Hair Gallery: A New Wave

Credits:
Editorial - Essence Magazine
Pictures - Berry Behrendt








The New Wave
Waves are back in a big way. But the tide has changed. Replacing the stiff finger waves of yesterday, the current look is touchable, romantic and sexy. Celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen shows us how to create these seductive styles


Double Texture
Keep large crimps grown and sexy by playing up two different textures. Stephen created this look with a large crimping iron. She added crimps a few inches from the roots to the tips of hair, leaving the top smooth. Prep hair with Ellin Lavar Textures ThermMist Hot-Tool Styling With Maximum Heat Protection ($8, cvs.com) to avoid damage.






The Big Wave
Kick your ’fro up a few notches with small, soft waves. The night before wearing, section damp hair and make small twists around the entire head. The next day unravel and shake sections out until they blend. Finger-style pieces into place. Love the look but don’t want to go through all the trouble? Then why not buy it? Try a wig like Especially Yours Kool Human Hair Wig ($59, especiallyyours.com) or wet and wavy extension pieces (available at local beauty supply stores).





Crimp Your Style(z)
Small, soft crimps are the perfect alternative. For this look, Stephen crimped small sections of hair from root to tips with a small crimping iron like Bed Head Professional Tourmaline Nano-Ceramic Dual Waver ($50, target.com). When creating this style at home, Stephen suggests you stay away from using any hard holding sprays. “Whether your hair is long or short, this is a style that needs to move and have body,” she says. “Anything too stiff will look hard, and that’s the look you definitely don’t want.”





Up and a Wave
If you want to spice things up, why not add waves to your natural? Roller-set hair with medium and small rollers using a setting lotion such as Jane Carter Solution Wrap & Roll ($9, janecartersolution.com). Once dry, release curls, brush them out and comb front portion of hair up and over to either side to create waves. Stephen keeps this look funky by using a middle part.





Well Defined
If you like a well-defined wave but want to avoid the finger-wave look of the past, you’ll love this softer, looser creation. Hair is tightly curled and then the wave is molded into place around the sides of the hairline using clips, a small brush and a light hair spray or pomade such as Motions At Home Shine Enhancing Pomade ($2.50, Sally Beauty Supply stores nationwide) for hold.