As a cosmetologist and hair expert with over a decade of experience, I still struggle to DIY bouncy, voluminous blowouts with a round brush.
Typically, when I want body and bounce to my hair, I rely on tools like the RevAir. The curls from the RevAir don’t really last very long, especially when my hair is longer, though.
That’s where the Beachwaver comes in – this automatic curling iron promises to deliver perfect, lasting waves with minimal effort. But does it really work?
Here’s my Beachwaver Review, complete with a bunch of before and after pics!
Read on to find out if the Beachwaver is for you!
What is the Beachwaver?
The Beachwaver is a rotating curling iron created by celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa. With the touch of a button, it spins left or right to curl hair, so you can easily alternate the direction for a more natural look.
It has a 1-inch barrel clip. The ceramic tourmaline barrel ensures even heat distribution up to 410°F.
The game-changing feature of the Beachwaver is the automatic rotation. Simply press “Go,” and the barrel wraps the hair around itself. No tricky maneuvering is required. The original Beachwaver came in silver and black, but now the Beachwaver B1 comes in “midnight rose” or “sunset”, which is a cool blue/pink ombre gradient color.
Is the Beachwaver Good For Beginners?
The Beachwaver is ideal for beginners since curling hair becomes foolproof. The mini clamp secures strands so they stay wrapped on the barrel. You don’t have to meticulously wind your hair yourself. Just press a button and the tool does it for you.
If you accidentally press the wrong curl direction, quickly press the other arrow to reverse it. You can curl sections left, right, left, etc. for extra volume too. The Beachwaver eliminates the learning curve and guesswork of heating tools.
By the way, if you’re considering other brands as well, make sure to check out my list of the best automatic curling irons on the market.
Testing Out the Beachwaver
I tested the standard 1-inch Beachwaver on dry, 3-day-old hair. First, I prepped my hair with heat protectant spray, and anti-frizz serum to prevent damage and frizz.
Next, I plugged in the Beachwaver B1 and hit the power button three times to set it to High (all 3 LEDs lit up), which means 410°F (or 210°C).
I started from the back and moved my way to the front, inch-by-inch. I didn’t curl all the way to my scalp to avoid burning myself, and I clamped the hair about one inch from the tip, so that I would get a gradual transition from curls to somewhat straight tips.
When doing the right side, I selected the ‘R’ to curl the hair in the right direction. Next, I pressed and held down the “Go” button. The iron wrapped my hair around the barrel and when it was 3/4 in away from my scalp I released the “Go” button.
After a 10-second set, I released the barrel clip and gently pulled the Beachwaver away. I continued working around my head, alternating curl direction every few pieces. The length of time you need to wait depends on the length and thickness of your hair, and of the sections.
After I did my very first strand and released the clip – there it was, a perfect loose beachy wave! I was already impressed!
When it came to the final two strands of hair closest to my face I tilted the iron away from my face slightly, and let those curls set for a few extra seconds. This is because my curls tend to fall out more quickly at the front of my hair, and I think it is important for the front strands to be the best looking!
Lastly, I did a light coat with my favorite hairspray and admired my results!
Beachwaver Video Tutorial
There’s a slight learning curve to the Beachwaver, if you’ve never used an automatic curling iron. I recommend this video to get an idea of how to use it.
My Beachwaver Review Verdict: Does It Give Perfect Waves?
The Beachwaver definitely delivers on its claims in my experience.
It typically takes me 40 minutes to curl my entire head, but with the Beachwaver I was finished in about 18 minutes (I timed it with my phone)!
When using a traditional curling iron in the past, I would have to run my fingers through the curls to soften them. I did not have to do that with the Beachwaver because the curls come out soft already.
Changing the direction of the curl is also really nice because it creates a much more natural look that looks very “high-end-salon”. Because it’s so easy to switch direction with the Beachwaver, you’ll do it way more often than with a regular curling iron.
Though it comes at a higher price point than other basic curling irons, I think the high quality and impressive features make the Beachwaver worth the price!
Besides, when you consider that a single blowout can cost $50, the $99 price point is extremely good!
Beachwaver Pro vs Beachwaver B1 – What Are The Differences?
I was a little confused about the differences between the Beachwaver Pro and the Beachwaver B1, so I researched this and here are the main differences:
Beachwaver Pro
- Comes in silver and black or silver and white.
- Has dual voltage (which I guess means you can use it in Europe as well? Seems kinda useless).
- Has a 1.25-inch barrel.
- Features an LCD screen with adjustable temperature.
- More expensive.
Beachwaver B1 (the one I reviewed)
- Comes in ‘midnight rose’ or ‘sunset’.
- Has a 1-inch barrel.
- Has three heat settings: Low – 290°F (150°C), Medium – 350°F (180°C), and High – 410°F (210°C).
- Less expensive.
I have tried both the Beachwaver Pro and the Beachwaver B1 and I would definitely recommend going with the less expensive B1.
The LED screen is really not that useful when the heat settings of the B1 are totally sufficient, and the LED light indicator is very straightforward.
The dual voltage too seems like a gimmick since I would think that the curling iron would work abroad if you had a good voltage converter that is rated for the power draw of the Beachwaver.
Finally, the larger 1.25-inch barrel of the Beachwaver Pro makes it useable only if you have hair that’s quite long. I find that the 1-inch barrel of the B1 is more usable and provides the size of curls that I like best anyway!