How to Get Perfect Beachy Waves

When it comes to hair we envy, there are a few names that come to mind: Gisele Bündchen, Blake Lively, and now Beau Garrett. Since watching the actress on Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce, you may have found yourself hypnotized by her perfect waves. We don't blame you. They hit that perfect sweet spot that lies well above lazy and just below over-styled. Beauty expert Ami Desai knows a thing or two about hair and gives some styling suggestions, along with a short grocery list of products that will help you get you to Phoebe-level hair perfection.

"Start with day-old washed hair," says Desai. "This is ideal for really getting those textured waves that last all day. If your hair tends to be too oily to skip a wash, try spraying roots with a dry shampoo, like Macadamia Professional Style Extend Dry Shampoo."

If you absolutely must wash your hair, stick to a lightweight conditioner that won't weigh down hair, like L'Oréal EverCreme Nourishing Conditioner.

"Lightly spray the entire head with a lightweight hairspray to add a little grit and help the waves set without having to spray each section curled. This will give it a more undone and unfinished look rather than being super polished. I like Kenra Professional Curl Spray 8. The key is to spray enough so waves will stay without being too crunchy or stiff."

If your hair has a hard time holding onto a curl, Desai suggests spraying hair with EIMI Sugar Lift Sugar Spray prior to curling to help create great texture and volume without spending lots of time curling. This will help cut your actual curl time in half.

"Generally you want to use at least a 1-inch barrel or bigger. I like to use anything between 1-1.5 inches depending on the wave I'm going for and how thick or fine hair is. Conair You Big Waves is a great tool to achieve this look because it has a tapered barrel that goes from 1 and 3/4-1 inches. Plus, it includes a bonus interchangeable conical barrel, which goes from 1 1/4-to 3/4 inches. If you're looking to invest in a more expensive iron, the Sultra Bombshell Curing Iron is a great option. It has a dual-heater system, which means you get even heat distribution." Many curling irons have "cool" spots which result in uneven styling.
For a more natural look, take larger sections of hair to curl, but if your hair is harder to curl and doesn't hold it well, use smaller sections to curl and use a smaller barrel.

Once you've finised curling each section of hair, take a wide-toothed comb and gently comb through each section. This will take hair from defined curls to a more care-free look.

And if you're someone who doesn't like using heat or spending too much time on your hair, Desai has another suggestion. "Braid or twist sections of hair, lightly spritz with Style Sexy Hairspray Clay Texturizing Spray, and sleep on it. Wake in the morning to perfectly tousled waves."

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