I've coveted the lovely curly/wavy styles that have become so popular over the last year, but no matter how I try I can't achieve the look myself. Experimenting with methods from waving wands to straightners to old fashioned rags have resulted in limp lifeless rats tails which drop out after an hour. It's probably down to my fine hair, which to be fair struggles to hold any style.

When I saw Babyliss Wave Envy on Amazon and the positive reviews that accompanied it, I was excited. It seemed to be the solution to my problems, with claim after claim of wavy hair in 10 minutes which lasts days. I eventually bought it in Boots with my advantage card points over Christmas at £44.99, however the price has come down online considerably since then.

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The Details
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The Babyliss Wave Envy is a heated ceramic hair styler and claims to create "Gorgeous Beach-Like Waves" In design it's similar to a crimper but having one covered plate and two barrels (which look rather like a fork) on the other side. It's also used like a crimper, with the hair goes between the two and being pressed together all down the section of hair you are preparing.

It reaches heat of 200 degrees, has three setting for different hair types and styles and a rotating cord to make styling easier. It also comes with a heat protective mat and a three year guarantee. It's available from most electrical beauty retailers and online for prices varying beteewn £30 and £50...shopping around is advised!

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Using The Wave Envy
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This product is extremely simply to use, even someone as unskilled at hair styling as me can manage it seamlessly. I washed and dried my hair as usual (without straightening) and plug it in. It heats up ready to use almost immediately, which really impressed me! I started with the high heat setting, but soon found that for my hair, it wasn't really necessary and the middle setting achieves the best results.

I parted my hair into sections, as per the instructions and got to work. Starting from the top I pressed the styler onto my hair for no more than a few seconds each time, which was enough. Remember standing for hours with those old crimpers in the eighties to make the slightest bit of difference? Forget all that...within ten minutes I'd completed my whole head.

Because the barrels are so large, you do need to be careful. I quickly realised that going to near my scalp resulted in two problems. Firstly, it made the waves far to volumised and secondly it burnt me! i caught my ears a few times, and I think perhaps covering both sides would be safer and less painful.

The rotating cord really is a great addition, and I'm pleased to see it on more hairstylers nowadays. It works particularly well with this product and made the back of my head far less fiddly to do.

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The Results
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After being impressed with the ease of use the Babyliss Wave Envy provides I was looking forward to a full head of sexy, loose waves. Unfortunately this is where the Wave Envy lets itself down. As I said before, this looks very similar and works just like a crimper. But alas, it also styles like a crimper...albeit very big ones. This wasn't the look I was hoping to achieve at all. While it wasn't completely disaster, and looks great for an evening out now and then, I wouldn't use this at all for an everyday style. If you're looking for a waver/curler then this is not for you!

I slept over night on my waves *cough-crimps* and can confirm that they do last very well and my hair had held the style all night. I've used it a couple of times since, but it's my seven year old daughter who uses it the most, and it does really suit her. i think having done little crimps the first time round, I'm just too old for this one.

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Verdict
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The Babyliss Wave Envy is a high quality product and is incredibly simple to use, with long lasting results (even if you don't want them!) I think though that describing it as a waver is slightly misleading, and the results are certainly not what I was hoping for. I didn't hate the look...I just wouldn't use it often. Indeed this styler has proved a little bit of a novelty and hasn't touched my head since Christmas. It was expensive for something you'll only use now and then.

Would I recommend it? Well as long as you're aware that it's not going to produce nice loose waves you can wear everyday, then it does work very well and can't be criticized on that front. Personally I wouldn't buy it again and feel I've wasted my money.