Definitely not a real hot tools iron. You can tell when they’re side by side this one feels way lighter and cheaper and like a plastic-y toy if that makes sense. So far it has seemed to work ok though, just not sure how long it will last. It’ll do for now since the cord was chewed through on the real one I bought from Ulta.

What happened to the curling rods that worked with ease and gave you great ringlet curls. There was a time that professionals used curling irons had swivel handles that allowed the device to continue to twirl while the hair is securely clamped to rod, all the way to the end of the rod -- without having to use your fingers or a glove that semi-protects your hands from the intense heat. This is my second try with a curling rod and it is still just as awkward now as the times past when I've tried to use this. I'm sure this product is wonderful for many, but in my opinion, this isn't nearly as good as some of the more traditional curling irons. M. Bittner

I did not have any issues with the style of the iron and found it easy to get used to working without a clamp. But I'm really disappointed in the curls. Instead of big and bouncy, they look tight and stringy and taper out at the ends. My hair is on the thin side, so perhaps it is more susceptible to this type of iron. I tried rolling all the hair around the larger end of the barrel but it doesn't fix the problem. I think I would have done better with a barrel that is uniformly shaped instead of one that tapers off but I was so sold on the reviews that I really wanted it to work. I do love the adjustable setting and the long cord that swivels as you work. I don't think I will return it but I will likely order a new kind with a bigger barrel in the hopes that it works better.

I have naturally pretty straight, slightly thin, blonde hair. This does not hold a curl for me at all. I couldn't even finish curling my whole head of hair before the pieces I had already went over starting getting straight again. It is possible I was not using it correctly, like maybe I didn't hold it on long enough or on a high enough setting? But I was under the impression that the thinner and straighter the hair, the less heat you'll want to put on it. I have a go-to Remington wand that I love, so I was looking for something essentially just like that but with a larger barrel... with my current wand, I only have to hold it on my hair for a few seconds before it curls, and it keeps it almost all day. So I was disappointed when this did essentially nothing for me.