Wavy hair has been a beauty goal since forever. It may have something to do with our top millennial style muses, which include the Olsen twins, Miley Cyrus, Nicole Richie, and Kate Moss. Or maybe it’s because wavy hair is like the Goldilocks of hair–not too straight or too curly, but with just enough body.
After decades of envying celebs’ effortless hair, we decided to go straight to a professional hairstylist for a crash course in wavy hair. Celebrity stylist and founder of Santa Monica Salon, BRDY JAY, Bradley Leake, says when it comes to creating the perfect wavy texture, less is more. “The more ‘imperfect’ your waves, the better they look.”
So, as we prep our smoked suede brunette strands for fall, we’ll also be putting our new wavy hair routine to work. Read on for Leake’s step-by-step tutorial for creating the perfectly imperfect waves, wavy hair product recs, and more.
Step 1: Start in the Shower
While some hairstyles work best on second or third-day hair, making waves starts in the shower with clean hair. Leake recommends a shampoo and conditioner combo that’s lightweight and won’t weigh the hair down. His picks: Redken Volume Injection Shampoo paired with Kerastase Nutritive Lait Vital, which he instructs to only apply from the midlengths down.
The shower is also the time for your detangling routine, as Leake warns you shouldn’t use a brush post-shower; “that is the key to setting your waves or curls.” To detangle, opt for a wide-tooth comb and run it through your conditioner-covered strands, which will make for fewer tangles and overall smoother strands.
Step 2: Towel Dry and Apply a Leave-In
Once your hair is freshly washed, you’re going to want to use a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt– these will be the most gentle on your hair and won’t rough up the cuticle, leading to frizz. And “scrunch, don’t rub,” instructs Leake, which is important for keeping the cuticle smooth and frizz-free for your wavy hair style. Then, he recommends misting the hair with a leave-in like Pureology Color Fanatic, which offers a whopping 21 benefits, including frizz control, heat protection, and adds shine, to name a few.
