Beachwaver S1 Dual Voltage: S1 vs S1.25 Travel Picks Today

By Jessica Chen Hair Care Specialist Published December 4, 2025

The S1 and S1.25 share every travel feature that matters: dual voltage, digital temperature clock, home button, and 9 foot cord. The only difference is barrel width. The S1 packs the 1 inch barrel for versatility. The S1.25 packs the 1.25 inch barrel for long hair comfort.

More Top Picks in This Category

Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.

Dual Voltage Travel: The Details That Decide Whether It Works Abroad

Both S1 models are dual voltage, but buyers discover abroad that dual voltage is only half the travel equation. The voltage switching, whether automatic or manual, handles the current, yet you still need a plug adapter for the outlet shape, and the two are constantly confused. A plug adapter does not convert voltage, and a voltage converter is unnecessary with a true dual-voltage tool, but travelers buy the wrong one every day. Check before you fly whether your tool auto-senses voltage or needs a manual switch, because landing in Paris with a tool set to 110V and no way to change it means no styling until you return. Hotel circuits add another wrinkle: older wiring can deliver inconsistent current, which shows up as sluggish barrel rotation or slow heat-up even on a healthy tool. The 9-foot cord on the S1 models is a genuine travel advantage, because hotel mirrors and outlets are never where you want them, and a short cord forces styling in awkward positions that lead to burns. Pack a silicone heat mat regardless of destination, since hotel vanities, wooden desks, and marble counters all react badly to a 400-degree barrel. If you are comparing travel-ready curlers more broadly, the curling iron guide notes which designs pack smallest.

S1 vs S1.25 for Travel: Barrel Size Meets Suitcase Reality

The barrel choice for travel is not the same as the barrel choice at home. At home, the 1.25-inch barrel suits long hair with faster styling. In a suitcase, the 1-inch S1 has the edge: it is slightly more compact, it handles the widest range of hair lengths you might be styling on a trip, and if you are doing someone else's hair at a destination wedding, the smaller barrel is the safer universal pick. The 1.25-inch S1.25 earns its place when your hair is past mid-back and you know from experience that a smaller barrel doubles your styling time, because on vacation, time spent heat-styling is time not spent on vacation. Consider also what the trip demands: humid climates fight curls, and the tighter curl from the 1-inch barrel survives humidity better than the looser 1.25-inch wave, which drops faster in moist air. Beach destinations add salt and wind, both of which rough up curl patterns, so the defined curl of the smaller barrel again holds up better. For city trips with dinners out, either works, and the choice reverts to your usual preference. One packing tip: a rotating iron's barrel is its vulnerable point, so pack it in the middle of the suitcase surrounded by clothes, not loose where it can bang against hard objects and chip the ceramic.

Short Hair Touch-Ups on the Road

Travel styling is mostly touch-ups, not full routines, and short hair changes the technique. With limited mirror time in a hotel, focus on the pieces that frame the face and the crown, which are what photographs capture. Take half-inch sections on short hair, start the wrap a couple of inches from the scalp, and keep the iron vertical for texture rather than horizontal for flips. The rotating action is actually an advantage here, because it keeps each curl consistent even when you are rushing, which is when manual technique falls apart. For pixie-length hair, neither S1 barrel is ideal, and travelers with very short cuts are better served by a mini straightener that fits in a dopp kit. A realistic travel schedule keeps heat minimal: style fully on arrival day, refresh only the front pieces on day two, and embrace texture, hats, or updos after that. The ghd vs BaBylissPRO comparison covers premium straighteners that double as travel touch-up tools for short styles.

Keeping the Tool Healthy Between Trips

Travel is hard on hot tools, and most damage happens in transit, not in use. The ceramic barrel chips when it knocks against hard objects, and a chipped barrel drags on hair, creating the exact breakage people blame on travel stress. Always let the tool cool fully before packing, a warm barrel in an enclosed suitcase can scorch fabrics and warp plastic components. Never wrap the cord tightly around the barrel for packing, which strains the cord joint, the most common point of electrical failure in travel-damaged tools. Instead, loop the cord loosely and secure it with a velcro tie. Between trips, wipe the barrel with a damp cloth once cooled to remove product residue, which bakes on over time and creates hot spots. If the rotation ever stutters, strains, or smells of burning plastic, stop using the tool, that signals motor trouble that will not improve. With basic care, a quality rotating iron survives years of travel, and the dual-voltage feature means it is one of the few beauty tools that genuinely earns its suitcase space.

Want the Full Picture?