MENU
SEARCHGet the look with Sam Villa's "Red Carpet Waves" how-to
Nicole Richie/Getty Images
One of the hottest looks recently on the red carpet is a modern take on a vintage style—polished, soft tendrils with texture that appear to be created with finger waves. Nicole Richie’s version dazzles with glamour, but we also love the takes by other celebs shown below.
Debi Mazar/Getty Images
The right tools will help you create a similar look. Sam Villa, founding partner of the Sam Villa® brand and education artistic director for Redken 5th Avenue, has a smart technique that creates waves with a Marcel iron, combining a spiral curl with a flat wrap, which he appropriately calls “Red Carpet Waves.”
Want more coverage of red carpet style? Don’t forget to tune into the Oscars with Modern Salon on February 27. Our editors will be chatting live on Facebook about the hair, the makeup, and the best and worst looks of the night—you won’t want to miss it!
Red Carpet Waves
Tools Needed: Sam Villa Signature Series Wide Tooth Comb, Marcel iron, Redken Forceful 23 hairspray
1. Begin with the first diagonal section. Gather the section, elevate to 90 degrees with thumb and index finger, and over direct to the corner of the client’s eye.
Kate Bosworth/Getty Images
2. Place the Marcel iron in front of the section with the barrel of the iron behind the section. (Be sure to keep the hair in fingers close to the barrel at all times.)
3. Holding the section, face thumbnail up and then twist the hair so thumbnail is facing the floor, slide down and wrap.
4. Slide the hair up the barrel making sure to keep thumbnail close to the barrel without closing the blade. (Closing the blades of the barrel will produce lines of demarcation inside the crest.)
Heidi Klum/Getty Images
5. Repeat the motions until the end of the section: Wrap, twist, thumbnail up, thumbnail down, wrap, twist, thumbnail up, thumbnail, down, wrap….
6. Once to the end of the section, drop the elbow of the arm that is holding the Marcel iron, keeping hold of the section.
7. While holding the end of the section with the thumbnail, turn the Marcel iron in the opposite direction for more tension allowing the heat to do its job. (This creates the tension in the twists—the twist is the crest and the flat wrap is the valley.)
8. Release thumb and place the palm of hand underneath the barrel of the Marcel iron. Catch the hair in palm when released from the barrel. (If hair is just dropped without catching it, the section will stretch and become loose.)
9. With the section in palm, spray two shots of Redken Forceful 23 hairspray. Pancake and compress the section in both palms. (The hair will be very hot!)
Kim Cattrall/Getty Images
10. Allow the hair to cool—be patient. Release the section from palm.
11. Take wide-tooth comb and, using the end with the teeth spaced apart, place the palm of hand behind the section. Slowly comb through the section to the ends resulting in beautiful Red Carpet Waves.
12. Continue with diagonal sections to complete the head.
Premiere San Antonio Presented by SalonCentric returns for its fourth edition August 30-31 at the Henry B. González Convention Center, delivering its biggest and boldest event to date.
One-Day Personal and Professional Development Education Event for Beauty Professionals Set for October 25, 2026, at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue.
A live education series explores the ideas, collaboration, creative decisions and processes behind the winning work.
According to the report, people are moving away from copy-paste trends and toward community, using real experiences to develop a sense of taste and beauty that reflects who they are.
Hairstylists and barbers can showcase their creative and technical vision in two global categories with cash prizes and a chance to represent in Portugal.
The BBR Beauty Show featured a prominent speaker lineup including Lacy Redway, Karrueche Tran, Danessa Myricks, Chelley B., Sabrina Elba, Jessica Harris-Dupart, and more.
The Professional Beauty Association and Pivot Point team up to develop an ongoing study that measures the confidence of salon owners, stylists, school owners, and students.
This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.
In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.
Sponsored by BeautyWorld Dubai
The Good Patch is a leading wearable wellness patch brand, offering wellness and skincare patches that support everyday needs including energy, sleep, relaxation and more.
Four publications for beauty industry professionals to enhance their leadership skills, financial awareness, professional growth, and joy!
Ulta Beauty has announced its partnership with Black Beauty Roster to launch the pilot of All Textures Certification (ATC). The new program is aimed at addressing gaps in education within the beauty industry and raising the level of skills and guest satisfaction for all.
Mireya Villarreal, founder of From Chair to Boss™, is bringing together beauty industry leaders for a new one-day educational event designed to help salon professionals strengthen the business side of their careers. From Chair to Boss Live! will take place September 28 at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center in Oak Brook, Illinois.
Salon owner, tech founder, and educator Universe Walker will bring her signature workshop, The Art of Dry Cutting, to Brooklyn on July 20, offering stylists a chance to deepen their understanding of shape, movement, texture, and dry cutting.
As part of our ongoing commitment to sharing resources that help beauty professionals stay informed, we thought it was worth introducing our audience to The Chatter and the unique perspective it brings to industry conversations.
Celebrating 60 years in haircare, Dippity-Do is honoring its styling heritage with its Girls with Curls collection, a reimagined Light Hold Gelée inspired by the brand's original 1965 styling gel.
Covet & Mane has expanded its Pro Color System with the launch of Color Boost Drops, completing what the company says is the first professional color system engineered specifically for hair extensions.
