How to Get Mermaid Waves Hair?

Mermaid waves are long, uniform, defined S-shaped waves, the more structured cousin of loose beachy waves, named for the flowing look of a mermaid’s hair. You can get them at home with a tool you probably already own, a flat iron or a curling wand, or with no heat at all. Whatever the method, a look reads natural when the wave is even top to bottom and the same on both sides.

Here’s how mermaid waves differ from beach waves in one line: Mermaid waves are tighter and more even, while beach waves are looser and more undone. This guide walks through what you need, the step-by-step for each tool, easy styles for your hair length, and how to make the waves last.

What Tools and Products Do You Need to create Mermaid Waves?

You need one waving tool plus a few products to protect and set the hair. 

• Flat iron or curling wand: The tool is a flat iron or a curling wand, which most people already own.
• Hair waver: The tool is a hair waver, which is a triple-barrel iron made for this exact look.
• Heat protectant: Add a heat protectant.
• Texturizing or sea-salt spray: Add a texturizing or sea-salt spray for grip.
• Light-hold hairspray: Add a light-hold hairspray.
• Sectioning clips: Add a few sectioning clips.
• Wide-tooth comb: Add a wide-tooth comb.
• Small hair ties or braids: If you’d rather skip heat altogether, you only need small hair ties or braids for the overnight method below.

So which device is best? 

• Hair waver: Gives the fastest, most uniform crimp, which is the truest mermaid look, though it’s a separate purchase, usually around $50 to $140.
• Flat iron: The most versatile pick since you likely own one, with a slight learning curve.
• Curling wand: Softest, most beginner-friendly waves.
• Heatless braids: Cost nothing and do the least damage, though the waves come out less defined.

How Do You Make Mermaid Waves at Home?

To make mermaid waves at home, start with clean, dry hair and follow these simple steps below.

1. Prepare your Hair: Make sure your hair is clean and dry. It’s also a good idea to spray a heat protectant on your hair to keep it safe from heat damage.
2. Section your hair: Divide your hair into small sections. Each section can be about the width of your finger (one to two inches). It’s best to work from the bottom of your hair to the top.
3. Create the waves: Depending on the tool you’re using (like a curling iron or a wave maker), you’ll create waves by holding the tool for a few seconds. Be sure to wrap your hair around the tool in different directions for a more natural look.
4. Let the waves set: After you create each wave, allow it to cool before touching it. This helps the waves keep their shape.

Choose your preferred styling tool or hair type below for a detailed, step-by-step tutorial.

How Do You Do Mermaid Waves with a Flat Iron?

A flat iron is the most accessible tool for the job. Here is a step by step guide:

1. Clamp the iron near the root, then rotate and bend it back and forth in an S-shape as you glide slowly down the section.
2. Alternate the starting direction on each new section so the waves stack evenly.
3. Let the hair cool, then break up the waves with your fingers and set with a light spray.
4. Keep the glide slow and steady, since an even pass is what makes the waves uniform.

How Do You Do Mermaid Waves with a Curling Wand?

A curling wand gives the softest, most forgiving waves.

1. Wrap one-to-two-inch sections around the wand, alternating direction each time, and hold for five to seven seconds.
2. Release each curl into your hand to cool, which locks the shape.
3. Once everything is cool, gently rake through the waves with your fingers or a brush for a looser mermaid finish.
4. Don’t over-brush, though, or you’ll lose the definition.

How Do You Do Mermaid Waves with a Hair Waver?

A hair waver gives the fastest, most uniform crimp, which is the truest version of the look.

1. Clamp the triple-barrel down the section from root to tip, one press at a time.
2. Line up each clamp with the wave you just made so the S-pattern runs continuous with no breaks.
3. Hold a couple of seconds per clamp, then let it cool and separate lightly with your fingers.
4. Medium heat is enough, and a heat protectant still comes first.

How Do You Get Mermaid Waves Without Heat?

Heatless waves are free, gentle on your hair, and best set overnight.

1. Start on damp, not soaking, hair.
2. Make several small, tight braids, or use a heatless waver clip or a rope twist, then sleep in them, ideally on a silk pillowcase.
3. Release the braids when your hair is fully dry, separate the waves with your fingers, and set with a light spray.
4. The more braids you make, the tighter the waves come out.

How Do You Get Mermaid Waves on Short Hair?

Short hair can absolutely do mermaid waves, though they read less long-and-flowing and loosen faster, so use smaller sections and a waver for the most definition.

1. A textured lob or bob takes the wave well, and a half-up pins the top back to fake a little extra length.
2. For a fuller version, the honest fix is length itself.
3. Mermaid waves are defined by length, and a clip-in or halo set adds it in minutes.
4. Wave your own hair and the extensions together as one so the pattern blends, and match the color with a color ring and the texture to your natural hair, using shades from off-black (#1B) to platinum blonde (#613).
5. For how to add and blend that length, see our guide to hair extension hairstyles.

What Mermaid Wave Styles Suit Medium-Length Hair?

Medium and shoulder-length hair is a sweet spot for mermaid waves, with enough length for a defined pattern and not so much weight that the waves drop out. A few looks work especially well at this length.

All-over shoulder-length waves are the everyday version, quick once you have the technique. Curtain bangs waved to match soften the face and frame it. A half-up mermaid pins the crown back and lets the waves fall loose below, and our half-up half-down hairstyles guide has more ways to wear it. Use mid-size sections, alternate direction, and don’t over-tighten near the ends, where medium hair likes to kink.

What Mermaid Wave Styles Suit Long Hair?

Long hair is the ideal canvas for mermaid waves, because the long, uninterrupted S-pattern is the whole signature, and length shows it off. The looks here lean glam and event-ready.

Classic all-down waves are the purest version, worn loose from root to tip. A deep side part with the waves swept over reads glossy and old-Hollywood. A braided crown over waved lengths gives a boho or wedding finish, and a mermaid-waves ponytail keeps the pattern while pulling hair off your face, with more options in our ponytail hairstyles guide. Heat-protect the mid-lengths and ends, since long hair takes more passes, and alternate direction for dimension.

How Long Do Mermaid Waves Last?

Mermaid waves last about a day to two days, depending on the method, your hair type, and the product you use. Heat waves hold roughly a day on fine hair and up to two days on thick or coarse hair, since heavier strands grip a shape longer. Heatless overnight waves usually last about a day, and a hair waver’s tighter crimp tends to hold the longest of any method. Waves set on human-hair extensions often hold longer, because the hair carries less scalp oil. With dry shampoo and a light set, you can stretch most looks to two or three days, which the next section covers.

How Do You Make Mermaid Waves Last Longer?

Mermaid waves last when you prep them for grip, set them cool, and protect them overnight. Fresh, clean hair is slippery, so a texturizing or sea-salt spray, or second-day hair, holds a wave far better than just-washed strands. Use the habits below to set the wave, protect it overnight, and refresh only the pieces that need it.

• Set the wave cool: Let each section cool fully before you touch it, add a light hairspray, and resist over-brushing, which drops the pattern.
• Protect it overnight: A loose braid or a pineapple plus a silk pillowcase or bonnet keeps the shape while you sleep.
• Refresh, don’t redo: The next day, work dry shampoo through the roots and re-wave a few face-framing pieces instead of starting over.

One habit protects your hair through all of it: always use a heat protectant, keep the tool at a moderate temperature, and don’t heat-wave every single day, since repeated high heat dries and weakens the strand. If you like waves often, the heatless method is the gentlest way to wear them.

What’s the Difference Between Mermaid Waves and Beach Waves?

The short answer is tightness and uniformity. Mermaid waves are even, structured S-waves that run high up the strand and look longer, often with a crimped edge, while beach waves are looser, more random, and start lower for a just-left-the-sea feel. The setup below lines up the two side by side.

Pick mermaid waves for a done, glam look, and beach waves when you want something effortless for every day. The tools overlap, so many people learn both from the same flat iron.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mermaid Waves

What are mermaid waves?

Mermaid waves are long, uniform, defined S-shaped waves, a more structured and slightly crimped version of loose beach waves. The name comes from the flowing, wavy look of a mermaid’s hair. They’re built on length, so they show best on longer hair or with extensions added.

How do you get mermaid waves without heat?

On damp hair, make several small, tight braids, or use a heatless waver clip, then sleep in them and release when your hair is fully dry. The more braids you make, the tighter the waves. It’s the gentlest method for frequent wear, since there’s no hot tool involved.

Do mermaid waves work on short hair?

Yes. Use smaller sections and a waver for the most definition, though the waves loosen faster than they do on long hair. Clip-in or halo extensions add the length that makes the look fuller, and you wave your own hair and the added hair together so they blend.

What is the best device for mermaid waves?

A hair waver, or triple-barrel iron, gives the fastest and most uniform crimp, which is the truest mermaid look. A flat iron works well if you already own one and want to skip the extra purchase, and a curling wand makes softer, more forgiving waves.

Conclusion

Pick the tool you already have, work in even sections, and choose the look that fits your length. A flat iron or a curling wand covers most people, a waver gives the sharpest crimp, and the heatless method keeps things gentle. Mermaid waves are all about length, so if your hair is short or fine, Apohair’s clip-in and halo sets in 100% Vietnamese Human Hair add the length the look needs and wave right alongside your own hair, color-matched from off-black (#1B) to platinum blonde (#613). If you source hair for a salon or wholesale business, reach our team for samples and pricing.

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