How to Get Mermaid Waves

Mermaid waves are the modern-day version of the 2000s crimped hairstyle. And like all things Y2K, it's become a huge trend as of late.

But what makes mermaid waves so special? Well, aside from the nostalgia, it piqued people's interest because it doesn't use a traditional curling iron to achieve those uniform curls. Recreating the look of mermaid waves requires a curling wand that has three-pronged barrels.

You might have seen the tool on TikTok already, as it's gone viral multiple times (of course) and now offers nearly nine million views when you search for #mermaidwaves. And we're here for this wavy hairstyle, which can be done on all hair lengths and customized to your preferences — whether you like that tight crimped look or prefer a softer take. Whichever style you like, learn exactly how to recreate mermaid waves and how to use the unique curling iron with the help of experts.

Step 1: Choose a Waver

You're going to want to choose a hair waver tool depending on your hair length and the type of wave you want. Jordynn Wynn, the co-founder of the brand Insert Name Here, created their Deep Wave Iron ($72, inhhair.com) with smaller barrels to work with long and shorter hair lengths.

However, Tara Simich, founder of Mermade Hair, says that you can use different-sized irons on short hair. The only difference will be how spread apart the waves are. So if you want a looser wave, you can opt for a larger barrel, like the Mermade Hair Pro Waver in 32mm ($69, mermadehair.com), and a tighter wave go with a smaller barrel, like the Pro Waver Mini in 25 mm ($69, mermadehair.com).

"Remember that the hair doesn't have to fit into all three barrels," says Simich. "Even if it fits across one or two barrels, it will still create a wave."

Step 2: Prep the Hair

Waving your hair with a waver tool works best on clean, dry hair, says Wynn. After washing your hair, liberally apply your favorite heat protectant all over your hair, and then wait until it's fully dry before using your tool. "If your hair is not 100% dry, the waves will not hold its mermaid shape," she says.

Simich says you can also do waves on day two hair to mask any greasiness. Just make sure you aren't forgetting about applying heat protectant spray.

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