How to Be a Surfer Girl

Co-authored by Marius Morf and Amber Crain

Last Updated: December 9, 2022 References

Surfer girls are the epitome of cool with their laid-back attitude, athletic talent, and breezy style. Spending every day looking gorgeous and sun-bronzed in a bikini is pretty sweet, too! If the surfer girl life is calling you, start by making the beach your second home. If you don’t live near the ocean, any body of water will do – even the local pool. Adopting the lifestyle also means cultivating the chill attitude surfers are known for.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Getting the Look

1
Embrace ocean water or use sea salt spray to get loose, beachy waves. If you’re already at the beach, just jump in the ocean! When you get out, scrunch your hair a bit to add some waves and let your hair dry in the sun. Don’t try to get picture-perfect waves! The surfer girl look is laid-back and messy.^{[1]
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- If you don’t have access to the sea, you can get great results with sea salt spray. Just spritz it into damp hair and scrunch.
- Don’t use sea salt spray if you’re already at the beach. The salt is very drying, so you don’t want to over-do it.
2
Try a loose braided style if you prefer to keep your hair up. If you would rather keep your hair up and out of your face, try loosely braiding it before getting into the water. Avoid braiding your hair tightly if you're surfing, though! A tight braid can pull and break your hair.^{[2]
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- After you get out of the ocean, keep it braided and let your hair dry. Then, undo your braid for breezy surfer girl waves!
- A loose topknot is also a great choice if you don't like braids.
- If you aren't actually getting into the ocean, spray a little dry shampoo at the roots to get texture and volume.^{[3]
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- You can also go for a choppy razor haircut and use matte styling cream if you have short hair.
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3
Wear mix-and-match bikini sets that offer some coverage. You could wear any bikini and call it a day, but a real surfer girl has a few requirements when it comes to her swimsuit. Mix-and-match suits are great and give you plenty of options – try to work a solid and a print in there. A matchy-matchy look isn’t really the surfer girl vibe!^{[4]
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- Choose bikini bottoms that cut in just a little to show some skin, but avoid thongs and Brazilian cuts. Boy shorts bottoms are great if you want extra coverage.
- For your top, you want something cute that stays in place, like a tankini or a criss-cross back. Avoid impractical triangle bikini tops and string bikinis, since a decent wave will knock those right out off!
- Different styles of wetsuit tops paired with cute bikini bottoms are also popular with surfer girls, especially if they compete or surf professionally.
4
Wear clothes made by surf brands for an easy wardrobe solution. Surf brand clothing is an easy go-to but some of the designers can be pretty expensive. Do some poking around online and see what available price points you can find. You should be able to find something for any budget!^{[5]
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- Billabong and Roxy are popular surf brands, but there are tons of options out there, including environmentally conscious clothes made by sustainable brands.^{[6]
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5
Dress in loose, bohemian-style clothing. You have a lot of options when it comes to surfer girl clothes. Simple, loose cover-ups, boho pants, anything crocheted or fringed, denim vests and cut-offs, thin hoodies, flannel button-ups, and trucker hats are a few choices, but you can insert your own style, too.^{[7]
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- A lot of girls prefer a tomboy style that isn’t super feminine or frilly. However, as long as the clothes are laid back and beach-ready, you’re set! Feel free to play around with different looks and find your signature surfer girl style.
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Go with casual footwear and your favorite pair of sunglasses. To complete your look, you can’t go wrong with casual footwear like flip-flops, strappy sandals, or canvas slip-ons. Don’t forget to wear sunglasses! Mirrored neon sunnies are a good option, but there are really no rules. Go with what you like!^{[8]
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- A fringed or crocheted tote would be perfect if you need something to carry your sunscreen, cover-up, hat, and a change of clothes.
7
Carry a surfboard. This one may seem obvious, but it’s also crucial if you want to look authentic. Surfboards are expensive, so if you buy one and you don’t actually surf, you should learn! If you’re into surfing already, you probably already have your favorite board surfboard stowed away – grab it and hit the beach!
- Tuck your surfboard under your arm when you’re walking on the shore.
- If you’re in the market for a new board, go with something bright and bold! Cool patterns are also popular.
8
Tan your skin. If you’re going for the surfer girl aesthetic, applying self-tanner will do the trick. If you’re hitting the beach and plan to get wet, though, self-tanner will probably wash right off. In that case, you’ll need to get your tan the old-fashioned way – from the sun! Build up your tan slowly and always wear sunscreen to protect yourself from skin damage, especially if you’re spending hours in the sun each day.^{[9]
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- Go with SPF 30 or higher and be sure to reapply your sunscreen every few hours, especially after getting wet.
- Use a zinc-based, reef-safe sunscreen to be an environmentally conscious surfer girl!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Nailing the Attitude and Lifestyle

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Spend your days at the beach, lake, or pool every chance you get. Not only will this get you the necessary tan for your surfer girl look, but people will associate you with the beach “scene” if you’re there frequently. Plus, just being on the beach and spending time with other surfers will start to rub off on you. If you’re already a surfer, try to hit the beach every day! Spend time at any body of water you have access to.
- Most people don’t associate The Great Lakes with surfing, but surfers know that the waves there are awesome. Freshwater surfing is definitely a thing, so if you live near a lake or any other body of water, go hang out.^{[10]
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- If you don’t have access to the ocean, you can always hit the local pool.
- You can cultivate the attitude and lifestyle anywhere, but being outdoorsy in some way is pretty crucial.
2
Aim for a confident and laid-back attitude no matter what. Going with the flow and being “chill” are deeply ingrained attitudes for all surfers. Be open to new ideas and activities! Keep your cool during stressful times and don’t worry too much about being on time for anything. At the very least, don’t ever look like you’re rushing -- you operate on beach time.^{[11]
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- The surfer attitude is pretty similar to the traditional hippy vibe.
- Unfortunately, there's no secret key for achieving confidence. For most people, it takes time and experience. Start by striving to feel comfortable in your own skin and go from there!^{[12]
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3
Get in shape and prioritize fitness in your daily life. If you’re surfing every day, you’re already getting in a great workout! When they’re not surfing, pro surfers often do yoga and Pilates to stay in shape. Training this way builds long, lean muscle, focuses on core strength, and emphasizes breath control—all crucial to your success when you’re out there on your board. Surfer girls also spend a lot of time in their bathing suits, so being in shape can definitely boost your confidence in that department, as well!^{[13]
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- You probably won’t be able to surf in the winter unless you live somewhere tropical, so yoga can help you stay fit and limber during the off-season.
- Yoga poses like warrior, pigeon, down dog, and cobra works the same muscles you need to surf. If you’re new to yoga, check out free YouTube tutorials or download an app that can lead you through it.
4
Listen to chill music with acoustic guitars or ukulele. You don’t have to do this, but listening to this kind of music can definitely put you in the right frame of mind. Acoustic guitars and ukuleles are popular sounds in surfer music, but any music that you like that’s laid back and chill will do the trick!^{[14]
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- Jack Johnson is a popular acoustic guitarist that makes chill songs that surfers dig.
- Reggae and classic surfer pop like the Beach Boys are great alternative options.
- Consider learning to play the guitar or ukulele yourself! When the sun sets you can play your instrument on the beach and hang with your friends around a campfire.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I learn more about surfing?

Lexi tav

Community Answer

Try to find some surf camps near you. They can help you with surfing, as well as boosting self-confidence.
Question

What if I live about an hour from the beach and don't go too often?

Community Answer

Just act confident and carefree. Wear a little bronzer to make your skin tan and glowing.
Question

If I live nowhere near the ocean, can I still be considered a surfer girl?

Community Answer

Do you live in an area near a lake where you can surf or go boating? If not, you'll have to make it seem like you moved from a coastal area to be considered a surfer girl.