How To Grasp Churro Waves

Looking for a low-maintenance texture lift? Then you’ll want to try out the internet’s latest curl obsession: churro waves.

What Are Churro Waves?

‘Churro waves are a hybrid hairstyle that combines flat and mermaid waves; it ultimately creates the effect of loose, textured waves resembling the ridged surface of a churro,’ explains Michael Gray, a creative stylist at John Frieda. ‘It’s a super fun trend, and fairly easy to achieve at home.’

And the woman we have to thank for bringing the look into 2024? None other than actress (and all-round hair icon) Lindsay Lohan. The celebrity’s hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos took to Instagram to show off Lohan’s fiery locks in all their glory, dubbing them churros waves because they were ‘sweet and messy’.

How To Ask For This Hairstyle In The Salon

Simply ask your stylist to style your hair with a combination of flat and mermaid waves. The idea is to achieve a loose and messy texture, like the wind has combed through your strands and left it looking effortlessly undone.

How To Recreate Churro Waves At Home

But if you fancy giving the trend a try at home, you’re in luck. Michael has shared his step-by-step guide to recreating churro waves:

1. Prep: Prepping the hair is the foundation to a successful and long-lasting hairstyle, which will also be easier to create than working with super soft hair. Start with clean, dry hair. If your hair is freshly washed, apply a mousse from root to ends, or a texturising spray to give it some grip and control whilst styling the hair. Also, apply a heat protectant spray to protect your hair from heat damage.
2. Divide: Starting at the nape of the neck and working your hair up the head towards the front. Divide your hair into sections.
3. Get Wavy: Now it’s time for the fun part, creating the waves. If you have a wave iron (triple-barrel curling iron), lightly clamp down on a section of hair near the roots. Hold for a few seconds, then release and move down a section, overlapping slightly with the previous wave to avoid a gap. If you’re using a flat iron, start near the roots, clamp a section of hair, and create a ‘S’ shape movement. This will create a zigzag wave pattern.
4. Repeat: Continue creating waves section by section. As you work towards the top, you can encourage more movement around the face and less on the crown. Don’t worry if they’re not perfect – part of the charm of the churro waves is their slightly undone, textured vibe.
5. Seal It: Once all the sections are done, use your fingers to gently tousle your hair to break up the waves for an undone, effortless look. You can then apply hairspray to enhance the texture and hold the waves in place without making your hair feel stiff.

How To Create Heatless Churro Waves

If you don’t have a heated iron to hand – or simply don’t fancy the extra 15 minutes out of bed in the morning – don’t worry. ‘For a more relaxed look, you can skip the flat iron and instead braid your hair while it’s damp,’ advises Michael. ‘Once the hair is dry, undo the braids for natural churro-like waves. You can also achieve a more voluminous finish by flipping your head upside down and spraying some texturizing spray at the roots. Scrunch your hair while you spray to add volume and hold. Diffuse the product in whilst your head is upside down to create maximum lift at the root.’

Hair Inspiration

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