What is a Hair Waver and How Does It Differ from a Curling Iron?
Thanks to this digital age, the world is continuously innovating. High-tech devices and inventions continue to emerge to cater to the wants and needs of the people and the same applies to hair tools such as hair straightening irons and hair wavers. Thus, it should no longer be surprising if you have noticed more and more women getting hooked with their new vanity toy.
Everything You Need to Know About Hair Wavers
Also known as a hair crimper, or a multiple-barrel curling iron, a hair waver is a type of hair iron whose job is to curl the hair locks. It can be challenging to use at first given its unusual, complex look but learning how to operate it is easy. Thus, there is really no reason for people to shy away from such a tool.
Basically, hair wavers have the look of a flat iron but with the only difference is, they have three curling wands stuck to it together. These three heated barrels which are why hair wavers are also called the “three-barrel waver” are strategically positioned so that the user can curl the locks of her hair without having to wrap it around the barrel. They help create ridges that the user will need to change the shape of her locks.
Many women consider hair wavers as the modern version of the popular hair crimpers in the 1990s but unlike the latter, the former is available in many sizes and designs. There are wavers with barrels as small as the regular curling wands while there are also large ones.
However, three-barrel wavers are only recommended for medium to long hair length. Wavers for short hair may be available but will be probably made of slimmer barrels or wands to facilitate a wave on the lock.
How Do Hair Wavers Differ from Curling Irons?
At the core, hair wavers and curling irons differ in terms of look. But to dig deeper, let us take a look at their most notable differences below:
The Design
When it comes to their structures, hair wavers and curling irons are almost the same. They utilize the same mechanism in hair styling. However, one ultimate difference between the two is that hair wavers are particularly designed to curl the hair by portions through portion-clamping whereas using the curling iron means you will have to wrap hair sections into the barrel with a considerable amount of dexterity.
The Results
As to their results, they produce different sizes and kinds of curls which will depend on the size of the barrel or the wand, respectively. What is great about hair wavers though is how they can accommodate small portions that the user will want to be curled and the uniformity of the curls is oftentimes guaranteed far easier than when using a curling iron.
The quality of their outputs will vary depending on how compatible the iron or waver is with the user’s type of hair. Of course, there are great hair wavers that promise to be a great fit for all types of hair but if we are being perfectly realistic and honest, of course, triple barrel wavers will yield varying results.
The Perks
One of the perks of using a good hair waver is how it facilitates a tangle-free styling on the locks. Since with it, the user will no longer have to wrap the hair around the heated barrel to achieve her desired curls, possible tangles will longer have to be dealt with.
How to Use a Hair Waver Like a Pro?
Just follow the steps below:
Step 1: Perfectly dry your hair before you start styling. Remember, when the heat directly contacts your wet hair, it can extremely damage your locks.
Step 2: Once your hair is entirely dry, prepare it further by brushing it out to get rid of tangles and frizzles.
Step 3: Apply a heat protectant cream or liquid onto your hair to protect it from potential heat damage.
Step 4: Turn the hair waver on and choose the settings you desire. For fine-haired users, 300 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit setting is most appropriate while for normal to coarse-haired, the recommended settings are 380 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and 420 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively.
Step 5: Once the hair waver is set, leave it as is for three minutes. While waiting, proceed on dividing your hair into two sections.
Step 6: Once done, start curling your locks using the hair waver portion by portion from the bottom upwards. As you do this, make sure to hold the portion for a maximum of ten seconds to allow the locks to curl. Removing it sooner might hinder a nice volume and lift.
Once you are done with it, depending on your preference, you can also add some finishing touches. For instance, to achieve glamorous waves, you can spritz a small amount of hairspray on your hair and end it with a light push-up. Meanwhile, if beachy waves are what you are trying to achieve, the trick is pretty much the same but before spritzing, do not forget to run your fingers through the portion. This will surprisingly help achieve the crunch and texture that you will want.
The Possible Limitations
Although hair wavers grow in popularity, not all women get to experience its wonders. More often than not, because of their bulky size, they can only be used on long locks and are relatively too huge to curl short hair. But the good news is, manufacturers are now selling out smaller hair waving irons which are perfect for short-haired customers.
If you are planning to use your hair waver despite being short-haired, the process is pretty much the same as how you use it on your long hair. However, experts constantly remind users, especially the short-haired ones to be careful in using the tool especially during the part where the locks have to be slid in between the barrels as a simple mistake can already cause a hand injury.