I have always known I have wavy hair, but over the years, I’ve just conditioned myself to blow-dry and straighten it. This is partly due to it being an easy default style, but also because my waves have tended to be a little unpredictable. Some days they behave, and others they look flat and tangled, and seem impossible to work with.
So, when I saw the brand Merwave all over Instagram and TikTok, I was intrigued to try it. I love it when I see other people embracing their natural hair texture and so I was keen to do the same.
What is Merwave?
Merwave has made a name for itself by encouraging its followers to embrace their natural waves. Its now-viral videos usually see a branded representative approach a person who they believe to have naturally wavy hair, but who perhaps may just not know it yet.
The brand’s tagline is ‘Awaken Your Wavy Hair’ and its mission is to “transform your hair into soft, defined, beach-worthy waves… that’ll make you look and feel confident, attractive and happy.”
Which products are included in the Merwave Wavy Hair Kit?
There are 5 steps in the brand’s wavy hair kit, but you can also buy the products separately as well as some additional products such as the refresh spray, hair mask and hair oil. It also does some very cute hair wraps.
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My main focus was on the five-step programme, which the brand claims is a surefire way to transform your hair into beachy waves.
How to use the Merwave system
Step 1 & 2: Shampoo & Condition
The first two products are the least interesting IMO: the cleansing shampoo and the repair conditioner.
They have a lovely smell, and the ingredients in them (including jojoba oil and glycerin) claim to reduce frizz and provide enough moisture to prevent your hair from breaking. While I’m sure they go some way to preparing your hair, I would say if you’re on a budget, you could afford not to purchase this part of the programme.
Step 3: Feed Treatment
The Feed treatment is a leave-in formula designed to strengthen your hair. Merwave claims it helps to rebuild strands’ protein structure, which in turn makes hair strong and healthy, preventing breakages and split ends.
I’m a big fan of any kind of leave-in treatment that doesn’t just rinse down the plughole and this definitely had a lovely feel to it.
On the packaging, it says you don’t need to use it every wash, so this will last you a long time too.
Step 4: Cast Foam
This is the fun bit! The Cast Foam is designed to lock in your waves, and you apply it by tipping your head over and scrunching up your hair. It’s a really satisfying process and I could already see the waves starting to take shape.
The secret ingredient is polyquaternium-16, which supposedly enhances the shape and definition of waves by creating space between the strands. I really love this product.
Step 5: Protect Gel
The final step is the protect gel, which you apply just like the cast foam, scrunching the product through your hair.
It has the effect of sort of clumping your waves together so that they hold when your hair is dry.
Step 6: Drying
After the kit’s official five steps, you then either leave your hair to dry naturally or the brand recommends you blow dry using a diffuser.
I didn’t have a diffuser so I just turned up my head upside down and put my dryer on a low speed, scrunching as I went, which seemed to do the trick.
Once dry, if any of the waves feel a bit sticky, Merwave recommends that you clap your hands against your hair to release them, which seemed to really work.
The end result
I have to say I was blown away by the end result. My hair had such defined, gorgeous waves with lots of volume at the root. It felt pretty weightless, even though it had five products applied to it.
My hair before:
And most importantly, I immediately felt like I had a slightly different, confident personality that I really loved. Merwave has now become a staple in my haircare routine; when I don’t want to (or have time to) wear my hair straight, I reach for the products and unveil my waves.
Each product is £16, so if you want them all it’s a good deal to buy them together in the kit at £70. However, if you’re on a budget, I would say steps 4 and 5 are probably the most impactful ones to purchase.
My hair after:
It also only works on hair that naturally has a wave to it, so if you have poker-straight lengths, this product likely won’t be for you.
You can buy your Merwave kit here and follow the brand on Instagram for lots of tutorials and before/after results.
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