California Beach Wave vs Utah Curl
The.. same.. stupid.. curls
“Everyone comes in and asks for that hair and I’m sick of it. You can do that sh*t at home.” says Morssey Morssey from Martinez Samuel Salon. “You can do a sh**** color, wrap it around a hot iron and it looks good.”
I invite you to think of it… get a tiny fiber of hair into submission through excessive, concentrated heat, then YANK ON IT! Imagine putting hot-to-the-touch heat to any fiber, plastic, metal, or even chocolate (…mmm). Then imagine pulling or remotely tugging on it… stay with me here. As a result, there is a permanent change in structure and integrity of the subject, in this case, hair. Call me a great hairdresse- I mean, call me old-school, but come on! Just don’t call me, telling me that luxury hair went out of style. Just because it’s silent luxury era, does not mean we have to take it out on our hair. Like that one time you grabbed the kitchen scissors, yeah I remember. Like I said, it does not have to work that way.
As Morssey says, ‘That hair’, commonly known as The Beach Wave, The Cosmo Tai, or the Utah Curl, is where you wrap hair around the curling barrel to create mermaid hair. If you’re fancy, you form a curl around the iron hair, then release and pull, repeating this process through the ends to create a long, loose wave. Don’t say I never taught you anything.
“It gives more natural, looser curls. My clients love it, especially in this area. (Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles)” says Desiree from Canale-Martinez Salon.
Light cannot exist without darkness. Where Morssey says no, Desiree says yes. And the truth is, it’s a hairstyle that is ethereal, pretty, and can be customized to practically any length.
“I absolutely love beach waves," says Jim from Beverly Hills. “They look soooooo pretty when you get out of the salt water. But the round-brush and iron-work is stupid.”
Our job as professional hair stylists and image consultants is to not only give you beautiful hair, but to teach you how to achieve and easily replicate salon-polished hair. “Our job is to give people what they can replicate at home.” Clients should be able to get up, wash, and go and look great.
So there you have it, their side, their side, and the truth. Not every style is a one-size-fits-all, for both stylists and clients. Some facial structures, hair types, and personalities call for different styles. I cater to and celebrate all clients, all hair types, and all hair styles; I focus on what your hair does to your confidence more than the style itself. If you feel the best with bright neon green hair, I’ll make sure Feid wants to add you to his moodboard.
I’ve studied hair for the past 15 years, and hair that best holds a beach wave is hair with a natural wave or curl in it. Another pointer I can share would be: generally, fine hair is best styled with mousse when wet, then dried, and styled. For more tips, lIkEcOmMeNtSubScRiBe, you have to pay to play ;)
“And then you lock her in with a salt spray, honey.” says Housewives of Beverly Hills hairstylist, Barry Halkides. “give it a good scrunch with a texture spray. My faves are from R & Co for fine hair and Bumble & Bumble for medium to thicker hair.”
*old school / classic / elegant / one who celebrates hair in its glory of volume, bounce, shine, and luxe.