The 10 Best Hair Wavers
Updated by · How we research
Deep, adjustable and triple-barrel wavers compared on wave size, heat control, burn protection and travel voltage. The Bed Head Wave Artist leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Wave size comes mostly from barrel width, not price: slim barrels press tight, ripple-like waves, while wide or deep barrels give the loose mermaid look most people are after. A waver clamps each section for just a few seconds, so it suits anyone who finds a curling wand fiddly, including beginners styling their own hair at home.
At a Glance
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Bed Head Wave Artist stays at the top. It is still the waver most people start with, it travels on any voltage, and its deep barrels make a bold wave with little practice. The Bed Head A Wave We Go and the Conair triple barrel also stay, though Conair's model is now a three-barrel iron with fine heat control.
Seven old picks are out. Nobody sells the T3 or either Revlon waver now, and the GHD wand, the Beachwaver Pro and the Xtava set are curling tools, not wavers. New picks add a seven-year-warranty jumbo waver from Hot Tools, a budget Alure, and two newer designs that guard against burns, one with a timer.
No lab has tested wavers head to head. The order here draws on the makers' heat, voltage and warranty specs, editors' roundups from Bustle and Mixed Makeup, repeated owner complaints about displays and heat, and a recall search with the Consumer Product Safety Commission that turned up no waver recalls.
December 12, 2020:
The newly added Conair Double Ceramic is from a well-known name in hair care products that has been around for more than six decades. It’s a good choice for anyone who wants to add a lot of wave to their hair without paying a fortune for a styling tool. It offers more precise control than many others, since you can select from among 30 heat settings. In addition, a handy turbo boost mode raises the temperature up 27 degrees Fahrenheit, which proves useful for hard-to-style spots. It joins the list as a suitable replacement for the Conair Infiniti Pro Crimper, and one that is better equipped to create waves, as the crimper mainly serves only to add lift to one’s roots. Today we also added in the T3 BodyWaver, which is from a company known for its signature white and rose gold curling irons, hair dryers, and flat irons. This 1-3/4-barrel tool is designed to give you the big volume of a blowout, without the actual blowout. You can choose from among five heat settings, and its proprietary technology delivers fast, long-lasting results. Leaving the list today is the Mannice Crimper, which is unavailable at this time.
The Bed Head Wave Artist remains a best-selling choice, thanks to its affordable price and ease of use. Rather than the common three-barrel design, this one features a single curving barrel. Just move it down a section of your hair in increments until you’re at or near the bottom. Its tourmaline ceramic technology is made to combat frizz and add lots of shine. It’s got the same sleek purple signature finish as the Bed Head A-Wave-We-Go, which offers adjustable plates to help you create different looks. For a versatile wand kit that comes with a pair of protective gloves, check out the Xtava Satin Wand Set, which includes five interchangeable attachments, three of which have clamps. This tool is great for anyone who wants to achieve different looks depending on the occasion or the day.
December 09, 2019:
Whether you’re in the mood for a beachy, tousled head of hair or for a polished, sculpted hairstyle, a hair waver is a quick and often easy way to achieve your results. Many of them resemble a single-barreled curling iron but have a larger, three-barrel design. Just clamp them onto each section of your locks for a few seconds at a time, and then keep moving your way down. Others are equipped with just one single barrel, but with a special design to create waves rather than classic curls. One example is the Bed Head Wave Artist, a best-selling choice that’s easy to use and produces impressive results that are shiny and frizz-free.
New additions to our list include the GHD Classic Wave Wand. While it’s quite an investment, avid users swear by it (as well as the company’s standard curling irons, hair-straightener brushes, and flat irons). It comes from a British manufacturer whose initials stand for “good hair day.”
Also joining the selection today is the Revlon Jumbo, featuring three barrels, with the middle one being extra wide to ensure soft, natural looking results without unsightly crimps. Its six adjustable heat settings make it suitable for all types of hair textures.
While many models come with tips that stay cool for a safe operation, always follow manufacturer guidelines regarding usage and safety. Use a heat-resistant glove to protect your hand. (The GHD Classic Wave Wand and Xtava Satin Wand Set featured here both come with such a glove.)
Barrel Shape Decides The Wave
The width and shape of the barrels set the look more than anything else.
The width and shape of the barrels set the look more than anything else. Three slim barrels, about an inch each, press the classic tight beach wave. Jumbo or extra-wide barrels give looser mermaid waves, and the blogger at Mixed Makeup chose a wide-barrel wand because, as she put it, wavers walk a fine line between mermaid waves and an '80s crimp.
Deep wavers use one big U-shaped wave instead of three barrels, and they make a bolder, sculpted S. Adjustable models let you raise or lower the center barrel to switch between tight and loose. Bustle's roundup sums up the choice well: triple barrels for classic volume and quick coverage, adjustable plates for range, and an S-shaped plate for the softest, most relaxed bend.
Hair length matters too. A wide barrel needs enough hair to show a whole wave, so short hair does better with slimmer barrels or a mini waver.
Heat, Timing And Hair Health
A waver only needs to rest on each section for a few seconds. Holding it longer doesn't make the wave last much longer, but it does add heat damage. The American Academy of Dermatology advises using hot tools on dry hair, at a low or medium setting, and less often, since repeated heat weakens hair of every type.
That is why heat control is worth paying for. Fine, thin or color-treated hair usually waves well at the low end of the range, while thick or coarse hair may need the upper settings. Wavers with only a single heat level leave you no room to adjust. A press timer, found on some newer models, takes the guesswork out of how long to hold.
For waves that last, start with clean, fully dry hair and a heat protectant, work in small sections, and let the waves cool before you touch or brush them. A light hairspray helps very straight hair hold the shape.
Burns, Voltage And Safe Use
Wavers get hot enough to burn skin in a moment, and the barrels sit close to your neck and fingers. Insulated tips, a covered body or a heat glove help, and auto shut-off guards against a forgotten iron. Let the tool cool on a heat-safe surface before putting it away.
Check the voltage before you travel. Many U.S. wavers are made for 120 volts only and can fail or overheat on foreign current, while dual-voltage models switch over with just a plug adapter. Plug the iron straight into a wall outlet rather than an extension cord or a crowded power strip.
We searched the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database for every brand on this page and found no recalls of hair wavers. The few hits were older hair dryers and a T3 curling iron that is not a waver.
How we researched this
We compared 20 hair wavers, including deep, adjustable, triple-barrel, wide-barrel and plate-style models, read the makers' specs, manuals and warranty terms, read editors' roundups from Bustle and Mixed Makeup, weighed recurring owner complaints, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. We found no independent lab test that compares hair wavers.
Sources (5)
- Bustle: The 5 best hair wavers for beach waves
- Mixed Makeup: Affordable hair wavers
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair care habits that can damage your hair
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Recalls
- Makers' specs, manuals and warranty terms (Bed Head, Conair, Hot Tools, Alure, Wavytalk, Tymo, BaBylissPro, Bondi Boost)
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a waver and a crimper?
A crimper has narrow zigzag plates that make small, sharp ridges, the look of the 1980s. A waver has wide, rounded barrels or plates that make larger, smooth S-shaped waves. Some newer plate wavers blur the line, but wider plates always give softer waves.
Is a double or triple barrel waver better?
A triple barrel covers more hair per press and makes a continuous wave quickly, which suits long or thick hair. A double barrel or a single deep U-shaped plate is easier to place on short hair and gives a looser, bolder wave.
Do hair wavers really work?
Yes, on dry hair with a heat protectant and small sections. The waves last longest on hair with some natural texture. Very fine, straight hair may need a light hairspray to hold the shape through the day.
Will a waver damage my hair?
Any hot tool can. Use the lowest setting that gives you a wave, hold each section only a few seconds, and avoid daily use. Never use a waver on wet or damp hair.
Can I use my waver abroad?
Only if it's dual voltage or you use a voltage converter. Single-voltage U.S. models are made for 120 volts and can overheat on foreign current, while dual-voltage wavers need just a plug adapter.
