A celebrity hairstylist just demonstrated how to achieve flawless beachy S-waves.

      Welcome to How to Hair. Consider this series your ultimate guide for achieving your best hair. Whether you aim to master a specific hair tool, learn to wear a new hairstyle, or just seek some hair inspiration, our beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden, will walk you through everything you need, step-by-step, with plenty of insider tips along the way. Let How to Hair be your reliable companion on your journey to fabulous hair days—every day. I see myself as someone who prefers a low-maintenance approach to hair. I don't enjoy spending a lot of time with styling tools, so I gravitate towards hairstyles that not only look effortless but are also simple to create. If you share my perspective—and that of many others online—you’ve likely been admiring Zendaya's stunning hair looks from The Odyssey press tour, particularly her beautiful Grecian-inspired waves that I’ve been eager to replicate. With summer in full swing, now is the perfect moment to try out S-waves. I consulted a top hairstylist to explain how to achieve this easy-to-do summer style.

      **How to Do S-Waves**

      "S-waves are a looser, more luxurious take on traditional mermaid waves, making them ideal for summer," says hairstylist and ghd ambassador Patrick Wilson. "It embodies a glossy 'I just came from the sea' look that's both effortless and perfect for the season. The style features deep, luxurious waves with a naturally tousled finish for a fresh and cool appearance," he explains. "It's about creating a subtle wave texture rather than curls. This is a flatter wave that lacks the volume and width of a typical curly blow-dry, making it suitable for a more modern and sleek look. It can be achieved on all hair lengths."

      **What You'll Need**

      To create your S-waves, you will need a good heat protectant, a pair of hair straighteners, a wide-toothed comb, and a texturizing spray or salt spray.

      1. **Prep Hair**

      Begin with straight, dry hair and apply a good heat protectant to shield your strands from heat damage.

      - K18 Heatbounce Heat Protectant

      - Oribe Gold Lust Dry Heat Protection

      - Moroccanoil Perfect Defense

      2. **The Technique**

      Wilson informs me that while you can use a triple waver to achieve a similar effect, a hair straightener offers more control over the wave. "I prefer using the GHD Chronos Hair Straightener (£299) to create bends and kinks using an S-bend motion," he states. "Position the straightener at eye level, move it down an inch, and flip it in the opposite direction to create an 'S' shape in the hair," Wilson advises. "When forming the bends and waves, avoid starting too high or near your parting; too much height at the root can make the hairstyle appear overly styled."

      - GHD Chronos Hair Straightener

      - Babyliss Pro Smooth 235 Straightener

      - GHD Wave Triple Barrel Hair Waver

      3. **Wave Hair**

      Then, continue this motion throughout the rest of your hair. "Alternate the motion, leaving the ends straight for a more undone finish," Wilson suggests. You can adjust the size of each section you wave; larger sections typically yield a softer look, while smaller sections offer a choppier texture, which can enhance face-framing layers.

      4. **Brush Out**

      Next, use a wide-toothed comb to gently tousle the waves for a more effortless appearance. "Allow the hair to cool and set before brushing; otherwise, the style might not hold," Wilson adds.

      5. **Add Product**

      "Finish off with a spritz of hairspray, followed by Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Texture Mist for a ‘finished’ yet slightly tousled and effortless look," recommends Wilson.

      - Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Hair Mist

      - Color Wow Cult Favorite Firm + Flexible Hairspray

      - Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

      6. **The Result**

      And there you have your S-waves. For second-day hair, Wilson suggests using a salt spray to refresh the waves and add texture and grit.

      - Davines This Is a Sea Salt Spray

      - Bumble and Bumble Surf Salt Spray