How To: Beachy Waves

It's almost summer, and sporting beach looks are near…

Below is a step-by-step guide to creating sexy beach waves at home.

You'll need:

-1" to 1 ¼" barrel curling iron

-A volumizing gel or spray—such as Volumista by Oribe

-A light hold hairpray—like Soft Lacquer, a heat activated setting spray by Oribe

Here's How:

1. Turn upside down and spray freshly washed (towel-dried) hair with volumizing spray.
2. If hair is naturally coarse or curly, work a straightening balm through hair. 
3. Brush hair (this works the product evenly through hair). Blowdry hair straight, starting at the roots to get extra volume. Hair must be completely dry for this look to work. Blow cold air at the roots to add volume (cold air locks in a style).
4. Separate hair into three sections, securing with a ponytail holder. (It's easier this way to curl your way through each section).
5. To curl hair, use a wide-barrel curling iron. Starting with one section, take a 1-inch portion of hair, spritz it with styling spray or hairspray. Wrap hair around the barrel of the curling iron. (Wrapping hair is different from the traditional curling method. You don't want to 'clip' hair into the barrel. Wrapping allows you to curl all the way to the root). When you're curling, make sure to leave ends loose to avoid a crimp mark.
6. Release the curl after about 5-10 seconds (hold longer if you want a tighter curl). You should have a corkscrew curl.
7. Alternate the direction of the curl as you work your way through each section. (It's all in the direction you wind hair around the barrel of the curling iron. Start by placing hair on top of the barrel and wrapping around, then switch by putting the barrel on top of the hair before winding it around). Alternating directions makes curls look more natural. Some curls can remain tight, some loose.
8. Remove nozzle from dryer and gently loosen waves with cool air. You can also separate curls with your fingers, just make sure not to brush them out. 
9. Set with hairspray. Just don't overdo it. You don't want new waves to feel "crunchy."