7.24.2012

How To: Mermaid Waves, Curls, and Nails

Yes, I'm still in Beach Week mode around here.
I thought I'd include some class summer hairstyles.
Enjoy!

fishtail + t-shirt scrunch

M E R M A I D  W A V E S
  • A simple braid won't cut it. You'll need something tighter. I recommend 1-2 french braids or 1-2 fishtail braids. See fishtail tutorial here.
  • For the tutorial, I did one fishtail braid down my back, but it's way easier to do a side fishtail. Braid wet hair and let dry. Spray with your favorite sea salt spray. See my Sea Salt Spray recipe here. OPTION 1
  • HOWEVER, your hair is most fragile when wet, so if you have damaged hair, you might want to avoid that. I braided my hair dry, sprayed with the sea salt spray & let dry. Then I added more spray and scrunched with a t-shirt. It keeps hair from getting frizzy & is my little secret to great waves. OPTION 2
mermaid waves

M E R M A I D  C U R L S
  • For defined, less-messy curls, spray hair with heat protectant and plug in your 1 in styling wand.
  • Wrap 1 in sections around the wand, leaving space between hair--meaning you can see the wand barrel. This avoids tight, ringlet curls. 
  • Curls too tight? Pull the curl while hair is still hot.
  • Let curls cool & set with your favorite spray.
  • Options: Add a little styling paste to define pieces, glossing cream or oil spray for glossy hair (my hair is dry, so this is what I used), or styling cream to smooth frizz if desired.
mermaid curls + optional products

M E R M A I D  N A I L S
  • Ok, this really isn't a tutorial, but I painted my nails these two colors that make me think of the sea, mermaids, and their scales. Is that weird?
  • I painted Distant Memory as a base coat and then I added the gorgeous shade Use Protection on my accent nail. This glittery color is gorgeous but needs a base coat or several coats. Both were $1.50 by Spoiled, purchased in drugstores.
so much prettier in person!

So tell me, are you a Mermaid Waves or Curls kinda girl?

35 comments:

  1. I really need to buy one of those wands... Very useful on days like today!

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  2. Curls are gorgeous and slightly more formal, waves are less defined. More laid back, yet still beautiful. I love both! Can't decide. Love this post though! Been looking for some great curling tutorials.

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  3. This look is gorgeous!!

    http://dulcet-sparkle.blogspot.com

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  4. OMG i loved every bit of this post :) so summery!

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  5. oooo mermaid curls~!! I like the waves too but i just always end up with them when I TRY the curls so I'm kinda tired of them, haha.

    Really pretty- great tips!

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  6. i love both hairstyles! i would definitely love to rock these! :D

    <3, Mimi
    http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/
    Twisted Orchid Giveaway -- Win any bag of your choice! :)

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  7. Oh my gosh, these pictures make me long for hair that holds a curl! I *might* have a shot at the mermaid curls, but if I tried the waves, my hair would be stick straight again within an hour ;) So gorgeous though.

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  8. Now I really need to master is fish tail braid! Those waves are so pretty :) :)

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  9. I love mermaid waves... They are perfect for summers!!!

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  10. I think I am a mermaid waves kind of girl although I am still trying to get the hang of the fishtail braid.

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  11. If that's a fish tail, where's it's butt?

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  12. The mermaid curls look stunning! love the effect

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  13. brilliant hair tutorial, i shall be trying this!

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  14. love those waves/curls but those nails are my fave!

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  15. I could spend some serious time with your braid tutorials. Between that and buns I am lost.

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  16. Ooh, so pretty! Love the nails!

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  17. that is so awesome! i love the curls, waves and fishtail styles. nice nail color!
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  18. i wish my hair was long enough for mermaid curls! absolutely beautiful!!! :-)

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  19. Love the mermaid trend. So perfect.

    kristen
    www.beholdthemetatron.com

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  20. I love how your mermaid curls turned out. I really want to try that sometime, but I need to buy a styling wand first.

    *Erin

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  21. Agree with Erin! Those mermaid curls look really good:) And want those Spoiled polishes but don't think we have them here in Canada:(

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  22. Oh why oh why is my hair not long enough!?! Maybe next summer!

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  23. It's so pretty :) Great tips :)

    http://anna-and-klaudia.blogspot.com/

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  24. I love those nails! I tried the fishtail braid over the weekend and still need to practice!

    xoxo,
    Chic 'n Cheap Living

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  25. Love your mermaid curls and nails. They turned out really pretty. I tried the fishtail braid when you posted it last time, and had some trouble. I must not be coordinated enough. I can do French braids, though, so I'll get the mermaid look that way.

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  26. I've always wanted mermaid hair!!! So pretty!

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  27. I love both looks! How do you think this would work with curly hair? Straighten it first and then go for it?

    xox,
    kate

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  28. LOVE the mermaid waves! I will have to try that. I'm definitely more of a curls girl though...I wear my hair curled every day!

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  29. Hi sweetie, I really love the nail polish, that's so beautiful I think ;)
    I hope you'll like my blog
    Kisses ♥

    (http://kitkatkorpan.over-blog.com) ^^ You can follow me on Bloglovin, I'll do the same if you want HiHi :)

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  30. The hairstyles are just amazing <3

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  31. Did you dye your hair that blue-green for those mermaid curls or did you use a colored hair spray? If so what kind because I've been looking for a way to turn my hair about that color for 1 day.

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  32. That's just the filter on the photo.

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  33. My hair is super pin straight, which I HATE because it does hold curls really well. Will scrunching it with a t-shirt be enough? I've tried scrunching it before and it just ended up as a damp stringy mess.

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