The 8 Best Hair Wavers Are My Secret to Summer’s Mermaid Hair Trend

This is the hair waver I’d reach for when I want my hair to look like it air-dried beautifully after a day at the beach—without the saltwater tangles. The extra-large barrels create loose waves rather than a tight crimp, and the curved clamp helps the pattern flow smoothly from root to end without that tell-tale creasing. It stays at 365 degrees, while the tool's coating leaves the finish glossy. Freshly styled, the waves look polished, but once I rake through them with my fingers, they become perfectly beachy and mermaid-esque.

Review: "I am obsessed with the waves this barrel gives! It is very large so I can do all of my hair pretty quickly. Nice design and easy to use. Will be recommending to everyone!" — ghd

Most hair wavers are enormous, which makes styling the back of your head feel like an upper-body workout. This one has a smaller, lightweight design that is much easier to maneuver, especially if you are still figuring out your technique. Eight temperature settings let you adjust the heat to your hair type, while the built-in timer tells you when it is time to move on instead of leaving you to guess. Anti-scald protection around the plates also makes working close to the roots feel considerably less risky. It's a great pick if you're new to the whole hair waver game.

Review: "Finally ditched my crimper from the 2010s (RIP) and bought this after seeing it everywhere on TikTok. It's so much better than my old one (the one with three barrels), it doesn't give me weird dents and the style lasts way longer. 10/10!" — Ulta

My NYC bathroom does not have room for a different hot tool for every mood I'm in. The Mixologist solves that problem with three attachments that snap onto one handle: a waver for beachy texture, a curling wand, and a classic clamp iron. The waver attachment creates a more natural bend than a sharply pressed crimp, while the digital temperature controls make it adaptable across hair types.

Review: "Wow! Truly mermaid hair achieved with this 3 barrel wand from this interchangeable set. I love this set as a gift because it gives the ideal tools to create any kind of hair waves that you can imagine. I love that this set comes with the bag too so you can store all these together. I also appreciate the bright happy yellow color." — Sephora

For big, flowing waves, the one-inch barrels on this Hot Tools waver give the hair plenty of room to bend. The resulting waves are loose and tousled. I also like that the gold-coated barrels heat evenly, because nothing ruins the illusion faster than one section coming out flat while the rest looks great. It is lightweight, dual voltage, and easy enough to toss into a suitcase—which is exactly where a tool designed for beachy hair belongs.

Review: "I was scared at first since I've never used something like this and I actually love it!! Easy to use, love the heat control and the beautiful waves it makes!!" — Ulta

Commitment is not required here. A twist of the cool tip (no burning fingers allowed) changes the barrel between a smaller three-quarter-inch wave and a wider one-and-a-quarter-inch shape, letting you decide how defined you want the texture that day. I would use the larger setting for soft mermaid ripples, then switch to the smaller option when I need extra hold or want the wave pattern to be more defined.

Review: "I love it! Very high quality and super easy to use. The silicone heat sheath is awesome! I can put it away as soon as I'm done, instead of leaving it out to cool. It really makes my hair shiny and wavy. Changing the barrel couldn't be easier. Thank you!" — Ulta

Hot tools and the delicate skin around my ears have never been close friends, which makes the ROVY Compact’s fully insulated exterior especially appealing. The barrels are enclosed to help protect your ears, fingers, neck, and scalp while you clamp, and its compact shape is easier to maneuver than a traditional oversized waver. Taylor also recommends it for “a softer, more lived-in mermaid wave rather than a defined crimp.” She notes that the ceramic barrels form consistent S-shaped waves quickly, helping cut down on both styling time and overall heat exposure.

Review: "I love this wave curling iron! It heats up quickly, and the temperature settings make it easy to adjust depending on the hair type. The waves come out soft, natural, and last all day without feeling stiff or frizzy. The design makes styling super easy—even for someone like me who isn’t great with curling irons. Highly recommend to anyone who wants easy, long-lasting waves!" — Ulta

This is not technically a traditional hair waver, and that is precisely why it made the list. Instead of pressing ripples through the visible lengths, the VOLOOM creates tiny textured “pockets” beneath the top layer of hair. Once those pieces are covered, the texture disappears and the roots look considerably fuller. It's my secret to va-va-voom volume the easy way.

Review: "This product is amazing. At first, i was pretty skeptical about this due to the price. But when I gave it a try, it was the best decision ever. Definitely worth the price." — Ulta

Not everyone wants the uniform pattern of a triple-barrel waver. The Dyson Airwrap creates a softer interpretation through high-velocity airflow, giving the hair movement without pressing the same S-shape into every section. Taylor calls it one of her favorites because it does not rely solely on extreme heat, making it especially appealing for frequent styling. The finish is less “freshly clamped” and more naturally windswept, which suits anyone who wants to nod to the mermaid-hair trend without fully committing to a crimped result.

Review: "This product is worth the hype! I waited so long to get mine because I was afraid to pay that much for a hair dryer, but the Dyson is much more! I have been using it since December every day that I wash my hair, and after 6 months, I'm still in love wth it. The best purchase that I made!" — Sephora