Just work a heat protectant through your curls then roughly straighten your hair. Don’t worry about getting it perfectly sleek and straight—the point here is to just neutralize your texture a bit before creating your waves. If you are looking for vintage, retro waves then place the waver as close to your roots as you can; for looser, more relaxed waves then start a little lower down. A waver actually works pretty much like a curling iron or a hair straightener. The only difference is that it is much more effective when you are creating waves. Compared to a curling iron or a flat iron, a waver is easy to use and works through your hair in no time.

Continue down the section of hair until it is all waved (as a tip, try to line up the first barrel with the last wave you made, for a continuous wave down the hair shaft).

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. Prep your hair properly When you are done styling, use the heat protection mat provided along with the waver to protect your surfaces from damage. What we like about it: When styling, the extra-long 3M cord comes in handy. You don’t have to sit or stand in an awkward position to use the waver. If you are using it on colour-treated hair, it will not cause it to fade thanks to the built-in tourmaline colour protection. The barrel is tourmaline-ceramic which ensures fast and even heating. It is infused with coconut oil to give your hair a smooth and silky soft finish.

The BaByliss Wave Envy is a double barrel waver with just three heat settings. These are significantly fewer than the 25 settings in the previous two wavers but still good enough for styling different hair types. The heat settings range from 160C to 200C. Ensuring that the hot part of the waver barrel is on the bottom, clamp the top of the section of hair you are working on. Hold it down for 4-5 seconds – don’t leave it much longer, to avoid damaging your hair. Once you have waved your whole head, you can either leave the waves as they are for the retro look, or scrunch the waves between your fingers for a looser style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most wavers consist of 2 or 3 barrels that press your hair into sunken groves to form waves. In most cases, you don’t even need to section your hair using clips or pins. Just take hold of a bunch of strands, put them through the waver and move on to the next one. The only challenge is when you are styling extra short hair. Because of the wide barrels, it can be a bit hard to properly grasp sections of your hair. Now keep scrolling to find the best beach-waves tutorial that matches your hair type—promise they’re easy to follow.

Typically, the process of creating beach waves is done with a curling iron or hair straightener, says Izquierdo. But if you don’t want the heat damage, he says you can also try getting heatless beach waves by braiding damp hair in pigtails and allowing it to air-dry. Then—if you’re okay with a lil bit of heat—he recommends “lightly clamping your flat iron down each braid.” It’s not required, but it does “help set the braid-wave pattern and ensure a consistent wave,” says Izquierdo. Start with a texturizing base This waver comes with 25 heat settings, easily changeable using a dial on the handle. The maximum temperature is 200C. A waver is a hair styling tool designed specifically for creating gentle waves. Like most hair styling tools, it uses heat to temporarily change the physical structure of hair.You will need to be a bit more careful with how you place your hair inside the barrel though, as it can be easier to burn your hands when working with shorter lengths. Q: Where to buy a hair waver? Prepare your hair by washing it the night before you want to wave it, and letting it air dry to minimise the amount of heat your hair is exposed to. Ensure your hair is completely dry, then add some heat protecting spray, cream or serum. You can also use a curl-enhancing serum, to maximise the curls in your final style.