While we're no strangers to using a flat iron for waves, crimps, and more, this technique was new to us (and to many of the hairstylists in attendance). "I don't know if it's been done before — it must have — but the reaction from 90% of the people I show it to is: 'I've never seen that,'" Welsh told us backstage. "I made it up because in Denmark we want this minimalistic beach look."
Instead of using the flat iron in an up-and-down motion, Welsh's version involves pushing a 1- to 2-inch section of hair into an "S" shape, tapping it with a 1-inch flat iron to set it, and alternating directions all the way down the hair shaft. "The up-and-down technique gives you volume, but I wanted it flat," she explains. Another bonus? This technique allows for much more control of where — and how big — your waves end up.
After running back to our hotel room and trying Welsh's trick, we were hooked. Not only is it faster, but it results in the cool L.A.-style (err, Scandinavia-style) waves we've been coveting. Stay tuned for more exciting hair news from Front Row, coming soon.
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