Surfer Hair: Tips and Inspiration for Achieving the Perfect Beachy Look
From Hollywood’s coolest hunks to the tube riding pros, the laidback, carefree surfer look is one of the hottest hair trends out there. Traditional surfer hair is all about movement, natural texture, and effortless volume. In other words, it’s the exact opposite of a stiff, barber-shop style cut.
While you may think achieving the perfect surfer look is out of reach or unrealistic, the truth is that everyone can rock the style with just a few simple tips. So if you’re wondering how to get perfectly beachy, tousled hair, keep reading to get all the inspiration, must-know advice, and pro tips you need!
What is Surfer Hair?
Surfer hair is a classic look characterized by slightly long, accentuated layers with soft, relaxed texture. The perfect surfer waves can be achieved on any hair length and texture, and will look messier and more tousled with longer strands.
The signature voluminous, layered ‘do has been popularized by Hollywood hunks Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio, who’ve all sported some variation of the look at some point during their careers. Professional surfers, such as Kelly Slater, John John Florence, and Gabriel Medina, have embraced the style both in the water and out of it.
How to Achieve the Perfect Surfer Hair
Achieving the perfect beach wave can be done in three simple steps:
Choose the Right Products
To achieve the perfect beachy wave, the most important step is to invest in the right products. The ideal surf look requires just the right balance of salty sea air, the summer heat, and the perfect lineup of products.
For a natural-looking, tousled style, reach for a salt spray, light-hold gel, and a matte finish wax. Salt spray will add texture and volume, light-hold gel will help boost your existing wave, and matte finish wax will give your hair a surfer-approved messy finish.
Style with a Diffuser
The next step is to dry your hair using a blow dryer with a diffuser attachment. This is one of the most important steps in achieving surfer-hair success – if you don’t use a diffuser, you’ll end up with a poofy, matted mess.
Start drying your hair at the roots, using your fingers or a wide-toothed comb to gently lift and volumize your hair as you move the dryer through. Make sure you also dry the ends of your hair – this will create a smooth, luscious look.
Finish with a Light Hold Gel
Once your hair is dry, apply a light-hold gel onto your fingers and gently work it through your lengths and ends. This will help to enhance your waves and encourage them to hold their shape.
Finally, tousle your hair with your fingers and comb lightly to encourage a slightly messy finish. You can finish off with a light mist of hairspray to give your surfer style extra hold.
Inspiration: Famous Surfer Hair Styles
Need some inspiration? Here are some celebrity-approved surfer hair styles to get you started:
Brad Pitt: Brad has made the surfer look his own over the years, with a heavily textured pixie cut and tousled locks.
John John Florence: His highly tousled, loose surfer curls have become a staple in the world of professional surfing.
Gisele Bundchen: One of the most acclaimed surf style looks of all time, Bundchen’s heavily tousled hair has been often imitated and will look great on any length of hair.
Surfer hair is a classic, timeless style that can be achieved on any texture and length. By investing in the right products, using a diffuser to style, and finishing with light hold gel, you can create the perfect beachy waves in no time. From Hollywood hunks to tube riding pros, the surfer look is one of the hottest hair trends and is sure to turn heads.
