Instyler Rotating Iron Review

I was very kindly sent the Instyler to try out. I hadn't actually came across the Instyler before, but basically it is a rotating barrel which can be used to curl, straighten (yes!) and give volume to the hair. Sounds amazing, doesn't it?! It's like several hair tools in one.

 It comes with a fabulous drawstring pouch, comb, heat guard and instructional dvd. It really is an impressive kit!

This is a 32mm barrel. The barrel begins to rotate when you clamp it together. The black bristles smooth the hair and the heat can distribute evenly while the barrel is rotating. There is also a thin ceramic plate in the middle of the bristles.

The heat guard can only be used when you are straightening your hair with this barrel. You won't be able to curl your hair with this thing on, as you need to wrap the hair around the barrel. I actually burned my forehead while curling my hair so do be careful!

Here is what my hair looked like, straight after I curled it. I spent quite a bit of time curling my hair, and to be honest I was left a little disappointed. It certainly looks wavy, but not curly how I like it, even when I used the highest heat setting.

I felt the Instyler was a little too time consuming for my liking. Only a tiny section of my long (relatively thick) hair could be put through the Instyler at one time for any sort of curl to appear. You then of course have to hold each section of hair in the barrel for around 20 seconds. So I was working on my hair for a good half an hour to achieve this look! Whereas with my Remington Pearl wand I can create waves like this in less than 10 minutes by just separating my hair into about 5 big sections.

Anyway, just about an hour or two after the above photo was taken, my hair was back to it's natural straight self as though I had never curled it at all!

I'm just disappointed that I spent so long curling my hair just to get a few kinks in it like this. I tried it on freshly washed hair, and on two day old hair but it didn't make any difference, my hair just didn't take to the curl.

I also tried straightening my hair with the Instyler, and I must admit that this did nothing for me at all. My hair is already naturally straight. When I ran the Instyler through my hair it genuinely didn't look any different. It doesn't give me that sleek, polished look as when I straighten with my GHDs.

Maybe part of my problem with the Instyler is due to the fact that my hair is long, kinda thick and I have no layers cut in my hair, so it's quite heavy. I asked my sister to try the Instyler and she loved it on her short hair and thought it gave her a lot of volume!

I should also add that I don't use any styling products in my hair at all, I just wash and condition my hair. I am not sure if that would have any impact on the performance of the Instyler. I don't even own any styling products so I couldn't test it that way.

The Instyler RRPs for €120.00. It certainly is not cheap. I think the price is a little high considering I am so fond of my Remington Pearl curling wand which cost a fraction of the price. (You can read my review of the Remington pearl here! )

What I really liked about the Instyler was the fact that it is a multi-functional hair tool and would be great for travelling and you wanted to create different hair styles. It comes with a great pouch suitable for travel. It certainly was presented incredibly well and the accompanying accessories are really handy.

Sadly the Instyler did not perform on my hair as well as I had hoped. I know that i have read many a rave review on it, I guess some things just don't work for everybody!

Updated - My Hair Care Routine!

I've been paying close attention to my hair in recent weeks - I had my hair lightened a bit which of course can compromise the condition of your hair. I really love the lighter bits through my hair, I feel like it gives it so much depth and it looks so different  to how it was before (to me, anyway!).

I've been trying out the new John Frieda Luxurious Volume shampoo and conditioner*, and so far I really like them. I love the smell of these! It sounds strange but I like using shampoos which are "clear", I think they are probably the best to use on your hair. I read somewhere a long time ago that shampoos which have colour have more chemicals in them, so that's why I like clear ones. Also, I really like shampoos and conditioners which come in tubes like these. They are just so much easier to use while in the shower. I do like to try a shampoo and conditioner for a good couple of months, so perhaps I will do a full review on these when I have tried them properly.

So, when my hair is wet I so desperately need my Mane n' Tail Detangler! My hair gets super super tatty and the only thing that remedies that is this Detangler. It's probably the best hair product I have ever used! I have also tried their shampoos and conditioners (and used them on my dog too!) and they are excellent as well!

I still use the Schwartzkopf Colour Freeze heat protector. I squeeze out a little blob, rub my hands together and smooth it through my hair. It's a cream, with  a very light texture and it doesn't leave any sticky residue or anything in my hair.

I have been curling my hair a lot lately with my Remington Pearl Curling Wand. I have worked out a system where I can curl my hair with it in about 5 minutes. I just wrap huge sections of my hair around the wand, and I get a loose, wavy tousled effect like in the photo above.

My hairdresser recommended this L'Oreal Wild Stylers Next Day Hair spray. I think if you are wearing your hair curly, this will compliment it perfectly. It's kind of a cross between dry shampoo and volumising dust. I spray it in the mid lengths and ends of my hair, and brush through my hair with my fingers. I have heard that other texturising sprays like this can make the hair feel sticky or crunchy, but this one most definitely does not! It creates so much volume when I wear my hair curly, and leaves just enough texture so that you could easily style your hair into an up-do.

Next on my wish list is a L'Oreal Steam Pod! I want one so badly, it is amazing for straightening and curling the hair, and it is probably the heated hair tool which is actually kindest to the hair, using steam rather than ceramic plates.

Are there any hair products I am not using that I should be using?

Remington Pearl Pro Curl Wand

Some time ago I reviewed the Remington Pearl Wand (click here to view!). Around the same time as I bought the Remington Pearl, I was so impressed by it that I ran out and got its chunkier counterpart too, the Pro Curl.

 The Pro Curl is much thicker and does not taper down at the end. It is the exact same design though. The Pro Curl is much heavier though, and I think is a lot more awkward to use. I must say that it really does nothing for me, and perhaps the before and after photos can explain better.

 Before

After

I suppose it gives a nice tousled look, but I was expecting more of a curl, or even big waves. But it really doesn't impress me. The skinnier wand is a much better hair tool, and you could even use thicker sections of hair to create loose curls or waves and it would give a much nicer effect than this fat wand.

So if you are trying to decide which Remington Pearl wand to get, I couldn't recommend the skinny wand highly enough! I also think that you could easily recreate the look that the Pro Curl wand gave me even without putting heat on your hair.

Remington Pearl Curling Wand - best hair tool EVER!

I'm sure you have all heard of this curling wand many many times before! I bought this a couple of years ago, from what I can recall it cost around £25.00 from Argos.  Previously, any time I wanted to curl my hair I had to use the only other hair tool I possess - the GHD. It curls well, but I find the curls are too "ringlety" looking and flat, and I was after a more natural look.

You can adjust the setting if you wish, but the default 180 degree setting works perfectly well for me. A heat protecting glove is provided, but I don't particularly think it is overly protective! I suppose it takes the edge off any burns you may get!

It is quite a lightweight tool, so easy to use (even for me!). I love the flower design on it! :)

So... here are my before and after photos! In my "before" pic, I had just washed my hair the night before. I used my Mane n' Tail Detangler but I let my hair dry naturally. I don't use any styling products before I curl my hair!

Before...

After.....

What do you all think?! My hair is quite long and thick, I don't really have any layers cut into my hair. It look me about 30 minutes to curl it like this. I could put a bit more time in and end up with tighter curls but I like to twist my hair around the wand in order to get a loose kind of wavy look like this.

If you have tried this wand, let me know if you love it as much as I do! If you don't have it - get it! It is absolutely brilliant and incredibly inexpensive!