We absolutely love curly and wavy hair trends, and the hair tool to add to your arsenal for the job has to be the best hair waver tool. Whether you're looking for loose curls, trendy mermaid hair or a classic beach wave look, a hair waver tool will help you achieve the perfect style, especially if you have stylish ombre hair. It's fun to create a look unique to you.
Usually, when you're trying to attempt that fresh salon look, it takes a while to get it just right, and most likely an array of hair tools to help you do it. Luckily, with one of the best hair wavers from our list below, you can customise your curls and waves quickly and easily. Similar to a hair dryer brush, these tools make styling your hair a breeze.
Best hair waver tools at a glance:
• Top pick: Amika High Tide Deep Waver - View offer on Amika
• Best hair waver for long hair: Babyliss Deep Waves Waver - View offer on Boots
• Best budget hair waver: Mark Hill Pick 'N' Mix Mermaid Waver - View offer on Boots
A hair waver tool is either a double or triple-barreled heated curling tool or a single-wave tool that moulds your hair strands into loose curls or waves. Most hair wavers are larger than usual hair curling tools or hair dryer brushes, so we love that you can get a lot of your hair done at once, making the process faster than usual.
The best hair waver tools
Top pick: Best hair waver tool
amikawww.loveamika.co.uk
This is easily our favourite choice of hair wavers: it's super easy to use and thanks to the triple barrel aesthetic you won't get any kinks in your hair. We also love the temperature range, starting at 50°C and going up to 180°C.
Customer review: "My daughter has TONS of thick hair, and this is the first tool that gave her the beach waves she wanted! They last, too. Most importantly, I'm not worried about damage. The plates are high quality, and it doesn't take more than a few seconds to get the perfect wave."
Pros
- 3 tourmaline ceramic barrels in 18.5 mm deliver gorgeous, beachy waves
- Works on all hair types, textures, and thicknesses
Cons
- Takes getting used to how big the tool is, expect a bit of arm ache at first
| Power | Dual voltage 110-240v - 50-60Hz |
| Temperature | Adjustable (50°C - 198°C) |
| Cord | 2.75 m cord with 360° swivel |
| Barrels | 18.5 mm |
- Custom-mold leaves no-marks
- Negative ion technology seals cuticle to smooth hair
- 30-minute auto shut-off option – for extra safety + peace of mind
- Heat-resistant, no-slip handle – delivers styling comfort
- Kickstand – to rest safely on vanity or countertop cool tip for easy control + safety
- 1-year warranty
Best hair waver for long hair
bootswww.boots.com
There's very little not to love about this Babyliss waver, it's within most budgets at £55, features a heat-protected layer so you can place it down without burning the carpet and is easy to use. It's best suited for long hair, as it's quite large and can hold multiple hair strands.
Customer review: "I got this product a couple of weeks ago. It arrived 3 days after ordering, despite the estimated date being a week! The product is easy to use and worked well on my hair even without using hair products. I suggest if you want the waves to last, use mousse after washing your hair or hairspray when waving. My hair is naturally straight - I have had my hair in waves for 3 days now and they have only just started to straighten again."
Pros
- Advanced Ceramics™ for fast heat recovery, heats in just 30 seconds
- Includes a salon heat wrap to store your waver away in
Cons
- Works best for long hair with minimal layers
| Power | 85 W |
| Temperature | Up to 200°C |
| Cord | 2.5 m swivel cord |
| Barrels | Large (exact size unclear) |
- Large tourmaline-ceramic barrels and plate
- 3 heat settings for heat control
- Stay cool safety tip
- Auto shut off
- Salon heat wrap
- 3-year guarantee
Best budget hair waver
bootswww.boots.com
If you're looking for a hair waver that is affordable, then this is an excellent choice. It does exactly what you need from a hair waver, nothing more and nothing less. This Boots bundle comes with both the handle and a waver attachment, saving you £10 in the process.
Customer review: "Bought this on a whim with my boot points and I’m so glad I did. It’s definitely my favourite hair styling tool. Literally takes 5 minutes to do and the results are fab. Nice cute and easy waves. Absolutely love it!"
Pros
- The 21mm barrels create the perfect mermaid waves, with a clamp and release function
- You can swap the waver head with other Mark Hill tool heads
Cons
- There is no cool tip
| Power | Unclear |
| Temperature | Up to 185°C |
| Cord | Unclear |
| Barrels | 21 mm |
- Barrel creates tight, beachy waves
- Attach the 3 x 21mm pronged barrel to your Pick 'n' Mix handle
- Barrel comes complete with clamp and release functionality
Best for creating mermaid hair
beauty baywww.beautybay.com
If you want to re-create the trendy mermaid hair then this Mermade hair waver is the one to do that with. The wider barrels heat up in under a minute, so you can style your hair quickly and seamlessly. It's also brilliant for creating beach curls.
Customer review: "I’ve been on the hunt for a good hair waver that lets your hair shine while giving me beach mermaid vibes and it’s safe to say that I’ve finally found what I’ve been looking for! It’s so easy to use, the tongs are massive with is great when you wanna break the waves down for a softer look. It doesn’t frizz your hair which is a huge plus for me."
Pros
- Ionic ceramic barrels protect your hair from heat damage
- The extra-large triple barrels mean no pulling on the hair
Cons
- It's bulkier than other hair wavers
| Power | Unclear |
| Temperature | 80 - 210°C |
| Cord | 2.5m swivel cord |
| Barrels | <meta charset="utf-8">32mm |
- Three XL barrels
- Multiple heat settings
- Advanced heat technology
- Auto shut off after one hour
- Heat protection glove included
- Heat-resistant soft-touch handle
- 2.5m swivel cord and spring lever
- High-grade ionic ceramic barrels to protect hair from damage
Best luxury hair waver
ghdwww.ghdhair.com
If you're looking for a luxurious hair waver with better features, the extremely popular ghd wave wand is the one for you. The same high-quality as the ghd Platinum+ (read our full review), it makes near-perfect curls for both thick and thin hair, as well as short and long. It's the perfect tool to test out some stylish short hairstyles.
Customer review: "Bought this to try and achieve “salon” finish hair during lockDown. Did a bit of research between this, the tong and the creative wand and I’m so pleased I went with this one! Easy to use (followed a ghd tutorial from the website) to create the perfect bouncy curl/loose wave. My hair is coloured and is longish (past my shoulders) and found that the results lasted well enough for the next day. Would highly recommend it. Also, if you’re struggling I’d highly recommend the video tutorial bank on this website."
Pros
- The protective cool tip provides you with a safe place to hold the hair in place while you curl
- The device has an automatic sleep mode after 30 minutes without use
Cons
- You cannot change the fixed temperature of 185ºC
| Power | 240 W, 110 to 240 volts |
| Temperature | 185°C |
| Cord | 2.7 m |
| Barrels | 38mm – 26mm oval-shaped barrel |
- Ultra-zone™ technology: even heat across the entire barrel
- Oval barrel creates deeper waves with movement
- Protective cool tip
- Safety stand
- Optimum styling temperature of 185ºC
- Automatic sleep mode
- Professional length swivel cord
What type of hair waver is best for me?
When searching for your ideal hair waver, consider how long and thick your hair is. For instance, if you have thinner hair, you don't need a waver that can reach high temperatures as it will increase the likelihood of breakage. If you have longer hair, the best hair waver tool for you should be able to hold thicker strands of your hair.
With a bit more practice and skill, you can save money by using your hair straightener to create curls. For example, the Dyson Corrale™ hair straightener (read our full review) has a curved outer body, engineered to support curl structure, as well as sleek, straight styles. Or you can buy a multi-styler, such as the Dyson Airwrap (read our full review), which has five attachments to create a wide variety of hairstyles. Alternatively, if you're looking for a more affordable option, the Shark FlexStyle (read our full review) is a worthy dupe to the Airwrap.
Make sure to read our guide on the best hairstyles for women over 60 if you fancy a change of style.
Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for Yours, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her “dupe queen”, as there’s not a product in the world she can’t find a cheaper alternative for.