I first learned about the wave iron on a girls’ trip I took to New York City with a bunch of friends four years ago. One of the girls is a genius at doing hair. She did my hair with the wave iron. I was skeptical because I thought it would be like a crimper. But it isn’t. It simply produces soft waves. The waves all of us girls in the eighties wanted. The ones we used to have to get through perms.
I was hooked from the moment she did my hair.
I used to do my hair with the wave iron all of the time, but I lost my wave iron two years ago.
I only recently purchased the Pro Beauty Tools Professional Speed Waver
Well, I loved it.
Here is how I use it. Wait! Before I begin, I want it noted that my mirror is not dirty, but rather, when they installed my countertop last year, they reinstalled the mirror with some sort of glue that is now eating through the mirror and causing those marks. I think it looks vintagey, so I do not mind it:
I have very thin hair. It took me nine minutes to wave my entire head. I never use the wave iron with clean hair. The wave is too soft. I like to use it with one day old clean hair. Does that make sense?
I turn the wave iron onto a setting that is not the lowest but just a little hotter than the lowest setting. You do not want to use the highest setting. This wave iron gets hot and your hair has a greater potential of frying if it is set at that.
First I start with a small section of hair and I place the top section of the hair near the root into the wave iron. I count quickly to ten (not in the thousandths, just one, two, three…). When you first try it, count to five to see if it works at a lower number. You do not want to burn your hair!
Then move the wave iron down to an unwaved section and count again. Do this until you reach the end of that section of hair. Because ends of hair are usually the driest, I only count to five at the ends. They have a greater potential to burn off with heat so I do not want to chance it. Plus it looks more beachy with the ends slightly not as wavy as the rest of the hair. I always do one half of my head before I do the other half.
Pretend you’re a mermaid and make a fish face. Yes, this part is necessary. Trust me. Your hair will not turn out if you do not do this.
Repeat all over head. Then do not forget to unplug your wave iron (this message is to myself because inevitably five minutes after we have left the house, we have to turn around to check to make sure I have unplugged my devices. Be better than me!).
Spray with hairspray.
Make a funny face.
Enjoy your waves! These are nice the next day, too. The wave is softer and more beachy then. Plus the wave hides dirty hair pretty well. I touch up a section if it needs it.
I do not use this all of the time. Any kind of heat is not good for your hair. So, use sparingly. I used mine five times before I reviewed it here because I wanted to make sure I would recommend it.
I do. With that said, as with any product your experience may vary. And as with any beauty tool, please use with caution and at your own risk.
I purchased this wave iron with my own money. I was not compensated for writing this post. However, the link above is an affiliate link. Purchasing the wave iron from the link will provide a small commission for this blog.
Do you have a wave iron? How often do you use it? I use mine about once a week, but I can usually get two to three days of wave from that one day.
It’s The Little Things: Changing Your Hair In A Fun Impermanent Way.
*The dress in the photos was styled and ironed previously in this post here.
I like ths iron as well. However, my hair is still too short to use it effectively. I plan on bringing it back out when my hair gets a little past my shoulders. Right now it’s a few inches above my shoulders so it might be a while yet.
Your hair is so, so pretty this way.
I am glad you like it! My friend had short hair and it looked really cute on her. I do not know if she did anything different.
And thank you! I appreciate that! : )
Have a gorgeous week!
Jenni
Hmmm….if your friend had success with it, perhaps I should not give up so easily.
Sometimes when I try stuff like this, it’s really cute the first time (which it was) and then I tend to overdo it trying to perfect it and it’s too much. Maybe I should try again not putting so many layer of waves and just using bigger clumps of hair.
Since you all ready own it, I would definitely try it on a day you can experiment. I bet bigger clumps might work. Please let me know if you do try it. I am hopeful it works for you.
Have a terrific Tuesday! : )
Jenni
I’m so excited that you did a review/instructional on this! I love your hair like that! Been wanting to get one of these myself, but I AM someone with all thumbs, so don’t know if I could do it or not! But like you said, it wouldn’t be an every day style anyway because of it being hard on your hair, so I just need to take the time and have the patience to try it! I have long hair that has just the slightest wave pattern to it – I can make it either straight or curly, but it lends itself easier to curls – I think this would be the perfect style for me! Thanks for sharing!
I am so glad you liked it. Thank you! If you do get a wave iron, I bet you will like it. It is a neat little tool to have on hand. If I make my hair too big, it looks cute pulled back or in two half braids instead. I like the versatility of it. Your hair sounds pretty. I wish I had more curl to my hair.
Have a happy week!
Jenni
Love those waves!! Maybe I’ll pick a waver up once my hair grows out again. 🙂
Thanks Rachel! Let me know if you get a waver. I love your hair now and long. I like that you change it up!
Have a great week!
Jenni
Your hair looks great, and I especially enjoyed the funny faces! I have not had great luck with curling irons/wave irons, likely due to my low amount of patience for them. I went to a wedding this month and my hairdresser showed me how to get old Hollywood type curls (“s” waves). I ended up forgetting some of the instructions and came across a tutorial online suggesting hot rollers to get the look. In the end it was much easier, and I was very happy with the result. I think my hairdresser will be proud, even though I did not follow all of her instructions (but most! Haha)
Thank you Sharon! What hot rollers did you get? Are you happy with them? I have been looking for some. I love to do different things with my hair. I bet your hairdresser will be proud! My hairdresser was fine with my cheap wave iron but told me my cheap hair straightener I purchased was a huge no no. I guess you have to fork over the big dough for a good one. So now I need to find a new one of those as well.
Have a lovely week!
Jenni
Jenni,
It was these rollers, pearl ceramic by Remington (see link). I have only used them once so I am not sure how they will hold up. They did work well for that but did leave a kink in my hair from the clips, but I was able to brush that out. I also received one that had a broken lid but I was able to get it replaced. I guess all in all I would only recommend them if you buy them from a place that will take them back if needed (I bought mine at walmart so there weren’t any problems), but I am sure there are better ones out there. Hope that helps!
http://www.amazon.com/Remington-H9096-Ceramic-Heated-Setter/dp/B00BB8ZIQQ/ref=pd_sbs_bt_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=07S5H0Z5J26A3VGTMKMN
Hanks for getting back to me Sharon! That is a good tip in case one is broken. I did not even know that could happen. I will definitely look into those. I am scared of them, but it seems like that is what most people use for those big, sexy curls.
I really, really appreciate the feedback. Have a fun week!
Jenni
Great tutorial! I wish I had the patience to do nifty things with my hair. I get unreasonably angry when I use hair dryers and curling irons. Alas…
Thanks Cynthia. This produces such quick results that it is not frustrating like normal hair devices. : ). But I can understand the pain of standing there doing hair. It is boring.
Sweet dreams!
Jenni
You’ve inspired me! I want a wave iron! (When I buy, I’ll be sure to use your link 🙂
Thank you so much Kristen. I really appreciate that! : )
Have a super week!
Jenni
Oh your hair looks so lovely curled!! I’ve been missing your beautiful blog Jenni. I’ve been busy and haven’t been able to blog as much as I like to lately but I will keep stopping by!!
Thank you so much Sayaka! I have missed you, too. I absolutely loved your post today. I hope we get to see more of your trip. It sounds like it was so soulful.
Have a sweet week!
Jenni
So a few weeks ago I found one of these at Tuesday Morning for $11 so I got it. I have naturally curly/crazy hair. I’ve worn it straight for about the last 7-8 years for the most part. I use way less product (therefore have to wash it less often, which is better for my dry hair) when I straighten my hair. When I let it go I have to use a ton of product to tame the humidity frizzies…anyway. I thought this might be fun on those 2nd/3rd day straight hair to give me some waves. My hair is shoulder length but I didn’t get those beach waves like you. Looked more crimped as you were worried about. I’ve only tried once so maybe I’ll give it another go. Thanks for the inspiration!
Ack! I have a separate crimper and so I know exactly what you are talking about. I hope it works better for you the second time. I wonder why it is doing that. I wonder if there is a special tutorial out there for curly hair (lucky girl! I have always wanted curly hair!). Hmmm. I wish I had a better answer!
Good luck! And please let me know. I am curious. And have a fabulous week! : )
Jenni
I have one of those!! BUT, and this is a very important but, it has smaller barrels…so it looks more crimped than waved. I got it back in college and only have used it a few times. Maybe I just need one with larger barrels… I love it with your long hair. I am afraid with my shoulder length hair it will look like a mushroom cut 🙂
I never knew it came in smaller barrels! I can see where that would look more crimped. I am not sure how the girl I knew did it with short hair. But it looked cut. She would wave it and then sometimes pull it into a messy cute short pony tail. I would research it first to see if you see a short style with the wave iron. I would hate for you to buy it and not like it.
I hope you are having a great week, I just realized I owe you an email! Sorry I will write you tomorrow. I really want to know about the dress! : )
Jenni
Love, love, love your hair like this! Thank you for sharing this tool – I will probably get one! I have wanted curly hair all my life. I used to beg my Mom for perms when I was younger and they never took. I have tried every trick/tool in the book. One time I bought a hair dryer that had this tube that was supposed to spin sections of your hair around so that it was wavy once it dried. What a mess! My most recent purchase was a curler that took sections into this part that swirled around on it’s own so you didn’t have to actually “twist” a curling iron. That sucked too. Just a regular ole’ curling iron has always been best for me, but I am anxious to try this waver as it does not make the hair look too crimped.
Thanks Heather! I have always wanted curly hair, too. Oh man, my hair took the perms. I always wanted spiral, but they always gave me the crimped looking one. I have heard of those devices! I have always wondered if they worked. I love my new curling iron, too. Unfortunately that got misplaced when I purchased this wave iron. I can never be organized!
Please let me know if you try a wave iron. You have similar hair to mine (although yours is thicker). I am curious to see if you find it as easy as I do to use.
Have a fantastic week!
Jenni
Oooooh! I haven’t heard of this! I have naturally wavy hair, but not the wavy beach hair of my dreams. Perhaps this device is the answer! I love the wave it put in your hair. Very pretty for another hairstyle option! It looks easy and low-maintenance too, and I am all about that when it comes to hair. If I can find one for $15 on Amazon, sold! Thanks for sharing!
<3 Liz
http://www.withwonderandwhimsy.com
Thanks Liz! I love mine. I was thinking I was going to use it again tomorrow but then I remembered I booked a couple’s message (through a groupon like place) and my hair will get ruined with the oils. Best use it for another day. Your hair is so gorgeous. I would be thrilled if mine had curl like yours! So pretty. I want the color, too.
Have a super day!
Jenni
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