We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
7 best hair wavers to create a beachy look on all hair lengths, tried and tested
Alexa, queue up Aquamarine
My favourite 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 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.
Best hair wavers to create beachy waves, tried and tested
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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.
In the pursuit of the perfect wave, I tested and reviewed the best hair wavers on the market and compiled six of them below. 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. And don't forget to pick up your fave sea salt spray while you're at it to add even more texture.
Pros
- It creates loose, tousled waves that look very natural
- One heat setting makes it easy to operate
- Styling takes roughly 15 minutes - and the curls last
Cons
- It's a bulky tool to use
Effortless, beachy waves just became *so* easy to achieve with the new ghd Wave. IMO, it creates the perfect S-shape crimp – defined but not too tight – and it’s simple to use.
At first, fair play, you may be intimidated by the size of the barrels, but the wide design made it easy to slot my hair in-between the plates (this can often be quite a fiddly task). Despite this, it is a bulky tool to manoeuvre so you may require rest breaks while styling, especially if you have long hair.
My best advice is to section your lengths into even three-inch pieces. You want the sections to have roughly the same amount of hair so that the crimp is uniform throughout. Press the clamp down and hold for 15 seconds. Once you release, you’re left with defined, tousled waves that don’t look too ‘80s crimped. It's giving, loose waves like you're on your way home from the beach.
One thing to note is that, if like me, you wear hair extensions, I found the tool created more defined waves on my natural hair, so you may need to hold the clamp in place for longer on extensions.
Glowing Customer Review: “The waves on this are so natural. You don't need to keep the heated waver on the hair for too long either. Effortless curls are made easily and lasted me 2 days until I washed it out. Absolutely in love with this wave.”
Pros
- The tool comes with three kinds of attachments to create different styles
- You can personalise the attachments depending on your hair length so you can get the most out of the tool and create the styles that will suit you best.
- It comes with a chic travel case
Cons
- The waver attachment is a little bulky, so it takes time to get used to
Hi, my name’s Clare and I like to collect hair tools. Ofc, the addiction is encouraged by the fact that I test them for a living, but I believe there is a line – and that line is my overflowing under-bed storage of dryers, straighteners... the lot!
When I came across Hershesons’ The Multi-Tasker, all of a sudden my collection of hot tools got combined into one handy device. “It’s not a hairdryer, nor an iron, but it’s pretty much everything else,” as the brand says.
The interchangeable attachments can be used to create beachy waves, a bouncy blow-out or elegant curls which also makes it super easy to travel with as one tool can make multiple looks. The waver attachment creates soft, tousled waves (like you’ve spent the day by the beach). And because the barrels are slightly larger, the result is more casual and loose rather than creating tight crimps.
Glowing Customer Review: “After trying a variety of hair tools I have finally found the one that works. It is so easy to use and the waves and curls really hold. I just rough dry my hair and then use the brushes to style. Quick and easy and a brilliant result every time. Quick touch up each day.”
Mermade Hair Mermade Hair PRO Black 25mm Waver
Pros
- The 25 mm triple-barrel creates smaller, more defined waver
Cons
- The tool is a little heavy and bulky to hold
- Waves won't hold as well on fine or short hair
As a short bob girlie, I saw this 'mini' waver as my golden ticket into the mermaid hair club – y'know the long-locked exclusivity I thought I'd never be allowed to join. And enter said waver – for it worked wonders on my shoulder-length cut.
However, it's worth noting the weight of the three-barrel wand. Being heavier than the handle itself gave me less control and with such short strands, I admit, I struggled a bit. Alas, if you have longer tresses, that shouldn't be an issue.
Glowing Customer Review: “The waver is easy and simple to use and I found the waves held really well for a couple of days. Love that it comes with adjustable heat settings.”
Mermade Hair Pro Cutie Waver
Pros
- The larger barrel creates smooth, beachy waves on shorter hair
- It has ionic ceramic barrels to reduce frizz
Cons
- The barrel width is too narrow for long hair
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.
Glowing customer review: "This is a really easy-to-use tool to give you those gorgeous mermaid waves. 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."
Trademark Beauty Babe Waves X Hair Waver Tool
Pros
- The double-barrel is smaller which makes it easier to use on shorter hair types
- It's a compact and easy tool to travel with
- It creates soft, loose waves
Cons
- It can be time consuming to use on longer hair
I basically had to give up all of my hair wavers when I cut my hair to chin length. Well, until I discovered this Trademark Beauty lil gem. Instead of the usual three-barrel setup that is way too cumbersome on my short hair, this two-barrel waver is compact and ergonomic to help get even the tiniest of layers. And as you can see above, it gives my hair the prettiest soft waves that have convinced many people I have naturally wavy hair (ahem, my hair could not be straighter, lol).
I choose the lowest temp (320 degrees) for my fine hair, but there are four options – up to 430 degrees – depending on how coarse your hair is. TBH, I've traveled with this dozens of times now, because it locks into place to store in my bag.
Glowing customer review: "THIS IS THE ONE TO BUY. It’s adorable which is a plus. It does feel quality. Not like you just bought it was Walmart. It has a soft, long cord that doesn’t get tangled. The heat is nice and even throughout. The clamp is strong. And it is still working like new and I’ve used it for five months!"
Pros
- Waves look very effortless with a defined S-shape
- The results are long lasting
Cons
- The barrels are too large to use on short hair
The three large ceramic barrels (18.5mm each) of this tool ensure the hair is given a natural-looking wave. The chunky size of the curler means it can get through thick hair quickly, taking only about 10mins to style all.
Add a little spritz of hairspray and use a wide-tooth comb to loosen the waves even more and give a natural-looking finish.
The dial ranges from 50 to 198°C, allowing it to give either a loose or defined pleat to the hair. And unlike traditional ringlets, mermaid waves tend to have much longer staying power, these stayed put for days.
Glowing Customer Review: “The waves it creates are soft and beachy, and they actually last all day without falling flat. I also appreciate that it doesn’t leave harsh creases like some other wavers I’ve tried. The only downside is that it’s a bit bulky, so it took a little time to get used to handling it. Overall, a great styling tool that delivers beautiful, natural-looking waves.”
Pros
- The adjustable barrel depth means you can create four wave styles
- It's an affordable styler for beginners
Cons
- Stray hairs may get caught so make sure you're gathering hair well before putting it into the clamp
When I say you've probably never seen anything like this tool before, I really do mean you've probably never seen anything like this tool before.
The twisty knob featured on the end of the device can be used to adjust the middle barrel, which, in turn, can create four different types of waves (we're talking deep and defined waves, flowing mermaid waves, loose beachy waves and undone tousled waves). And no, despite there being so many waves, we are not in the sea...
Other than the tailored experience provided, we love this waver for how lightweight and easy it is to use. As well as its automatic shut-off and five different temperature settings, duh!
Glowing Customer Review: “Absolutely loving my Remington PROluxe 4-in-1 Hair Waver! It's so easy to switch between the different wavy styles, and the OPTIheat technology really makes a difference in holding the waves. Plus, it heats up super fast. Highly recommend for anyone wanting versatile, gorgeous waves!”
How to choose the best hair waver:
Consider your hair length.
If you have longer hair, you can use a hair waver with larger barrels (see: around three inches), like the Amika High Tide Deep Waver. 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 (like the Trademark Beauty Babe Waves X Hair Waver Tool). 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.
Prep your hair properly.
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 (sandwiching your hair between two hot plates for 5-10 seconds needs protection!)
Section your hair off, and begin waving at the roots of your hair, going down, section by section. Add some sea salt spray or texturising spray, and finish off with a little hairspray.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan US with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from Dyson Airwrap dupes to hair-bonding treatments. She's an authority in all hair categories, but is an expert when it comes to hair wavers, thanks to interviewing experts and testing them on her own hair.
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 analyses hair wavers on her own hair for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top professionals to assess new products and brands.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
10 best backless bras for low-back dresses
Drop-waist dresses are back trending for spring
Rugby tops are trending & we have just the one for you
24 stylish work bags designed for the 9-to-5
