Despite being a beauty editor for nearly 10 years, using a round brush and hair dryer to DIY a bouncy blowout is simply beyond my skill set. Typically, when I want to style my hair, I have to use a tool like the Dyson Airwrap to help give my hair some body and bend. The only issue? The curls I get from the Airwrap don't really last on my ultra long hair. That, my friends, is where the magic of the Beachwaver comes in. It's incredibly easy to use and creates curls and waves that stay intact all day long.
It sounds too good to be true, I know, but trust, I put the Beachwaver to the test—and my before and after pics are proof that the Beachwaver is no ordinary curling iron. Ahead, everything you need to know about the Beachwaver, plus my honest review of the tool with pics.
What is the Beachwaver?
Whether you’ve mastered the fine art of curling your hair or you’ve never picked up a curling iron in your life, you can use a Beachwaver. Really. The rotating curling iron was created by celeb hairstylist Sarah Potempa, and spins to the left or the right with the press of a button so you can you can easily change the direction of your curls for effortless styling. Typically, you press the right arrow for the right side of your head and the left for the left side, but you can also switch back and forth with each curl if want a more voluminous look.
Unlike tradition curling irons, the Beachwaver has an inch-long clamp (instead of a clamp that runs the entire length of the barrel) to prevent unwanted dents and kinks in your hair as you secure it against the iron before curling.
As far as sizes go, the Beachwaver barrels range from from .75 to 1.25 inches. The smaller barrels are ideal for creating tighter curls and the larger barrel is best suited for looser curls and beachy waves.
Is the Beachwaver good for beginners?
Because all you have to do is press a few buttons, the Beachwaver is truly the perfect tool for beginners and novice hair stylers. You don’t have to worry about your hair falling loose as you curl it because the combination of the mini clamp and rotating iron keep strands in place. And you don’t even have to think about which way you’re curling your hair because the rotating barrel does the work for you.
If by chance you press the arrow button the wrong way, you can quickly course-correct and press the other arrow—the barrel will reverse and you don’t have to start over from scratch with hair that’s now been curled the “wrong” way. For someone who has never curled their hair or who has had trouble with using other irons or wands in the past, the Beachwaver is perfect since it takes the guesswork out of styling.
My review of the Beachwaver:
My initial thoughts on the Beachwaver
I decided to try the Beachwaver B1 Rotating Curling Iron because the one-inch barrel is their most popular curling iron size—it's best suited for bouncy, defined curls that aren't too loose and aren't too tight.
Upon taking the Beachwaver out of the box, I was immediately surprised at how much lighter it was than other curling irons I've tried. My hair is super long and takes time to curl, so this is a major benefit for my arms. I was also impressed with how fast it heated up—once I plugged it in, the iron was ready to be used about 45 seconds later. I also appreciated the multiple heat settings. You can choose from low (290°F), medium (350°F), or high (410°F).
How I tested the Beachwaver
I tested the Beachwaver on dry, three-day old hair. To prep for styling, I brushed my hair to get rid of any knots and tangles and then sprayed on a heat protectant to prevent breakage and split ends. (Beachwaver sent me their own Great Barrier Heat Protectant Hair Spray, so that’s what I used.)
To keep myself from getting confused on which way to rotate the iron, I did the right side of my head first and then went over to the left. On both sides, I started at the back of my head and worked my way forward, sectioning my hair inch-by-inch as I curled. I never curl all the way to the ends of my hair, so when I clamped the Beachwaver, I did so about an inch from the bottom and then pressed the rotating button.
After the iron spun all the way up, I would let it sit for a few seconds and then unclamp it a little to sneak the ends underneath it. This way my ends wouldn’t be stick straight, but also wouldn’t look weird and crunchy. I did this over and over until my whole head was curled—all in all about 10 minutes from start to finish.
After the curls had cooled, I brushed them out with a nylon and boar bristle brush to smooth them out a bit and loosen up the curl pattern. To finish, I spritzed Beachwaver's Team Texture Dry Finishing Spray all over to help keep my curls from falling or frizzing up during the day.
My honest thoughts on the Beachwaver
The Beachwaver really did make it so much easier—and quicker—to curl my waist-length hair. I think I would probably use one with a bigger barrel in the future for a little bit looser curl pattern, but that aside, I'm totally convinced the technology behind how the Beachwaver works is game-changing...and now I’ll be using it to curl my hair much more frequently.
Is the Beachwaver worth it?
IMO, the Beachwaver B1 Rotating Curling Iron is totally worth it. It's priced at $99, which is a steal if you think about a single blowout costing ~$50. By using the Beachwaver, you can do your own hair and achieve a salon-quality blowout look countless times for the price of only two professional blowouts. And even if you don’t use the Beachwaver that often, it pretty much pays for itself after a few uses.
There are pricier options for the pro-level Beachwaver that go up to $229, and those versions may be better if you have longer hair or are a professional stylist, but if you simply want quality curls at a reasonable price, the basic Beachwaver iron is the way to go.
4 more curling irons worth trying:
Hot Tools Pro Artist 24K Gold Curling Iron
T3 Micro SinglePass Curl Professional Curling Iron
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Drybar The 3 Day Bender Rotating Curling Iron
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Lisa DeSantis is a freelance writer who has been in the beauty industry for nearly 10 years. She began her career in beauty and fashion at QVC and has since written for and contributed to top women’s magazines and digital brands such as Health, Real Simple, Cosmopolitan, Motherly, Byrdie, and more. She has tested thousands of products and considers herself a professional guinea pig who’s always on the search for the next big trends in beauty, wellness, and beyond.
Lisa DeSantis
Lisa DeSantis is a freelance writer who has been in the beauty industry for nearly ten years. She began her career in beauty and fashion at QVC and has since written for and contributed to top women’s magazines and digital brands such as Health, Real Simple, Cosmopolitan, Motherly, Byrdie and more. She has tested thousands of products and considers herself a professional guinea pig who’s always on the search for the next big trends in beauty, wellness and beyond.