I'm a big fan of hot tools. In this age of healthy hair, it's a bit of a beauty faux pas to stick with something that could potentially damage your hair. But honestly, I'm thrilled to be able to change my hair style with a twist of a curling iron (opens in new tab). This is not to say that you shouldn't love your natural hair texture (opens in new tab) or use styling tools daily. Nor does it mean you shouldn't use heat protectors (horrible!). . It just means that when you come across a new type of hot tool, you need to get it. You've probably heard of flat irons and curling wands, but let me introduce you to a new type of tool.

If you've been following Instagram much lately, you may have come across this intimidating tool; think of three curling irons squashed together and you'll most likely understand the purpose of a triple-barrel curling iron. But even a hair-tool connoisseur like myself, when I finally got my hands on one of these, I honestly had no idea how to use it. So I contacted Anna Kimble, Director of Education and Events at Driver (opens in new tab), to show me how to properly use this tool.

In short, the triple-barrel curling iron creates mermaid-like waves that can be difficult to achieve with a standard curling iron or wand. Says Kimball, "Create effortless, beachy styles with the three barrels." Creating this style with a traditional curling iron can be time consuming and may not be easy to achieve for all hair types." For those who might spend 30 minutes or more in front of a mirror frantically maneuvering a curling iron to achieve a steady wave, this tool can dramatically reduce styling time. For women with long hair in particular, this tool can handle lengths quickly and easily.

Once the hair has been sprayed with heat protectant and divided into manageable sections, it's time to get to work. Kimble breaks it down into three easy steps:

For extra volume, spray a volumizing spray at the roots of the hair after styling for a runway-ready look. For an even more voluminous look, spray the roots with a volumizing spray after styling for a runway finish. Once all the steps are complete, you're ready to go out with the most enviable waves ever!