Commerce writer and product tester Theresa Holland researched and wrote this roundup. She has used hot hair tools from many brands featured here, including Hot Tools, Bed Head, Revlon, ghd, Ion, and Amika. Theresa has been writing for Byrdie since 2020, covering haircare, makeup, and skincare. You can find more of her work on Travel + Leisure, People, and The Spruce. The price is also a key factor to consider when buying a crimper because some over-priced ones in the market are just not worth it. You need to choose a crimper that does not cost you an arm, and a leg yet is highly efficient. If you are extremely low on budget, you can also get a mini crimper at an affordable price. Ease Of Use

When dealing with temperatures, you must take care of your hair because they are prone to damage. Many hair styling products can leave your hair dry and burned, so make sure your crimper is made of a material that distributes the heat evenly and does not burn your hair. Always choose a crimper that provides optimum safety to your hair. Price The testing process was straightforward: I evaluated the build and functionality of each hair waver. Then, I powered each one up and used it to style my hair before going about my normal daily activities to see how the look held up. When I finished testing all of the hair wavers, I teamed up with Reviewed’s in-house experts to score and weigh the results on a scientifically-calibrated rubric. Design: There are two types of hair wavers out there: round triple-barrel wavers and deep V wavers. For consistency sake, we decided to only test triple-barrel wavers—the more popular type right now—as they deliver the tousled, S-shaped style of beach waves as opposed to crimped, zig-zag ones. We tested hair wavers that contain three curling iron-like barrels, but others look like a zig-zag crimper. Plate Shape and Size: The most critical feature of crimping irons is the plate shape and size. "[This] will determine the size of the crimps," says Priano. For a true crimp with a distinct crinkled look, opt for small, sharply angled ripples, like the Hot Tools Pro Artist Crimping Iron. If you want a more subtle effect, plates with larger (and usually fewer) ripples are your best bet. For softer waves, you'll want a tool with multiple barrels or smoother, less angular grooves, such as the Amika High Tide Deep Waver.Sky Kim is a New York-based hairstylist at Serge Normant at John Frieda and a member of Byrdie's Beauty & Wellness Review Board. I won’t deny that it’s a highly effective hair waver that delivered the smoothest waves of any of the tools that lasted me through the rigors of my standard day—including light exercise. Its barrels are also very large, which allowed me to capture more hair at a time, decreasing styling time. The problem: The barrels make the styling tool much heavier and more difficult to maneuver than other models I tested. When it comes to hair wavers, there are a few things you should know that may influence your purchasing decision:

For starters, the hair waver has a digital screen that allows you to see the exact temperature setting, so you can choose the right setting for your hair type between 200°F and 450°F and see when the iron reaches the temperature and is ready to use. The instructions provide clear guidance on the most suitable temperature ranges for different hair types. I chose to wave my medium-textured hair that falls about two inches past my shoulders on 350°F—a temp that was at the lower end of the recommended range for this hair type. The Hot Tools Pro Artist 24K Gold 3 Barrel Hair Waver earned perfect scores in every category—build and durability, usability, and performance. From start to finish (and beyond), my experience with this hair waver was overwhelmingly positive.Hair Type: After testing all eight hair wavers, I’ve come to the conclusion that these styling tools work best on straight hair. If your natural hair skews wavy or curly (like mine), you’ll see the sleekest results if you run a straightener through your hair or blow dry it at least semi-straight rather than allowing it to air-dry prior to use. Admittedly, either of these extra steps adds to the styling time required, ironic because the style itself is meant to look so effortless. Michael Dueñas is a celebrity hairstylist and president of Support Creatives, a non-profit beauty education platform. Choose an iron based on the effect that you want. "Some crimpers have very small ridges, and others have large ridges," says Dueñas. "Very small, tight crimpers are fantastic for getting root volume without having to tease." On the other hand, those with wide, spread-out plates are better for all-over texture and waves.

Though the aesthetic of a hair waver certainly isn’t the most important attribute, there’s no denying that the look of the Insert Name Here hair waver will lure you in. It’s slimmer and longer than other wavers and comes in the cutest pink and white color palette. HOW TO GET THE LOOK: Starting at the roots, lightly clamp a small section of hair between the barrels and hold for a few seconds. For continuous waves, match the outermost wave and work it down your hair. How to use-When using the waver for the first time, select the LOWEST heat setting and test in one small section of hair for 5 to 8 seconds. If you want to use a higher setting, be sure to GRADUALLY increase the temperature. Never style hair for the first time on a high setting as this may damage your hair. Use only as much

If you want to try the wavy hair trend without splurging on a waver, the Bed Head Wave Affair 3 Barrel Digital Jumbo Hair Waver is a great budget-friendly alternative. When it comes to results—arguably the most important aspect of a quality hair waver—this one outperforms the rest. A single clamp of a 3- to 4-inch section of hair held for less than 5 seconds delivered instant S-shaped waves that held steady all day long, even after a lengthy and brisk walk around the neighborhood—no hairspray needed! I repeated that action two to three times down each section of hair and all over my head, which took about 15 minutes. Overall, our favorite crimping iron is the Hot Tools Pro Artist Crimping Iron. The small plates and zigzag ripples make it easy to create all-over texture, add volume, or tease just a few sections. That said, the Bed Head Little Tease Hair Crimper is slightly more wallet-friendly, and it has similarly narrow, rippled plates that are made of tourmaline for added smoothness. Usability: Is it light enough to hold comfortably? Does it have a digital screen or an alert to let you know it has reached temperature? Are the buttons placed conveniently? Are they intuitive? Cost: As is the case with many beauty products, costs vary tremendously. The most expensive hair waver we tested was more than 10 times the price of the least expensive one we tested. But price doesn’t necessarily dictate value. Our tests show that the least expensive hair wavers were generally the poorest performers, but, for the most part, middle-of-the-road options were just as desirable as the most expensive wavers.