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How to get beach waves with a wand or straighteners

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In short

Use a large barrel of about 32 to 38 mm or a tapered wand on dry hair. Wrap fairly large sections away from the face, leave the last 2 to 5 cm of the ends out, and alternate directions every section or two. Let the waves cool, then shake them out with your fingers and finish with a light texture spray. Straighteners with rounded edges can do the same with a twist and glide technique.

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Beach waves are loose, slightly undone waves that look as though they formed naturally. The trick is less about the tool and more about technique: big sections, straight ends, mixed directions and breaking the waves up once they set. You can get them with a curling wand, curling tongs used like a wand, a hair waver or a pair of straighteners. This guide explains the best tool for your hair and gives a simple step by step method.

Which tool and barrel size

A large barrel gives loose waves rather than curls. On shoulder length hair, 25 to 32 mm works well. On long hair, 32 to 38 mm gives a looser bend. A tapered wand is popular for beach waves because it makes the wave slightly looser near the root and tighter towards the ends. Our explainer on what size curling wand to get has a full size guide, and tapered vs regular wands explains the cone shape.

Straighteners can also give beach waves, and they suit people who straighten on other days. A barrel waver gives a more defined, repeating S-wave, which is closer to a mermaid wave than a beach wave; see hair waver vs crimper.

13 mm½ intight19 mm¾ indefined25 mm1 inclassic32 mm1¼ inloose38 mm1½ inwaves
Common barrel sizes in mm with inches, and the curl each typically gives.

Beach waves with a curling wand

Start with fully dry hair and a heat protectant. Divide the hair into an underneath layer and a top layer, and clip the top out of the way.

  1. 1

    Take a section about 3 to 5 cm wide. Larger sections give looser waves.

  2. 2

    Hold the wand pointing down, wearing the heat glove on the wrapping hand.

  3. 3

    Wrap the section around the barrel away from your face, starting a few centimetres from the root.

  4. 4

    Leave the last 2 to 5 cm of the ends unwrapped so they stay straight.

  5. 5

    Hold for about 5 to 8 seconds, depending on hair thickness, then slide the wave off.

  6. 6

    Alternate direction on the next section, towards then away from the face.

  7. 7

    Let all the waves cool fully, then rake them out with your fingers.

Beach waves with straighteners

Straighteners with rounded outer edges, such as ghd models, can wave hair by twisting as you glide. Clamp a section near the root, turn the straighteners half a turn away from your face and glide slowly and steadily down to the ends, leaving the last few centimetres straight. The slower you glide, the stronger the wave. For a flatter, more modern bend, clamp, turn half a turn, slide down a few centimetres, turn back and repeat.

Our guide on how to curl hair with straighteners covers the twist in more detail, and the best straighteners for curling lists models with rounded plates that make it easier.

  1. Step 1

    Clamp near the root

  2. Step 2

    Half twist away from the face

  3. Step 3

    Glide slowly down

  4. Step 4

    Release a curl

Curling with a straightener: clamp, half twist, glide slowly, release.

Making beach waves look natural

Natural looking waves come from variation. Mix directions, vary section sizes slightly and leave the front sections a little looser. Avoid the hair right at the face for the first wave so it frames the face softly.

Once cool, break the waves up by running your fingers through them or shaking them at the root. A texture spray or a light salt spray adds grip and the matt finish associated with beach waves. Avoid heavy oils on the lengths, which can weigh waves down.

  • Ends wrapped in: looks like a curl, not a wave. Leave ends out.
  • All waves in one direction: they merge into one ripple. Alternate.
  • Waves drop fast: smaller sections, hold a little longer and let them cool before touching.
  • Too defined: brush gently with a wide tooth comb or your fingers.

Heat and safety

Use the lowest temperature that holds the wave in your hair. Fine hair usually needs less heat; coarse hair may need more. Avoid passing over the same section several times. Our explainer on heat protection spray covers why protection matters. If you want premium tools for the job, see our guide to the best curling wands and tongs.

Note:Wands and plates can burn skin instantly. Wear the heat glove, keep tools away from your face and ears, rest them on a heat proof surface and unplug after use.

See the best curling wands and tongs →

Frequently asked questions

What size curling wand is best for beach waves? Usually 25 to 32 mm for shoulder length hair and 32 to 38 mm for long hair. A tapered wand also works well.

Can you do beach waves with curling tongs? Yes. Open the clamp and wrap hair around the closed barrel like a wand, or clamp mid length and leave the ends out.

How do you make beach waves last? Use smaller sections, let waves cool completely before touching, and finish with a texture or hairspray.

Is a waver or wand better for beach waves? A wand gives a more natural, undone look. A waver gives a defined, repeating wave.

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