Review: Beachwaver B1

i've never owned a traditional curling iron. Whenever I consider buying one, I'm always reminded of my failed grade school attempts. There weren't enough YouTube tutorials in the world that could help me figure out how to achieve the perfect ringlets. I couldn't comprehend the proper technique—how much hair goes between the clamp? Which way do I twist a strand? How long do I hold it for? I was always left with the same limp, awkward-looking, unfinished result.

For over a decade, I used flat irons to settle for beachy waves, instead of perfect ringlets. Since 2020, I used the Dyson Corralle flat iron (which also doubles as a curling iron), but it unfortunately stopped working last year. I replaced it with the Dyson Airstrait—the company's first wet-to-dry hair straightener—however, the plates were too wide to be used for curling hair. This threw me into a desperate search for a replacement hair tool.

But what I found was even better: a curling iron that gave me both waves and the spiraled strands I've dreamed of since middle school. It's called the Beachwaver B1 and it's a rotating curling iron. Depending on your algorithm, you might've seen the viral videos all over your TikTok's For You page—partly because the company clearly has a massive influencer marketing budget, but also because it actually works. All you have to do is clamp your hair, press a button, watch as your hair automatically wraps around the wand, and then let go to see a beautiful, bouncy curl. It eliminated all the guesswork and frustration that has been curling my hair.

The Beachwaver B1 comes with a 1-inch ceramic barrel, a short clamp, and an ergonomic handle that's easy to hold. Weighing in at 1 pound, it's lightweight too. This makes it easier to use for long periods, but also convenient to travel with—it doesn't weigh down my duffle bag or backpack when I take it on trips. While it's durable, Beachwaver does offer a storage pouch you can buy separately (it's currently in my cart) to help protect it.

The handle has two buttons. At the top, two left and right arrows are built into the same button for rotational control of the barrel. Then there's the power button at the bottom—long-press it to turn the hair tool on or off and short-press to cycle between the heat settings.

It has a 30-minute automatic shut-off, which is a great feature for those who forget to turn their hair tools off—or obsessively second-guess if they did once they leave the house. You'll also have the choice between three temperatures—low (290 degrees Fahrenheit), medium (350 degrees), and high (410 degrees). You'll know which heat setting you're on, based on whether the first, second, or third LED is illuminated.

On the bottom, right beneath the barrel, is also a built-in stand. That way, you don't have to worry about burning any surfaces when you put the curling iron down while it's hot. It's a feature you don't always find on all curling irons, but it makes a huge difference—especially if you don't have tons of counter space in your bathroom. The stand helps to balance it on even the smallest sliver of space.

At first glance, the B1 seems pretty simple to use. But it does require some patience—something I wasn't prepared for at first. I figured that one random TikTok I watched a few weeks ago would let me get the hang of it. I was very mistaken. My hair looked like a mess. The strands were a mix of crimped, wavy, and straight, and the left side looked way different than the right. I also had multiple crease marks in my hair from where the clamp was, despite the Beachwaver's “no-kink” clamp that's designed to prevent this.

Determined to make it work, I sat down and watched more TikToks under the “Beachwaver Curler” search term. There are plenty of tutorials to pick from, but Beachwaver B1 has a bunch of easy-to-follow videos on its official TikTok account. If you just can't seem to make the hair tool work, I highly suggest sitting down for a bit and scrolling through videos to get familiar with the process.

Once I felt comfortable, I picked the B1 up and tried again. I had to master clamping my hair in the right place, holding the curling iron at the correct angle, and holding my hair to the iron for enough time. After only a few weeks, I felt like I finally understood the mechanics.

Whenever I'm curling my hair, I typically follow the same routine. I separate my hair into sections, putting the top layer in a bun. I'll grab a narrow strip of hair, clamp it slightly above the ends, and press the arrow while moving the curling iron toward the root as it rotates. For a tight curl, I'll count to about 10 seconds before I open the clamp and slide the iron out downward. For a beachy wave, I'll hold it for three to five seconds. Once the bottom layer is done, I'll repeat the same steps throughout the rest of my hair.

As for that “no-kink” clamp, I realized it was because of how I was clamping my hair. Thanks to yet another TikTok tutorial, I learned that you're supposed to clamp it around the curve of the hair in the direction you're curling your hair. Whenever I'm cognizant of how I'm clamping it, I never experience any creases.

As with any hair tool, it's important to talk about my specific hair type. I have a mix of wavy, naturally curly hair that has a coarse feel to it. It typically requires a lot of heat, not only to reduce frizziness and puffiness but for the curls to hold. If your hair texture is similar to mine, I recommend going over it with a flat iron before curling it. It helps make for smoother curls and keeps the volume at a minimum (I'm not trying to achieve that '80s big hair look).

I've only ever used the B1 on the highest heat setting (410 degrees). It holds the curl super well, but it loosens as time goes on—which I prefer. If you want to keep the tighter curl throughout the day, for a more dramatic look, I suggest using hairspray after curling each strand and then also after you're done. Although 410 degrees is certainly hot, it might not be enough heat, depending on how thick or coarse your hair is. I would prefer the ability to make it slightly hotter for more defined curls.

I'd also recommend applying a heat protectant to your hair before going in with the curling iron. Since I've been using the Dyson Airstrait for almost a year now (which doesn't have heat plates), my hair isn't used to that much direct heat. Sometimes, a burnt-hair smell reminds me that I need a barrier to protect it from heat damage. It's become less strong the more I use the B1 (eight months in, and it's barely noticeable now), however, it's still slightly there. I have yet to find a heat protectant that doesn't leave my hair feeling greasy and sticky, but this has expedited my search.

When I first started using the B1 curling iron last summer, I had just cut several inches off my hair, bringing it to just above my shoulders. The 1-inch barrel size was perfect for that length because I had shorter hair, which took less time to style. But my hair has grown past my boobs since then, and using such a thin barrel takes forever to get through my now longer hair. I'll usually block out 30 minutes to get through all of it.

If your hair is on the longer side, and you simply don't have that much time for curling it each day, I would recommend opting for the bigger barrel, which is the 1.25 version. It likely won't give you those tighter, corkscrew curls that you'd get with the smaller barrel, but you'll be able to curl larger chunks of hair, which will reduce the amount of time it takes to curl your entire head. I've attempted to do this with the 1-inch barrel (multiple times) when I've been in a rush, and it leaves my hair looking messy and uneven.

The 1.25-inch barrel comes in two versions. The Beachwaver S1.25 ($149) has a heat range of 290 to 410 degrees, a digital display for the temperature, and a Home button that resets the clamp after rotating. (If your hair is super short, there's also the Beachwaver S.75.) The Beachwaver Pro 1.25 ($229) has a heat range of 310 to 450 degrees, a digital display, and the ability to lock the barrel so that it only rotates in one direction.

If you're still a bit wary of the viral Beachwaver B1, the Revamp Progloss Hollywood Automatic ($120) is a great alternative—it's also our favorite easy-to-use curler in ourBest Curling Irons guide. Rather than rotating your hair around a barrel, you feed the end of your hair inside the curler's chamber and it automatically wraps your hair around the internal hot rod (it rotates right and left like the Beachwaver too). It works with all types of hair lengths and is capable of both loose waves and tighter curls.

Those who are worried about heat damage, and have plenty of room in their budget, should opt for the Dyson Airwrap ($600). It uses hot air instead of hot metal, and it automatically wraps your hair around the barrel without having to twist it onto the hair tool manually. That steep price also comes with interchangeable parts, including various hot brushes in addition to two curling barrels. We're also currently testing the T3 Curlwrap ($200), which has an automatic rotating iron.

I'm content with my Beachwaver B1, specifically because it's been a great introduction to how a curling iron works. After using it for over half a year, I started to grasp how to use it without the rotating feature. I'm not sure I'll ever abandon the automatic rotation for a traditional version, but it's nice to know that I likely can if I'm stuck in a hotel room without my own tool. In the meantime, I'll upgrade to the Beachwaver S1.25 to accommodate my longer locks.