One of my favorite things in the world is when I’m on vacation, and I’ve spent all day at the beach. My skin is warm and sunkissed, my hair is salty and wavy, and I’ve just woken up from a nap to shower, change, and head to dinner. I’ll definitely wash the sunscreen off my face, and I might throw on some low-effort makeup, but I’ll never touch my hair. Why? Because there’s nothing like the perfectly imperfect texture I get from spending a day by the water. Sure, my hair might look tousled and windswept, but that’s kind of the point. Up until recently, I haven’t had a name to call this hairstyle but leave it to TikTok to come up with one. It’s called “Mermaid Hair,” and it’s about to be everywhere. Well, to be fair, it’s already everywhere. Beauty editors, social media influencers, and celebrities are all taking part in this effortless-looking trend. Ahead, learn how to get this viral look, regardless of your hair type or texture, according to three top hairstylists.
Let’s back up and talk about the elements of mermaid hair. It’s all about soft, undulating waves or curls. The less perfect they are, the better. The goal is to look like you just came out of the ocean. The best reference is the most obvious one: think Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
According to Larry Sims, Co-Founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union and Celebrity Hairstylist, you don’t have to spend a day at the beach to achieve every element of this look. “The mermaid hair trend is hair that exemplifies water waves, usually created with thermal styling tools,” he says. “It’s perfect for summertime. I’ve been seeing a lot of people incorporating colors into the waves, like blues, purples, and teals, to give it a water-esque look and feel to it. I’ve also seen some people incorporate double-strand twists and full locs, which makes them look really beachy and organic.”
If you don’t have long or naturally wavy hair, you can still get mermaid hair. Take it from celebrity hairstylist and texture specialist, Sophie Rose Gutterman, who says this look can work for anyone, regardless of hair type, length, or texture. “Mermaid Hair means exactly that—gorgeous dream hair. I feel like this isn’t specific to any certain texture.” As she puts it, “Every girl can be a mermaid!” Keep scrolling to learn how to achieve this look, but first, see some celebrity references as inspo.
Zendaya proves mermaid hair is red-carpet-worthy. Period.
Khloe Kardashian wears her hair in mermaid-esque waves with small twists at the front.
Kylie Jenner is also in on the trend. She ups the ante by giving her waves a wet-look effect.
Lizzo’s mermaid hair is perfectly undone, which is just how you want it.
Sofia Richie let her texture shine while on a recent trip to the Caribbean.
Method #1: Curling Iron
If you don’t have naturally wavy hair, a heat tool will be your best friend. “The best way to create ‘mermaid waves’ is to use a curling iron as a wand and wrap the hair in different directions, leaving the ends out,” Gutterman says.
Method #2: Waving Iron
As for Sims, he says, “Most people recreate this look using a beach waver with three barrels. You can also recreate this look by braiding your hair when it’s wet and letting it air dry, or using a curling iron in a synchronized manner.”
Gutterman recommends this WaveTrio Kit, which includes three interchangeable barrels for different size waves. There’s a 1-inch wand, a 1.25-inch clip, and a 1.5-inch clip barrel, so you can customize your look.
We like this aptly named waving iron for creating bigger, looser beach waves.
For a smaller, more crimped wave, we like this waving iron (in fact, the entire Who What Wear beauty team is kind of obsessed with it). It’s incredibly easy to use.
No matter what heat tool you use, Sims says proper styling products are the key. “When styling this look, you’ll want to make sure your hair is super moisturized beforehand. I always use the Flawless by Gabrielle Union 5 Butter Miracle Leave-In Conditioner after washing to really lock in the moisture,” he says. “Always finish off the look with an oil, like Flawless by Gabrielle Union Restoring Exotic Oil Treatment ($10), which is infused with Jojoba Oil and Indian Neem Oil for extra hydration and shine.”
Method #1: Finger Waves
If your hair is really short, you can do finger waves, which may be a bit more molded to the shape of your hair but can still give soft waves around the face,” Sims says.
Method #2: Extensions
Gutterman says it’s possible to take part in this trend with short hair by working with your natural texture and using a curling iron to “perfect pieces while keeping the ends straight.” However, you can always “take it to the next level” by using clip-in extensions. “I love Hidden Crown Hair Extensions because they are long from top to bottom and will instantly give you the length,” she says.
For finger waves, hair gel can help keep the waves intact and defined all day long. Gutterman likes this one because it “never leaves the hair crunchy or dry.”
Mousse can also help the finger wave styling process. In fact, some people prefer it over gel. We suggest experimenting with both to see which one works best for you and your hair type.
A tool like this can assist in forming finger waves and curve edges around the perimeter of the face.
Priscilla Valles is a celebrity extenstionist. She has the perfect set of extensions for people with short hair to use for the mermaid hair look. “The Glam Seamless x Priscilla Valles Luxe Clip-In Extensions actually come styled already with this beachy wave – all you have to do is clip them in and they already give you the mermaid waves and inches.”
Method #1: Blowout Your Curls
Sims says you can “wash your hair and blow it out to where it’s smooth. Then, you’ll go in and create the waves with either a hair waver or by plaiting your hair with braids. You don’t want to wet the hair, but afterward, you should always finish it off with some oil for shine and moisture.”
Method #2: Adapt Your Existing Curl Pattern
Second, you can do away with the “classic” mermaid waves and adapt them to your existing curl pattern. This is the method Valles prefers. “Instead of doing a blowout and redoing it to have the classic waves, I think they should embrace their natural curls.”
If you want to work with your natural curls, Gutterman recommends starting out with a curl cream based on your curl pattern to define the curls while they’re drying. “My favorite is the All About Curls Bouncy Cream ($14) or Taming Cream ($11),” she says. “These will provide definition and fullness.”
“If you need to perfect any pieces, you can use the T3 0.5-inch Single Pass Curling Iron to polish some of the curls,” Gutterman says.
Valles likes using a leave-in conditioner to create this look on her curly-haired clients. As she puts it, “You might as well treat your hair at the same time [as styling it].” She recommends this one. “This will help weigh the hair down to keep it heavy and straighter—keeping the curls loose and down.” A good rule of thumb is the more product you use, the more relaxed curls will be.
Fun fact: Valles likes using wave spray on curly hair because it “helps enhance curls.” She recommends this one from Dae, which uses hibiscus flower extract, prickly pear seed oil, and moringa leaf extract to provide moisture and weightless definition.
Valles also recommends using hair oil to finish the mermaid hair look on curly hair types since they’re so moisturizing and protective. She likes this one from K18, which literally repairs damage in the hair fiber for stronger, healthier strands over time.
