I’ve been wanting to add hair tutorials to Studio DIY for a long time — hair is part of every celebration, after all. I don’t consider myself an expert, so I thought we could learn together. I was excited when L’Oréal Paris asked me to try their at-home hair color, L’Oréal Paris Preference Mousse Absolue. To show off the new shade, I teamed up with the stylists at PAGE Beauty for a simple summer hair tutorial that’s perfect for beachy waves and showcasing fresh color.
Quick note on the makeover: that’s not me in the photos. Annie, my assistant, connected us with Becky, who wanted a fresh summer look. Becky had only ever dyed the ends of her hair before and was ready for a change — she chose to go a bit darker for the season.
L’Oréal Preference Mousse Absolue stands out because the dye and developer mix into a non-drip mousse right in the bottle. It’s easy to apply, great for root touch-ups, and comes with clear photo instructions — which made this DIY dye quick and approachable. Using the mousse, we transformed Becky’s ombré blonde into a rich, dimensional brunette. She was understandably nervous about dying her full head of hair at home, but she loved the result and left feeling confident.
With color complete, it was time to show it off with an easy styling technique: beachy waves. This hairstyle is ideal for summer and simple to recreate — follow these steps to get soft, textured waves that complement new color and add movement.
DIY Simple Summer Waves
1. Blow dry your hair and mist it with a medium-hold heat protectant spray or a beach/texture spray. Brush thoroughly to remove tangles.
2. Use the top of your ear as a guideline to divide hair into two sections; clip the top section up and out of the way.
3. Working on the bottom section, take a small subsection and wrap it around a one-inch curling iron. Start the curl near the root and rotate the barrel slowly, keeping the wrap loose. A practical tip: when the hair feels warm, release and move on to the next piece to avoid creasing. Curl all pieces in that section in the same direction (either toward or away from the face).
4. Release the top section and create a new horizontal section from temple to temple; clip the rest out of the way.
5. Repeat the curling process on the newly released hair.
6. Continue with the final top section. You’ll end up with strong spiral curls at this stage — that’s perfect. Allow your hair to cool completely before the next step; this helps the waves set and last longer.
7. Gently comb through the curls with a wide-tooth comb to soften them and blend them into loose, beachy waves.
8. Finish with a light-hold hairspray for hold and natural movement, then style any face-framing pieces as desired.
All photos by Kimberly Genevieve
I had a great time putting this makeover together and look forward to sharing more party-ready hair DIYs. If you’re thinking about a fresh summer look, this at-home dye plus easy beachy waves is a straightforward, flattering option.
Credits:
Hair Dye: Shade #500 Pure Medium Brown, L’Oréal Paris Preference Mousse Absolue
Hair Styling: Joy La Rosa for PAGE Beauty
Makeup: Tanya Bures for PAGE Beauty
Creative Direction + Confetti Throwing: Studio DIY
Photography: Kimberly Genevieve
This post is brought to you by L’Oréal Paris.