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You don’t have time to find the best hair waver, so we did it for you. If you want beautiful waves without spending a lot of money or damaging your hair, then this guide will teach you everything you need to know.
What’s the Best Hair Waver in 2024?
In a hurry and just want to see our top pick for the best hair waver? no worries. We chose the CHI Multi-Wave Styler as the best overall. It’s affordable, effective, and versatile.
The best hair waving tool. Period.
- Effortlessly wave your hair
- 5 preset temperatures for different types of waves
- Adjustable barrel
- Ceramic plating adds shine while waving
- Reduces frizz and static
- A bit more expensive than others (but worth it)
A hair waver is a great way to construct flowing waves without spending a day at the beach. With countless options, you’ll want to make sure you have the best hair waver on the market while still staying in your budget.
And that could be a little harder than it sounds due to the array of wavers on the market and their individual abilities. One hair waver could be great for long thick hair, but a complete waste for shoulder-length locks and vice versa. The best hair waver should combine affordability, quality, and ability to create the various wave styles you desire.
Our Top 7 Picks for the Best Hair Wavers:
- Best Overall: CHI Multi-Wave Styling Tool
- Best for Long Hair: Bed Head Wave Artist Ceramic Deep Hair Waver
- Best for Perm Look: Ion Titanium Triple Barrel Waver
- Best for Professional Stylists: BESTOPE Curling Iron 3 Barrel Hair Waver
- Best for Budget: TEATTY 3 Barrel Hair Waver
- Best for Loose Waves: Bed Head Makin Waves S Waver
- Best for Time Constraints: REVLON 3 Barrel Ceramic Jumbo Hair Waver
While we would all love to step out of the shower and have our hair curl perfectly into place with zero effort on our part, we usually need some help. Fortunately for us, technology is here to meet our styling needs.
Why You Need a Hair Waver
Sofia Zhuravetc/Shutterstock
When you’re trying to create the perfect, deep waves shown in the pic above, the last thing you want is tiny little hair ringlets that will straighten out after an hour. And that’s what you will get with a basic curling iron. What’s more, A basic curling iron can’t even create this look.
You need a hair waver! A hair waver can add volume to your hair and give you more dramatic curls. Picking out the best hair waver will make you look like a runway model without the time in the salon.
Every head of hair requires a different treatment. Everyone loves feeling fabulous about their hair, and your hair products should help you get there.
Best Hair Waver: Top 7 Picks
Don’t scroll through hundreds of hair wavers to find the best option. Stick with this list and narrow your search for the best hair waver.
1. CHI Multi-Wave Styler– Best Overall
The best hair waving tool. Period.
- Effortlessly wave your hair
- 5 preset temperatures for different types of waves
- Adjustable barrel
- Ceramic plating adds shine while waving
- Reduces frizz and static
- A bit more expensive than others (but worth it)
First on our list is an extremely versatile hair waver from one of the best-known brands in hair styling — CHI. And you do want the best hair waver, right?
This hair waver is built for one thing, and that’s to produce gorgeous, deep, and subtle waves. You can effortlessly make beach, boho, or mermaid waves using the unique adjustable barrel. What we love even more is the ceramic coated plates, which make your shiny and wavy without making it frizzy.
This beauty has 5 pre-set temperatures, which can be used for various wave intensities. With a customizable plate height, you can get different looks without the hassle of swapping out barrel attachments.
Even better is that it’s not even $80. That’s right — we think this is one of the best values on the market. While it’s not quite as cheap as your standard drugstore waver, it’s packed with a lot more utility, and we think that makes it worth buying.
2. Bed Head Wave Artist Ceramic Deep Hair Waver – Best for Long Hair
- Works great on long hair
- Great for creating tight waves
- Doesn’t get hotter than 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Doesn’t work well on short or medium length hair
- The barrel design only gives you one wave look
Having long hair takes a lot of work, and you will want a hair waver that can handle lengthy locks. Long-haired reviewers love the tight waves this two-barrel ceramic waver provides.
Reviewers with thin hair report their curls hold without getting burned. The highest temperature setting is 400 degrees Fahrenheit. However, reviewers with short or medium-length hair said this waver didn’t work for them. Their shoulder-length hair couldn’t hold waves.
The barrel design only gives you one style option, which is not great if you are looking for variety. Your hair will have short crimpy waves instead of loose curls. If you want color options, you can choose between a purple and green handle.
3. Ion Titanium Triple Barrel Waver – Best for Perm Look
- Wide temperature range from 180 to 450 degrees
- Gives your hair a perm effect
- Titanium is a long-lasting heat resistant material
- The most expensive waver on the list
- Reviewers said this waver sometimes gets overheated
This triple barrel waver is the priciest on the list. Titanium has the strength of steel, but strong materials have a cost. This waver is best for smaller, crimpier waves. You’ll look like you got a perm without spending a lot of cash.
Titanium is used in products that need to resist heat. The problem with that heat-resistant quality is reviewers say this waver sometimes gets too hot to handle. When the titanium resists the heat, that heat has to go somewhere, and that could be to a burn on your hand.
This purple hair waver has a temperature range of 180 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The lower temperature setting could be great for thinner hair or anyone worrying about heat damage.
4. BESTOPE Curling Iron 3 Barrel Hair Waver – Best for Professionals
- Barrel attachments will give you several wave options
- Comes with a storage bag and heat resistant glove
- Lowest temp is 280 degrees, risky for thin or delicate hair
- Have to keep track of all the different barrel attachments
With a total of four gold ceramic attachments, a storage bag, and heat resistant glove, this is a hair waver for serious stylists. You could be a salon owner, a professional stylist, or a hair guru who curls all your friends’ hair.
You can set the temperature as low as 280 degrees Fahrenheit for delicate hair and as high as 450 degrees Fahrenheit for long-lasting waves. If you’re worried about burns, the glove will keep your hand safe while handling the highest temperature.
The triple barrel attachment is best for loose waves. The tapered barrel and 0.39” barrel create tight curls. The final spiral barrel creates that “bounce” effect for your hair.
Reviewers appreciate the attachment options and the organization the storage bag provides. However, there are several attachments to keep track of, and this hair waver is on the expensive end of this list.
5. TEATTY 3 Barrel Hair Waver – Best Budget Pick
- Works on different hair lengths
- The cheapest option on the list
- Works well for loose waves
- Only two temperature options at 365 and 410 degree
- Won’t give you tight waves
This gold ceramic hair waver is the best for budget stylists. This triple barrel waver only has two temperature options, 356 and 410 degrees Fahrenheit.
While reviewers note the waver works on different hair lengths, the limited temperature options might mean too much heat for thinner hair. Reviewers also said it was hard to get those tighter waves.
This hair waver would be a good option if you aren’t looking for wave variety and have a limited budget. You can still get those loose beach waves without taking a trip to the ocean.
6. Bed Head Makin Waves S Waver – Best for Loose Waves
- Doesn’t get hotter than 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Creates beautiful, loose waves
- Loved by reviewers with thick hair
- The loose waves are harder to see on short hair
- Doesn’t offer different wave styles besides “S” waves
If you love pink and classic loose waves, then this double-barrel hair waver will work for you. Not everyone likes tight curls and the crimped perm look. A loose “S” wave can make you look like you came straight from a tropical island.
This ceramic waver heats up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, making it perfect for thick hair. Several reviewers point out that they’ve had other low-heat wavers that couldn’t penetrate their thick tresses.
Reviewers appreciate the soft look of the loose waves, but loose waves are harder to see on short hair. If you want to switch up your wave style, you’d be better off with a hair waver offering variety.
7. REVLON 3 Barrel Ceramic Jumbo Hair Waver – Best for Time
- Creates curls that aren’t too tight or too loose
- It heats up fast
- Reviewers said the large size makes it difficult to handle
- Handle may become hot
If you know you don’t have time for a long hair styling session, you will appreciate this hair waver. This ceramic triple barrel waver gets hot fast and creates waves that aren’t too tight or too loose.
Reaching up to 420 degrees Fahrenheit, this oversized hair waver will transform your hair quickly. Reviewers point out, though, that the jumbo size makes it cumbersome to handle, leading to some painful burns. A few reviewers also said they noticed the handle got too hot for comfort.
This black hair waver would be perfect for someone looking for simple waves without much time to spare. If you are always on the go and aren’t looking for different wave styles, this could be a great choice for you.
Finding the Best Hair Waver
Evgenyrychko/Shutterstock
Now that you’ve got a good idea of some of the best hair wavers, here are some extra considerations to help you decide which one is right for you.
Heat Damage
Any heating element could end up frying the keratin proteins in your hair. That’s the last thing you want for your luscious locks. Those keratin proteins keep hair looking soft and bouncy.
Scientific studies show that protecting your hair with heat protectant lessens hair breakage. The polymers in hair protectant keep the heat from degrading the keratin.
In addition to using a great heat protectant, you want a hair waver that gets hot enough to hold curls but not so hot to hurt your hair. A hair waver that heats up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit might be too much for fine hair but just right for thick, long, and stubborn hair. The key is to use the lowest heat setting that will give you the look you want.
Wave Size
How do you want your hair waves to look? Are you going for oversized shampoo commercial curls or smaller yacht vacation tresses?
Hair wavers with different attachments can offer you greater wave variety. Take some time to learn what different barrel types do, and you’ll end up with waves of your dreams.
Quality
Have you ever bought a great deal online and watched it fall apart after a few days? It can be tempting to go for the cheapest hair waver, but it could disappoint you in the end.
If you use your hair waver frequently, you will want it to last. The initial expense could easily pay for itself if you are styling your locks daily or do professional hair styling.
Budget
Do you style your hair once a week, once a month, or once a year? If you only grab your hair waver for the yearly Christmas party, it doesn’t make sense to drop the cash on a salon-quality hair waver.
Create a budget before you do your shopping. Your eye might catch an expensive hair waver while you’re scrolling through products, but don’t waste your time looking at hair wavers you can’t afford.
So, What’s the Best Hair Waver?
In our opinion, the CHI Multi-Waver Styling Tool takes home the best hair waver award.
The best hair waving tool. Period.
- Effortlessly wave your hair
- 5 preset temperatures for different types of waves
- Adjustable barrel
- Ceramic plating adds shine while waving
- Reduces frizz and static
- A bit more expensive than others (but worth it)
You can get any kind of wave, have any kind of hair, and store it easily without worrying about losing barrel attachments. Its ceramic heat technology both shines and waves at the same time.
Plus, CHI is very well-known in the hair industry, so you’re getting a great product from a company that knows hair. But if that’s not what you’re after, any of the other wavers will get you great waves as well.