Few phrases are as misleading as “effortless beach waves”. The finished hair may suggest salt water, sunshine and a complete absence of responsibility, but recreating it at home usually involves sectioning clips, heated tools and at least one arm held above your head for longer than feels reasonable.
For someone with fine, flat, straight hair, texture can feel like the ultimate fantasy. I’m always chasing a little more fullness, movement and playfulness. My hair, however, is fine, silky, slippery and falls to my waist, which means there is plenty of it to style but very little encouraging it to stay styled. Curls that initially look promising have a habit of relaxing into vague bends before I’ve even left the house.
It also turns out that “beach waves” can mean several completely different things. A triple-barrel waver creates regular S-shaped ripples. A curling tong produces rounder curls that need to be loosened. A straightener delivers flatter, less uniform bends, while a blow-dry brush creates bounce and movement rather than obvious waves.
I tested six tools to find out which ones were quick, which required more skill and most importantly, which could persuade my determinedly straight hair to hold a wave.
Mermade Hair Pro Mini Waver 25mm
