Mul Gyul Water Waves: How to Get the Viral K-Beauty Hair Trend – Style

Have you heard of the hot Mul Gyul waves trend? These big loose waves resemble the movement of water. In fact, “Mul gyul” translates to “water wave” in Korean and can be traced back to South Korean fashion and beauty trends. This style has been very popular in K-pop music, K-dramas and social media platforms. 

“Mul Gyul waves are a great new finish to offer your clients, because they create an effortless and soft look with movement for any occasion,” explains Sophia Royal, a Pure Brazilian educator and owner/a hair artist at Salon Philosophie in Vacaville, Calif. “Mul gyul waves can also be styled on various lengths of hair to add texture and a romantic element, which is trending for hairstyles in 2025.”

 

To help control frizz and add strength and shine for an average of four months, while leaving volume in the hair, Royal, who was recently tapped by InStyle magazine as a source on this hot trend, gives her clients the Pure Brazilian Clear Reconstructor Keratin Treatment. Its formaldehyde-free formula reduces frizz by 90%, while making styling easier at home.

 To create this look you will need a 1-inch flatiron or curling iron, a heat protectant like Pure Brazilian Leave-In Conditioner with Keratin and a light-to-medium hold hair spray. As an option, you can use 1-inch flexi roller and a setting foam to do a dry set. 

How to Style Mul Gyul Water Waves with a Curling Iron or Wand

 Step 1: Prep the hair with Pure Brazilian’s Anti-Frizz Daily Shampoo and Conditioner. Spray on Pure Brazilian Leave-In Conditioner with Keratin for strength, heat-protection and shine, then blow dry. 

Step 2: Section the hair into three sections—one section on each side and one section in the back. Starting at the nape, take a small section (about 1-inch wide) and spray on Pure Brazilian’s award-winning Shine Ultra Light Nourishing Oil for heat protection, smoothness and shine.

 Step 3: Wrap the hair around the barrel of the curling iron or wand and let it heat for a few seconds. Remove the iron, allowing the curl to cool while holding it in place for a moment to set the shape. Repeat for all remaining sections, alternating the direction of the curls, some away from the face and some toward it to create a more natural wave pattern 

 Step 4: Once all sections are curled, gently run a wide-tooth comb or your fingers through the hair to loosen the curls into soft waves. 

 Step 5: Use a light- or medium-hold hairspray to finish. 

How to Create the Look with a 1-Inch Flat Iron

Step 1: Prep the hair with Pure Brazilian’s Anti-Frizz Daily Shampoo and Conditioner. Spray on Pure Brazilian Leave-In Conditioner with Keratin for strength, heat-protection and shine, then blow dry. 

 Step 2: Section the hair into three sections—one section on each side and one section in the back. Starting at the nape, take a small section about 1-inch wide and spray on Pure Brazilian’s award-wining Shine Ultra Light Nourishing Oil for heat protection, smoothness and shine.

Step 3: Starting from the top, use your flat iron to curl inward, slide down the section, then curl outward. Repeat to the end of the section, making sure the final direction is inward. The amount of space that you leave in between each curl determines how big the wave will be. The more space, the bigger the curl will be; the less space, the tighter the curl.

Step 4: Once all sections are curled, gently run a wide-tooth comb or apply Pure Brazilian’s award-winning Shine Ultra Light Nourishing Oil to your fingers and run your fingers through the hair to loosen the curls into soft waves, while adding definition and shine.

 Step 5: Finish with a light -or medium-hold hairspray. 

How to Get the Look Using a Dry Set and Heatless Styling Tools

 Step 1: Prep the hair with Pure Brazilian’s Anti-Frizz Daily Shampoo and Conditioner. Spray on Pure Brazilian Leave-In Conditioner with Keratin for strength, heat-protection and shine, then blow dry. 

 Step 2: Section the hair into four quadrants—one section on each side and two in the back.

 Step 3: Thoroughly saturate the back section with styling foam. Take the entire section of hair and place the flexi rod at the ends of the hair. Tightly roll the hair around the flexi rod toward the scalp, making sure that the hair is smooth and neat as you wrap. Once you reach the scalp, bend the ends of the flexi rod to secure the hair in place. Make sure it’s secured without being too tight. Repeat for each section.

Step 4: Let the hair set for a few hours, or at home, your client can even sleep in the set.

 Step 5: Remove flexi rods, then apply Pure Brazilian’s award-winning Shine Ultra Light Nourishing Oil to your fingers and run your fingers through the hair to loosen the curls into soft waves, while adding definition and shine. Apply a light- or medium- hold spray to finish. 

Learn more about Sophia Royal and her salon at https://salonphilosophie.com/

For information about free certification for all of Pure Brazilian’s Keratin Services, as well as take-home care and styling products, visit www.purebrazilian.com. With a comprehensive FAQ, an instructional video series that will take you through a virtual hands-on Pure Brazilian demo, a step-by-step reference guide and an online certification quiz, licensed stylists can learn important Pure Brazilian techniques and receive a certification diploma.