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Among the many fickle hairstyles that leave the zeitgeist just as quickly as they enter it – we’re looking at you dip-dye, donut buns and sweeping emo fringes – there are those that truly stand the test of time. And, in the peak of summer, effortless, beachy waves is one of them.
A look defined by S-shape swirls, this kind of tousled, surf-ready finish has never gone out of style and, thanks to a rally of TikTokers, it’s undergone a viral rebranding for 2023. Newly dubbed “mermaid hair” (a search term that has more than 1.2bn views on the short-form video app), undone waves are one of the biggest hair trends right now, with everyone from Kim Kardashian to Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie sporting the voluminous look.
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While this hairstyle might look effortless and laidback, the truth is that it can require a lot of effort. However, thanks to a new breed of styling tools called hair wavers, you no longer need to suffer a night sleeping in plaits or scorching your tresses with a clunky pair of retro crimpers.
So, what is a hair waver and how do you use it? Typically, these tools feature three conjoined barrels that heat up and, when clamped down for a few seconds on your locks, create quick, easy and elevated waves. While they can look intimidating, they’re actually very easy to use and come in a range of sizes from big, barrelled beauties that create loose waves to narrower versions for tighter styles.
Wavers work in a similar way to old school crimpers in that you work your way down sections of hair. To begin, simply decide how far up you’d like the wave to start (we recommend avoiding the root), open the clamp and feed a section into the tool, holding it in place for up to 10 seconds before moving further down and repeating. The longer the hair is clamped the more defined the texture will look, and voila.
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As is the case with any styling tool, we understand that it can be confusing to find the right one for you, which is why we’ve done all the hard work and put the latest hair wavers under serious scrutiny. Each styler was trialled by our tester who has long, bleached hair that’s naturally straight and prone to flyaways. To make the winning line-up, design and manoeuvrability were taken into consideration, as well as ease of use and, most importantly, how well they created mermaid waves even Ariel herself would be proud of.
Bondi Boost is an Australian brand best known for its range of vegan haircare products, but it also has several styling tools worth shouting about, including this jumbo wave wand. Measuring a huge 32mm each, the triple barrel design looks pretty intimidating at first glance but don’t be put off by its bulkiness as it’s surprisingly lightweight for its size. The tool’s magnitude is what makes it such a winner. And though we did singe ourselves a couple of times in the process, once we got the hang of it, we absolutely loved the finish that this tool delivered.
Owing to its extra-large size, it gave us big, loose and bouncy waves without an unwanted crinkle in sight and the ceramic-coated barrels helped to smooth out any frizz. Easy and quick, this tool makes mastering wavy hair a breeze even on busy mornings as it took us just 15 minutes to style our whole head. Plus, we can confidently say that the waves last for a good while after putting them to the test on a windy seaside walk. We also really liked the comprehensive temperature range which, unlike many tools, starts at just 80C, making it a great option for those with fine or over-processed tresses.
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With make-up artist and all-round beauty guru Katie Jane Hughes publicly declaring her love for this gadget – she dubbed it her “favourite lazy girl wave tool” – we knew we had to give it a whirl and, we’re pleased to report, it didn’t disappoint. Despite its large size, the waver is extremely easy to use as it has lots of practical features including a cool tip so you can keep hold of it as you go and a kick stand, so there’s no chance of accidentally scorching your dressing table (or fingers) between sections.
The size of the barrels also makes it a great option for those with longer tresses and you can style an entire head of hair in around 15 minutes with minimal fuss. The Amika waver can create everything from tight, crimped waves to loose, beachy locks but we think it does the latter best. To create a more undone look, we moved the wand down the length of our hair, holding it for just five seconds as we went. The result? Effortlessly textured locks that created volume and held well all-day – even after a brisk walk.
Mark Hill’s pick n mix tool is the ultimate multitasker as it features an interchangeable handle that works with almost 40 removable heads, all of which create a different look. For mermaid waves though, we recommend this bundle which includes a triple barrel head designed to deliver soft waves in seconds.
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The head is extremely easy to attach to the handle – you simply push the two together and give the barrel a twist to lock it into place – and there’s just one switch that turns the styler on or off. While this makes it easy to use, it does mean that the temperature isn’t adjustable, heating to a standard 185C, which could be an issue if your hair sits at either end of the texture spectrum. The tool couldn’t be easier to use though and it works fast – you only need to hold it in place for five seconds before moving down. Plus, we really liked the finish, and found that we were left with beachy kinks that lasted well all day.
If you need a tool that allows you to style your tresses wherever you are – be it the changing room after a sweaty gym session, the back of a taxi or a tent in the middle of nowhere, this is it. Free from pesky cables, the Babyliss waver is incredibly simple to use and we loved how easy it made reaching the back of our head without getting tangled in wires.
Featuring an interlocking design, the tool creates a uniform “S” shape wave and, as the barrels are on the smaller side – 21mm – we found it did a great job of transforming smaller sections into a textured, crimped style. It’s also worth noting that the waver has just three temperature settings – 160C, 170C and 180C – and, while this should be enough heat for most hair types, it would have been good to see a slightly higher option for those with particularly thick or textured hair.
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Of course, the main selling point of this waver is that it’s cordless and we enjoyed around 45 minutes worth of styling time before it needed to recharge. However, there are a few things to consider, including that takes three hours to fully charge and can’t be used while plugged in, so you need to make sure there’s enough battery before getting started.
A firm favourite of Khloe Kardashian and Hailey Bieber, Mermade needs little introduction. While the brand shot to fame thanks to its OG styler (£51.75, Mermadehair.co.uk) – which measures a whopping 32mm – we think its pro mini waver deserves just as much attention.
Despite the name, this tool is anything but small and consists of three ceramic barrels measuring 25mm. We found this to be a good size for our long hair, as it took just three goes of clamping to complete each section and the wide barrels left us with effortlessly rippled waves that, while defined, avoided looking overly crimped. We were also surprised at how lightweight this tool felt and we found it easy to manoeuvre around the head, ensuring every section of hair was covered. Also, can we please take a second to appreciate the incredible pastel pink colour? Dreamy.
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Ready to ditch limp locks? Then this is the tool for you. Designed with a triple barrel, it creates defined waves on hair of any length or thickness and can even safely style extensions. Used on our tester’s long hair, we were really impressed at how it created an even and consistent look all over the head, taking a matter of seconds to complete each section and just 15 minutes for the whole look.
Due to the waver’s size – each barrel measures 21mm – it was slightly difficult to reach the roots but we found that we actually preferred this look as it created a more laidback, natural finish. We also liked that you can use the tool to create either more defined or relaxed waves by clamping larger or smaller sections
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