A step-by-step guide to using a flat iron for beachy waves with a styling tool that traditionally is used for straightening hair.
Follow these steps for trendy waves made popular by Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Alba.
Products Required to Create Wavy Hair
Blow dryer: ionic and/or ceramic is best to reduce dry time and damage. Recommended product: Paul Mitchell Express Ion Dry v.1
Comb: professional combs have no seams that tend to break hair. Recommended product: CERAM-ION Wide Tooth Rat Tail Ionic Comb
Styling product and Thermal Protectant: high hold and protection from high heat. Recommended products: ghd creation spray, Graham Webb’s Making Waves and Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny Serum are formulated specifically for heat styling and enhancing curls.
Clips: jaw clips hold large amounts of hair securely. Recommended product: Dannyco Expandable Jaw Clips
Flat iron: look for one with ceramic plates to seal and smooth strands of hair. Recommended product: ghd IV styler
Prepare the Hair
Apply curl enhancer to wet hair from roots to ends. Thermal protectants like Super Skinny Serum are applied to wet hair, but ghd’s creation spray that provides hold and heat protection is sprayed on dry hair right before applying heat.
Dry
Hair must be dry. Flat irons called ‘wet-to-dry’ claim they can be used directly on damp hair, but do not give the best results. Excess moisture prevents hair from holding style. Let hair dry naturally for less heat damage, or blow dry thoroughly.
Protect and Style
Comb hair gently to remove any tangles.
Clip top ¾ of hair with jaw clips, leaving the remaining bottom ¼ in a fringe around the head.
Take a 1” horizontal section of hair and spray lightly with a thermal protectant, such as ghd’s creation spray (if one was not applied to wet hair), holding hair 90 degrees away from the head.
Clamp flat iron close to the scalp. Keeping the section of hair at a 90 degree angle, turn iron 180 degrees (half a full turn) and hold for 3 seconds. Without unclamping iron, loosen its grip slightly and slide the iron down the hair the same distance as the iron is wide. This will provide even waves from root to end. For example, if using a 1” flat iron or styling iron, slide the iron down 1” from where the first clamp was. If using a 1.5” iron slide it down 1.5”, etc.
Reclamp iron in new location and turn barrel 180 degrees (half a full turn) in the opposite direction as the first turn. Hold for 3 seconds.
Repeat throughout length of hair until ends are either wavy or curled under as desired.
Wait for hair to cool before styling further or re-waving hair. Trying to re-wave warm hair won’t work, and trying to accessorize or style with product will cause the waves to loosen and droop.
Repeat Steps around fringe.
Let a ¼ of pinned hair down each time a fringe is straightened, and repeat all steps until all hair has been styled with the iron.
Experiment with different sizes of irons, and how far down the shaft each wave is. Random clamping will create fewer waves and have a more casual feel.
For more separated waves, add a little finishing spray to fingers and run through hair.
The copyright of the article How to Create Wavy Hair with a Flat Iron in Hair Styling is owned by Jill Nessel. Permission to republish How to Create Wavy Hair with a Flat Iron in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
