clamp the hair starting near the roots and move down to the ends. Use a high-shine serum before styling to ensure your “scales” look glossy and hydrated.
Long hair is prone to tangles, especially in the wind. To maintain the mermaid flow, carry a small bottle of light hair oil to smooth the ends. Sleep with your hair in a loose silk scrunchie to prevent morning frizz.
6. Beachy Waves with Highlights
Waves are the best way to show off a new color job. The curves catch the light, emphasizing the dimension and contrast between your base color and your sun-kissed highlights for a multi-tonal, deep finish.
Style with a medium-sized wand to create defined curls that spiral. This movement allows the different shades of hair to weave together. Finish with a gloss spray to make those highlights truly “pop” under the summer sun.
Protect your highlights from fading by using a UV-filter spray. Sun exposure can turn blonde highlights brassy; a weekly purple toning mask combined with regular wave styling will keep your color and texture looking salon-fresh.
7. Messy Beach Waves
This look is perfectly imperfect. It features a mix of different curl sizes and directions, resulting in a carefree, “just rolled out of bed” vibe that is incredibly easy to wear and maintain.
When curling, alternate the direction of each section—one toward the face, one away. This prevents the waves from nesting together. Once finished, flip your head upside down and vigorously shake out the curls with your fingers.
The messier, the better! To maintain this look, embrace a bit of frizz and use a sea salt spray to refresh the texture the next morning. It’s the ultimate low-maintenance style for a busy summer schedule.
8. Beach Waves with Side Part
A deep side part adds instant drama and “oomph” to your beach waves. It creates a beautiful sweep across the forehead and provides extra lift at the roots, making it perfect for those with finer hair.
Style your waves as usual, then use a comb to create a deep part over the arch of your eyebrow. Flip the larger section of hair over to one side and hit the roots with a bit of volumizing powder.
To keep the volume from falling flat, use a small hidden bobby pin or a decorative clip on the “tucked” side. This keeps the dramatic sweep in place and ensures your waves stay voluminous all day long.
9. Beachy Waves Ponytail
This is the ultimate “cool girl” updo. It’s a casual, mid-height ponytail filled with textured waves, featuring loose strands pulled out around the face for a soft, effortless appearance that’s perfect for hot days.
Curl your entire head first to build texture. Pull your hair into a loose ponytail and secure it with an elastic. Gently tug on the hair at the crown for lift, and pull out a few “tendrils” around the ears.
Maintain the ponytail’s “perkiness” by wrapping a small section of hair around the elastic to hide it. If the waves in the tail start to flatten, a quick hit of texture spray will bring the bounce right back.
10. Half-Up Beach Waves
The perfect mix of polished and relaxed, this style pulls the top half of your hair away from your face while letting the rest of your waves flow freely. It’s a great way to show off length while staying cool.
Style your waves first, then section off the top third of your hair. Secure it with a claw clip or a small “messy bun.” Use a light-hold pomade to smooth the hair that is being pulled back.
To maintain this look, ensure the clip is secure so it doesn’t sag. If you’re at the beach, this style is great for keeping hair out of your eyes while still looking glamorous for those seaside photos.
11. Natural Air-Dried Waves
This is the most authentic way to achieve the look—zero heat required! It results in soft, subtle waves that follow your hair’s natural pattern, keeping your strands healthy and hydrated throughout the summer heat.
On damp hair, apply a leave-in conditioner. Create two or four loose braids (depending on how tight you want the wave) and let your hair dry completely. Undo the braids and shake out the texture with your hands.
Maintain these natural waves by using a silk pillowcase at night. This prevents friction and frizz, ensuring your heatless waves look smooth and defined the next morning without the need for any touch-ups.
12. Beach Waves with Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs and beach waves are a match made in heaven. The soft, face-framing fringe blends seamlessly into the wavy lengths, creating a romantic, trendy look that feels very “French girl at the beach.”
Style your curtain bangs using a round brush and a blow dryer, pulling them away from the face. Once the bangs are set, curl the rest of your hair, ensuring the waves start where the bangs end.
Keep your bangs looking fresh by carrying a small travel-sized dry shampoo. Bangs tend to get oily faster than the rest of your hair; a quick spray will keep them voluminous and blended with your waves.
13. Wet-Look Beach Waves
Bold and high-fashion, this look makes you look like you just stepped out of the ocean. It features glossy, highly defined waves that stay in place, giving off a sleek, slightly edgy vibe.
Apply a mixture of hair gel and shine serum to damp, wavy hair. Comb it through from roots to mid-lengths, then “scrunch” the ends. The goal is for the hair to look saturated but not crunchy.
The “wet” look can eventually dry down. To maintain the shine, use a high-gloss finishing spray. Avoid touching your hair too much, as breaking the “gel cast” will turn the sleek look into a regular dry style.
14. Beach Waves with Braided Accent
Add a boho twist to your summer look with a small braided accent. A tiny three-strand or fishtail braid tucked into your waves adds visual interest and a bit of “hand-crafted” charm to the style.
Style your hair into loose waves first. Take a small one-inch section near your temple and braid it loosely. Secure it with a clear elastic or simply pin it back so it “disappears” into the rest of the waves.
Maintain the braid by ensuring it isn’t too tight; a “pancaked” (pulled apart) braid looks more natural with beach waves. If the braid gets fuzzy, a tiny bit of hair oil will smooth down any flyaways.
15. Voluminous Beach Waves
These are big, bouncy waves full of body and life. This look is less about the “messy” texture and more about the “glamour,” making it a great choice for summer parties or special occasions.
Prep damp hair with a volumizing mousse like Living Proof Full Mousse. Blow-dry with a round brush for lift at the roots before curling with a large wand. Pin each curl up to cool for maximum “staying power.”
To maintain this massive volume, avoid heavy oils. Instead, use a volumizing hairspray and flip your hair occasionally throughout the day to keep the roots lifted. This ensures your waves stay big and bouncy until sunset.
16. Beach Waves Lob (Long Bob)
The “Lob” is the trendiest mid-length cut, and adding waves makes it even better. This style focuses the curl on the mid-lengths while leaving the ends slightly straight for a modern, edgy silhouette.
When curling your lob, stop the iron about an inch from the bottom. This keeps the ends “pointy” and fresh. Use a flat iron to lightly tap the ends if they look too curly or “done.”
Lobs can lose their shape if they get too heavy. Maintain the look by using a lightweight texturizing mist. This adds “air” to the style, preventing the mid-length waves from dragging the look down.
17. Beach Waves with Balayage
Balayage was practically invented for beach waves. The hand-painted highlights are perfectly showcased by the movement of the curls, making the transition from dark to light look seamless and incredibly sun-kissed.
Use a tapered curling wand to create waves that are tighter at the bottom. This draws the eye toward the lighter ends of your balayage. Finish with a shine-enhancing serum to highlight the color’s richness.
Maintain the “pop” of your balayage by using color-safe products. Since waves highlight every strand, keep the colors bright by avoiding sulfate-heavy shampoos, which can dull the beautiful dimension of your hand-painted highlights.
18. Sleek Roots + Beach Waves
This “half-and-half” look offers a super chic contrast. The hair is ironed smooth from the roots to about ear-level, then breaks into soft beachy waves for the remaining length—very red-carpet ready.
Use a flat iron to smooth the top section of your hair. Starting at ear-level, switch to a curling wand or use the flat iron to create soft bends. The transition should be clean and deliberate.
Keep the roots sleek by using a tiny bit of anti-frizz serum. To maintain the contrast, avoid volumizing products at the crown. This look is all about that polished, smooth-to-wavy transition that stays sleek all day.
19. Beach Waves with Hair Accessories
Summer is the time to play! Elevate your waves with colorful claw clips, silk scarves, or pearl pins. Accessories add a fun, personalized touch to the classic beach look.
Style your waves first as the “base.” Then, add your accessory of choice—perhaps a scarf tied around a half-up ponytail or a series of gold clips on one side. It’s the perfect way to hide second-day hair.
Maintain your accessories by ensuring they are “anchored” well. If using a scarf, use a bobby pin underneath to keep it from sliding off your silky waves. This keeps your look secure through the sea breeze.
20. Tousled Beach Waves with Layers
If you have a layered haircut, this is your go-to. The different lengths of hair create built-in movement and lightness, allowing the waves to stack beautifully for a full, feathered appearance.
Focus on curling each layer individually. Use a texturizing spray, like Drybar Money Maker, to define the ends of the layers and keep them from blending into one solid mass of hair.
Layers can sometimes get frizzy. To maintain the “tousled” look without the fluff, use a tiny bit of styling cream on just the ends. This defines the layers and keeps the waves looking bouncy and intentional.
21. Beach Waves Updo
For a more formal summer event, try a wavy updo. It’s essentially a relaxed bun or twist that retains the wavy texture of the hair, making it look soft and romantic rather than stiff or over-styled.
Curl your hair first, then loosely gather it at the nape of your neck. Secure with pins, leaving some wavy pieces out to frame your face. Don’t worry about making it “perfect”—the texture is the star.
Maintain the updo by using plenty of “grippy” hairspray before pinning. If pieces start to fall, it just adds to the “effortless” vibe! Carry a few extra bobby pins in your bag for quick sunset touch-ups.
22. Beach Waves with Fringe
A full or wispy fringe adds a youthful, trendy vibe to beach waves. The contrast between the straight (or slightly curved) bangs and the messy, textured lengths creates a very modern, editorial look.
Keep your fringe smooth using a flat iron or a blow dryer with a concentrator nozzle. For the rest of your hair, use a sea salt spray and a wand to create loose, irregular beach waves.
Bangs can get flat in summer humidity. Maintain the look by keeping a mini round brush in your bag to quickly “fluff” your fringe. This ensures the contrast between your sleek bangs and wavy hair remains sharp.
23. Boho Beach Waves
These are free-spirited waves with a slightly wild, “earthy” texture. It’s less about the perfect curl and more about the volume and “fuzz,” giving off a very organic and artistic summer energy.
Use minimal heat and lots of texturizing spray. You can even back-comb the waves slightly to add that “boho” volume. Incorporate a few tiny, messy braids throughout the hair for the ultimate festival-ready look.
Boho waves thrive on “lived-in” hair. To maintain the wild texture, avoid washing your hair every day. Instead, use a sea salt spray to refresh the volume and keep the texture looking “salty” and free-spirited.
24. Glam Beach Waves
This is the “red carpet” version of the trend. The waves are more uniform, polished, and shiny, offering a sleek finish that’s perfect for high-end summer parties or glamorous seaside dinners.
Curl your hair in the exact same direction all over. Once the curls are completely cool, brush them out into a continuous “S” wave. Finish with a heavy-duty shine spray for a mirror-like glow.
To maintain the glam finish, avoid touching your hair to prevent frizz. Use a silk scarf if you’re traveling to your event in a car. This keeps the uniform waves perfectly in place for a flawless, high-shine finish.
Which of these seaside styles are you rocking this summer? I’m currently obsessed with the Textured Beach Waves—they’re just so easy for those humid Florida days! Let me know your favorites in the comments.
Stay glamorous,
Simone
