Killer Waves!

Prep, curl and finish—three easy steps to get those swingy, beach-worthy tresses

Unstructured, sexy and casual, beachy waves are the hottest look right now. The key to tousled chic is making the waves appear effortless, as though you've just come in from a few hours spent surfing. Yes, even if it's mid-winter and you're in Minneapolis rather than Malibu. In fact, the look is easy to achieve, with the right tools and these tips from New York stylist/colorist Leonard Golino.

Prep Your Hair
To give your hair that back-from-the-beach sexiness, you need to rough up your smooth tresses a bit. "You want some strands to stick to each other," says Golino, "the way they do when they've been sprayed with salt water." Golino suggests a three-part cocktail applied to towel-dried hair.

1. Start with Sally Hershberger Style Primer for Wavy Hair. "This is a stylist's favorite because it not only protects hair from hot styling tools and adds shine, [but] it's also designed to be layered with other styling products," says Golino. Spray on the palms of your hands, then lightly brush over your hair, moving from just above your ears to the ends. Then, apply what's left on your palms to the top few inches of your hair.

2. To build volume and fight frizz, apply Hair Rules Wavy Mousse.

3. To mimic the effect of a spray of salt water, lightly mist hair with Fekkai Luscious Curls Wave Spray. Allow your hair to air dry, or blow-dry using a diffuser.

Create Curls
Use a three-barrel curling iron, such as Hot Tools Three-Barrel Waver. Starting about three or four inches from the scalp, take small sections of hair. Clamp gently, hold for 10 to 15 seconds, then release. Work your way down, stopping about an inch from ends, so your tips look wind ruffled, not overly coiffed.

Finish
Run your fingers lightly through your hair to separate curls. Apply a small amount of Jonathan Weightless Smooth N-Frizz Hydrating Balm to your palms and sweep over the surface of your hair.