10 Simple Ways To Create Wavy Hair At Home

You will be surprised at the simple techniques you can use to get this dreamy hairstyle.

Reviewed by Nick Arrojo, Hair Stylist
Written by Arshiya Syeda, BA (Literature & Psychology), PG Diploma
Edited by Asmita De, MA (English)
Fact-checked by Joyce Joyson, MA (Mass Communication & Journalism) – Mar 11, 2024
10 Easy Ways To Get Wavy Hair At Home
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Image: Shutterstock

When you plan to go to the beach, you picture yourself lying in the sand, soaking up the sun as the rays reflect off your perfect beach waves. But when most of us try to add waves to our locks, it either ends up too curly or not wavy enough. So here it is – the perfect guide on how to get wavy hair effortlessly! Sometimes curling irons and other hair styling tools fail to give you the natural-looking wavy or curly locks you crave.

We searched far and wide on the web and found 10 easy techniques you can use to make your hair naturally wavy. So what are you waiting for? Scroll down, pick your favorite technique, and get waving those amazing curls!

Before You Get Started

Wavy hair looks great on a triangular face because it takes the focus away from the jawline.
If you have a round face, waves can make your hair look thicker and your face look thinner.
Avoid over-washing your hair to maintain the wavy texture for longer. You can use a dry shampoo to avoid a greasy look.
Sleep on a satin pillowcase to avoid disturbing the waviness and prevent frizz.

How To Get Wavy Hair – 10 Easy Techniques

Using a diffuser is a great way to achieve natural looking curls and waves. Celebrity stylist Nick Arrojo says, “The diffuser takes all the air out of a blow dryer, but keeps all the heat in, which helps the curl expand. It dries curly hair without blowing, using heat to hold the curl in place. If you have some wave or curl in your hair (most of us do!) and want to accentuate that look, a diffuser is a great way to go”.

In addition to using a diffuser, there are other techniques you can try to create beautiful beach waves. Scroll down to learn more.

1. Princess Leia Buns Technique

The Force will surely be with you as you embark on this journey to wavy hair. All you have to do is roll your hair into 2 buns (a la Princess Leia) and the next morning you will have the hair of your dreams!

What You Need

Hair Brush
Anti-frizz serum
Bobby Pins

How To Style

Brush out all knots and tangles while hair is still damp.
Apply Anti-Frizz Serum to your hair to prevent frizz as it dries.
Part your hair down the middle.
Take a 2 inch section of hair from the right side near the left side of your part.
Begin to twist it, adding more and more hair from both sides.
Once this twisted section of hair has gone past your ear, twist the hair the rest of the way down to the very end.
Roll the twisted hair into a bun and pin it behind your ear.
You can also use some hair ties to hold it in place.
Repeat the same procedure on the right side.
Sleep with these twisted buns in your hair overnight.
The next morning, open the buns and shake your hair out.
Rub a little Argan oil all over your wavy hair to give it some shine.

2. The Hair Knotting Technique

I love it when I find a completely new hairstyling technique. And this one is so ingenious that I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of it myself. Seriously, whoever came up with the idea of knotting your hair to curl it is a genius.

What You Need

Hair Brush
Claw clips or double-prong clips
Hairspray

How To Style

Brush out all knots and tangles from damp hair.
Take a 3 inch section of hair from the front and make a loop near the roots.
Pull the end of the hair through the loop, but not all the way through.
Clip this knotted section of hair onto your head.
Make knots like this with all of your hair.
Leave the knots in place for a few hours while your hair dries.
Mist with hairspray before opening the knots.
Brush out your hair to give your waves a softer look.

3. Twisted Crown Technique

Girl, you are a queen and everything you do has to be royal. This twisted hair technique makes your hair look like a crown sitting on your head while you snooze. Unravel the crown and you end up with amazingly wavy hair.

What You Need

Bobby Pins
U-Pins
Light Hold Hairspray

How To Style

Part your damp hair down the middle and divide it into 2 sections, one on each side.
Simply twist the hair on your left side to the right, all the way to the ends.
Bring this twisted hair over the top of your head and pin it behind your right ear.
Use more bobby pins and U-pins to hold it in place.
Repeat steps 2-4 on the right side.
Leave this crown twist in your hair overnight.
Mist your hair with a light hold spray before detangling and shaking out the waves.

4. The Scarf Technique

Now here’s a style you can wear and still create waves with. This scarf hairstyle is an adorable pin-up style, and once you open it up, your hair will be at its wavy best.

What You Need

Texturizing Spray
A Scarf
Hair Elastic

How To Style

1. Spray texturizing spray all over damp hair.
2. Tie a hair elastic a few inches above the ends of your hair.
3. Tie a knot in the center of your scarf.
4. Hold your scarf behind your head and flip the end of your ponytail over it.
5. Begin to roll the scarf toward your head as you wrap your hair around it.
6. When you have reached the roots of your hair, tie the end of the scarf at the top of your head.
7. Sleep with this wrapped hair overnight and remove it in the morning to get beautiful wavy hair.

5. The Straightened Braids Technique

It’s an innovative way to get wavy hair quickly. This technique requires straightening to achieve well-defined waves and add volume to your hair.

What You Need

Hair elastics
A hair straightener
and light hold hairspray.

How To Style

To start, ensure your hair is dry. Depending on the thickness and length of your hair, divide it into several braids.
Loosen the braids to make them as flat as possible.
Begin straightening your hair by clamping down your hair straightening iron at the very top of your first braid and holding it there for a few seconds.
Move down your braid a little, clamp your iron down again, and hold it there for a few seconds.
Repeat this process until you reach the end of your braid.
Repeat this procedure with each of your braids.
Before opening them, spray some light hold hairspray.
Shake out your hair to add more volume to your waves.

6. The Hair Scrunching Technique

What You Need

Volumizing mousse
Towel

How To Style

After showering, apply a dollop of volumizing mousse to your hair.
Towel dry your hair as much as possible.
Bend your head forward so that your hair falls in front of you.
Now start scrunching your hair from the ends by balling it up in your hands and squeezing it for a few seconds.
Repeat this process every 10 minutes until your hair is completely dry.

7. The Snake Braiding Technique

Ladies, prepare your nimble fingers for an insane braiding technique. This Dutch braid snakes around your head, creating a cool hairstyle. Once opened, it unravels your wavy hair.

What You Need

Light hold hairspray
And a hairbrush
A hair elastic.

How To Style

Brush out your damp hair to remove any knots and tangles.
Then, flip all of your hair forward so that it is in front of your head.
Starting from near your left ear, at the nape of your neck, begin Dutch braiding your hair horizontally.
To do this, take a 2-inch section of hair and divide it into 3 strands.
Braid the hair by flipping the side strands under the middle strand and adding more hair to the braid with each subsequent strand.
Once your Dutch braid reaches near your right ear, change the pattern and continue braiding in the opposite direction.
Keep braiding in this way until all of your hair is braided in a ‘snake’ pattern.
Once you have run out of hair to add to the braid, simply braid the remaining hair down.
Pin the tail of your braid to your head.
Leave this ‘snake’ braid in until your hair is dry.
Spritz some hairspray before opening the braid.
Brush out your hair to reveal gorgeous, wavy hair.

8. The Fishtail Braid Technique

The fishtail braid technique is a simple yet chic way to achieve beautiful waves. To create this style, all you need to do is fishtail braid your hair.

What You Need

Hair Elastic
Texturizing Spray

How To Style

Apply texturizing spray to slightly damp hair.
Divide hair into two sections.
Take a thin strand of hair from the outer side of the left section and add it to the inner side of the right section.
Take a thin strand of hair from the outer side of the right section and add it to the inner side of the left section.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 alternately until you reach the end of your braid, then secure it with a hair elastic.
Achieve effortless waves with this overnight braid.
In the morning, simply undo the braid and shake out your hair.

9. The Friar Tuck Technique

You might be surprised by the versatility of an elastic headband. It can be used to create defined waves in your hair or even as a slingshot. However, it is not recommended to use it as a weapon against others.

What You Need

Hairbrush
sea salt spray
elasticated headband
silk scarf
dry shampoo.

How To Style

Remove all knots and tangles from your dry hair.
Part your hair down the middle.
Dampen your hair by spritzing sea salt spray over it.
Place a headband across your forehead, ensuring all hair is tucked underneath.
Take a 2-inch section of hair from your left side, flip it up, and tuck it under the headband.
Repeat this process, adding more hair to the section each time.
Repeat steps 5 and 6 until you reach the back of your head.
Then repeat the entire tucking procedure on the right side.
To prevent frizzing, tie a silk scarf around your hair and leave it on overnight.
The next morning, remove the headband and brush out any tangles.
Finish by spritzing on some dry shampoo for added hold.

10. The Flat Iron Technique

I understand that sometimes hair decisions are made at the last minute. This wavy hair technique is perfect for those days when you can’t wait hours to style your hair into waves. This flat iron technique will give you results in just minutes!

What You Need

Dry shampoo
1.5-inch flat iron
sea salt spray are essential hair products
Finish with a light hold hairspray.

How To Style

To create beachy waves, begin by applying dry shampoo to the roots of your hair.
Next, divide your hair into two sections, and use a flat iron to curl the lower half of each section.
Release the top half of your hair and repeat the previous step.
Finally, add some texture to your waves by spritzing on some sea salt spray and scrunching your hair with your hands.
Finish with hairspray to keep waves intact throughout the day.

Infographic: Wavy Hairstyles To Try

Summer calls for perfectly tousled wavy hair. From light waves to messy waves, each of these tutorials shows you how to get wavy hair. Waves not only make your hair look voluminous, but they can also be used to add texture to unwashed hair. Make sure you read each tutorial carefully as some of them require keeping the hairstyles in overnight to style your hair in flawless waves. You can also use these tutorials to accentuate your naturally wavy hair. Remember to use hair products like a holding spray, gel, or hair mousse to maintain the waves for a long time.

Key Takeaways

Using a diffuser is one of the easiest ways to achieve natural-looking waves.
Different techniques, such as the Princess Leia bun, hair knotting, and twisted crown, can be used to create waves.
To achieve natural-looking waves in minutes, you can use a flat iron along with dry shampoo, sea salt spray, and light-hold spray.
Hairstyles such as long layers and feather cuts can help you show off your waves.

Achieve effortlessly chic waves without heat damage! Watch this video to learn the secrets of heatless wavy hair.