Wave Hair Extensions

Wave hair extensions are human hair extensions with a permanent S-shaped wave pattern, so they blend with naturally wavy hair without daily styling. WAVE makes three: water wave for loose 2A to 2C hair, body wave for soft volume, and deep wave for tighter 2C to 3B patterns.

Most extension brands sell straight hair and expect you to curl it. That works until the first wash, when your extensions go straight and your own hair does not. Waves are the texture we were built around, which is why every one of our fitting methods comes in all three wave patterns rather than straight only.

The three wave textures

The only difference between them is how tight the pattern is. Everything else, the hair quality, the shades and the fitting methods, is identical.

• Water wave, the loosest. A wide, open S with natural movement. Matches 2A to 2C hair, and the best choice if your hair simply dries with a bend.
• Body wave, the middle. A uniform rolling wave with real bounce and volume. Matches 2B to 2C, and the closest thing to a blow-dry that never drops.
• Deep wave, the tightest. Close, defined waves that clump like curls. Matches 2C to 3B, and the one to pick if your hair genuinely curls rather than bends.

If your natural pattern is tighter than 3B, go to our curly hair extensions, which run from 3C through to 4C in jerry curl, Burmese curly and kinky curly.

How do you choose the right wave?

Match the extensions to your hair as it dries naturally, not to how you style it. The whole point of a wave texture is that you stop styling.

Wash your hair, let it air dry without product, and look at the pattern. A soft bend with no defined shape is water wave. A rolling wave you can see clearly is body wave. Anything forming clumps or spirals is deep wave or tighter. If you are between two, size down to the looser one, because loosening a wave with heat is easy and tightening one is not.

Every wave texture, in every fitting method

• Nano bonds from £161.99. Smallest attachment available, best for fine or short hair.
• K-tips from £162.00. Flat keratin bonds that lie close to the scalp.
• Tape-ins from £175.00. Full head in around an hour.
• Wefts from £199.99. Most volume for the money on medium to thick hair.
• Clip-ins from £229.99. No fitting, no commitment, in and out at home.

All in 100% Double Drawn Remy human hair, 60 shades, 16 to 24 inches. Our guide to the types of hair extensions compares every method honestly, including the downsides.

Frequently asked questions

What are wave hair extensions?
Wave hair extensions are human hair extensions with a permanent S-shaped wave pattern built into the hair, rather than straight hair that has been curled. Because the pattern is permanent, it returns after every wash and blends with naturally wavy hair without daily styling.

What is the difference between wavy and curly hair extensions?
Wavy extensions have an S-shaped pattern that runs along the strand. Curly extensions form spirals, rings or coils. Waves cover roughly 2A to 3B natural hair, while curly covers 3C to 4C. If your hair clumps into ringlets, you want curly rather than wavy.

Which wave texture should I choose?
Let your hair air dry with no product and match the pattern you see. A soft bend is water wave, a clear rolling wave is body wave, and defined clumping waves are deep wave. If you fall between two, choose the looser one.

Do wavy hair extensions stay wavy?
Yes. The wave is permanent in the hair, so it comes back after every wash. You can straighten them with heat and the pattern returns once washed, though repeated straightening will loosen it over time.

Are wave hair extensions real human hair?
Yes. Every WAVE set is 100% Double Drawn Remy human hair, meaning the cuticles run root to tip and the short strands have been removed, so it stays thick to the ends and does not tangle the way coated non-Remy hair does.

How much do wave hair extensions cost?
From £161.99 for the hair depending on method and length, plus salon fitting on permanent methods. Our UK price guide breaks down the true cost including maintenance.

Not sure on shade? Our free colour match service gets it right first time.