6 New Ways To Work Red Carpet Ready Hollywood Waves
2018's take on the classic trend.
You know an Old Hollywood wave when you see one. The annoyingly perfect and glossy bends can only be achieved through meticulous heat styling, brushing, and hair spraying. But a new crop of wavy hairstyles has taken over Hollywood—ones that are a little less flawless but have the same glam appeal. Here, the products, tools, and inspo you need to get wavy.
The New Classic
Margot Robbie tapped hairstylist Bryce Scarlett to create this modern take on Hollywood waves. Use a flat iron instead of a curling iron to create each bend, then use a duck bill clip to hold the shape in place while the hair cools.
The Tool
It's the flat iron that every celebrity hairstylist trusts to create bends, waves, and sleek hair, but you don't have to be a pro to learn how to wield it. Once you see how shiny and smooth your hair looks—you'll never use another tool.
The Grunge Wave
Like a beachy wave that you haven't wash in three days, the grunge wave gets its distinct texture from styling products that add grit. The key is to make sure the waves look even and defined—not fuzzy or limp.
Going Grunge
This shampoo leaves your hair dirtier-feeling than before you washed it, thanks to sneaky texturizers in the formula. Skip conditioner and rake the R+Co Pomade Mousse through damp hair, then let air dry or blast with a diffuser.
The Soft Wave
Kaia Gerber's barely-there wave still has the same ultra-groomed feel as a classic Old Hollywood style. The slight curl at the ends makes the style feel polished.
The New Hot Roller
Hot rollers have come a long way in the last few years. This velvet-coated set from T3 heats up in minutes, has indicators to let you know when they've fully cooled, and creates the perfect voluminous bends. Hair will emerge from each curler looking like you just got the best blowout of your life.
The Defined Curl
We spend a lot of time brushing out our curls to make it look like our hair never touched a hot tool. Blake Lively has convinced us otherwise. When your hair is this shiny, and each curl is so perfectly uniform, it's okay for hair to look a little try-hard.
Get The Look
If your hair doesn't want to hold a curl no matter how much hairspray you spritz, you need to add mousse to your arsenal. This foamy formula adds flexible hold and shine, so that by the time your hair is dry and ready to touch a curling wand, your hard work will actually last.
Waves for Curls
Kerry Washington hit the Golden Globes red carpet with curls that were more like waves, and waves that were more like curls. The in-between style is great for textured or curlier hair types. Keep the tighter coils up toward your scalp for an extra kick of volume, then let them fall into waves toward the ends.
The Hot Tool
A set of four interchangeable wands to create any kind of curl or wave shape imaginable.
The Bedhead Wave
Kendall Jenner's rumpled bead head looks like it may have started out as a defined glossy wave four days ago—and that's precisely the point. This lived-in and partied-in hairstyle is meant to look purposefully tousled. Just be sure there's plenty of lift at the roots and a defined wave on each face-framing sections to keep the look from veering too disheveled.
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