17 Wavy Hairstyles For Long Hair
Long wavy hair is the epitome of effortless style, offering versatility and a touch of romance to any look. From sun-kissed beach vibes to red-carpet ready glamour, waves can transform your long locks into a work of art. Dive into our curated list of 17 trending wavy hairstyles, perfect for inspiring your next hair transformation. Each style is designed to be visually evocative, stylish, and adaptable to various occasions and personal aesthetics, ensuring your long waves always look their best.
Classic Beach Waves
The quintessential summer look, beach waves offer a relaxed yet chic aesthetic that’s perennially popular. This style works beautifully on almost all hair textures and face shapes, adding a youthful bounce. It’s trending for its undone elegance and minimal effort. To achieve this, use a sea salt spray on damp hair and scrunch, or lightly curl sections with a large barrel iron, leaving the ends straight.
Glamour Hollywood Waves
For those seeking an old-school siren vibe, Hollywood waves deliver unparalleled elegance and sophistication. Characterized by their uniform, deep S-shape and glossy finish, this style is perfect for formal events and complements oval or heart-shaped faces beautifully. It’s a timeless trend often seen on the red carpet. To style, use a curling iron to create uniform waves, then brush them out gently and set with a strong-hold spray for a polished, cohesive look.
Textured Shag Waves
Embrace a rock-and-roll edge with textured shag waves, a style that’s making a major comeback for its rebellious yet chic appeal. This layered cut naturally enhances waves, adding volume and movement, making it ideal for those with finer hair looking for body. It suits round or square face shapes by adding angles and softness. Style with a texturizing spray and scrunch to emphasize layers and create that perfectly imperfect finish.
Mermaid Waves
Channel your inner siren with ethereal mermaid waves, characterized by their continuous, undulating pattern that resembles ocean ripples. This dreamy style adds incredible volume and flow, making it perfect for thick, long hair and suitable for all face shapes. It’s trending for its whimsical, romantic aesthetic. Achieve this look using a three-barrel waver or by braiding damp hair before bed for natural, flowing waves.
Loose S-Waves
The effortless allure of loose S-waves lies in their understated beauty and natural appeal. This style features gentle, flowing curves that mimic the natural ‘S’ pattern hair often forms, offering a soft and flattering look for any face shape. It’s a versatile trend that works for both casual and semi-formal occasions. Use a flat iron or a large curling wand to create soft S-bends, then lightly brush through for a relaxed finish.
Voluminous Retro Waves
Step back in time with voluminous retro waves, a style that boasts incredible height at the roots and bouncy, structured waves through the lengths. This look exudes old-school glamour and is particularly flattering for oval or long face shapes, adding width and drama. It’s perfect for making a grand entrance. Achieve volume with root lifting spray and a round brush, then create structured waves with rollers or a curling iron, brushing out gently for bounce.
Bohemian Waves with Braids
Infuse a touch of free-spirited charm into your waves with delicate bohemian braids. This style combines soft, natural waves with subtle plaits, often framing the face or woven into the hair, creating a whimsical and romantic aesthetic. It’s perfect for festivals or adding a feminine touch, suiting all face shapes. To style, create soft waves, then loosely braid small sections around your face or in the mid-lengths, securing with clear elastics.
Undone Waves with a Deep Side Part
The allure of undone waves paired with a dramatic deep side part creates a look that is both effortlessly cool and subtly sexy. This style adds immediate volume and an air of mystery, flattering most face shapes by creating asymmetry. It’s a trending choice for a sophisticated yet relaxed vibe. Simply create soft, ‘lived-in’ waves, then comb hair into a deep side part, letting one side cascade over the face.
Wavy High Ponytail
Elevate your everyday ponytail by styling it with bouncy waves, creating a look that is both playful and polished. A wavy high ponytail adds instant lift and volume, showcasing the length and texture of your hair. This versatile trend is perfect for active days or chic evenings, flattering most face shapes. Gather your pre-waved hair into a high ponytail, securing it tightly, and letting the waves cascade down for a dynamic finish.
Half-Up Wavy Crown
The half-up wavy crown offers a romantic and sophisticated way to wear your long waves, keeping hair out of your face while showcasing its beautiful length and texture. This style creates an elegant silhouette, perfect for special occasions, and suits most face shapes. It’s trending for its blend of practicality and beauty. Simply gather the top section of your pre-waved hair, twist or braid it into a half-up style, and secure it at the back of your head.
Deep Finger Waves (Modern Take)
A contemporary twist on a classic, deep finger waves for long hair offer a striking, art-deco inspired look with a modern edge. These defined, close-to-the-head waves provide a high-fashion, sculptural appeal, making them perfect for avant-garde events or bold statements. They particularly suit oval or heart-shaped faces. To achieve this, use strong-hold gel and a fine-tooth comb to mold deep, uniform waves close to the scalp, letting the lengths flow into softer waves.
Wavy Low Ponytail with Volume
A wavy low ponytail combines understated elegance with natural volume, creating a sophisticated and chic look for any occasion. This style is incredibly versatile, working for both casual outings and more formal events, and flatters all face shapes. It’s a trending choice for its effortless polish. Gather your pre-waved hair into a loose low ponytail at the nape of your neck, allowing some face-framing pieces to fall forward, and gently tug at the crown for added volume.
Asymmetrical Wavy Bob (Long)
Though often associated with shorter cuts, an asymmetrical wavy ‘long bob’ on long hair offers a dynamic and edgy silhouette while retaining length. One side is noticeably longer or styled differently, creating a modern, fashion-forward look that suits bold personalities. This style is excellent for adding intrigue and can complement various face shapes by drawing the eye. Style with a deep side part and enhance natural waves, letting the asymmetry speak for itself.
Natural Enhanced Waves
Celebrate your natural wave pattern by simply enhancing what you already have, a trending approach to effortless beauty. This style focuses on boosting definition and reducing frizz, allowing your authentic texture to shine through. It’s perfect for all face shapes, especially those blessed with natural waves. Use a curl-enhancing cream or mousse on damp hair, scrunch, and air dry or diffuse on low heat to coax out and define your natural waves.
Wavy Braided Crown
Combine the romance of a braided crown with the softness of long waves for a truly regal and enchanting look. This style involves weaving a braid (often a Dutch or French braid) around the crown of the head, leaving the rest of the wavy hair flowing freely. It’s a trending choice for bohemian weddings or garden parties, flattering oval and round face shapes. Start with pre-waved hair, then create a braided crown, gently pulling sections for a softer, fuller look.
Voluminous Side-Swept Waves
Embrace old Hollywood glamour with voluminous side-swept waves, a dramatic and incredibly flattering style that exudes confidence and allure. This look involves creating full, bouncy waves and sweeping them all to one side, showcasing a sculpted shoulder and neckline. It’s a timeless trend for formal events, particularly suiting square or angular face shapes by adding softness. Create deep, voluminous waves, then use a strong-hold spray and pins to secure them over one shoulder.
Messy Top Knot with Wavy Strands
The messy top knot with wavy strands is the ultimate ‘cool girl’ hairstyle – effortlessly chic, practical, and perfectly imperfect. This style keeps hair off your face while allowing textured, wavy pieces to frame your face and fall naturally. It’s a hugely popular trend for casual days, complementing all face shapes. Gather most of your pre-waved hair into a high, messy bun, leaving out face-framing waves and letting loose strands fall organically.
From the casual elegance of beach waves to the striking allure of Hollywood glamour, long wavy hairstyles offer an endless canvas for self-expression. We hope this Pinterest-inspired listicle has provided you with ample inspiration to experiment and find your perfect wave. Remember, the best wavy hairstyle is the one that makes you feel most confident and beautiful. Embrace the texture, play with volume, and let your long waves make a statement!
