5 Minute Messy Waves Hair Tutorial

One of my favorite everyday hair styles is loose, messy waves. This quick and easy style gives you an effortless look that will last for days. I have a few tips and tricks to creating the perfect messy waves – as well as some recommended products and tools. If you don’t have much time in the morning this style is definitely for you! The complete process takes me less than 5 minutes. Keep reading to follow my 5 minute messy waves hair tutorial!

(If you follow me on Instagram, check out my Instagram Story highlight titled “HAIR” for a full video tutorial!)

One of my tricks for achieving messy waves is washing my hair the night before I curl my hair. Washing my hair at night saves me SO much time getting ready in the morning – I’ve been doing it for years. As much as I’d love to treat myself a full blow out every morning, I’d much rather sleep in that extra half hour! Another advantage to washing at night is the natural texture you’ll achieve by giving your hair a few extra hours to settle. You’ll notice your hair will be more shiny, less frizzy and easier to style.

After washing my hair in the evening, I apply a root lifter all over the crown of my head. I then dry just my roots – this will help give you more volume. I let the rest of my hair dry naturally overnight. I would suggest doing the same to keep your hair feeling healthy – the less heat you apply to your ends the better.

Now let’s get started!

STEP 1: TEASE

I often tease my hair, but it’s especially important with this style. The more volume you create, the more messy and beachy your waves will look. Teasing is easy. I use a teasing comb and tease my roots all around the crown of my head (basically everywhere I apply my root lifter). After teasing, part your hair (I part slightly over to the side) and use a brush to smooth things out. You’ll be surprised at how much added volume you get from this step!

STEP 2: TEXTURIZE

Before you begin curling, it’s important to spray your hair with a texturizing spray. The more texture you add to your hair the better.  The texture spray I’ve been using is from Tresemme’s Compressed Micro Mist line. I prep my hair by spraying the Texture Hold Level 1 all over my hair. In addition to texture, this spray also helps add volume and hold. It’s the perfect way to prep your hair for beautiful beachy waves!

STEP 3: CURL

Now it’s time to starting curling! I use the T3 Whirl Trio. In order to get loose beachy waves, you’ll want to use the 1.5″ barrel (which can be purchased as part of the T3 Whirl Trio or on its own by buying the 1.5″ barrel and base.)  Start curling from the front of your head, moving to the back. Grab a 2-3″ section of hair from the top down – the more hair you grab, the looser your waves will be. Your first curl (closest to your face) should always be curled away from your face. After the first curl, begin alternating the direction of your curls as you move to the back of your head – one curl away from your face, one curl toward your face and so on.

To curl, hold the T3 curling wand upside down with one hand. Use your other hand to wrap a section of hair around the wand. Depending on the length of your hair you will wrap 1-3 times. Always be sure to leave the last inch or two of hair not curled – this is key to getting that messy look! Hold your hair on the wand for 5-10 seconds and the slowly let the curl drop into your hand as you let it go. Repeat this step until your entire head is curled.

This step should not take long. It takes me about 8-10 curls to complete my whole head. It’s important to remember that your curls do not need to be perfect – if you mess up, don’t worry about it. We’ll be perfecting things in a later step. The main goal here is to create volume, texture and waves – not perfect curls. It shouldn’t take more than 3 minutes to complete this step.

STEP 4: BRUSH

Now that you’ve created loose waves, brush your hair out with a round bristle brush. This step gives your waves a more natural look and a TON of added volume. You may feel like your hair looks a little crazy at this point…but don’t worry, we’re not done yet!

STEP 5: DEFINE

The next step to achieving beachy waves is to add a few defined curls. Using your T3 1.5″ barrel, choose 5-6 pieces of hair from the top of your head to curl. You’ll be grabbing much less hair than you did the first time around – which will result in a more structured and defined wave. These few extra waves on the top of your hair will help to polish off this look and pull the whole style together. Add them wherever needed.

STEP 6: SPRAY

The final step to achieving this effortless look is to hairspray! My favorite hairspray for creating a natural and touchable hold is Tresemme Compressed Micro Mist Hair Spray Extend Hold Level 4. Spray your entire head to set your waves. This spray will help to ensure your waves stay in tact all day – a few days if you’re lucky! Based on your hair type, this style has the potential to last multiple days with minimal touchup.

This 5 minute look is a favorite of mine and hopefully a soon-to-be favorite of yours! The main message here is that you don’t need to obsess over every curl. Just give your hair the added waves and texture you need and then spend only a minute or two perfecting your waves. I’m convinced that the tools and products you use are key to achieving beautiful loose waves and maintaining them – in this case it’s the T3 1.5″ Wand (with base) and the Tresemme Micro Mist Sprays Level 1 & Level 4!

To learn more about my hair color and the products I use, you can read How I Get My Blonde.

If you decide to give this fun look a try, be sure to send me your photos of the finished product! And remember, if it takes you a little longer than 5 minutes on your first try, don’t be discouraged.  Once you’re use to the technique this style will be such a time saver! If you follow me on Instagram, check out my Instagram Story highlights for a full video tutorial!