How to Get Gorgeous Beachy Waves in Minutes with Your Flat Iron

Samantha Driscoll
·2 min read

Despite the name, flat irons aren't just for straightening your hair. Voluminous hair is in, so instead of making your hair stick straight, it's time to give your tresses some volume. And, you can do just that with your flat iron. The curling iron is excellent for different curls, of course, but your flat iron is the key to effortless beachy waves. Plus, by using your flat iron for your waves, you can skip plugging in and heating up two tools. If you're not well-versed with your styling tool, don't worry; celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan has an easy 5-step process for you to follow.

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How to Get Beachy Waves with Your Flat Iron

Before you use any hot tools on your hair, you'll need a heat protectant spray. Try the top-rated Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer ($28, Bumble and bumble.) Then, you can get started.

Step 1: Divide hair in half and secure the top portion up with a clip ($16, Sephora). Start near the front of your face and work backward, working in small sections that are one inch wide.

Step 2: Take a section and clamp the iron close to the roots. As you glide it down toward your cheekbone, roll the iron inward, making a C-shape (make sure to keep the tip of the iron pointed at the ceiling), then release it at your cheekbone.

Step 3: Clamp the hair again just below the C-shape curl. Rotate the iron forward this time, creating another C-shape in the opposite direction (You should have just created one full S-shape). The tip of the iron should point down toward the ground this time. "Constantly switching the direction the iron is pointing gives more of a natural wave instead of a crimp," Marjan says.

Step 4: Alternate the pattern until you reach the ends of your hair. "The more you glide the iron down the hair as you rotate it, the less of a wave you will have, whereas the less it slides down the hair as you rotate it, the wavier it will look," explains.

Step 5: Repeat for the rest of your hair, and then finish the look with strong-hold hairspray, like the Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray ($20, Ulta), to make the waves last.