I'm boiling hot and avoiding my hair dryer - but this tool gives me beachy waves in less than 5 minutes

ghd Wave creates flattering texture, fast - and is the only tool I'll use in a heatwave

beauty editor Fiona McKim with wavy hair next to an image of a hand holding the ghd Wave
(Image credit: Future / Fiona McKim)

I hope it's not too London-centric of me to say, crikey, it's warm out there. I've conducted a due diligence regional temperature check, and if Edinburgh's nudging the upper 20s, it's probably safe to assume everyone's feeling hot, hot, hot.

I don't know how you feel about heat styling your hair right now, but even my best hair dryer, with the gentlest settings, is not seeing any action. My limp air-dried 'do will do just fine for the most part, but when my social life comes calling, I do want to look a tad more groomed and intentional.

Enter the ghd Wave - a device that clamps over large sections of hair, smoothing frizz and adding a loose, bendy wave that looks a bit French, or Kate Moss-like. It also takes, geniunely, five minutes or less to style my whole head of (very long, fairly fine) hair, sweat-free, and I don't even bother blow-drying it smooth first.

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ghd Wave
Save 28% (£45.01)
ghd Wave: was £159 now £113.99 at Amazon

This triple-barrelled waving tool has a generous 28% discount in the Prime Day sale, which runs for this week only, ending Friday, 26th June.

Stylists often advise learning how to curl hair with straighteners to create a beachy, bendy texture, and I bow down to anyone who's got that knack - but I'd also say, why bother?

The Wave does that same undone thing in five minutes flat without all that twisting-turning-potential-finger-burning. I air-dry my hair, split it into six fat sections, clamp it twice per section, mist on hairspray, and job's a good'n!

beauty editor Fiona McKim pictured with wavy blonde hair after using the ghd wave

(Image credit: Future / Fiona McKim)

Admittedly, something that's not better about this, vs a curling wand, is that it's massive. It has to be massive because it needs three barrels, and those three barrels all need to be big enough to create waves, not tight zig-zag crimps as many waving tools do.

It's not as heavy as other triple-barreled devices I've tried, but I probably wouldn't take it away with me on holiday - unless you travel in such style that you swerve mean airline baggage restrictions, you lucky duck.

It is absolutely a great one to have in your house, though. Plugged in by the mirror, ready to go for efficient heatwave-proof hair styling that makes you feel like the insouciant French woman (or iconic Croydon supermodel) you always wished you could be.

Fiona McKim
Beauty Editor, womanandhome.com

As woman&home's Beauty Channel Editor, Fiona Mckim loves to share her 15+ years of industry intel on womanandhome.com and Instagram (@fionamckim if you like hair experiments and cute shih-tzus). After interning at ELLE, Fiona joined woman&home as Assistant Beauty Editor in 2013 under industry legend Jo GB, who taught her to understand ingredients and take a cynical approach to marketing claims. She has since covered every corner of the industry, interviewing dermatologists and celebrities from Davina McCall to Dame Joan Collins, reporting backstage at London Fashion Week and judging the w&h Beauty Awards.

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