Have you been paying attention? Because there’s been a slow trend coming our way, and now it’s picked up steam and become a must. The long wave is what we’re talking about, and it’s a look you’re going to want.

Where to look for long-wave inspiration

At the 2019 Emmys, we saw Mandy Moore, Jameela Jamil, Gwendoline Christie, and many others rocking long locks with a touch of wave. What’s more inspiring, these ladies wore their natural hair color with just a touch of help from their colorists to give them a healthy and refreshingly real look.

Fans of the VMAs were treated to a lot of hot and fresh looks. FKA Twigs let dark roots show and finished them with fire engine red ringlets that crept down her back. While her look was a bit wild, on the opposite side of the spectrum was Hailee Steinfeld in a smoking red-hot dress with elegant long soft waves to complement her style.

At the Teen Choice Awards, the real standout was Zendaya, with her ultra-long hair pulled back into a thick plait. We just wanted her to set those tresses free and rock her beautiful hair, but the benefits of a long braid aren’t lost on us. 

Another big standout this night was Taylor Swift with her gender equality speech. But we noticed that it looks like she’s growing out her bob and aiming for long waves in the future. Her current hairstyle is a perfect inspiration as you wait for your cropped cut to lengthen.

How to get hair with long waves

So now that you want it, how do you get it? The first bit of news isn’t going to make some of you happy because it involves time, sometimes a lot of time. Long hair really only comes from growing it out. On average, hair grows about half an inch a month. 

The good news is that your long hair journey can be easier if you nourish your hair from the inside and out, and you pamper it as much as possible. 

Getting the hair length you want will take time, but the more you care for it, the longer and stronger it will be. In the meantime, you can mimic the look with the following steps. Once your hair is finally the length you want, these same steps will still be your go-to.

Leave-in conditioner

Once you’ve washed or just wet your hair, spray it all over with Hair La Vie N°77 leave-in conditioner. This will soften and protect your hair from the blow-drying and the curling you’re going to do. The good news is this look can last a second day and sometimes even a third.

Dry your hair thoroughly

A blow dryer is an obvious choice, but some people prefer to let their hair dry naturally. Others like to do a mixture of blow-drying until your hair is about half dry or more and then letting it air dry. You know your hair best, so do what works for you.

Separate

Now you need to separate your hair so you can work on one section at a time. It’s best to simply clip up the top part, and start with the bottom of your scalp. 

Curling iron or wand

The wider the barrel, the looser the curl. Your hair may not respond to a full 2” barrel, so a 1.5” or even a 1” barrel might work for you. It all depends on your length and how well your hair holds curl. Try a few different ones to find your magic weapon.

When you’re curling, take a hunk of hair and curl it down and away from your face, holding the iron at about 45°. If you have a curling wand, just hold the end of the hair while you hold the wand. If you have an iron, keep the clip open and treat it like a wand, holding the end of your hair. 

Most people will have a set curl in 10 to 20 seconds. Continue curling the rest of your head.

Soft brush

Now it’s time to soft brush the curl. This is how you get the nice, loose, and natural-looking curl. Be extra soft and careful. You don’t want to brush hard or quick in a way that erases the curl; you just want to separate and add some bounce.

Moroccan oil

Put about a dime-sized amount of Moroccan oil in the palm of your hand and rub your hands together. Then use a “clapping” motion to disperse the oil through the midsection of your strands to the ends. This gives your hair unbelievable shine and supports health.

Hairspray

Spritz the length of your hair with your favorite hairspray. You don’t want too much hold because you want it to flow and look soft and natural, but you also want it to hold the curl. Play with how far and close you hold the nozzle from your hair to get just the right hold.

Final thoughts

Getting great soft curls is easy once you get the hang of it. You will definitely need to practice a bit and play with it to find your long-wave recipe. Once you’ve got it, then you can rock this look every day. 

While you may not have a red carpet moment in your future, there’s no reason not to look like your favorite celebs. Turn your next event into your moment to shine.