Tousled, undone, effortlessly sexy — beach waves are one of the most universally flattering styles, and the good news is you don't need a trip to the salon (or the beach) to achieve them. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, or curly, here's exactly how to get the look at home.

What Are Beach Waves?

Beach waves are all about texture and imperfection. Unlike a polished blowout or defined curls, the goal is a soft, natural-looking wave — a perfectly imperfect finish that looks like you've just stepped off the sand. The exact shape varies by hair type: slight bends on straighter hair, a refined S-shape on wavy hair, or softened curls on naturally curly hair.

What You'll Need

• A shampoo and conditioner suited to your hair type
• A texturising or salt spray (see our recommendation below)
• A heat protectant if using heated tools
• A curling tong or flat iron (for the heat method)

Method 1: No-Heat Beach Waves

The easiest approach — and the kindest to your hair.

1. Wash and condition with a shampoo suited to your hair type.
2. After detangling, spray damp hair with Kevin Murphy HAIR.RESORT.SPRAY from mid-lengths to ends.
3. For more defined waves, loosely braid your hair in two sections and allow to air dry completely.
4. Once dry, release the braids and scrunch gently with your fingers. Finish with another light spritz of HAIR.RESORT.SPRAY to set the texture.

Method 2: Beach Waves With Heat

For more control and longer-lasting results, a curling tong or flat iron gives you consistent waves on any hair type.

1. Wash and condition as normal.
2. On damp hair, apply Kevin Murphy HEATED.DEFENSE and EVER.SMOOTH to protect and elongate your style.
3. Blow dry until fully dry, then section the hair.
4. Using a curling tong or flat iron, create waves section by section. For a more natural finish, alternate the direction of each wave.
5. Spritz HAIR.RESORT.SPRAY before waving each section for extra hold, then finish the whole style with a final spritz for texture and definition.

Pro Tips for Better Beach Waves

• Don't over-brush: Use your fingers to separate waves rather than a brush, which will break up the texture.
• Work in sections: Smaller sections give more defined waves; larger sections give a looser, more relaxed look.
• Embrace imperfection: Not every wave needs to look the same — that's the whole point.

Shop Beach Wave Styling Products

Browse our full range of styling products — including Kevin Murphy, Evo, and Paul Mitchell. Free UK delivery on orders over £30.