You've seen it. That specific, effortless-looking hair that somehow looks like you just walked off a beach in Malibu even though you're actually just sitting in your office in Chicago. It isn't a tight ringlet. It’s definitely not a flat iron wave. It is the distinct look of 3 barrel curling iron curls, and honestly, it’s the only way to get that uniform, crimp-adjacent texture without looking like a 1990s middle school yearbook photo.
Most people mess this up. They buy a waver, clamp it down randomly, and end up with weird dents or hair that looks like a staircase. It’s frustrating. But when you get the technique right, it’s a total game changer for anyone with fine hair that refuses to hold a traditional curl or thick hair that takes four hours to style.
What Most People Get Wrong About Using a Triple Barrel Waver
The biggest mistake is the "overlap." If you don't line up the barrels with the last "bump" you just created, you get a double-crimp. It looks messy. Not the "cool girl" messy, but the "I did my hair in the dark" messy.
The tool itself is basically three heating rods fused together. When you clamp it, the hair is forced into an S-shape. Unlike a wand where you wrap the hair around the heat, here the heat is pressed into the hair. Because of this, heat protection isn't just a suggestion; it’s a requirement. If you’re using something like the Mermade Hair PRO Waver or the BondiBoost Wave Wand, you’re hitting the hair from both sides. Without a barrier, you’re basically panini-pressing your split ends.
Don't do that.
You also have to think about the size of the barrels. A 25mm barrel is going to give you a tighter, more "Bohemian" look. If you want those big, luxe, 32mm 3 barrel curling iron curls that look like a professional blowout, you need the jumbo version. Smaller barrels on long hair can sometimes look a bit too much like a poodle if you aren't careful.
The Sectioning Secret
Forget those tiny, precise sections you use for a 1-inch iron.
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For the best results, you want wide, flat sections. If the section is too thick (meaning deep), the heat won't reach the middle. If it’s too narrow, you’ll be there all day. Take a piece about two to three inches wide but only half an inch thick. This allows the barrels to fully compress the hair.
Getting 3 Barrel Curling Iron Curls To Actually Last
Longevity is the "holy grail." We’ve all done our hair at 8:00 AM only for it to be a sad, straight mess by lunchtime.
It starts with the prep. Don't do this on freshly washed, slippery hair. It needs "grit." If you just washed it, blast it with some dry shampoo or a sea salt spray first. This gives the hair some "teeth" so it can hold the shape the barrels are forcing it into.
- Apply a heat protectant with hold. A lot of people love the Kenra Platinum Hot Spray 20 for this because it basically acts like hairspray that activates with heat.
- Start at the eye level. Never start at the root. If you start the wave at the very top of your head, your hair will look like a triangle. It’s not flattering. Start about three inches down.
- Hold for 5 to 8 seconds. No more.
- The "Wait and See" Rule: This is the part everyone skips. Do not touch the hair while it is hot. Let the section hang there like a hot noodle. If you brush it out while it’s warm, you are literally brushing the curl out.
Wait until your entire head is cold to the touch. Then, and only then, do you take a wide-tooth comb or your fingers and break it up.
Temperature Realities
Let’s talk about the "fry" factor.
Most of these irons go up to 450°F. Unless you have extremely coarse, thick hair, you do not need that. Professional stylists like Chris Appleton often suggest staying around 350°F or 370°F. If you see steam, it’s either product evaporating or your hair crying.
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Lower heat for a few extra seconds is always better than scorching the cuticle for two seconds.
Why This Tool Is Better Than A Standard Curling Wand
Wands are great for glam. But a wand creates a spiral. The 3 barrel curling iron curls are different because they are planar. They stay on one plane, which creates volume without the width. It’s a very specific "editorial" look.
Also, it’s faster.
I’ve timed it. A full head of hair with a 1-inch curling iron takes me about 25 minutes. With a jumbo 32mm waver? Twelve minutes. It’s the sheer surface area. You’re styling more hair at once. For anyone who hits the snooze button four times, this tool is the MVP of the bathroom counter.
Common Brands and What to Buy
- Mermade Hair: They basically started the modern trend. High quality, very pink, very effective.
- BondiBoost: Great for those worried about heat damage; their barrels are usually high-grade ceramic.
- Hot Tools: The reliable workhorse. Their 2-inch barrel waver is a bit heavy but lasts forever.
- Bed Head Wave Artist: This is the budget option. It has a deeper "V" shape, so the waves are more dramatic and less "beachy."
The "Ends" Problem
Nothing screams "I used a waver" like perfectly crimped hair that ends in a weird, straight, 2-inch spike at the bottom.
To avoid the "dead fish" ends, you have two choices. You can either wave all the way to the very tip, which looks a bit more "mermaid," or you can leave the last inch out and quickly run a flat iron over it to make it look intentional. Most modern stylists prefer leaving the ends slightly straight. It makes the look feel more current and less like a costume.
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Another trick? Change the direction of the tool slightly as you move down the hair. Don't just go straight down. Angle it a bit. This creates a more organic, less "stamped" appearance.
Maintenance and Next Steps
If you want to keep these waves for Day 2 and Day 3, you need to sleep correctly. Do not put your hair in a tight ponytail. It will crush the waves. Instead, use a silk scrunchie and do a very loose "pineapple" on top of your head or a loose braid.
In the morning, don't re-apply heat to the whole head. Just pick the top three or four sections that look flat and hit them again with the waver.
Actionable Styling Guide
- Prep: Use a volumizing mousse on damp hair before blow-drying. This creates the internal structure needed for the wave to "sit" on.
- The Grip: Hold the waver horizontally. If you hold it vertically, you get a weird spiral that doesn't look like a wave.
- The Finish: Use a texture spray, not a heavy hairspray. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is the gold standard, but the Kristin Ess Dry Finish Working Texture Spray is a great affordable alternative. Flip your head upside down, spray, and shake.
- The "Mistake" Fix: if you get a harsh line where you started the wave, take a flat iron and lightly tap it over the line to soften the edge.
This style is supposed to look lived-in. If it looks too perfect, you’ve done it wrong. The beauty of these curls lies in the slight imperfection—the way the light hits the ridges and creates depth that a flat curl just can't manage.
To get started, choose a waver size based on your hair length: 25mm for hair above the shoulders and 32mm for anything longer. Always test a small section at 350°F to see how your hair reacts before committing to your whole head. Focus on keeping the iron parallel to the floor for the most consistent S-shape throughout the style.