Mermaid-Waves Hairstyle Trend For Summer 2023

“The Little Mermaid,” “Aquamarine,” “Splash” — our obsession with mermaids goes way back. At one point or another, many of us have dreamed of transforming into one of these beautiful mythical creatures with long, flowy hair, seashell jewelry, and glittery accents, and it seems like this summer is when we finally see those childhood dreams realized. This is, in part, thanks to this year’s live-action film starring Halle Bailey, but also because of a trending hairstyle.

Mermaid waves are primed to be one of the biggest hairstyle trends of the year, and it’s easy to see why. The crimped style is effortless and flirty and looks good on every hair length. It’s the kind of beach look that many of us have hoped to emulate after a dip in the ocean, except unlike the saltwater-enhanced version, it isn’t left up to chance in how your hair air-dries. Whether you use a hot tool like the viral Mermade Hair Pro Mini Waver ($79) or try your hand at the braiding-when-damp technique, you can pretty much guarantee the undone, messy style is going to look good when you’re finished.

If you don’t have a hair waver handy, you can also easily use your straightener to achieve the look. “I use a flat iron starting a few inches from the top of the head and make bends in the hair in alternating directions,” celebrity hair and makeup artist Chris Georges tells POPSUGAR. “Remember, you don’t want to drag the flat iron. Remove your flat iron from the hair before bending in a new direction. This will make your mermaid waves last all day long. I love this technique because you can customize your waves, giving them a more lived-in, natural vibe.” To finish off the look, use a texturizer spray like the Unite Texturiza Spray ($35, originally $38) or the ÄZ Craft Hair Amplify Texture Spray ($46).

The hashtag #mermaidwaves has more than 67.7 million views on TikTok, further proving this is going to be the hottest hairstyle trend of the summer. Find more inspiration for the look ahead.