Beautiful, close to the scalp and extremely glamorous - it's no surprise that the water wave hairstyle is one of the trends that will never go out of style. The noble and elegant waves were particularly popular in the golden 20s and 30s and are celebrating a big comeback this year. Are you invited to a wedding or an official evening event and are you looking for an elegant hairstyle that will attract everyone's attention? Then read on – in this article we have put together the best instructions and lots of wonderful inspiration for you!
In the 1920s, women mostly wore their hair short and the water wave hairstyle was an excellent optionBob haircutto spice it up a little. But back then, hair styling tools weren't exactly what we know today - there were no flat irons or curling irons and women basically worked with wet hair, a load of hair gel and their hands. For the typical and original retro look, follow our instructions for a self-styled version.
For the classic look you will need:
- mousse
- Comb, best for backcombing
- Hair clammer
- Hairspray
And this is how it's done:
- Wash your hair and dry it lightly with a towel.
- Add a generous portion of mousse to your hair and comb through well.
- Parting - whether a middle parting or a deep side parting for a more dramatic appearance is up to you.
- To create the elegant waves, section off a section of hair approximately 5 centimeters wide and place it slightly forward on your forehead with the comb.
- And now we can start creating water waves - for the perfect look, we work carefully and slowly, strand by strand, from top to bottom.
- This step requires a little tact - take the strand between your middle and index fingers and carefully push it towards the back of your head.
- Use the comb to tuck around your fingers and secure with hair clips - this creates the typical S-shape of the waves.
- Repeat the process with the remaining strands.
- Once you're happy with the shape of the waves, let your hair dry completely.
- Carefully remove the hair clips, fix with hairspray and your glamorous evening hairstyle is ready!
- A little insider tip from us – for the perfect water wave hairstyle, we recommend you use special clips, also known as “wave riders”. They hold the strands much better and provide a better shape.
Use a curling iron
Do you think the hand-laid water wave is beautiful, but making it yourself seems too complicated and time-consuming? Then we have good news for you - with a curling iron you can achieve the 20s retro look much faster and easier and it looks just as good!
For this you need:
- Hair clambern
- mousse
- Heat protection
- curling iron
- Hairspray
And it's that easy:
- Distribute the mousse through your hair, brush well and blow dry.
- Make a part.
- Take a thin strand and place it over the curling iron. With this hairstyle, the hair is not wrapped around the curling iron as usual, but simply placed on top!
- Use the comb to gently press the lower part against your head, being careful not to burn yourself. Using heat gloves wouldn't be such a bad idea.
- After about 5 seconds, remove the curling iron and put it back on a few centimeters further down. Then press the hair lightly again and repeat the process until the end of the strand.
- Do the same with the remaining sections of hair.
- Finally, fix it with a good amount of hairspray and you're ready to go!
Style with a straightener
In the golden 20s, the water waves were shaped by hands. But today's many styling tools make everything a lot quicker and easier. Don't have a curling iron at home? Just don't panic - you can also do the water wave hairstyle yourself with a straightening iron and we'll explain how!
Water wave instructions:
- Distribute mousse through hair, comb through and blow dry.
- Make a part.
- Take a thin strand and twist it slightly inwards with the straightening iron.
- Pull the straightening iron down a little and then twist the strand outwards.
- And repeat the movement alternately down to the bottom.
- Repeat the process with the remaining strands.
- Fix with hairspray and you're done!
For long hair
No matter whether you have short or long hair - the hairstyle looks beautiful in both cases and gives you a classy look. The women who have long hair can wear the water wave hairstyle open for everyday life and for work. But it looks particularly feminine and extremely glamorous when you close the rest of your hairan elegant bunpin up. This look is great for a wedding or other celebratory event.
The pixie haircut with a difference
The water wave hairstyle gives every woman that certain something.The pixie haircutis very trendy this year and the beautiful retro curls make it look even better.
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The perfect hair style for work
Look fairytale at your wedding
The fine curls make a messy bun a real eye-catcher
With pearls for even more glamour
Two hairstyle trends combined in one – gray hair with a retro touch
Elegant and stylish – the water waves as the ultimate evening hairstyle
Show off your feminine side
Long hair for the perfect 20s look
Purple hair highlighted beautifully
A timeless classic
Ideal for all hair lengths
Mohawk for women with a difference
A total hit in the 90s
The best choice for anyone who likes to attract attention
The singer Rihanna with beautiful water waves
Curly hair and glittering dress – the perfect 1920s look
Pixie haircut and retro curls
Hand-laid water wave and deep knot