We must be entering the golden age of hair styling tools because there seems to be lots of new gadgets out there to try. I recently received the InStyler Max Rotating Iron to test.
The InStyler is sort of a flat iron and curling iron in one. You can get straight hair or you can use the barrel to make waves and curls.
It’s rather unusual looking: it has a round barrel on one side and it has a curved rather than flat smoothing plate that’s surrounded by bristles on the edges of the curved plate. The device is black tourmaline ceramic, and the bristles are “ionic” to help prevent frizz. There are two different barrel sizes (3/4″ and 1/1/4″) to choose from when you buy it, and I received the larger size for my thick, coarse hair. The barrel rotates as you move the device sloooooowly through your hair. It is supposed to rotate toward the end of your hair for maximum body and shine. The barrel can rotate in either direction, what InStyler calls “motorized auto-rotation”. The manual says to quickly close the device twice (double-click) to reverse the direction of the barrel’s rotation, but frankly, I haven’t needed to do that yet.
The device has a power button at the bottom that you press to turn on. It heats up in 30 seconds, definitely faster than my flat iron. The power button controls the four heat settings. It starts out on the highest setting, 425 degrees, and if you continue to press the power button, the temperature goes down to level 3 (383 degrees) , 2 (315 degrees) and 1 (285 degrees). I’ve been using level 3 or 4 for my thick, coarse hair and if you have fine or thin hair, you’d use level 1 or 2. I love that the InStyler comes with a special fabric pad to place on the countertop underneath the hot InStyler so it doesn’t burn the surface.
I use the InStyler as if I were using a brush, i.e. the flat side with the curved plate and bristles against my head. That way I can get to the roots to start my straightening. My method seems to be the way the video shows how to hold it, but the manual seems to say to hold it the other way. I don’t care, for me, “brush” side against my head is easier. The bristles grip my hair as I slowly pull it through. I did try using it the other way – the way that the manual recommends – with the barrel against my head but that’s a no-no for me. The barrel is very hot, too hot for me to use so close to my scalp, even though they include a Thermal Guard to clip onto the barrel to keep it away from the scalp. IMHO, the round shape doesn’t allow it to get close to the scalp so my roots are straightened. I may not be following the directions completely (or maybe I am??), but my method works better for me.
I think it’s worth it to watch this short video to see it in action:
https://youtu.be/mTbNuBCnfK0
The InStyler does a great job straightening my hair. Here’s a photo of me after the first time I used it. I think I’ve gotten better with more use.
I’d say the InStyler takes about the same amount of time as my flat iron, maybe a couple of minutes longer. The InStyler is a bit heavier and wider than my skinny flat iron, but that’s not an impediment.
What about my hair? My hair has more body than when I use the flat iron. And it’s nice and shiny. Although I turn my hair under when I use the Instyler, on the second or third day (I only wash my hair every 4 days), my hair flips up instead of staying turned under, but I like my hair with a flip from time to time so this is great for me!
I don’t curl my hair very often especially in the hot, humid summer weather, so I haven’t gotten around to trying to make curls. I’ll wait till the winter holidays for that one. But I like that I have the option to use this one device to curl as well as straighten. There’s a “cool tip” that clips onto the tip that you can grasp when manipulating the barrel to wrap the hair around it to make curls.
One of the key benefits of the InStyler, besides its versatility, is that because it doesn’t have two flat hot plates, my hair doesn’t get crushed or as fried or damaged as with the flat iron. Also, the rotation of the barrel gives it more body rather than a plain, flat as a pancake look.
I think the InStyler is a pretty nifty device. Take a look at this quick video that does a good job at showing all the features of the InStyler.
https://youtu.be/KdtXRHTIRbs
InStyler Max comes in pink, purple or black in the 1/1/4″ size but only in black for the 3/4″ size. I like my black one! It is sold on the InStyler website, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target and Macy’s. The price on the website appears to be priced at $119.97 if you pay for it all at once, though they have a 30 day trial for $14.99 and extended payment option. Right now, on the InStyler website they are offering a buy one, get one free offer that seems like a great deal to me. Think ahead to the holidays. Nice gift idea!
Have you tried the InStyler Max yet? Would it be something that interests you?
I have this and I swear by it! I managed to burn myself a couple of times but other than that, it’s amazing!
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Same here, Shireen. But it does a great job, and I love how it makes my hair flip up the next day.
It looks very….interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it. I’m not sure I’d be able to use this, as I have trouble with using the flat iron too much. Only having the full use of one hand blows for hairstyling.
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It’s a real combination of a curling iron and a flat iron. If you haven’t used either one, you may find that it requires getting used to it once or twice, but it’s not hard to use – it does the work for you especially if you’re just using it to straighten.
Hi Allison, Hope you had a fun 4th! I have the original Instyler and absolutely hate it. I have tried and tried to love it but I just can’t. To me it is just awkward and in my opinion doesn’t really do a better job than other items out there for less money.
I don’t think the improvements in the MAX vs the original version would be enough to change your mind, Paula. They’re improvements but not major changes to the design. It now has a handy cool tip so you’ve got some way to hold onto it and manipulate it as you create curls or flip hair. It heats up faster, has one more heat setting I think, and it rotates in two directions that was handy for me so I didn’t have to change anything about how to hold it on each side of my head, but the overall device is the same.
For me, it’s a coming together of two different devices that I own: a flat iron and the Kiss Wave rotating barrel curling iron. Now I can use just one device to do either.
I agree that it is harder to hold than either of those two devices on their own because it’s wider and heavier, as I mentioned, but I’ve gotten used to it.
In all honesty, I’m not ready to chuck my flat iron for the InStyler Max because my flat iron is lighter and faster to use. However, for me, the InStyler gives my hair noticeably more body and for some reason, it gives my hair a great flip on days 2 and 3 that I love for a change and that I can’t get from my flat iron. But if I want the stick-straight curved under bob that lasts for 3-4 days without budging, I go with my flat iron.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and give your opinion because it may be very helpful to others considering it. I’ve heard from other women who love theirs, but different opinions are more helpful.
Were there any advantages at all for you to use the InStyler? Did you keep it too long to return it?
Love your thorough review on this. Sounds like something I would have liked to try when my hair was long and I flat ironed my hair every day!
It’s such an interesting hybrid device, Tina. Gotta check out one of your recent pix and see your new(ish) short hair!
Yes, there was 1 major advantage. It made my hair super shiny! Which I loved. I so wanted to love it that I kept trying to use it so I never returned it. It is sitting underneath the vanity along with a whole bunch of items and products I don’t use. LOL!
So interesting, Paula. For me, my hair gets even shinier frying it between the two sides of my flat iron or so I thought. I’ll pay more attention next time. I know that feeling when you really want to make something that’s not quite right work for you. I’ve been making myself make a decision on things within the return period, and I’ve been trying to return more stuff that doesn’t work. But like you, I’ve got tons of stuff I’ve got to giveaway or throw out. Why not donate the InStyler to a women’s shelter? I’ll bet they would figure out how to make it work for them and you could also get a tax deduction through your contribution 🙂
I feel like hair tools like this always seems to complicate doing my hair instead of making it easier haha but i’m glad it worked for you!
It’s definitely for those who are trying to avoid single-use tools. It’s actually not difficult to use; it just looks a bit awkward 😉
Sounds like this might be useful for people who can’t do the curling part themselves, but then you’d think it would be lighter for the disabled to use it easier. Hmm. Well, I’m always interested in the next great hair tool, so maybe I’ll have to check this out!
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This isn’t for the disabled, Nidia, and initially, it’s a bit awkward to use. It’s meant to cut down on the number of hair styling tools that you own. Right now, I have a flat iron, a traditional curling iron and a KISS Wave curling iron – it’s supposed to replace those 3 with one device. I wouldn’t give up my flat iron because I sometimes like that flat-as-a-pancake look that I get with frying my hair between two plates, but the InStyler MAX gives hair more body, more shine and does much less damage to hair than a flat iron.
I bought one of these a few months ago and ended up giving it away. It just didn’t get hot enough for my thick wavy coarse hair. I’ve seen it do beautiful things on thinner hair than mine though.
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It’s good that you gave it away, Stacie, if it wasn’t working for you. I’m kind of amazed at that because I also have thick, coarse, wavy hair and it is soooooo hot, I often avoid the top setting, but your hair is much much longer than mine so there’s more to straighten
I think this wouldn’t work well for me. Thanks for sharing it!
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I didn’t have a clue that this could straighten. That makes it more appealing to me.
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I use it for straightening, and I turn my hair under in a bob. But for days 2 & 3, I get a nice flip – go figure! I seldom curl my hair except around the holidays. But I believe this is supposed to replace the flat iron, KISS Wave and traditional curling iron that I already have. Yet, I think it’s its own thing: a device that adds body, shine and does less damage.
I need curls not straightening and I’m a total klutz so not sure how it would work for me.
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Because of its odd looks, it seems more difficult to use than it is. I’m not convinced that this is the easiest way to get curls, but one thing I can say for certain, it really is great for adding body to my (and other people’s) hair. I do use it primarily to straighten but I get more body and bounce than a regular flat iron that makes my hair flat.
I’m intrigued! I wonder if it would work for my masses of hair though…
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I wonder too, Babi. In the videos, they show models using it who have long hair to the middle of their back and they seem to be doing fine with it. I don’t know if it would be easier than a flat iron but it would be less damaging 😉
I have long hair, it’ll probably take 1 hour for the whole hair shenanigan 🙂
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I think you’re right, Kathryne, especially since you have to move it sloooooooooowly 😉
This sounds really neat. I like the idea of it, especially since it seems to leave hair less flat looking than a normal straightener.
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That is the key difference for me, Bailey, with the flat iron: body vs flat as a pancake.
I’m so klutzy that I suck at using both curling irons and straightening irons. Maybe a hybrid would help lol.
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LOL! Actually I can’t imagine using any hair styling tool on long hair. They showed models in their videos with long hair doing it, but I don’t think it would be cinch because you do have to move it slowly through the hair
I really like mine! It really smooths out my hair!
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I’m really glad to hear that it works well for you, Miranda. I lot of gals with long hair have wondered how it would work for them, and since my hair is just shoulder-length I could only say that the models in the videos with long hair were able to use it with great results.
This is such a cool tool, it really is amazing that it is able to make hair as shiny as it does!
Supposedly it makes hair shinier than a flat iron because of the rotating barrel, but my hair gets pretty darn shiny with both tools!
This gadget scares me. I have longish (about BSL), thick hair and all I can see, in my minds eye is this thing tangled in my hair, burning it and me as I reach frantically for the plug then my scissors.
I’m such a drama queen. 😛
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It doesn’t work like the KISS Wave where your hair curls up around the barrel. Instead the barrel itself twirls underneath your hair as it moves down. Miranda uses one and loves it and she has thick, long hair 😉
I’ve been wanting to try this! Thanks for the review!
I like it, Lisa. It definitely gives my hair more body and bounce than flat ironing. I have found that I like having both at my disposal.
I enjoyed your review on the InStyler and hope to try this on my hair in the future!!
Ursula
http://www.blueridgebeautyblogger.com
I’m sure you’d have fun with the InStyler, Ursula!