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My favorite hairstyle? When I spend three (plus) hours at the beach, and the saltwater and breezy air create the perfect tousled, wavy hair texture. But because it's (a) getting colder out, and (b) I don't have three (plus) hours to spend at the beach every day, I had to figure out how to recreate the look at home. My solution? A hair waver—i.e., the quickest, easiest way to get those perfect just-spent-a-day-at-the-beach waves sans the beach. Body Shaver
Don't confuse a hair waver with a curling iron, though. Instead of the uniform, polished curls, a hair waver creates more of an undone, tousled piece-y curl texture—or, as I call it, mermaid hair (still here for the mermaidcore trend, tyvm). So, in the pursuit of the perfect wave, I tested and reviewed the best hair wavers on the market and compiled seven of them below. Intrigued? Thought so. Here's a little sneak peek of my favorites (and don't forget to pick up your fave sea salt spray while you're at it):
Now that you’re officially hooked, keep scrolling for a full breakdown of the best hair wavers to try now, along with tips on how to enhance your wavy hair and how to choose the best hair waver for your hair type, below.
The three-inch barrels on this hair waver create the most s-t-u-n-n-i-n-g tousled waves. Due to the larger barrel size, your hair will have more of an undone, effortless texture. The hair waver offers multiple temperature settings (ranging from 200 to 450 degrees) and only takes a few seconds to wave each section. After only holding my hair in the waver for a few seconds, the S-shaped waves stay put all day long.
THE REVIEW: "I never thought I'd be able to use a waver for my hair as they never seemed to heat up past 320 degrees, and my hair texture needs higher heat!" one reviewer notes. "When I saw that this one went up as high as 450 I was sold!! I couldn't wait to try it, and I used it as soon as I received it!! It worked perfectly and made my wave hair dreams come true!!"
With almost 30,000 five-star reviews, this best-selling Amazon hair waver is both affordable and super efficient. In just 60 seconds, the hair waver heats up to a max temperature of 410 degrees and has an LED screen. Reviewers love how it has a heating stand, 360-degree swivel, tangle-free cord, and coated barrels to ensure your waves look smooth and shiny.
THE REVIEW: "I've always dreamed of effortlessly achieving those stunning beach waves that look straight out of a magazine, and my search finally ended with the remarkable three Barrel Hair Curler!" one tester writes. "From the moment I unwrapped this beauty, I knew I was in for a game-changing hair-styling experience."
The bulky, heavy design of most hair wavers makes it tricky to maneuver, which can result in burning yourself or less-than-ideal waves. I love this single barrel waver that is super lightweight and makes it easy to style your hair. The best part? It also doubles as a curling wand simply by locking a switch.
THE REVIEW: "I've tried several types of wavers. Large barrel, small barrel, and this one," writes one reviewer. "This is the only one that is easy to use, predictable, and holds a curl for days. It's also the lightest in weight and easiest to maneuver of the ones I've tried."
I absolutely love this heat tool that comes with a large waver barrel, a 1.25 curling iron, and a one-inch wand. The interchangeable styling iron makes it super convenient to choose whichever type of curl you're going for—i.e., uniform, polished waves, or a piece-y beach texture. The best part? Its ionic technology reduces frizz and leaves your hair looking super shiny.
THE REVIEW: "This iron works so well and is so worth it!" one reviewer notes. "I have long and heavy hair and I've tried so many curling irons that don't work until I found this one. I love the interchangeable feature this has, and it's so easy to change the barrels out. It heats up quickly and the curls stay for days."
Calling all those with short hair who find most hair wavers too bulky for their length. This Bed Head waver—that, may I also mention, is super affordable—is much narrower, meaning it's great for shorter lengths. But don't worry that just because it's narrower, it'll give off that "crimped" effect. In fact, by turning a knob, you can adjust the bottom wave plate to four different heights, allowing you to customize your hairstyle.
THE REVIEW: "Just wow!" notes one tester. "I have no complaints when it comes to these irons! They heat up quickly and crimp so beautifully. You can adjust them to the sizing you want and they fit comfortably in your hands. BUY IT!!!!"
With a slimmer and longer frame than the other curling irons on this list, the Insert Name Here hair waver is perfect for longer hair types. The barrels are coated with a ceramic tourmaline glaze, which leaves hair less frizzy and more protected. The hair waver also has an ergonomic handle with a non-slip grip and heat-resistant gloves. I love using this waver on my long hair because it takes just minutes to do my whole head.
THE REVIEW: "I was looking for a wand that would put waves in my hair and that would last for a few days…this is it!" writes one tester. "I typically only put the heat on 290 to protect my hair and it does such an amazing job it’s unreal! Highly recommend!!!"
Considering it's named "Mermade Hair," you know beachy, tousled waves are a given. Not only is it the most adorable hair waver on this list, but it's also actually super easy to use thanks to its ergonomic handle and wide barrel design. Instead of that crimped effect that a lot of wavers give—i.e., taking on more of a braided look instead of a tousled one—this hair waver ensures a smooth style due to its seamless barrel design.
THE REVIEW: "This is a really easy-to-use tool to give you those gorgeous mermaid waves," reads one review. "I have long thick hair, and my full head takes me 15 minutes. The tool is a bit heavy and takes some time to get used to, but it's worth it. It comes with a heat-protective glove which has been really handy."
If you have longer hair, you can use a hair waver with larger barrels (see: around three inches). However, if you have shorter hair, using too large of a hair waver can be (a) difficult or (b) cause you to burn yourself. The solution? Use a hair waver with smaller barrels (try Bed Head A Wave We Go Adjustable Deep Waver), but in this case, note that some smaller barrels may create tighter waves. If you prefer the more undone wave look, use a single barrel hair waver, like the Hot Tools Professional Nano Ceramic Deep Waver.
Though it may seem pretty straightforward, in order to get the best results from your hair waver, you should properly prep your and use the right finishing products. Start with dry, straight hair—if you have curly hair, use a straightening iron beforehand—and add a heat protectant. Section your hair off, and begin waving at the roots of your hair, going down, section by section. Add some sea salt spray or texturizing spray, and finish off with a little hairspray.
Siena Gagliano is an associate editor at Cosmopolitan who writes beauty and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing hair stories, like the best shampoos for thinning hair and the best purple shampoos. She regularly tests and analyzes hair wavers on her own hair for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top professionals to assess new products and brands.
Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers beauty in the makeup, skin, and hair spaces, as well as some fashion and lifestyle. Wanna know how to get the best brows of your life? Gotchu. What about how to achieve ridiculously glowing skin, a super bouncy blowout, or exactly how to use that viral face mask? Check, check, and check. Before joining Cosmopolitan, Siena was a writer at Bustle and several other media outlets. As NYC's newest resident, she has vowed to find the best (extra) dirty martini this city has to offer—and yes, that means ~attempting~ to try every cute cocktail spot in the city (hit her up with some recs, pls). Follow Siena on Instagram where you'll see that her account is mostly dedicated to pics of her cute dog and that magazine life.
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