Effortless Tousled Waves: A Stylist's Step-by-Step

The best part about tousled, wavy hair is that it does not want to be perfect. It is the look you can pull together in a few minutes, and it works beautifully on hair that is fresh out of the shower or, even better, on second-day hair that has lost a little of its just-washed slip. In her tutorial, our stylist Shayna shows how easy it is. Here is the routine, step by step.

Why this works best on lived-in hair

Squeaky-clean hair can be too soft and slippery to hold a wave. A bit of texture gives the hair grip, so it bends and stays. That is why this is the perfect style for day two, or for adding a quick refresh to hair that has flattened out. If your hair is freshly washed, a little texturising product fakes that lived-in feel in seconds.

What you will need

A few simple bits do all the work here. A dry shampoo or texture spray for grip and volume, a curling iron or wand if you want a defined wave, and a headband to finish. We like the R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo for instant body and texture, or the Oway Sea Salt Spray when you want a softer, beachier wave. To finish, the Gildie Velvet Knot Headband pulls the whole look together, and it comes in a few rich tones to suit whatever you are wearing.

The steps

Step one, prep for texture. Mist dry shampoo through the roots and mid-lengths, or work a little sea salt spray through damp hair if you are starting fresh. This is what gives the waves something to hold onto.

Step two, wave it loosely. Take random sections, they do not need to be neat, and wrap them around a wand, leaving the ends out for that undone finish. Alternate the direction you wrap each section so the waves look natural rather than uniform.

Step three, break it up. Once the waves have cooled, rake your fingers through them and give your head a gentle shake. Tousled means soft and broken-up, not set and structured, so resist the urge to brush.

Step four, finish with the headband. Slip on the Velvet Knot Headband to push the look from messy to intentional. It is the easiest way to make five minutes of styling look like you meant it.

The beauty of fuss-free

This is the kind of style we love at Sable, quick, forgiving and easy to repeat without a mirror full of tools. It suits a busy morning, it stretches your blow-dry an extra day, and it looks just as good heading to work as it does heading out.

Want it tailored to your hair?

If you would like a wand recommendation for your hair type, or a steer on which texture product suits you, email Aurea at hello@sable.co.nz, or book in with Shayna and she will show you on your own hair.

Ready to give it a go? Shop styling and dry shampoo at Sable Boutique, with Afterpay and Zip available.