Confession: Ever since the series premiere of Gossip Girl in 2007 (how old do you feel RN?) we’ve been on a mission to recreate the perfectly undone look of those insta-classic Serena Van Der Woodsen waves. When it comes to #hairgoals, style icon Blake Lively still tops our list, even after her tenure on GG. There’s something so enviable about piecey, slightly mussed hair — every time we see it on someone else, we can’t help but wonder, “How does she make polished look so easy?”
#Goals. (Photo via Pascal Le Segretain/Getty)
But on our quest to create voluminous, tousled waves of our own, we realized that texture isn’t something you have to be born with — in fact, it’s actually pretty easy to fake. Come fall, textured hair is the chicest way to add an effortlessly cool touch to all your go-to ensembles. Scroll below for a list of game-changing texturizing hair products and must-have tips for using them.
1. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($44): Rumor has it that the on-set hairstylist at Gossip Girl used this on Blake Lively’s lust-worthy locks, and we’ve been stockpiling it ever since. Fast-forward to today and this product has reached cult status, setting the gold standard for piecey, sexy hair. After blow drying your hair, wrap it into a loose bun and blast it with a few sprays. Let it set for 10 minutes, undo the bun and don’t be surprised when the paparazzi flock to you outside the grocery store.
2. Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Hair Cream ($6): Getting texture from a cream sounds like a paradox, but this drugstore miracle worker proves it can be done. Just a little bit of this dream cream adds a serious dose of matte, surfer-inspired texture. Start with a quarter-sized amount and work an even layer over the mid-shaft to the ends of your strands. Tousle and massage the product into your hair for a couple seconds, and then allow to air dry.
3. Bumble and bumble Prêt-à-Powder ($27): Sweatin’ on your blowout? This miracle powder extends the life of your salon-styled mane and saves you dolla dolla bills y’all — not to mention it also protects your hair from heat damage when styling. Hold the bottle at an angle about eight inches from your head and gently squeeze on each side to let out puffs of the product. Then press the powder into your scalp or strands to absorb oil and add insta-volume.
4. It’s a 10 Miracle Texture Fiber ($20): This little stick is the only one on the list that does double duty for both textured and non-textured styles. First up, let’s talk texture. For a lived-in style, run the stick over your fingertips to gather a generous amount of product. Emulsify it in your hand and then massage your roots to separate and boost volume. Then massage the leftover product on your hands into your ends to get that defined, air-whipped look. For sleek non-textured styles, run the stick very lightly over flyaways and frizz to tame them.
5. R+Co Badlands Dry Shampoo Paste ($28): R+Co, let us count the ways we love you. This innovative line of hair products is constantly serving up fresh alternatives to old-school products, including this dry shampoo paste. Badlands has a gritty texture that almost feels like sand, and that’s your new secret weapon for adding texture to slept-on, second-day hair. Warm up a dime-sized dollop of this “powder paste” in the palms of your hands and run it upward through your hair at the crown. Then shake your hair out for a woke-up-like-this look.
6. John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray ($10): This wave spray is so good, the company brought it back from the dead after years of being discontinued. Beauty buffs may have known it as “Ocean Waves,” but don’t call it a comeback. This is basically the original beach wave spray. A few spritzes on damp or dry hair will separate and lift locks so you can convincingly pull off windswept beach waves, even if you’re landlocked.
Looking for more best-tressed styles? Find looks you’ll love on our Pinterest.
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