How to Get the Wet Hair Look That Has Been Dominating Red Carpets

If you've ever dreamed about nailing the wet hair look that dominates the runways but feel intimidated or have no idea how to start, you're not alone. The wet hair look might look challenging, but it's easier than you think.

While it is possible to create wet hair on most hair types, the wet look works best on wavy hair at any length. It also looks great on short, straight hair. Here's how to get started.

What Is the Wet Hair Look?

"The wet hair look basically recreates the way your hair looks when it's wet, but with product," explains Paul Cucinello, a celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Cucinello Beauty. "I think the reason why the wet hair look has become so popular is that it's pretty easy to achieve on your own, and it's really flattering. It creates an effortless look that, when paired with any outfit, replaces a standard blowout look into effortlessly sleek, sexy, summer poolside vibes."

How to Create the Wet Look

According to Cucinello, there are two standard, easy ways to achieve the wet hair look, depending on whether you have thick or thin hair.

What You'll Need

• Frizz-reducing serum
• Styling spray or wave-defining spray gel
• Leave-in conditioner

Step 1: Start With Damp or Dry Hair

• If your hair has a fine to medium texture and thickness, start the look with damp hair.
• If your hair has a medium to coarse texture or is thick, you want to start with dry hair. "The reason you want to start with dry hair is so that your hair can absorb more concentrated product without it mixing with water," says Cucinello.

Step 2: Add Serum or Leave-In Conditioner

• For fine hair, start with a serum. "First, add a frizz-reducing serum, like Cucinello Product X Perfecting Blowdry Serum ($68; cucinellobeauty.com) or Sachajuan Shine Serum ($36; amazon.com) and evenly distribute it through the hair from roots to ends," explains Cucinello.
• For thick hair, start with a leave-in conditioner. "First, choose a moisturizing leave-in conditioner that comes in a spray formula, like Briogeo Farewell Frizz Light Leave-In Conditioning Spray ($24; amazon.com), Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray ($12; ulta.com), or It's a 10 Leave-In Conditioning Spray ($40; ulta.com) and saturate the hair with product until it feels damp."

Step 3: Spritz a Styling Spray

Finish off the wet hair look with a styling spray.

• For thin hair, layer a medium to firm hold styling spray or a wave-defining spray gel, like the R+ Co Freeway Defining Spray Gel ($29; amazon.com) or Paul Mitchell Soft Sculpting Spray Gel ($24; amazon.com), on top of the serum. "Evenly saturate hair again without disturbing the natural wave pattern. Allow your hair to air dry," Cucinello explains.
• For thick hair, layer a firm hold wet styling spray or curl-defining spray gel. Cucinello recommends trying the L'Oreal Studio Line Mega Spritz ($36; amazon.com)—on top of the conditioning spray, and evenly saturate hair again without disturbing the natural wave pattern. Then, allow your hair to air dry.

What to Avoid for the Wet Hair Look

According to Cucinello, there are a few things you want to steer clear of when going for the wet hair look. "The idea here is to condense the hair, not fluff it up, so avoid running your fingers through your hair," he explains. "Instead, apply product to the surface of all of your hair and let it separate naturally as it starts to dry."

Additionally, Cucinello suggests being realistic with the amount of product you use when creating this look. "If you want your hair to look wet, it must be saturated with enough product to make it look wet and keep it that way," he says. So don't be afraid to apply the products generously!