C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How to Create Heat Free Wavy Hair or Mermaid Curls
This heat free wavy hair tutorial came about after I had been craving heat free hairstyles, as I have been experiencing some dryer than normal hair due to possible over heat-styling and my age. When my hair gets dry, I usually use a great deep conditioning hair mask like Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Hair Mask for a while and lay off heat styling too.
Wavy hair with no heat
I’ve been feeling 70’s, 80’s and 90’s vibes lately and when this happens, it comes out in all my creativity. I started thinking about how I wore my hair in the early 90’s. It was long and wavy. I have mostly natural wavy hair, but in the 90’s I had some residual perming left in my hair, so it often looked even more wavy than usual. I wanted to re-create those waves without a perm or heat, and I thought to braid it.
Feeling a 1970’s hairstyle vibe
My first heat-free braided waves tutorial was a success on the first attempt. Read on to learn how I did it.
See my one-minute YouTube video tutorial below or on my channel @carolynjbraden:
My wavy hair tutorial
I washed my hair and let it air dry overnight. The next morning, I sprayed it with some water using a fine mist water bottle. Then I brushed through my hair with a Tangle Teezer brush meant for damp or wet hair.
My favorite vintage 70’s sunglasses
Then I used a Spornette comb to divide my hair up into three sections; one on each side of my hair and one down the middle. I created a french braid on one side of my hair, using a small hair clamp to secure the loose sections of hair.
I then french braided the second section of hair, down the other side of my head. I finished up by braiding the middle section, which was the final section of hair down the center of my head. I used small plastic hair ties to secure each braid.
My no perm wavy hairstyle
The braids do not need to be perfect unless you are wanting to wear the braid as a hair style on its own for a day or so. Even if you want to do this, and the braids aren’t perfect, you can wear a bandana over your braids for a new hairstyle look like I did. My husband joked that I looked like a pirate. I thought I looked more like my mom in the 70’s.
Try wearing your braids covered in a bandana
I wore the braids in a bandana-covered style one day, then wore the braids overnight and took them out the next morning. With doing this, my hair was extremely wavy and the waves lasted for 2 days. I also experimented with washing my hair at night, letting it air dry, then braiding it to sleep on. With this overnight only method, I still got very wavy hair that lasted almost 2 days.
HOT TIP: In thinking of my mom’s hair type, keeping the waves in FINE HAIR for a full day could be challenging. I think using a wave spray before hand would probably help make them last longer.
Easy mermaid waves
The tighter the braid, the tighter your waves will be. Your hair type will also determine how long your waves will last. Thick hair vs. fine hair can also determine your final results too. After my husband saw the waves, he said I looked like Daryl Hannah from the movie Splash and said he loved my hair this way. I’ll take that compliment.
Want to speed up your waves with a little heat? Try my quick mermaid waves tutorial on YouTube or below:
I sprayed my roots with a little Not Your Mother’s Plump for Joy dry shampoo after taking the braids out to plump them up again and then used some Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream to tame any frizz. I wore my heat free wavy hair half up one day and down the next. I truly love the look. It’s fun, easy and helps my hair look stylish, even when taking a break from my beloved heat tools. It’s also a quick style to prep in the morning for anyone that has to rush out the door, but still wants to look put together.
Get my fun cartoonish pink glasses by clicking here. I love them!
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C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.