Hair: Beach Hair!

It was recently brought to my attention by a reader/friend that I never blog about hair even though its my line of work, and it was suggested that hair trends and styling tips could be fun to write about. With that in mind, I'm going to attempt to do a weekly post (probably on Sunday or Monday) on the topic...



While I'm well aware that beachy waves have been a huge trend for the past few years, I've only recently gotten my own hair to a length and style that works with the look. I thought it may be helpful to share some of the products and tips that I've discovered that have helped me get the lazy, summer time texture that I craved....

In the pic below, My hair was washed the previous day, air dried with styling product (with the exception of the bangs which were blow dried), slept on and re-styled (by which I mean I scrunched it, I just hate that word). I found that my second day hair was just "dirty" and messy enough to enhance the look (with the exception of the bangs, which I styled with dry shampoo).

An important fact to mention here is that my hair is naturally quite straight and while it will bend and hold a curl, I found that the right cut has been essential to making this style work for me. My collarbone length hair is heavily layered, and by that I do not mean like an eighties mullet, I mean with what most stylists would know as disconnected layers at the crown and around the face, all done with "point cutting" and "slide cutting" techniques. This shaggy cut gives me hair more movement and texture than it would ever have on its own. (Thanks Aubrey,xo)

Product is the other key part of achieving this style and I've found a few different things that tend to work well...

1) Redken Wool Shake 08: This 'gel slush texturizer' has been my best friend when adding texture to my straight hair. I mist it all over my wet hair while scrunching (yuck) with my hands and proceed to reapply once or twice throughout the day or next morning. Be warned, this product is not a Sea Salt spray and it does have a thick, 'woolly' feeling to it which is why it gives my hair so much texture but I wouldn't be too generous with the application if your hair gets dirty or oily fast.

2) TiGi Catwalk Session Series Salt Spray: I recently discover this light weight spray and I love using it to freshen up my second day beachy hair or to 'mess up' wave done with a curling iron. I'd recommend this for someone who's hair already has some texture to it.... Plus it smells AWESOME :)






3) Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray: This little bottle has been mentioned in every magazine out there and while I have not used this product myself, I can honestly say that my salon co-workers swear by it to get the ultimate beach hair. Most of them have natural waves and love to mist this allover when wearing their natural texture..

Here's to summer hair!