Trend Alert: Urban Waves

This style is what happens when bed head and beachy waves collide

Equal parts casual and chic, the urban wave is actually achievable all by yourself (no stylist hiding in your closet) and has an effortlessness that looks natural and uncalculated. "It's sexy, soft and carefree," says Andy Bodine, U.S. artistic ambassador for the haircare line ghd. With the right tools, you can re-create the look in just five minutes," he says. Less coifed than typical mermaid waves, yet done enough to look as if you didn't just wake up, it's a style that anyone with a flat iron can do. Here, Bodine's step-by-step tips for style re-creation:

Prep
Apply a heat protectant, like Blow Pro Heat Is On Protective Daily Primer to damp hair; it creates a base for chunky, tousled waves, protects hair from heat and adds shine. You want to start with hair that's completely dry—either blow-dried or air-dried (especially if your hair has a natural wave). To get extra volume and lasting hold, use a volumizing foam like Samy Salon Systems Fat Hair "0" Calories Amplifying Mousse on dry hair. Work this primarily into the roots, with a light coat over the rest of your head, scrunching as you go. This will lock in lift and keep waves in place once you start styling your hair.

Style
A flat iron is the best tool to achieve this look. Choose one with a curved barrel, like the ghd Classic 1" Styler. This baby delivers waves, curls and super-straight locks, and, thanks to the ceramic heat, it won't fry your hair but will keep it smooth and shiny. Take a large section of dry hair and clamp the styler as close to the scalp as possible. Glide slowly toward the ends keeping the styler close to the head as you straighten the first 6 inches or so, then begin rocking your wrist back and forth as you increase the speed slightly to create soft bends and movement, but not curls. The goal is a slightly disheveled look that's not too polished.

Set
To keep your cool waves from falling flat, you'll need a little spritz of light holding spray. Since you still want your hair to look soft not stiff, a sea salt spray like Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray will keep waves in place with a matte finish and encourage a little more tousle. Just mist over your entire head and rough it up a bit.