A Celebrity Hairstylist Just Showed Me How to Create Perfect Beachy S-Waves
Our take
The pursuit of effortless beauty is a continuous thread woven through our cultural landscape, and the recent article detailing a celebrity hairstylist’s method for achieving “perfect beachy S-waves” speaks directly to this desire. It’s a seemingly simple promise – attainable, stylized hair – delivered with the insider knowledge that feels both accessible and aspirational. This echoes a broader trend we've observed, moving away from complicated, multi-step routines towards streamlined techniques championed by experts. Consider how Princess Kate [How Princess Kate Manages to "Avoid Any Stress" by Utilizing a "Core Rotation" of Beauty Styling Tricks, Per a Stylist] has embraced a "core rotation" of beauty styling tricks, demonstrating a commitment to timeless elegance over fleeting trends. The appeal lies in finding a sustainable, manageable approach to looking polished, and this beachy wave tutorial fits perfectly within that framework. The simplicity—"It’s so easy"—is the key to its immediate resonance.
The popularity of tutorials like this also underscores the continued influence of celebrity stylists and their ability to shape broader beauty trends. We saw a similar phenomenon with Zendaya’s recent vintage Versace look [Zendaya’s Vintage Versace 'Spider-Man' Look Is Method-Meets-Naked Dressing], which immediately sparked conversations and inspired recreations. While Zendaya’s style leans towards the bolder and more experimental, both instances highlight the power of a stylist’s vision to translate into widespread adoption. Furthermore, the emphasis on a specific, achievable style—the S-wave—reflects a desire for curated aesthetics rather than a complete reinvention. It’s about refining existing features and leveraging simple techniques to enhance natural beauty, a far cry from the maximalist trends of previous years. The article’s brevity and focus on a single technique further reinforces this shift towards intentionality and efficiency. Even Zendaya’s foray into edgy haircuts [Zendaya's Jagged Baby Bangs Would Look Right At Home In A Comic Book] demonstrates a considered evolution rather than a radical departure.
Beyond the immediate trend of beachy waves, this article taps into a deeper cultural yearning for authenticity and ease. The curated, hyper-filtered aesthetic that dominated social media for so long is slowly giving way to a preference for more realistic portrayals of beauty. Consumers are increasingly skeptical of heavily edited images and unrealistic expectations. They're seeking advice and techniques that feel achievable and relatable, even if they're being shared by a celebrity stylist. The focus on a “natural” look, even when meticulously styled, speaks to this desire for a beauty routine that feels less like a performance and more like an extension of one’s self. This isn’t about chasing perfection; it's about enhancing what’s already there, embracing imperfections, and feeling confident in one’s own skin.
Looking ahead, we anticipate a continued rise in "how-to" content that prioritizes simplicity and authenticity. The demand for accessible beauty knowledge will only increase as consumers seek to navigate an ever-expanding world of products and trends. The key will be for creators to strike a balance between providing expert insights and maintaining a tone that is approachable and empowering, avoiding the feeling of unattainable aspiration. Will we see a move towards personalized tutorials, catering to individual hair types and textures, or will the focus remain on broadly applicable techniques? The evolution of accessible beauty advice promises to be a fascinating space to watch.
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I consider myself someone who is pretty low-maintenance with their hair. I don't like spending ages with a hair tool when styling my lengths, and so I'm always drawn to low-effort hairstyles that not only look effortless, but are also effortless to create, too. And if you're like me and the rest of the internet, you too have been swooning over Zendaya's The Odyssey press tour hair moments, which have been featuring some stunning Grecian-inspired waves that I've been desperate to recreate. And as we're in the height of summer, now is the perfect time to try S-waves. I spoke with a top hairstylist to break down exactly how to achieve this low-effort style for summer.
How to Do S-Waves
"S-waves are a looser, more luxe take on the classic mermaid waves and the perfect style for summer," says hairstylist and ghd ambassador Patrick Wilson. "It tells the story of an 'I just got out of the sea' glossy look that looks effortless and summery. The style is all about having luxuriously deep waves with a shaken-out finish for an uber fresh, cool look," he says. "It is all about creating a subtle, wavy texture rather than curl. This is a flatter wave that doesn't have the volume or width of a traditional curly blow-dry, making it ideal for a more modern, sleek look. It’s a great look that can be created on all hair lengths."
What You'll Need
To create your S-waves, you'll need a good heat protector, a pair of hair straighteners, a wide-toothed comb and a texturising spray or salt spray.
1. Prep Hair
You'll want to start on straight, dry hair and use a good heat protector before styling your hair to shield your lengths from heat damage.
2. The Technique
Wilson tells me that you can use a triple waver to achieve the same look; however, a hair straightener can achieve the same look, and it also gives you more control over the wave. "Personally, I like to use the GHD Chronos Hair Straightener (£299) to add bends and kinks in the hair using an S-bend motion," he says.
"Place the straightener at your eye level and move the styler down an inch and flip it in the opposite direction, creating an 'S' shape in the hair," says Wilson. "When starting the bends and waves in your hair, don’t start too high or into your parting; otherwise, this creates too much height at the root and looks more done than it needs to," he says.
3. Wave Hair
Then, repeat the motion throughout the rest of your hair. "Continue this motion back and forth, leaving the ends straight for a more undone finish," says Wilson. You can experiment with the size of each section you're waving. I find larger sections will give a softer effect, whereas smaller sections give a more piecey texture, which works well on face-framing layers.
4. Brush Out
Next, you can dishevel the waves with a wide-toothed comb to make the waves look even more effortless. "Let the hair cool and set before brushing out; otherwise, the style won't stay," says Wilson.
5. Add Product
"Finish with a spritz of hairspray and follow with Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Texture Mist for a ‘done’ yet ever so slightly dishevelled, effortless look," says Wilson.
6. The Result
And there you have your s-waves. For second-day hair, Wilson recommends misting through a salt spray, which is the perfect product to revive the waves and add grit and texture.
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