MarieClaire.com:Home

Styling Tips for Wavy Hair

Here, how to tame that wavy mane into touchable tresses.

Did You Know...
Hair is genetically programmed to be straight, curly, or wavy, and it can change over time.

Get more hairstyle advice here: Long Hairstyles, Short Hairstyles, Medium Hairstyles

Play Slideshow
Previous
loading
Next
Email Print RSS Share: Digg More [+]

Hairstyle Handbook

long, wavy, normal, caucasian, 15-30 minutes, hairstyles, brown hair, sexy hair girl with long wavy brown hair Rocker waves are easy if you use the right combination of products. First, work some dry shampoo through your hair, you\'ll get volume and soak up any greasiness.

\r\n\r\nThen, use a little texture balm, warm it up in your palms and really work the product into your strands. Too much will actually weigh your style down so less is definitely more here.

\r\n\r\nFlip hair upside-down and scrunch hair using a spritz of spray gel. You don\'t want loads of frizz to take your look from sexy to sloppy.

\r\n\r\nMARIE CLAIRE RECOMMENDS
\r\n\r\n DRY SHAMPOO like Ojon Rub Out Dry Cleanser, $24.

\r\n\r\n\r\n SPRAY GEL like Frederic Fekkai Spray Gel, $25.

\r\n\r\n WAVY SPRAY like Sally Hershberger Shagg Spray Styling For All Hair Types, $12.49.

Hairstyle Handbook

long, thick, wavy, asian, 15-30 minutes, hairstyles, brown hair, sexy hair woman with long wavy dark brown hair CONDITIONING MOUSSE like Dove Volumizing Body and Lift Mousse, $4.29.

Hairstyle Handbook

long, thick, wavy, asian, 15 minutes, hairstyles, sexy hair woman with long straight black hair Run an anti-frizz and leave-in conditioner through wet hair.

\r\n\r\nWrap your whole head in a towel to get rid of excess water without creating frizz.

\r\n\r\nAfter leaving your hair cocooned in terrycloth, unwrap your head and let everything air-dry the rest of the way. The result: Naturally sexy waves that are practically effortless.

\r\n\r\nMARIE CLAIRE RECOMMENDS
\r\n\r\n ANTI FRIZZ like Suave Professionals Anti Frizz Cream, $2.99.

\r\n\r\n LEAVE-IN CONDITiONER like Sexy Hair Concepts Healthy Sexy Hair Leave-In, $11.

\r\n\r\n SUPER ABSORBANT TOWEL like Aquis Microfiber Towel, $18.

Hairstyle Handbook

long, thick, wavy, caucasian, 15-30 minutes, hairstyles, brown hair, sexy hair woman with long dark brown wavy hair Go movie-star glam-and start with unwashed hair. If it\'s looking a little greasy, grab some dry shampoo and use a sprinkle on your roots.

\r\n\r\nSpray the rest of your hair with styling spray and roll halfway up with hot rollers, the bigger the better. Then while they\'re still warm, spritz with hair spray. Take curlers out immediately.

\r\n\r\nMake a deep side part and shake hair out so curls loosen. A little mascara and you\'re good to go.

\r\n\r\nMARIE CLAIRE RECOMMENDS
\r\n\r\n HOT ROLLERS like Conair Instant Heat Velvety Rollers, $29.99.

\r\n\r\n HAIRSPRAY like Ted Gibson Beautiful Hold Hair Spray, $11.

\r\n\r\n DRY SHAMPOO like Renee Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo, $23.

Hairstyle Handbook

medium, thick, wavy, relaxed, african-american, 15 minutes, hairstyles, sexy hair girl with wavy brown hair Add bounce to a relaxed style by spritzing ends with a conditioning mist.

\r\n\r\nPut a few ceramic hot rollers in for three minutes, tops. Relaxed hair is delicate and you don\'t want to cause breakage with heat styling.

\r\n\r\nShake hair out and spray lightly with a setting mist.

\r\n\r\nMARIE CLAIRE RECOMMENDS
\r\n CURLERS like BaByliss Ceramic 20 Roller Hair Setter, $39.95.

\r\n\r\n CONDITIONING MIST like DevaCurl Mist-er Right, $17.95.

\r\n\r\n SETTING SPRAY like Matrix Biolage Thermal Active Setting Spray, $15.50.

Hairstyle Handbook

medium, fine, wavy, caucasian, 15-30 minutes, blonde hair, sexy hair, hairstyles blonde woman with straight shoulder length hair Spritz a thermal protective spray through dry hair to prevent damage.

\r\n\r\nUse medium-sized hot rollers and roll two-inch sections all the way up. Let rollers sit until they\'re nearly cool (about 10 minutes).

\r\n\r\nMist with a hairspray and unroll hair for voluminous curls that stick around.

\r\n\r\nMARIE CLAIRE RECOMMENDS
\r\n ROLLERS like BaByliss Ceramic 20 Roller Hair Setter, $39.95.

\r\n\r\n HAIRSPRAY like Got2B 2 Sexy Voluptuous Volume Hairspray, $5.99.

\r\n\r\n THERMAL PROTECTIVE SPRAY like TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray, $4.\r\n

Hairstyle Handbook

short, thick, wavy, 15 minutes, brown hair, hairstyles, sexy hair brunette with short wavy hair Work a rich leave-in conditioner through damp hair to smooth the cuticle.

\r\n\r\nSpritz in some spray gel to control puffiness and frizz and diffuse on a low heat.

\r\n\r\nTwirl hair around your fingers to shape curls in front for a more polished look.

\r\n\r\nMARIE CLAIRE RECOMMENDS
\r\n\r\n LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER like TIGI Bed Head End Mender Leave-In Conditioner, $14.99.

\r\n\r\n SPRAY GEL like Clairol Herbal Essences Set Me Up Spray Gel, $3.99.

\r\n\r\n CURL SHAMPOOO like Samy Curls Shampoo, $5.99.

Hairstyle Handbook

long, thick, wavy, african-american, 15-30 minutes, hairstyles, sexy hair woman with medium length wavy layered hair Spritz a leave-in conditioning mist through dry hair to prevent damage and breakage.

\r\n\r\nWrap two-inch sections halfway up with hot rollers, rolling them back away from the face to create volume. Mist with a setting spray. After five minutes, undo rollers.

\r\n\r\nRun a tiny but of shine serum through your hair to work curls into softer looking waves.

\r\n\r\nMARIE CLAIRE RECOMMENDS
\r\n LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER like Motions At-Home Nourish Leave-In Conditioner, $3.79.

\r\n\r\n HOT ROLLERS like Vidal Sassoon 60 Second Fast Heat-Up 20-Roller Hairsetter, $20.99.

\r\n\r\n SHINE SERUM like TIGI Bed Head Girl Toys Shine Serum, $14.99.

Hairstyle Handbook

medium, wavy, thick, caucasian, 15 minutes, hairstyle, brown hair, sexy hair woman with brown hair and long bangs A combination of blow-drying and air-drying creates a great, balanced style. Use a little straightening balm and blow-dry heavier bangs so they lie straight.

\r\n\r\nRun a little anti-frizz through hair and let the rest air-dry while you do your makeup.

\r\n\r\nShake hair with your fingers.

\r\n\r\nMARIE CLAIRE RECOMMENDS
\r\n\r\n STRAIGHTENING BALM like Redken Straight Hair Straightening Balm, $16.

\r\n\r\n ANTI-FRIZZ like Garnier Fructis Leave-In Anti Frizz Serum, $5.99.

\r\n\r\n SPLIT-END REPAIR like Clairol Herbal Essences Long Term Repair Leave In Split End Protector, $3.99.

Hairstyle Handbook

long, thick, wavy, caucasian, 15 minutes, brown hair, hairstyles, sexy hair brunette with straight hair Apply mousse to a boar bristle brush to get a more even and less sticky application. You\'ll get the volume without the frizz.

\r\n\r\nApply a little shine serum to your palms and rub hands over the top layer of hair.

\r\n\r\nMake a deep side part and pull hair loosely over one eyebrow and then back so you get a dramatic sideswept effect.

\r\n\r\nMARIE CLAIRE RECOMMENDS
\r\n\r\n SHINE SERUM like L\'Oreal Serie Expert Shine Perfecting Serum, $20.

\r\n\r\n MOUSSE like John Frieda Luxurious Volume Mousse, $5.99.

\r\n\r\n BOBBY PINS like Scunci Salon Bobby Pins, $1.99.

Hairstyle Handbook

short, wavy, thick, caucasian, 15 minutes, hairstyles, sexy hair laughing woman with short hair and black hat If your hair tends to get frizzy at the roots and flip out at the ends, use that to your advantage and rock a hat-keeping all the visible style in your ends. Take a large dollop of mousse and run it through towel-dried hair.

\r\n\r\nRoughly dry your whole head with a blow dryer.

\r\n\r\nTake a small-barrel curling iron and define face-framing bits. Then, after you put on your hat, rake your fingers through the curls to soften the look.

\r\n\r\nMARIE CLAIRE RECOMMENDS
\r\n\r\n MOUSSE like Joico Firmwhip Design Foam, $16.

\r\n\r\n CURLING IRON like Remington Protect and Shine Curling Iron allows you to control the temperature settings so it never gets too hot, $16.99.

\r\n\r\n VOLUMIZING SHAMPOO like Phyto Volume Volumizing Shampoo, $24.

Hairstyle Handbook

long, thick, wavy, caucasian, 15-30 minutes, hairstyles, brown hair, sexy hair woman with wavy dark brown hair A super-moisturizing shampoo and conditioner hydrates in the shower so you can use fewer products afterwards.

\r\n\r\nGenerously work a prep spray or style primer through damp hair, to bring out your hair\'s natural texture and allowing it to air-dry almost perfectly.

\r\n\r\nUse a little shine serum to fight frizzy ends-the tiniest bit will do the trick.

\r\n\r\nMARIE CLAIRE RECOMMENDS
\r\n\r\n PRIMER like Sally Hershberger Supreme Head Style Primer, $24.98.

\r\n\r\n MOISTURIZING SHAMPOO like Freeman Papaya Massive Moisture Shampoo, $3.59.

\r\n\r\n SHI