Merlissa Photoshoot

Sarah met Merlissa (@xomerlissa) at the Chicago Make Waves launch party, and they bonded over their love for colorful and creative hair! Merlissa came to the Beachwaver Co. studio, where Sarah styled five different Merlissa in five different looks. See below for how to create these stunning looks yourself!

Dutch Five-Strand Braid

Apply Beachwaver Braid Balm Pre-Braid Prep.

2. Take a horseshoe section, and separate into 5 strands.

3. Bring the left-most section under then over.

4. Bring the right-most section under then over.

5. Add hair from the left side, then repeat step 3.

6. Add hair from the right side, then repeat step 4.

7. Continue until you run out of hair to add, then finish with a regular 5-strand braid.

8. Secure with an elastic, and smooth flyaways with Braid Balm.

9. Pancake entire braid to add volume.

Waterfall Braid

Part hair on the side, and apply Braid Balm Pre-Braid Prep to one side.

2. Take a small section from the hairline, and divide into 3 strands.

3. Start by creating a regular 3-strand braid (left section over the middle, then right over the middle).

4. Start this braid again, but this time, add hair from the right side to the right section.

5. When you reach the left, drop the left strand, and pick up a new one next to the section you dropped.

6. Continue this pattern—adding hair from the right, and dropping the left section each time.

7. When you reach the opposite ear, finish with a regular 3-strand braid, and secure with an elastic.

8. Beachwave with the Dual Voltage Beachwaver S1.25.

Dutch Side Braid

Create a side part. On the smaller side of the part, create a Dutch braid (crossing left under the middle and right under the middle and adding hair from both sides).

2. Direct the braid down, around the ear.

3. Once you reach the nape of the neck, stop adding hair, and continue with a 3-strand Dutch braid. Secure with an elastic.

4. Beachwave with the Dual Voltage Beachwaver S1.25.

5. Pancake the braid for volume.

DUTCH SIDE BRAID PONY

Bring all hair including the braid into a ponytail, and secure with a bungee elastic.

2. Take a section of hair from underneath the pony, wrap around the elastic, and secure with a bobby pin.

3. Finish with Great Barrier Heat Protectant Hairspray.

Crown Braid

Apply Braid Balm Pre-Braid Prep.

2. Evenly distribute with the Prep Brush.

3. Section hair behind and just below the ear, and separate into 3 sections.

4. Create a Dutch braid (crossing left under the middle and right under the middle), adding hair from the root as you work your way around the head.

5. Leave out a few pieces around the hairline.

6. When you’ve gone all the way around, finish with a 3-strand braid, and secure with a clear elastic.

7. Wrap the tail of the braid around the side you started. Secure with bobby pins.

8. Beachwave face-framing pieces with the Dual Voltage Beachwaver S1.25.

Dutch Five-Strand Braid

Apply Beachwaver Braid Balm Pre-Braid Prep.

2. Take a horseshoe section, and separate into 5 strands.

3. Bring the left-most section under then over.

4. Bring the right-most section under then over.

5. Add hair from the left side, then repeat step 3.

6. Add hair from the right side, then repeat step 4.

7. Continue until you run out of hair to add, then finish with a regular 5-strand braid.

8. Secure with an elastic, and smooth flyaways with Braid Balm.

9. Pancake entire braid to add volume.

Waterfall Braid

Part hair on the side, and apply Braid Balm Pre-Braid Prep to one side.

2. Take a small section from the hairline, and divide into 3 strands.

3. Start by creating a regular 3-strand braid (left section over the middle, then right over the middle).

4. Start this braid again, but this time, add hair from the right side to the right section.

5. When you reach the left, drop the left strand, and pick up a new one next to the section you dropped.

6. Continue this pattern—adding hair from the right, and dropping the left section each time.

7. When you reach the opposite ear, finish with a regular 3-strand braid, and secure with an elastic.

8. Beachwave with the Dual Voltage Beachwaver S1.25.

Dutch Side Braid

Create a side part. On the smaller side of the part, create a Dutch braid (crossing left under the middle and right under the middle and adding hair from both sides).

2. Direct the braid down, around the ear.

3. Once you reach the nape of the neck, stop adding hair, and continue with a 3-strand Dutch braid. Secure with an elastic.

4. Beachwave with the Dual Voltage Beachwaver S1.25.

5. Pancake the braid for volume.

DUTCH SIDE BRAID PONY

Bring all hair including the braid into a ponytail, and secure with a bungee elastic.

2. Take a section of hair from underneath the pony, wrap around the elastic, and secure with a bobby pin.

3. Finish with Great Barrier Heat Protectant Hairspray.

Crown Braid

Apply Braid Balm Pre-Braid Prep.

2. Evenly distribute with the Prep Brush.

3. Section hair behind and just below the ear, and separate into 3 sections.

4. Create a Dutch braid (crossing left under the middle and right under the middle), adding hair from the root as you work your way around the head.

5. Leave out a few pieces around the hairline.

6. When you’ve gone all the way around, finish with a 3-strand braid, and secure with a clear elastic.

7. Wrap the tail of the braid around the side you started. Secure with bobby pins.

8. Beachwave face-framing pieces with the Dual Voltage Beachwaver S1.25.