Dan's Papers - June 15, 2007 - Touseled Summer Tresses

Some of the best hair days are the result of a long, relaxing, effortless day at the beach. The messy, tousled tresses that the sand, surf and ocean breezes produce are thick, wavy and sexy. Fortunately, you don't have to actually go to the beach to get beach hair. Whether you're in the city, at work or stuck inside on a rainy day, there are ways to attain this look, even in the winter!

If your hair is naturally straight or slightly wavy, start the night before to create the best beach hair. Before you go to sleep, shampoo, condition and towel dry your hair. Then, evenly apply mousse in sections throughout the entire head, scrunch and go to sleep. The next morning you will wake up with "bed head" but it will only take a few minutes to refine the waves. Just take a medium sized curling iron and starting at the back of your neck, twist and curl the hair from the middle to the ends. When you reach the top of your head, curl from the roots to the ends. Allow the hair to cool and finish off the style with a lightweight shine serum.

If your hair is naturally curly, it is also a good idea to start the process the night before. Shampoo, condition and towel dry your hair, but instead of applying mousse, apply a relaxing balm. The next morning, follow the above steps for straight and wavy hair with the curling iron and lightweight shine serum.

Another easy way to create a beachy hairstyle is to set your hair in braids the night before. I recommend starting the braids about an inch from the scalp, and then setting your hair in large braids that will create loose waves. Setting your hair in smaller braids will create tighter waves and result in a crimped look.

Personally, I don't always have time to plan my hairstyles the night before but luckily there are several great products available that allow me to create island perfected beach hair in just 10 to 15 minutes. Recently, my product of choice has been Sea Salt Styling Spray by Mark, a division of Avon products. This styling spray gives me the wind-swept, beachy look I often crave with just a few spritzes. It can be used on wet or dry hair and adds volume and waves that I didn't think was possible for my naturally straight hair. It smells wonderful and only costs $6. Visit www.meetmark.com for more information.

Another great product for beach hair is Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. A little pricier than the Mark product, this spray costs $21.50 and uses a seaweed extract to give hair a messy, salty texture. It can be used on wet or dry hair and leaves it smelling like you spent a day at the beach. Visit www.bumbleandbumble.com for more information.

Another one of my favorite beach hair products is John Frieda's Ocean Waves Sea Spray Texturizing Styler. Though made for blondes, this spray can in fact be used on all hair colors. It is a mixture of seawater and light conditioning oils and smells like coconut tanning lotion. This product creates beautiful, shimmering waves and only costs $6.49. Visit www.johnfrieda.com for more information.

A product that I have not yet tried but often hear wonderful things about is Kusco-Murphy's Beach Hair. A friend of mine claims this hair wax is the next best thing to a day at the beach. She uses it on dry hair and it gives her lasting waves. It costs $29, contains crushed bamboo and coconut oils and has been used on models for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit photo shoots. Visit www.kuscomurphy.com.au for more information.

No matter what product works best for you, beach hair should be fun and low-maintenance. Whether you're near the beach or miles away, make your summer season unforgettable with a beautiful, beach-goddess look.