The Hair Tool That Went Viral On TikTok This Year

There have been tons of hair trends throughout 2021. There were more opportunities to get ready and go out in public than the year before, allowing people to take all the new trending hairstyles out for a spin. And, boy, is this hair ready to be spun. Of course, each hairstyle has its season, but there was one style that stayed through it all — crimps. 

Yes, my friends. The '80s-turned-early-'00s style is back and better than ever. While the style was an iconic '80s look consisting of super tiny, voluminous crimps, it's getting a more modern update. Unlike the slightly larger, finished-looking crimps of the early '00s, the indents are now larger than life. Generation Z might say they're "waves," but beauty lovers who have been through it all will know that, at its core, these are crimps. And when a new hairstyle becomes popular, a viral beauty tool is not too far behind. TikTok proved, yet again, to be a treasure trove for discovering beauty items. According to Byrdie, the hashtag #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt has over 5.8 billion views, and 43% of users try something they've seen on the app. And it turns out that there was one beauty tool, in particular, that was at the top of that list. 

While there were many great beauty tools in 2021, the Mermade Hair OG Waver was all over TikTok. It went viral for a great reason, too. Technically, this tool is called a waver, but really it's an oversized crimper. It gives hair gorgeous, thick crimps that can be styled in tons of different ways. According to Byrdie, it truly delivers when it comes to style. "I was looking for a product that could make my natural 2A waves more reliable—or spruce them up on an off-day—when I stumbled upon the Mermade Hair Waver," said Kathryn Vandervalk, Byrdie's editorial and strategy director. "During my first try, I wasn't sure if I'd done it right—my hair looked disheveled, not like the uniform 'S' shape I'd seen when straight-haired women tried the product on TikTok. But after letting my waves set for ten minutes and then brushing them out, it looked exactly like what I'd been seeking."

The beauty tool is the perfect alternative to curling hair, which can be a pain. Instead of worrying about which way to curl the pieces, you clamp the waver down on a piece of hair and call it a day. The Mermade Hair OG Waver is $69, but, according to the website, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee. Basically, trying this new hairstyle doesn't come with many risks.

So what makes this beauty tool so great? It's all about the shape. While other crimpers can make the hair frizzy, the Mermade Hair OG Waver offers a polished look. According to Byrdie, it's not only easy to use, but it also gives some incredibly great volume. "The shape of the waver gives me volume right where I need it (at the crown of my head) for a natural yet polished look," says Vandervalk. "Plus, it only took me five minutes."

If you're not sold yet, then I don't know what's going to do it for you. Some beauty tools go viral on TikTok because they're unique looking or just really quirky. This tool is viral because, well, it makes for a great hairstyle. The brand offers a range of different styled wavers too. If the OG Waver is a bit too big for your style, the Pro Waver Mini and The Cutie Waver also make much smaller waves. Those are great for shorter hairstyles, according to the brand's reviews. 

While the Mermaid Hair OG Waver seems to be a foolproof beauty tool, it turns out there's a technique to ensure you're getting those TikTok-worthy waves. According to Melissa Frusco on TikTok, you start with a heat protectant spray and then run the waver through sections of your hair. You finish off with some dry shampoo on the scalp, giving the hair incredible volume.

But there's one tip that makes all the difference — shaking out the crimps. While it can seem counterintuitive to mess up the hairstyle after you do it, that's the way to get the perfect curls (via Byrdie). You don't need to brush through your hair. Simply run your fingers through the crimps or tilt your head over and shake it a bit to get the TikTok look. Between the hairstyle that this beauty tool creates and the fact that it only takes minutes to do, this is a viral product for a reason. It might just be time to try out crimps because this trend doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.