Ever wondered how celebrities rock that perfectly imperfect messy hair? This casual, tousled style isn’t just about rolling out of bed and hoping for the best. With the right techniques and products, anyone can master the artfully disheveled look that seems effortless but actually takes some know-how.
1. Beach Waves Magic
Salt spray transforms ordinary locks into beachy, textured waves with minimal effort. Just spritz on damp hair, scrunch with your fingers, and let air dry.
The salt creates natural-looking volume and separation that mimics how your hair feels after a day at the ocean.
2. Dry Shampoo Your Best Friend
Counterintuitively, second-day hair works better for messy styles than freshly washed locks. Dry shampoo absorbs oil while creating gritty texture perfect for holding that disheveled look.
Apply at the roots, massage in, then tousle with your fingers for instant volume.
3. Bedhead Perfection
Sleep with damp hair in a loose, high bun secured with a scrunchie to avoid creases. Unwrap in the morning for effortless waves with natural-looking volume at the roots.
Gently separate curls with your fingers rather than a brush to maintain that coveted bedhead texture.
4. Strategic Backcombing
Take thin sections at your crown and gently backcomb the underside for hidden volume. The trick? Backcomb only at the roots, leaving ends smooth.
This creates height without the dated ’80s pouf effect. Finish with light hairspray to maintain the lift while keeping movement.
5. Braided Texture Hack
Braid slightly damp hair before bed—tight braids create zigzag waves while loose braids form softer patterns. The number of braids determines the final effect: fewer for casual waves, more for intricate texture.
Unravel in the morning and rough up with fingers for instant messy chic.
6. Curling Iron Chaos
Forget perfect curls! Wrap random sections of hair around a curling wand, alternating directions and leaving ends straight. Vary the section sizes and curl tightness for authenticity.
The secret? Curl away from your face around the hairline to open up your features naturally.
7. The Twist and Pin Method
For a quick penteado desarrumado, twist random sections away from your face and secure with bobby pins. The beauty lies in imperfection—let some pieces fall naturally around your face.
Cross pins in an X-shape for stronger hold that still looks casually thrown together.
8. Diffuser for Natural Texture
Flip your head upside down and use a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer. Cup hair sections in the diffuser, pushing upward toward your scalp while drying.
This enhances natural waves and curls without creating frizz. The upside-down approach adds volume at the roots.
9. Texturizing Paste Magic
Warm a pea-sized amount of texturizing paste between palms until it becomes transparent. Then, use fingertips to pinch and twist random hair sections, focusing on the ends and mid-lengths.
This creates piece-y definition that’s crucial for the perfectly imperfect messy look.
10. Strategic Straightening
Contrary to what you might think, flat irons can create amazing messy texture. Instead of straightening traditionally, twist sections and run the iron down these twisted pieces.
This creates irregular waves that look more natural than curling iron curls. Finish by roughing up with fingers.
11. Finger-Raking for Separation
Ditch the brush! After styling, use fingers to rake through your hair, creating natural separation. The heat from your fingers warms up product, making it more pliable.
For extra texture, pinch small sections between fingers and gently pull outward from the scalp.
12. Bun-Drop Volume
Create instant volume by piling hair into a high, loose bun while it’s 80% dry. Secure with a scrunchie, finish your makeup or breakfast, then release.
You’ll have natural-looking volume at the roots with slight waves throughout. Shake out and tousle with fingers for the ultimate messy vibe.
13. Cocktailing Products
Mix a few drops of hair oil with texturizing spray in your palm before applying. This unexpected combination gives you piece-y texture without the crunchiness or dryness.
The oil adds shine while the texturizer creates separation—the perfect recipe for that lived-in, messy look.
14. Root-Lifting Powder
Sprinkle volumizing powder directly onto your roots, then massage in with fingertips. Unlike sprays, powders create lasting lift without weighing hair down.
Focus application at the crown and around the part line where flatness is most noticeable. The gritty texture is perfect for messy styles.
15. Scarf Styling Trick
Wrap damp hair around a silk scarf, twist into a bun, and sleep. The scarf creates smoother waves than cotton while preventing frizz.
In the morning, unravel to reveal perfect messy waves. The varied texture—smoother at roots, wavier at ends—looks effortlessly undone yet intentional.