How to Make Straight Hair Wavy

Many people with straight hair like to use curls and waves to change their look from time to time. However, most are unaware of the myriad styles available depending on just how you get your waves. These options will open up an entirely new venue of looks for you and your locks.

For centuries, men and women alike have altered the look of their hair to suit fashion, friends and even their mood. Always, the "grass is greener" on the other side of the locks and tresses when it comes to curly, wavy and straight hair. Today, women and men spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year on products to change the look of their hair, and that number will only continue to climb as technology and science create more ways to alter your look - and then change it back - with less and less effort.

One of the most popular ways to change your look is to change straight hair to wavy or curly. This fun and usually temporary change is easy to accomplish and can last several days or just a few hours. It also encompasses a variety of looks, and can be sexy, casual, exotic or extremely elegant. Straight hair is one of the best types of hair to start with because it is fairly easy to style, so you will have a lot of options when you decide to start adding curl.

Wavy hair makes this woman look adventurous and confident for a night out on the town.

Before you begin making waves, decide what look you want. If you want loose, wavy hair, you will take a very different tact from the one you should select if you want close, crinkly waves or even a "beach" look that is tousled and appears to be sun kissed and easily pretty. Also, evaluate what your hair can take. The more styling that you do on a routine basis, the less additional work you should do to make your hair wavy. In addition, hair that has been chemically colored or straightened may break under the strain of heavy styling, so you will need to either protect and fortify it ahead of time or forego the greater excesses of curling and teasing in order to keep your tresses intact.

If you are looking for permanent waves, then a permanent wave may be best for you. This hair treatment, which should be done by a professional unless you have extensive experience in treating and styling hair as well as access to high quality products with which to do so, lasts for two to six months, and permanently alters the construction of your hair so that you appear to have wavy hair all the time. This process is popular with people who want waves but do not have the time to create them on a daily basis. However, it is a chemical procedure and can weaken and damage the hair over time. Also, while perms can be reversed or encouraged to "wear off" more quickly, the look is, as the name implies, permanent for all intents and purposes. As a result, you must be very sure that you love your waves more than your straight hair before you commit to this process.

For most people, a temporary wave is all that is really necessary or desired to make them happy with their new look. You can use several all natural ways to get these waves, if you have the time. Braiding your hair and then allowing it to dry will result in crimped waves. If you want many tiny crimps, then you should create many small, tight braids. However, if you want a looser, larger wave, then a French braid or several pigtails will do the trick. The larger and looser the braid, the looser the wave as well. The key to this styling technique is time, however, and you may have to let your hair dry overnight or even longer. Braids also slow the drying process, so make sure that the inside of the braid is dry before you remove it or you will just have wet hair and no waves to speak of at the end of the process.

If you want even looser, longer waves than you can get with a loose braid, then simple towel drying may do the trick. After you exit the shower, wrap your hair in a turban to absorb as much water as possible. Then finger comb your hair to remove major tangles. Do not use a brush or comb to get the tangles out. Once you have removed the tangles, Start toweling your hair dry with one hand while scrunching it up with the other. This will give you a natural, wavy look when your hair dries completely. However, this technique also requires several hours because you will not be able to get your hair completely dry with the towel and will have to let it air dry once you have done all you can with your fingers and the cloth. Once your hair has dried completely, you still should only finger comb it to keep the natural waves in place.

Loose waves make this girl appear mysterious and romantic.

If you like styling and feel that your hair can literally take the heat, then your options for turning straight hair wavy are varied and much less time-consuming, although they do require more focused effort and some thoughtful preparation. Wash your hair with shampoo and a hydrating conditioner. Once you have rinsed your hair, spray it with a leave in conditioner or other strengthening product to fortify it against the heat of the styling to come. Then, dry your hair with a round brush. This will give you a slight wave by the time you are done. If this wave is not enough for you - and for most people, it is not - then use big rollers or a curling iron to create curls all over your head. If you want lots of small waves, then use smaller rollers or a small barreled curling iron. Larger diameters give you smoother, longer waves. If you find that you have more curl than you intended, simply brush your hair until some of the curl has "fallen" out and the waves are the degree that you desire. Then, spray your hair to hold the wave for several hours.

If you have a small degree of natural wave and want to enhance it, you can do so with curl defining gels. These gels give your hair a "beach" look that makes it look like you have been in the ocean. Work the gel into damp hair and scrunch the hair between your fingers. Do not use so much gel that your hair gets crunchy. Let your hair and the gel dry naturally for a natural, wavy look.

If you do not have access to the sand, wind and waves, get the look with a little gel and some air-drying.