Grunge waves are the perfect hairstyle if you want an edgy and stylish look. It’s one of the most popular hairstyles today because it can be flattering on people with different face shapes and hair types. Whether you have long or short hair, you can get grunge waves. It’s a look that complements practically everyone. 

Some people may call this style “beach waves” because it also looks like you spent a day at the beach, but whatever you call it, the messy-yet-styled look is the common factor. You want to look like you spent no effort on your hair, but at the same time, your hair is exactly how you want it to be.

Here’s how to get that perfectly imperfect coif—whether it’s the final touch to a rocker chick get-up or a sun-kissed look.

How-to Grunge Waves

There are quite a few methods to get grunge waves. If your hair is naturally wavy, you may only need a hair styling paste or similar product, followed by a blast from a hair diffuser to really amp up the waves. 

For those who need a bit more help getting wavy hair, here’s a step-by-step on how to use a curling iron or flat iron for those coveted grunge waves.

Use heat protectant spray.

If you’re going to use a curling iron or flat iron, make sure to protect your hair from heat damage with a heat protectant. While grunge waves give off a “messy hair, don’t care” vibe, it doesn’t mean not caring about your hair’s condition at all. Dry and damaged hair does not equal grunge. If you find yourself using a lot of chemicals or heat on your locks, you can use hair masks to revitalize and repair your hair.

Section your hair into manageable parts.

Separate hair into small sections. Try not to have too small parts—just divide your hair into sections you are comfortable with. You don’t need to be too perfect; after all, you’re going for a messy chic look. Imperfections are welcome and add more character to this hairstyle.

Use a 1-inch curling iron or a flat iron.

Take a section of hair and start curling with your curling iron, away from the face. Clamp hair in the middle, twist it, and rotate it away from your face until about an inch or two from the end. Do not curl the ends of your hair. You want straight ends to achieve the messy look, and curling the ends will make you end up with hair that looks too styled.

Hold the curling iron for a few seconds—3 to 4 seconds should do the trick—and then let go by pulling the iron straight down.

If you are using a flat iron, take your section of hair and clamp the iron diagonally near the roots. Rotate the flat iron away about halfway through, and then pull away from the face until the ends.

For a more interesting style, you can section your hair into unequal parts. Others mix it up with a different technique. Rotate the flat iron away from the head, pull it down a few inches, then rotate the iron the opposite way (toward the head) and continue to pull down. Alternate between rotating the iron away and toward the head until the ends. This technique lets you achieve a more wavy look, in contrast to the spiral curls you’ll get with the first flat iron method.

Run fingers through cooled hair.

When your hair is no longer warm, run your fingers through the curls to gently loosen them up for added texture and softness. Don’t touch your curls when they are still warm, or else they might fall flat. 

Spritz on hairspray or texture spray.

Use a flexible hold hairspray or a texture spray to seal the hairstyle for long-lasting results. Spray the product liberally all over your hair. Avoid brushing your hair at this point or even combing your hair. The point of grunge waves is to achieve a messy look, and combing them out might just give you nice but smoother waves—definitely not grunge.

Many hairstylists swear by sea salt spray for beachy waves to add volume and texture, but you can also just go ahead with any texture spray, especially if you’re already satisfied with your end result.

Rock Those Grunge Waves

Complement those grunge waves with a fierce attitude to match your edgy look. Flaunt your ‘do with the confidence that your hair is healthy and styled well. Don’t forget to rejuvenate and breathe new life into your tresses with the Moroccan Gold Series hair masks. Your smooth, moisturized, and styled hair will thank you.