How to Get the Wet Hair Look

Co-authored by Kana Ishii

Last Updated: November 2, 2022 References

If you want to capture the "wet" look you've been seeing on celebrities, never fear; it's not very difficult to recreate. It only takes a little bit of prep, and then you'll need to add some kind of product to create the "wet" part of the look. Finish up by styling it to your preference.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Prepping Your Hair

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Dry your hair until it's just damp. It's a good idea to start with damp hair for this technique. If it's too wet, your product may not stick. If it's not wet enough, it's more difficult to create the wet look.^{[1]
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- Blow dry your hair or let it air dry until it's just damp.
- You can fake damp hair at times with pomade or gel.
- For dry hair, use a spray bottle to make it damp. Spritz the water all over your head, using your fingers to work it in. If you need to even out the water, use a brush to help spread it out.^{[2]
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2
Spritz on sea salt spray to help create waves. Squirt this spray all over your hair, using your hand to work it in. You can be generous with it, but don't go too much past damp.^{[3]
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- Gently scrunch your hair with your hand as you go to help make waves, if that's the look you're going for.
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3
Apply a frizz control product if your hair tends to be flyaway. Pull your hair into 3 sections and use clips to hold the top and middle sections out of the way. Use your fingers to add a dime-sized dollop of product to the bottom section. Pull down the middle and do the same. Finish with the top, but start at the roots this time.^{[4]
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- Alternatively, you can apply argan oil to your hair to help moisturize without it looking greasy.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Adding a Product to Make Your Hair Look Wet

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Try hair styling wax and gel on very straight hair. Get a generous amount of wax on your fingers. Run it through your roots with your fingertips, which will help with volume, and hit the pieces that float around your face.^{[5]
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- Finish the ends off with gel, which will help prevent flyaways.
2
Apply hair styling wax without gel to dry, curly hair for waves. Start with blow-dried hair for this process. Separate your hair into sections, and begin applying the wax throughout the hair. Use a generous amount, as you want your hair pretty much soaked in the wax.^{[6]
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- Gels have too much water in them. They'll make your hair spring back to curls.
3
Add gel to curly hair to keep it curly. Start with a leave-in conditioner. Spritz it in to your hair and work it in lightly with your fingers. Add a generous amount of gel to help keep your curls sleek.^{[7]
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- Use your fingers to work the gel into your hair in sections. For curls that are even more defined, try twisting small strands of hair around your fingers.
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Comb in pomade to straight or curly hair. For a wet ponytail look, comb the pomade in section by section until you've covered all of the hair. Pomade also works on curly hair because it flattens the curls out as you comb it through.^{[8]
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- If you want to leave your hair down but create a sleek look at the top, work the pomade into the roots with your fingers. Use a fine-tooth comb to work the pomade through the hair, stopping about midway down.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Styling the Look

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Scrunch your hair to create waves. If your hair is naturally wavy, wait until it's dry before you scrunch it. If it's naturally straight, scrunch it while it's still damp to help add waves.^{[9]
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- To scrunch it, tilt your head to one side and scrunch it towards your head, or use the diffuser attachment on your blow dryer to scrunch and curl the hair.
2
Comb your hair straight back for a slick back. Use a very fine-tooth comb, such as a rattail comb, to smooth out your hair. Comb it to the back of your head, creating a smooth finish on the sides and top.^{[10]
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- For this look, make sure to leave the pomade, gel, or wax off the bottom of the hair so it has some movement. Finish it up by applying a smoothing serum over the bottom hair if you haven't already.^{[11]
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- You can also use this technique to pull your hair back into a ponytail.
3
Part your hair to the side for a bit of sophistication. Use the pointed end of a rattail comb. Start just to the left or right of center, and draw a line straight back in your hair. Separate the hair on either side of the part.^{[12]
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- Use a fine-tooth comb or a tint brush to smooth your hair down.
4
Use a flexible hairspray or shine spray to finish. To help keep the look in place, spray it lightly with a flexible hairspray. A shine spray will give it extra gloss. Hold either spray about a 1 foot (3.0 dm) from your head and mist it all over your head.^{[13]
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- Some products won't need finishing spray, such as pomade.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I stop my hair from looking frizzy?

Kana Ishii
Licensed Cosmetologist
Kana Ishii is a Licensed Cosmetologist in the US and Japan, currently based in Beverly Hills. With more than 18 years of experience, she specializes in hair styling and coloring services such as balayage. Her work has been featured in Elle Girl Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Modern Salon Magazine. She has also worked at major events, including The Academy Awards. Kana has won several hair competitions at some of the biggest beauty expos in the world such as the International Salon and Spa Expo and the Premier Orlando International Beauty Event.

Kana Ishii

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Before you style your hair, apply leave-in conditioner to your hair and smooth down any stray baby hairs.
Question

How much is "a generous amount"?

Community Answer

It depends on your hair type and length. If you hair is longer and/or thicker, apply more of the product. I recommend starting with less because you can always add more; however, if you add too much, your hair will appear oily and unwashed.
Question

Where can I find sea salt spray?

Community Answer

If you cannot find it where hair products are sold (pharmacies, supermarket, hair salons, etc.), then you can make your own. To do this, take an empty spray bottle, 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water, 2 teaspoons of sea salt, and 3-4 drops of lavender essential oil. Mix together, pour into a clean sprayer bottle and use as needed.