Since I was a hairdresser for almost five years, I was intrigued by the TopStyler when I learned of it several weeks ago. Working behind the scenes on photo shoots during my career as a hairdresser, I prepped models’ hair to perfection and became very familiar with the steps to create shiny, full and healthy looking hairstyles. If the TopStyler works as described, it would streamline the traditional process using clips, pins and a blowdryer to create pin curls. I never enjoyed doing pin curls because I found the process tedious, but the result was beautiful, soft romantic waves. So I was hopeful that the TopStyler would help me to achieve the pin curl look with ease. Thus, the TopStyler was the perfect product to review for my blog.

Without further ado, here is my review of the TopStyler!

(see the hi-res image here)

PROs

• Creates lasting body/volume
• Very quick application and setting
• Heats up quickly (approx. 5-6 min)
• Application is easy to get the hang of
• Heated ceramic plates cause no damage to hair (unlike traditional hot rollers)
• Easily achieves natural looking romantic and beachy waves
• Case is more portable for travel than traditional hot rollers (case zips closed and is not bulky, about 3.5 lbs)

CONs

• Price (scroll down for a cost per vendor comparison chart)
• Curls don’t last as long as I’d like (spraying each section with a flexible working spray, like Kenra Platinum Sheer Holding Spray, before wrapping and setting the curl helps)
• Best for medium to long hair (I probably wouldn’t recommend for chin-length or shorter hair)

TIPs

• Don’t wrap the hair too tightly, this makes it difficult to pull your fingers out without disturbing the curl
• Once all the clips are in, let them set for 10–15 minutes (or when the ceramic clips are cool to the touch)
• If your hair doesn’t generally hold curl that well, be sure to lightly spray each section with a flexible working hair spray before curling and clipping
• To achieve maximum volume, be sure to roll and clip each section “on-base”  (directly upon itself)
• Be careful to not “fish hook” (fish hooks result from leaving the ends exposed or improperly rolled, which results in hair that is only partially curled, or hair that has an unattractive hook at the end of it)
• Work from the bottom up, clipping top sections at the crown to keep hair out of the way
• If one of the heated ceramic clips is uncomfortably warm against your skin, slide a piece of tissue between your skin and the roller for a few minutes until it cools down
• Experiment with brushing hair out versus combing fingers through curls once you remove the ceramic clips (brushing hair creates a slightly wavy, voluminous look; coming fingers through curls separates and defines curls)

Do you have the TopStyler?

What are your likes, dislikes? Overall thoughts?