As a hairstylist with over a decade of experience in the US, I've tried and tested countless flat irons for beach waves. In this article, I'll share my top picks for different hair types and budgets, along with tips for achieving the perfect beachy look.
Beach waves are a timeless and effortless style that can be worn by women of all ages. They're perfect for everyday wear, special occasions, or even just a day at the beach. But achieving the perfect beachy wave can be tricky, especially if you don't have the right flat iron.
In this article, I'll share my top picks for different hair types and budgets, along with tips for achieving the perfect beachy look.
Best Flat Irons For Beach Waves 2024
GHD Gold Max Styler
As a hairstylist with over a decade of experience, I've had the opportunity to test out a wide range of flat irons, and the GHD Gold Max Styler consistently ranks among the best.
This flat iron is a true workhorse, effortlessly gliding through even the thickest, coarsest hair, leaving it with a smooth, sleek finish.
The wide barrel is ideal for creating loose, beachy waves, and the ceramic plates heat up evenly and quickly, ensuring consistent results without damaging your hair.
Whether you're creating a casual, tousled look or a more polished, defined wave, the GHD Gold Max Styler delivers effortless styling with minimal effort.
Pros:
- Wide barrel for effortless beach waves
- Ceramic plates for even heat distribution
- Quick heat-up time for efficient styling
- Smooth glide for snag-free styling
- Sleek, lightweight design for comfortable use
Cons:
- High price point
- May not be suitable for very short hair
T3 Lucea Straightening & Styling Iron
The T3 Lucea Straightening & Styling Iron is another excellent choice for creating beach waves. Its digital temperature control allows you to customize the heat setting to suit your hair type, helping to prevent heat damage.
The tourmaline plates emit negative ions, which reduce frizz and add shine, leaving your hair looking healthy and radiant.
The T3 Lucea's versatile design makes it suitable for a variety of styling tasks, from straightening to curling to creating very natural waves. The barrel heats up quickly and evenly, ensuring consistent results throughout your hair.
Pros:
- Digital temperature control for customized styling
- Tourmaline plates for frizz reduction and shine
- Versatile design for multiple styling options
- Quick heat-up time for efficient styling
- Sleek, ergonomic design for comfortable use
Cons:
- Can be expensive
- May not be suitable for very thick, coarse hair
HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Flat Iron
The HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Flat Iron is a great value for the price, offering salon-quality performance at a more affordable price point.
The floating ceramic plates glide smoothly through hair, preventing pulling or snagging, and the long barrel is ideal for creating long, flowing beach waves.
The HSI Professional Glider heats up quickly and evenly, ensuring consistent results throughout your hair. The temperature settings are easy to adjust, allowing you to customize the heat to suit your hair type.
Pros:
- Floating ceramic plates for smooth gliding
- Long barrel for long, flowing beach waves
- Quick heat-up time for efficient styling
- Adjustable temperature settings for customized styling
- Affordable price point
Cons:
- May not be as powerful as some high-end flat irons
- May not be suitable for very thick, coarse hair
- Related: How To Create S Waves In Hair
NITION Platinum Professional Styler - Champagne Gold
The NITION Platinum Professional Styler is a high-performance flat iron that delivers exceptional results.
The titanium plates are known for their durability and even heat distribution, ensuring that your hair is styled consistently without damaging it.
The NITION Platinum heats up quickly and evenly, allowing you to get started styling your hair quickly and easily. The temperature settings are easy to adjust, and the digital display shows the current heat setting clearly.
Pros:
- Titanium plates for durability and even heat distribution
- Quick heat-up time for efficient styling
- Adjustable temperature settings for customized styling
- Digital display for easy temperature monitoring
- Sleek, stylish design
Cons:
- Expensive
- May not be suitable for very short hair
Furiden Professional Salon Quality Hair Straightener - Gold
The Furiden Professional Salon Quality Hair Straightener is a great option for those who are looking for a flat iron that is gentle on hair.
The infrared heat technology helps to protect hair from heat damage, and the ceramic coating helps to distribute heat evenly, preventing hot spots that can cause damage.
The Furiden Professional heats up quickly and evenly, and the temperature settings are easy to adjust. The flat iron also has a long barrel, which is ideal for creating long, flowing beach waves.
Pros:
- Infrared heat technology for gentle styling
- Ceramic coating for even heat distribution
- Quick heat-up time for efficient styling
- Adjustable temperature settings for customized styling
- Long barrel for long, flowing beach waves
Cons:
- May not be as powerful as some high-end flat irons
- May not be suitable for very thick, coarse hair
Kristin Ess 3-in-1 Titanium Flatiron
The Kristin Ess 3-in-1 Titanium Flatiron is a great value for the price, as it can be used to straighten, curl, and wave hair.
It has titanium plates, which are durable and heat up quickly. It also has a long barrel, which is perfect for creating long, flowing waves.
The Kristin Ess 3-in-1 Titanium Flatiron is easy to use, and the temperature settings are easy to adjust. It also has a long cord, which gives you plenty of freedom of movement.
Pros:
- Can be used to straighten, curl, and wave hair
- Titanium plates for durability and even heat distribution
- Quick heat-up time for efficient styling
- Long barrel for long, flowing beach waves
- Easy to use
- Adjustable temperature settings
- Long cord for freedom of movement
Cons:
- May not be as powerful as some high-end flat irons
- May not be suitable for very thick, coarse hair
Chi Original Digital Hair Straightener
The Chi Original Digital Hair Straightener is a classic for a reason. It has ceramic plates that heat up evenly and quickly, and it has a long barrel, which is perfect for creating long, flowing waves.
The Chi Original Digital Hair Straightener is easy to use, and the temperature settings are easy to adjust. It also has a long cord, which gives you plenty of freedom of movement.
Pros:
- Classic design with proven performance
- Ceramic plates for even heat distribution
- Quick heat-up time for efficient styling
- Long barrel for long, flowing beach waves
- Easy to use
- Adjustable temperature settings
- Long cord for freedom of movement
Cons:
- May not be as powerful as some high-end flat irons
- May not be suitable for very thick, coarse hair
Remington Pro 1-Inch Flat Iron
The Remington Pro 1-Inch Flat Iron has a tourmaline coating, which helps to reduce frizz and add shine. It also has a long barrel, which is perfect for creating long, flowing waves.
The Remington Pro 1-Inch Flat Iron heats up quickly and evenly, and the temperature settings are easy to adjust. It also has a long cord, which gives you plenty of freedom of movement.
Pros:
- Tourmaline coating for frizz reduction and shine
- Quick heat-up time for efficient styling
- Long barrel for long, flowing beach waves
- Easy to use
- Adjustable temperature settings
- Long cord for freedom of movement
Cons:
- May not be as powerful as some high-end flat irons
- May not be suitable for very thick, coarse hair
Bio Ionic 10X Professional Flat Iron
The Bio Ionic 10X Professional Flat Iron has mineral-infused plates, which help to protect hair from heat damage. It also has a long barrel, which is perfect for creating long, flowing waves.
The Bio Ionic 10X Professional Flat Iron heats up quickly and evenly, and the temperature settings are easy to adjust. It also has a long cord, which gives you plenty of freedom of movement.
Pros:
- Mineral-infused plates for heat protection
- Quick heat-up time for efficient styling
- Long barrel for long, flowing beach waves
- Easy to use
- Adjustable temperature settings
- Long cord for freedom of movement
Cons:
- May not be as powerful as some high-end flat irons
- May not be suitable for very thick, coarse hair
Paul Mitchell Neuro Smooth Flat Iron
The Paul Mitchell Neuro Smooth Flat Iron has a vibrating technology that helps to smooth hair and reduce frizz. It also has a long barrel, which is perfect for creating long, flowing waves.
The Paul Mitchell Neuro Smooth Flat Iron heats up quickly and evenly, and the temperature settings are easy to adjust. It also has a long cord, which gives you plenty of freedom of movement.
Pros:
- Vibrating technology for smooth, frizz-free styling
- Quick heat-up time for efficient styling
- Long barrel for long, flowing beach waves
- Easy to use
- Adjustable temperature settings
- Long cord for freedom of movement
Cons:
- May not be as powerful as some high-end flat irons
- May not be suitable for very thick, coarse hair
Quick Comparison Table
Out of the 10 flat irons for beach waves that I reviewed, the GHD Gold Max Styler is the best. It has a wide barrel that is ideal for creating loose, beachy waves, and the ceramic plates heat up evenly and quickly, ensuring consistent results without damaging your hair.
Sure, here is a table comparing the 10 flat irons for beach waves I reviewed:
| Feature | GHD Gold Max Styler | T3 Lucea Straightening & Styling Iron | HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Flat Iron | NITION Platinum Professional Styler - Champagne Gold | Furiden Professional Salon Quality Hair Straightener - Gold | Kristin Ess 3-in-1 Titanium Flatiron | Chi Original Digital Hair Straightener | Remington Pro 1-Inch Flat Iron | Bio Ionic 10X Professional Flat Iron | Paul Mitchell Neuro Smooth Flat Iron |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel Size | Wide | 1.25 inches | 1 inch | 1 inch | 1.25 inches | 1.25 inches | 1 inch | 1 inch | 1 inch | 1 inch |
| Plate Material | Ceramic | Tourmaline | Ceramic | Titanium | Ceramic | Titanium | Ceramic | Tourmaline | Mineral-infused | Ceramic |
| Heat-up Time | Quick | Quick | Quick | Quick | Quick | Quick | Quick | Quick | Quick | Quick |
| Temperature Settings | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable |
| Special Features | None | Digital temperature control | Floating plates | None | Infrared heat technology | None | None | Tourmaline coating | Mineral-infused plates | Vibrating technology |
| Pros | Wide barrel for loose waves, even heat distribution, quick heat-up time | Digital temperature control, tourmaline plates reduce frizz, versatile design | Floating plates for smooth gliding, long barrel for long waves, affordable | Durable titanium plates, even heat distribution, quick heat-up time | Infrared heat technology protects hair, ceramic coating for even heat distribution | Can be used for straightening, curling, and waving, titanium plates, long barrel | Classic design, ceramic plates for even heat distribution, long barrel | Tourmaline coating reduces frizz, long barrel | Mineral-infused plates protect hair, long barrel | Vibrating technology smooths hair, reduces frizz, long barrel |
| Cons | High price point | Expensive | May not be suitable for very short hair | Expensive | May not be suitable for very thick, coarse hair | May not be as powerful as some high-end flat irons | May not be as powerful as some high-end flat irons | May not be suitable for very thick, coarse hair | May not be as powerful as some high-end flat irons | May not be suitable for very thick, coarse hair |
How to select the best flat iron for beach waves?
What are the factors I looked at before deciding which flat irons would be great for beachy waves? Let's look into it
Hair type: It completely depends on your hair type what would suit you better, be it straight or curly hair. The flat irons are sometimes designed specifically for a hair type.
Moisture lock: One of the most important factors has to be its moisture-retaining capability. This will help us decide on its use and how much damage can a flat iron cause.
Temperature settings: This is a great feature to consider as this will determine which temperature would be best suitable for you.
Plate material: Every material is suitable for a different hair texture, depending on if it is a ceramic plate or a non-ceramic plate.
Length of hair: You should consider the hair length before you decide on which flat iron would be best to make beachy waves for your hair.
How to create beach waves using a flat iron?