The Viral Curling Iron Simone Biles Uses Works on My Straight Hair

When Simone Biles isn’t soaring from the vault or nailing a floor routine, the Olympic gold medalist can often be found cheering on her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, at Chicago Bears games. And now that the Olympics are over and football season has started, Biles is taking to TikTok to share how she gets ready for Owens’ games. Last month, the gymnast shared a GRWM video that showcased her hair and makeup routine, and in it, she used a wide-barreled Beachwaver curling iron to give herself loose, cascading waves. 

Though Biles used her Beachwaver manually, as one would use a normal curling iron, this heat styling tool has a unique feature: it automatically rotates with the push of a button. Because it’s so quick and easy to use, the TikTok-viral Beachwaver has become a mainstay in my hairstyling routine, despite the fact that I always wore my hair straight.          

Beachwaver 1.25 Inch Rotating Curling Iron

Before I was introduced to the Beachwaver, I had probably curled my hair a total of five times in my life—and even then, it was usually a friend doing it for me. Not only had I resigned myself to the fact that my naturally pin-straight hair would never hold a curl for longer than an hour, but even if it could, I wouldn’t know how to actually operate the curling iron. The couple of times I attempted, I struggled to reach the hair on the back of my head and was left with uneven, creased curls (plus, in one case, a minor burn on my ear). 

Beachwaver Pink Sunset 1.25 Rotating Curling Iron

So, it’s not an exaggeration to say that the Beachwaver, which has earned more than 15 million likes on TikTok, changed my life—at least, as far as my hair is concerned. When I first tried it two years ago, I had no idea where to begin and I was intimidated by the speed of the rotating barrel. However, after watching a few tutorials on the Beachwaver website, I was prepared to give it a try. 

To my surprise, the results were pretty impressive even on my first attempt. That being said, it still took me a long time—around 40 minutes—to get used to the mechanics and complete the process. (For reference, I have fine, thin hair that falls a few inches below my shoulders.)

I’ve tried a few different Beachwaver curling irons, and I prefer to stick to the B-Series options as opposed to the S-Series since they’re slightly easier to use with fewer settings. Since my hair is on the thinner side, I tend to reach for a 1-inch barrel when I want beachy waves and a .75-inch barrel when I want more defined curls. Meanwhile, the 1.25-inch size is a great option if you have thicker hair.    

Beachwaver .75 Rotating Curling Iron

To use my Beachwaver, I secure half of my hair with a claw clip and start with the bottom layer. I’ll typically place two-inch sections of hair into the curling iron, with the clamp about an inch from the bottom of my hair and positioned away from the front of my face. Next, I’ll press the right arrow button so that the barrel rotates away from the direction of my face. After a few seconds, I’ll release the button and the clamp, gently pulling the Beachwaver straight down. I repeat the process until all of my hair is curled.     

Compared to when I first started using the Beachwaver, I’m now able to fully curl my hair in about 15-to-20 minutes, which is half the time it took me before. h It’s a huge lifesaver for me as someone with an inconvenient aversion to early mornings and being on time. 

Contrary to my initial worries, it’s super easy to control the speed of the rotation. I no longer struggle to reach every strand of hair, including the ones on the back of my head. Plus, I find that after a misting of hairspray, my waves stay intact all night (I just make sure to give myself tighter curls knowing that they’ll slightly fall over time).  

Beachwaver Catwalk Multi-Barrel Rotating Curling Iron

The Beachwaver has broadened my hair horizon in ways I never expected as a lifelong straight hair girlie. Now, I love to use waves or curls to showcase hair accessories and as a jumping off point for other fun hairstyles, like 2000s-inspired updos. Thanks to the convenience and ease of this styling tool, I went from never curling my hair to doing it on an almost weekly basis. 

If you’re ready to take a page out of my book and upgrade your hair routine while saving yourself tons of time, you can shop Beachwaver’s curling irons at Amazon. And don’t forget to act fast since a few models are on major sale.