What’s better than a beachy wave? A perfectly undone one—crafted with minimal effort, maximum style, and zero compromise on hair health. This summer, it’s all about effortless waves: soft, romantic, and versatile enough to take you from coffee runs to cocktail hours. Forget the overdone curls or hours in front of the mirror—this is the season of the low-maintenance lush wave, and we’re here for it.
Whether you're wearing your hair down, sweeping it half-up, or pinning it into an undone French Twist, the soft wave adds that cool-girl finish every modern style craves. And while curling irons and flat irons have long been the go-to tools, the newest editor-approved method skips the heat—and saves time.
Ready to master this lived-in look with fewer steps and more style? With a few hero products (plus a cult-favorite tool), getting the look is easier than ever. Here’s how to get perfectly imperfect waves that look like you just walked off the set of a resort campaign.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Soft, Undone Waves
1. Start with the Right Base
Before you even think about styling, your cleanse and condition game needs to be on point. For frizz-prone or coarse hair, go for SMOOTH.AGAIN.WASH + RINSE to tame and hydrate. If you have fine or limp strands, PLUMPING.WASH + RINSE will add body and lift.
2. Blow-Dry for the Win
While air-drying sounds like the ultimate summer move, a smooth blow-dry gives better wave definition and hold. After cleansing, mist EVER.SMOOTH throughout damp hair. This heat-activated styling spray speeds up dry time, controls frizz, and gives that effortless ‘fresh-out-of-the-salon’ memory.
You don’t need to go bone-straight—just aim for a soft, smooth base. A round brush or paddle brush works perfectly, depending on your hair type.
3. Create Your Heatless Wave Pattern with Clips
This is where the magic happens—no curling iron needed.
-
Starting at the front, take 2–3 inch sections of hair and create soft, S-shaped bends by folding the hair back and forth like a ribbon.
-
Use creaseless clips or lightweight sectioning clips to pinch and hold the waves at each bend. Think of it as sculpting a natural ripple pattern, clip by clip.
-
Continue this method all over your head, especially focusing around the face for those key “money piece” waves.
4. Shake It Out and Go
Let your hair cool before removing the clips—that’s key for lasting waves. Once set, rake your fingers through the waves for that breezy, undone finish. One final mist of HAIR.RESORT.SPRAY adds hold and amps up the texture.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that Bangstyle will collect a small share of the sale from any purchase you make from the products we recommend.
