Remember mermaid waves? The effortless and beachy hair style has taken a back seat in recent years to more polished styles like sleek bobs, liquid hair, and voluminous blowouts. But it seems the tides are turning. The proof? This spring, celebs are seemingly trading in their quiet luxury hair for XXL extensions and beachy texture, as shown by Sydney Sweeney, Olivia Munn, Dixie D’Amelio, and more.
“Mermaid waves are all about that soft, fluid texture—as if your hair just naturally dried that way after a swim in salty water,” says Tatiana Ramos, a hairstylist based in Long Island, New York.
The trend has been apparent at Coachella 2025. Everyone from festival go-ers to performers have embraced extra long mermaid hair out in the desert. “The most current take is hair that has a very effortless feel,” says Davey Matthew, a celebrity hairstylist based in NYC. “Modern mermaid waves have a range of textures, sometimes even within the same section of hair.”
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Why are we so in love with mermaid waves again? Maybe it’s a sign we’re all subconsciously wishing for summer. While we anxiously await sunnier, beach-filled days, we’ll be leaning into the mermaid-inspired hair. Looking for some tips on how to get the dreamy look? Ahead, we break down everything you need to know about mermaid waves, plus some photo inspo to save for your next festival.
How to get mermaid waves
Creating mermaid waves for the first time? Our stylists’ biggest piece of advice: Remember that the waves aren’t supposed to look completely uniform. “Because of the nature of this wave being so inconsistent, you may be encouraged to throw in the towel when you first start a couple sections; however, it really starts to come together the more sections you do,” says Matthew. Trust the process.
Prep the hair
First, start with dry hair (make sure you’ve applied your heat protectant). Your hair can be air-dried or rough-dried with a bit of of a sugar or texture spray, says Ramos.
Ouai Leave-In Conditioner & Heat Protectant Spray (4.7 oz.)
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JVN Complete Blowout Styling Milk Heat Protector
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Get your hot tools
Next, you’ll need one or two tools: a flat iron and either a waver or curler. “Take a flat iron or a triple-barrel waver, and create a soft ‘S’ pattern throughout,” Ramos says. If you have some extra time, Matthew recommends going in with a flat iron as the first step. “The first tool I use is a flat iron, which I will use for creating a flat S wave and a deep wave in varying intensities; some waves should be deeper or tighter, and some should be more shallow or loose,” he says.
If you don’t have a waver or flat iron, a curling iron will work too (this is more of an advanced technique). “The second tool is a large curling iron (1.25 to 1.5 inches), which I use as a wand,” says Matthew. “I wrap the hair one and a half times one way and one and half times the other way all the way down the section of hair,” he says. Though it may seem more complicated, the results are worth it: It gives the “hair a little body and oomph,” says Matthew. “It will also give those little bumps that randomly jump out of the hair,” which are essential in a relaxed mermaid wave hairstyle.
“The key is not being too uniform—alternate the direction slightly, leave out the ends, and don’t press too hard,” recommends Ramos.
Hot Tools Pro Artist Gold 3-Barrel Hair Waver
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Trademark Beauty Three Barrel Hair Waver
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Finish your hair
Once your hair has cooled and set, gently rake through the waves using a wide-toothed comb, followed by a salt spray, dry texture spray, or light oil, both stylists recommend.
“I’ll usually finish with a dry texture spray or light oil to keep it touchable. Think soft, not stiff, maybe a little brushed out too,” says Ramos.
The goal is to achieve a “piecey look while providing nourishment and moisture,” says Matthew.
SexyHair Volume Flex Texture Spray
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Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray
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How do get mermaid waves to last all day?
Simply put, “Prep is everything,” says Ramos. “Style starts in the shower.”
In the shower, “use a lightweight, volumizing shampoo and conditioner (based on your hair texture and density),” recommends Ramos. After, apply some mousse or texture spray before blow-drying to give the hair some grip, she adds.
When waving, let each section cool before brushing through, she notes—this helps set the pattern so it won’t fall out throughout the day.
For extra hold all day, Ramos recommends finishing with a “flexible hold hairspray or mist (nothing crunchy!) and consider using a silk scrunchie to loosely tie it back if needed throughout the day. Texture + memory = longevity.”
What is the difference between mermaid waves and beach waves?
Mermaid waves and beach waves, though similar, give a slightly different look. Though not completely uniform, mermaid waves do “tend to be more fluid and consistent—like elongated ‘S’ shapes that go mid-shaft to ends,” says Ramos. “They feel soft, and almost romantic.”
Meanwhile, beachy waves “are a little messier, more undone, and often created with a curling wand,” Ramos says. A heavier hand on the salt and texture sprays also gives it more of a lived-in, tousled finish. She says it best: “If beach waves are post-surf, mermaid waves are what happens when you spent the day floating in the sea—effortless, dreamy, and soft.”
Below, some of our favorite ways to style mermaid waves for events and for everyday:
Flowery mermaid waves
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Mermaid waves with extensions
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Classic mermaid waves
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Pinned-back mermaid waves
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Balayage mermaid waves
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Catharine Malzahn is the contributing associate beauty editor at Glamour.
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