How to Get California Waves
How 3 East Coast Editors With Different Hair Types Achieve Classic California-Girl Waves
When it comes to our hair, we tend to want the things we don't have. The curly girl loves how her hair looks sleek and straight, while the straight-haired one can't resist glam ringlets. The same idea applies to our East Coast editors — but this time, they're lusting after effortless California-girl waves.
As it turns out, Texture Sexy Hair products — the newest line from cult-favorite styling brand Sexy Hair — were exactly what they needed. Ahead, see how the formulas and styling products helped three editors with different hair types — from fine to thick to ultracurly — master the iconic California-inspired hairstyle. So no matter where you live, you can nail the look, too.
With naturally wavy hair, Senior Native Style Editor Amanda Murray was already halfway to her Cali-girl hair goal. But in addition to its slight bend, Amanda describes her hair as fine but dense, making it slightly tricky to style. All she really needed was a product that would amplify the texture — and then hold it in place.
Enter the High Tide Texturizing Finishing Hairspray ($19.95) from Texture Sexy Hair. Formulated for use on dry hair, it builds touchable texture and volume — no stiffness included. What's more, it helps maintains the hair's natural shine and can withstand humidity for up to 24 hours. So whether it's the middle of one of New York City's notoriously scorching Summers or the dead of Winter, now her hair will look flawlessly styled all year.
Assistant Native Beauty Editor Carrie Carrollo might prefer how her hair looks with texture, but naturally, it couldn't be more pin straight. Though it initially holds a style well, its weight and thickness can change things by day two. Luckily, the Surfer Girl Dry Texturizing Spray ($19.95) was the perfect answer to her styling struggles.
The formula was designed to revive previously styled hair with an added boost of texture and hold. It can also be used in multiple layers to help build extra volume. What you end up with is a perfectly lived-in look that any California girl would approve of. All that's left to do is throw your hair in a loose half-up bun, and you've got the look down.
Curly, dry, and frizzy are three words Associate Native Fashion Editor Kathleen Harper uses to describe her hair. To tame and style it, she regularly turns to flat and curling irons, but they can cause damage over time. Lately, she's been looking for ways to work with her natural curls, instead of against them.
You could say the stars aligned perfectly, because Texture Sexy Hair had exactly the product she needed: the Foam Party Lite Texturizing Foam ($19.95). Designed to enhance natural texture, the formula allows you to shape and control your hair, while keeping things in place at the same time. When applied on damp hair and blown dry, it'll leave you with a soft, beachy texture. Or it can be used on damp or dry hair (and then air-dried) for more definition.
Art Director: Meg Konigsburg; Photographer: Matthew Kelly; Hairstylist: Katrina Cahill; Makeup Artist: Carrie LaMarca; Wardrobe Stylist: Emma Sousa; Prop Stylist: Aja Coon; Producer: Andi Nash