Automatic hair curler - the truth about viral styling tools

You’ve seen the ads. ‘Bouncy curls in seconds.’ An influencer slides her perfectly tousled hair out of some whirling, space-age looking contraption and appears fit for a model shoot. ‘It’s so quick and easy…’ Only, in my experience, the automatic hair curler is neither easy nor quick to master. And those beautiful curls? Well, if they come out of the hair tool looking pristine, they may not stay that way for long.

If you’ve read about my god-awful journey to deep waver perfection, you will understand I’m no sucker for slick marketing. But, hey, there’s always that faint hope that one day, one tool will deliver without any hassle. Which brings me onto the brand Tymo. You may recall it reeled me in with its Rovy waver ads. The real issue with that device was getting my hands on one. Two ‘other brand’ purchases, a Vinted scam and a cancelled Amazon subscription later, I finally bagged one from TikTok. It’s good. Not long after, I was tempted back to a brand ‘live’ and bought Tymo’s rotating curling iron.

So, naturally, I turned to TikTok again when I decided to update my Tymo CurlPro automatic curler for the newer CurlPro Plus. It’s not that the original tool didn’t work - it did. It just didn’t have the right heating mechanism to hold the curls. In fact, they were all but gone in around an hour. They ‘held’ just about long enough for a selfie. I gradually came to the conclusion that my hair was too long for it.

Automatic hair curler options

I’ve got an enduring vision for my hair, which is long enough to reach my non-existent boobs (cancer). I want it curled away from the face in loose spirals - just like Kristen Mittelman’s. If you don’t know who she is, she’s a co-owner of the genetic genealogy company Othram Studios. You’ve likely come across her explaining how Othram helped to solve some of America’s most diabolical crimes. That’s if, like me, you enjoy watching true crime documentaries.

My first venture into automatic hair curler territory wasn’t with Tymo. I purchased a Beach Waver first. It was one of the most viral hair tools of 2024 and 2025. The ombre bright yellow and pink device, which is available in other trendy colours, twirls in a choice of two directions - left or right - at the touch of a button. The marketing for this tool is clever, because it glosses over potential pitfalls - including that it may not work on your hair. As well as finding the tool hard to use, I discovered it didn’t so much as kink my locks. It’s currently languishing behind a full-length mirror in my bedroom, where it’s been quietly gathering dust since a week after I bought it.

I then purchased a cheap air curler, which was just as useless. Other options included offerings from Dyson and Shark, neither within my budget.

So, you can understand why the £59 original Tymo CurlPro appealed to me. It has an internal ceramic barrel with cool touch outer casing, easy-to-use directional switches and a frizz-free finish. With a deep waver that actually works already in my hair tool kit, this is a brand I thought I could trust. Of course, I quickly discovered that this cheaper device wasn’t for me. Time to push the boat out and pay £89 (£66 on offer on TikTok) for the upgraded CurlPro Plus version, specifically designed for longer hair and to deliver a more even heat distribution. It promises an ‘all-week’ hold and 600 million negative ions for a totally sleek finish.

This tool, which has a slightly longer barrel and dual heating tech, works in exactly the same way as the original and has rave reviews, including from celebrities. Paige Williams, founder and owner of viral cosmetics brand P.Louise, can’t live without hers, which was a gift from her mum. I can only assume her hair is coarser and thicker than mine. Because… The curls don’t appear to hold any longer than those I achieved with the cheaper Tymo device. I used it on freshly dried hair that had been washed and conditioned before being sprayed with heat protectant. 

Now, I’m not saying I will never get it to work, but… It’s really disheartening to buy something you think is going to deliver exactly what you want only to discover it doesn’t. Initially, I thought my hair type was to blame. It’s reasonably fine, and let’s not forget I’ve had extensive chemo in the past that rendered me bald for more than a year. However, having used the device on my 13-year-old granddaughter, with exactly the same disappointing results, I’m not so sure. She looks a million dollars when I’ve finished curling. However, again, the curls have gone within about an hour. That’s with the use of heat protectant and hair spray and using the lowest and middle heat settings (160 and 185 degrees celsius respectively). The highest setting is 210°C, while the middle option matches ghd’s benchmark ‘optimum’ temperature of 185°C - though many people find a brief hit of 220°C works best for tricky hair types.

This is how my granddaughter's hair looked 10 minutes after using the Tymo CurlPro Plus. As you can see, the curls are already starting to drop. They were almost non-existant after around an hour.

Tips and tricks to make an automatic hair curler hold curls

One thing that totally gets my goat on Q&As regarding the automatic hair curler is advice that negates the purpose of the tool. Yes, leave the curls to cool before touching them by all means. I always do that. But being told to pin the curls up and leave them for X amount of time is an added hassle you’d not expect to have to deal with, considering you're buying a tool that’s supposed to do the job for you. 

The Tymo CurlPro range, in my opinion, is one of the safest on the market. The tools are also easy to use, especially on the sides of the head. However, the heating technology isn’t quite there yet. To be considered a ride or die curler, it should deliver uniform results across all hair types. I also don’t think the standard barrel size, just 1.0”, is big enough for true ‘bouncy curls’. 

Yes, the upgraded automatic hair curler does have tens of thousands of fans around the world. Just be aware, if you purchase one, you may not entirely agree with them. There are lots of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ with this tool. You have to feed the right amount of hair into the barrel, ensure the device is at the correct temperature for your hair type and leave the strands in the device long enough for it to produce long-lasting curls. How long is too long? That’s the bit that makes me nervous to leave my hair clamped in a closed device for any length of time after the ‘remove’ beeper has gone off.

After I purchased the Tymo CurlPro Plus, I asked AI if it produces curls that last longer than the Tymo CurlPro. The answer? No. In fact, citing multiple sources, it stated that the heating mechanisms on both devices are ‘similar’. What? So all that ‘more even heat distribution’ is purely down to a longer barrel and not better ‘dual heat’ tech.

At a glance: Tymo CurlPro vs CurlPro Plus

• Price: £59 (Original) vs £89 (Plus)

• Main difference: Slightly longer barrel on the Plus; heating technology remains virtually identical in spite of dual heat promise with the Plus.

• Best for: Quick styling on hair that already takes a curl easily.

• Verdict: Great safety features, but longevity remains an issue for fine or long hair without extensive pinning.

What we need to start seeing in retail environments is automatic hair curler tools all set up and ready to use. With so much riding on individual hair types and other anomalies, a ‘try before you buy’ system would cut out wasted purchases. A helpful stylist, on standby to offer advice, oversee safety and answer questions, would make all the difference. Imagine giving it a go, having a wander around for an hour and seeing how your hair looks before you make a purchase decision? The alternative is finding a friend with the device of your choice who will let you have a play with it.

As it stands, we’re all chasing perfect hair dreams that don’t always come to fruition - and that, my friends, can be very expensive.

Because I’ve previously purchased a Tymo hair tool that delivers exactly what the brand promises, I’m going to persevere. If I find a way to make those curls last all day, I’ll update this post below. If you know the secret, don't hold back - reach out and offer me some advice.

Have you seen our free magazine? Get your copy by clicking on the image below.