NEW wave
WHAT COMES AFTER A DECADE OF THE BEACH WAVE? RINGLETS AND CURLS ARE LOOSENING UP IN FAVOUR OF COULDN’T-CARE-LESS KINKS
the beach wave could be considered Instagram’s founding follicular trend – bouncy barrel curls tumbling over tanned shoulders were about as ubiquitous back then as denim cut-offs and wedge sneakers. But just as our social media habits have evolved, so too have our curls. In the same way the slick veneer of Instagram is being swapped for the lo-fi vibe of Tiktok, we’ve traded in the highly styled voluminous variants for last night’s incidental top-knot kinks.
So after a decade-long affair with our curling tong, what finally turned the tide on the beach wave? Melbourne-based hairstylist Lauren Mackellar says it ties in with our growing societal appreciation for individualism. “Over the past few seasons there’s been a theme across fashion trends towards celebrating individual style. We’re definitely seeing that continue into hair,” she says. “The new wave is actually more of a bend than a curl. It’s about working with what you’ve got, rather than trying to fit into one particular style.”
A lack of uniformity has also helped to open up the trend to every type and texture. “It can be done with naturally dried or diffused texture, rather than smoothing or straightening out the hair beforehand,” says Mackellar. “It’s also one less step for those of us who have natural kinks and waves already and, of course, less heat damage for your hair.”
Mackellar suggests starting with a volumising shampoo and conditioner duo to build body, before letting your hair dry naturally. “Or use a diffuser to dry the hair without flattening it too much – it’ll help even the finest hair to hold a wave.” While the style is relaxed enough to warrant little more than a wash, scrunch and air-dry, it’s easy to add polish if you’re so inclined. “Once your hair is dry, you can use any curling wand with a clamp, a flat iron or a triple-barrel tong, and work your way down the hair, holding your tool horizontally. To make it even more natural, work with any kinks and curls by matching up the wand with what you see,” she suggests.
Finish with a soft hairspray and respond to any curious questions about your new hair with a coy shrug: “It’s natural.”
whether you’re looking to add some grit to freshly washed hair that hangs like spaghetti or bring life to third-day waves, a texture spray is your new best friend. These hybrid formulas sit between dry shampoo and light-hold hairspray, and some even hydrate, too. “I’m constantly asked for that done-but-undone look in the salon, and that’s created by using this new wave of mattifying products,” says Joey Scandizzo, founder of his eponymous salon and co-creative director for Eleven Australia. “They give the hair soft separation, but leave it with a clean feeling and natural look.” A helpful tip: focus on the mid-lengths and ends following a blow-dry or curling tongs to hold the style and add woke-up-like-this definition.