If there’s one hairstyle making waves (pun intended) this summer, then a head of long, tousled mermaid curls is it. Kim Kardashian, Zendaya, Amal Clooney, Megan Fox, Gigi Hadid and Priyanka Chopra have all been spotted with their lengths styled in mermaid waves, both on the red carpet (see Pharrell’s first show for Louis Vuitton), and off-duty. Fans of Love Island will also have noticed Whitney rocking a stellar mermaid wave. Hairstylist Syd Hayes is calling the style one of summer 2023’s biggest trends.
“Sea spray mermaid waves are a type of classic flat, beachy wave,” he explains. “They’re more lived-in, loose and effortless, but have a super glossy finish. It’s hair that looks fresh from the beach, while still appearing healthy and shiny.” Far from the textured, salty vibe many of us have spent summers trying to achieve, the mermaid wave is preternaturally glossy, and can be worn in different ways, depending on your mood or the occasion.
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Anti Humidity Spray
£27 £18.90
Sephora
Beauty Works
Mermaid Waver
£59
Look Fantastic
While Zendaya recently switched up her super short bob for tighter, wispier and more natural-looking curls, Kim is all about a neater, high-shine “crimp”. Clooney debuted hers – a departure from her signature voluminous blow dry – at Charlotte Tilbury’s glitzy 50th birthday party in Sicily. It was the perfect bombshell look for a glamorous event. According to Hayes, the key to making the style work is to start with a good base, adding volume to the hair with a curling iron so it feels full and thick, rather than flat.
“I like to use a mousse or foam at the roots – Sam McKnight’s Cool Girl Volume Foam is excellent – to ensure hair appears more three dimensional,” he explains. “Once bone dry, add kinks and waves using the BaByliss 9000 Cordless Waving Wand. Avoid creating normal curls – that’s a very different look. Instead, aim for waves and alternate their direction, keeping the ends out for a fresher take on the style.”
Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Blow Dry Foam
£32
Cult Beauty
Babyliss 9000 Cordless Waver
£180
Look Fantastic
Davines This Is A Sea Salt Spray
£20.50
Sephora
£20.50
Cult Beauty
After that, he advises brushing out the waves and using a texture or salt spray to accentuate natural movement. “The end result is natural, relaxed, sexy and easy to manage, whether you’re on the beach or simply creating a hairstyle that transports you to one.” That fits our brief for head-turning summer hair perfectly.
