19 Glam Waves Hairstyles

The single thing separating glam waves from ordinary curls is the brush-out. Setting the wave is only half the job, and skipping the final comb-through is why most home attempts read as ringlets rather than that smooth, unbroken S-shape. Once the curls are cool, a wide paddle brush or wide-tooth comb blends them into one continuous ribbon. Everything below builds from that principle, whether the wave is set with a wand, rollers, or pins. Here are nineteen versions worth trying.

Classic Hollywood Waves

Set the hair in large sections with a 1.5-inch curling iron, all curls rolling the same direction away from the face. Pin each curl while it cools, then release and brush through with a paddle brush. Finish with a shine spray and a flexible hold hairspray. This is the red-carpet standard, and the uniform direction is what creates the unbroken ribbon effect.

Deep Side-Part Glam Waves

Part the hair deeply to one side before setting, so the heavier section falls dramatically across the forehead. The asymmetry adds instant drama to any wave pattern. Set the waves as usual, then tuck the lighter side behind the ear to reveal an earring. A strong hold gel along the part line keeps the placement sharp through an entire evening.

Finger Waves

Finger waves use gel and a fine-tooth comb to press flat S-shaped ridges close to the scalp. A Black woman with relaxed or heat-straightened hair often wears these for formal occasions, and the technique has deep roots in Black beauty culture. Apply a firm hold gel to damp hair, shape each ridge with the comb, and let it set completely before touching.

Half-Up Glam Waves

Pull the top section back into a small clip or elastic while leaving the waved length down. This keeps the hair off the face while showing the full wave pattern through the length. Backcomb the crown lightly before pinning for extra height. This suits anyone wanting the polish of an updo with the movement of loose glam waves.

Beachy Glam Waves

A looser, more relaxed wave pattern set with a large barrel wand and brushed out heavily. The result sits between Hollywood polish and undone texture. Apply a sea salt spray or texturizing spray after brushing through for grip. This suits daytime events or anyone finding full Hollywood waves too formal for the occasion at hand.

Mermaid Waves

Set with a three-barrel waver or by flat-ironing hair braided in tight sections, mermaid waves create a uniform crimped S-pattern down the full length. The repetitive rhythm is the whole appeal. This works best on longer hair where the pattern has room to repeat. Finish with a lightweight oil to keep the pattern from looking dry or frizzy.

Glam Waves With A Center Part

A clean center part paired with symmetrical waves on both sides creates a balanced, editorial finish. This suits oval and heart-shaped faces particularly. Set both sides rolling away from the face for symmetry, then brush through. Smooth the part with a light serum so the crown stays sleek against the volume through the length.

Old Hollywood Pin Curls

Set pin curls on damp hair using setting lotion, securing each with a clip in the same direction. Let them dry completely, ideally overnight, then release and brush out thoroughly. This heatless method creates the softest, most authentic vintage wave pattern. The overnight set means zero heat damage and waves that hold longer than iron-set versions.

Glam Waves On Short Hair

On a chin-length or shorter cut, set smaller waves with a 1-inch iron and brush through gently. The shorter length concentrates the wave pattern for a compact, vintage-inspired shape. This works especially well on a bob, where the waves cluster at the jaw. Finish with a shine serum to emphasize the sculpted, deliberate finish.

Glossy Glam Waves

Take any wave set and finish it with a gloss spray or a small amount of hair oil smoothed over the surface. The high-shine finish makes waves look salon-polished and catches light in photographs. Apply sparingly to the mid-lengths and ends only, since product at the roots flattens the volume you built while setting.

Voluminous Glam Waves

Build volume before waving by setting the roots with hot rollers or backcombing the crown. Then wave the mid-lengths and ends as usual. The lift at the roots keeps the waves from sitting flat against the head. A root-lifting spray applied to damp hair before drying gives extra staying power through a full event.

Glam Waves With A Side Sweep

Sweep all the waved hair over one shoulder for a classic red-carpet silhouette. Pin the opposite side behind the ear with hidden bobby pins to hold the sweep in place. This shows the wave pattern in one continuous fall and works especially well with strapless or one-shoulder necklines. Set with a flexible hold hairspray.

Textured Glam Waves

Brush out the wave set thoroughly, then work a texturizing spray through with fingers to break up the polish. The result sits somewhere between glam and undone, which suits modern events where full Hollywood polish feels too formal. This finish photographs well since the broken-up texture catches light in more directions than a fully smoothed wave.

Glam Waves With Hair Jewelry

Add a jewelled clip, comb, or thin headband to any wave set for an instant occasion upgrade. Place accessories at the crown or along the part line rather than through the length, so the wave pattern stays visible. Keep the jewelry to one piece for the cleanest result, since multiple accessories compete with the waves themselves.

Heatless Overnight Waves

Wrap damp hair around a fabric heatless curling rod or a robe belt, secure at both ends, and sleep on it. In the morning, unwrap and brush through for soft, full waves without a single tool. This method suits anyone wanting glam waves without heat damage. Apply a light setting mousse to damp hair before wrapping for better hold.

Glam Waves With Curtain Bangs

Wave the length as usual and style curtain bangs separately with a round brush, directing them away from the face. The bangs frame the face while the waves handle the drama through the length. This combination keeps the look modern rather than purely vintage. A light hairspray on the bangs holds their shape without stiffness.

Retro S-Waves

The tightest and most sculpted wave pattern, S-waves press flat against the head in defined ridges. Set with a small iron and clip each S in place while cooling. This suits vintage-themed events and reads as deliberately old-fashioned rather than casually glamorous. A firm hold hairspray locks each ridge before you release the clips.

Glam Waves With A Low Bun

Wave the hair first, then gather the waved length into a low bun at the nape, letting a few waved pieces fall loose around the face. The visible wave texture in the bun and the face-framing pieces keeps the updo from looking severe. This suits formal events where hair needs to be up but not flat.

Cool-Toned Glam Waves

Ash and cool blonde or brunette tones catch light differently through a wave pattern, creating visible shadow and highlight along each ridge. This makes the wave shape read more clearly than a flat single-tone color would. A gloss treatment before the event boosts shine. Purple shampoo weekly keeps cool tones from pulling warm between appointments.