T3 Bespoke Labs 83922-SE Tourmaline Ionic Ceramic Wet-or-Dry 1 3/4" Ceramic Styling Iron
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List Price: Our Price: $145.99 You Save: $54.01 (27%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Beauty See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of T3 Bespoke Labs 83922-SE Tourmaline Ionic Ceramic Wet-or-Dry 1 3/4" Ceramic Styling Iron
Customer Review: Too Expensive for Mediocre Performance
Summary: 2 Stars
I have extremely thick, wavy, long hair, and had lost the battle to the frizzies my entire life. The only thing that helped to any significant level was a thick, waxy pomade. Not acceptable. Finally I went to a local beauty supply store, asked them which flat iron was most popular, and got it for around $45. Well, I was extremly happy--finally I'd won the war against frizzies! (I should mention that my goal is not stick-straight hair. My #1 goal is to smooth my hair. I can accomplish that in about 15 minutes, leaving it mostly straight and nice and smooth, but with a touch of wave left--which I like anyway.)
So then I started thinking--if the rather cheap flat iron was that good, what would a top-of-the-line version be like? I had a hard time deciding between the T3 and the Chi, but what finally made up my mind was the "Wet to Dry" flat iron. Imagine cutting out the blow drying step! Imagine not having to pack my blow dryer when traveling! Heaven. I had to have one, even if it did cost roughly 5 times the very good flat iron I'd just bought.
I eagerly awaited its arrival. Since my hair is quite coarse and is 2-3 times thicker than average, I set it on the highest temp and set to work on my towel-dried hair. Well, it didn't take long for my dreams of being blowdryer-free to be dashed. The T3 Wet-to-Dry wasn't anywhere near as efficient as my blowdryer. I'd be standing there for well over an hour drying my hair that way, when using a flat iron / blowdryer combo would take me about half that time. And it's a lot less tedious to swish a blowdryer around than to meticulously flat iron each section of hair extremely slowly and several times. (I find that when I use my flat iron--any flat iron--it's not necessary to brush my hair out straight while drying, as the flat iron alone gets my hair as smoooth and straight as I require.)
Well, okay, I thought, maybe it would bring my hair to new levels of smoothness and glossiness. Didn't seem to do any better than the cheap one. Just to prove it to myself, I used the T3 on one side, and the $45 one on the other. Far from being biased against the T3, at this point I *really* wanted to find justification for buying it, especially as it was non-returnable unless defective. Unfortunately for me, there was no noticeable difference. And the T3 also pulls my hair about 4 times more often than my other one. No matter how carefully I try to put the section of hair between the plates "just so" and not to be in a hurry, I broke at least 5 strands of hair every single time I used it. That can really add up over time, and doesn't do much for the health or frizzy tendencies of my hair, either.
I tried it several more times, using different techniques, but alas every single time my run-of-the-mill flat iron out-performed or at least equaled the T3. Finally I came to terms that I had indeed wasted $200 on it, and gave it to my sister to try. She used it for a couple weeks and declared that she, too, preferred her old one.
Other than not drying my hair worth a darn, and mercilessly pullling it every time I use it, the T3 did a fine job. But I sure could find a better use for the extra $150 a T3 costs.
One last note--a flat iron is very hot and will totally fry your hair. Make sure you apply some kind of leave-in conditioner or hair protector before using any flat iron.
Customer Review: Not too thrilled
Summary: 3 Stars
Well I posted in one of the comment sections that I'd post my review of this iron after using it for a bit, so here goes. I'm obviously in the minority but I'm not all that thrilled with this flat iron. I really wanted to be impressed but oh well...
I have very coarse hair which admittedly has always been tough to straighten and get that sleek look. My last iron was a brand called Maxium (I believe that was the brand). Unfortunately I accidently left it on all day and burned it out so I had to replace with something. I got the Maxium on HSN about 3-4 years ago and I actually loved it. It also reached over 400 degrees but the really nice thing was that one plate was covered in pins and the opposite plate had holes where the pins fit into. This resulted in seperating the strands of hair. I never had to press hard and it would glide easily through my hair and I have very long hair. It also had a "well" which held spring water and one press of the button would release a gentle and moisturizing steam. Instead of drying out my hair as flat irons tend to do, that resulted in actually cramming moisture into the hair shaft. I didn't have to hold my hair taught and never had to go over a section of my hair more than once. My friend recommended that new Instyler, but I've read they are always breaking after only a few months and the temp is just not that hot. I need that higher temp.
As always with Amazon the shipping on the T3 was very fast. The rhinestones on the iron are a nice touch and I like that it goes over 400 and it heats up super fast. The plates do indeed glide easily through my hair. The protective
pad for my vanity was nice as well. That all being said, I don't feel this iron does anywhere near the job that my old Maxium did. I have no problems with holding my hair taught. In fact I find it easier to start near the roots with a comb and then put the iron on behind the comb and pull them both down the hair together. I've gone slow enough to where this iron should straighten in one pass but not too slow as to fry my hair. Since I've started using this iron I've actually noticed my hair is much drier and seems to be getting damaged, and yes, I do use a salon brand thermal protectant with this unit. This iron still doesn't straighten my hair anywhere near what my Maxium did so it's frustrating that it's drying out my hair and yet failing to perfectly straighten it.
Perhaps it's just my difficult hair as I purchased this unit because it had so many great reviews. Think I'll sell this iron on eBay and try to find another Maxium. For all of you who love this iron I'm happy it works well on the majority of reviewers. It's just not working all that well for me. :(
Oh, one more thing. Using this iron on damp hair not only makes me uncomfortable as it sounds as if it is frying my hair as it steams it dry (and my hairdresser told me NEVER use a flat iron on damp hair regardless if the manufacturer says it's made to do it. I tried it once and noticed that it did not work well at all using it that way. I prefer to air dry my hair and then flat iron it. It comes out better for me but I really wanted to see how it worked on damp hair. Not too well in my case. Overall not too pleased with my results.
Customer Review: Greatest Flat Iron Ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't ever write reviews, but I had to here! I have used many flat irons over the years, this one is the absolute best. A friend loaned me hers and I had to have one. A good thing after reading the many reviews here, they would have probably scared me off. I have very thin hair, but soooo much of it that it looks really thick. It is VERY wavy, without being curly at all, so I have to either flat iron it or curl it or it won't look done. Curling is a bad idea, for not only is it very drying but it doesn't hold very well in my hair, falling to waves again in less than an hour (even in the winter). Flat Ironing works much better.
Okay, so I know the routine of patience, pull the flat iron slowly, use a heat protecting pretreatment, and all that, but with other irons (including a Chi), they just didn't make it look like my stylist makes it look. Which I knew meant that it had to be the iron, for I was using the same products that she was. Her flat iron runs about $600, great for her in her line of work, much too costly for my budget, there just simply has to be a better solution than that.
By the way, my stylist said, "NEVER EVER put any hot styling tool to your hair unless it is absolutely positively dry, or you will ruin your hair over time, causing it to break and split, so I always either use a blow dryer or let my hair air dry (often overnight) before using a hot iron on it.
Finally an iron that gets warm enough that if done slowly like you're supposed to, only takes one swipe over the hair, to straighten it. Even my stylist has to make two or three swipes! Better yet, it holds real well in the high humid temperatures found in the St Louis Metro area and this is the warmest summer on record.
All that said, I love the iron, its cord is long enough that I don't have to stand on top of the outlet, the outside doesn't get so hot that I can't touch it, it doesn't catch my hair and break it off at the plate edges. It makes my hair feel silky smooth and everyone comments on how healthy my hair looks. All of that with using a tool that heats to 410 degrees, wow! I am thrilled! Enough Said! My T3 Tourmaline Model 83922, will be my last flat iron ever!
I have been using a T3 for about 6 months now with no problems to the unit or my hair. It heats up VERY quickly, so I don't need to leave it on for any length of time at all before actually using it, plugging it in just a minute or two before use. I would think with any unit that gets this hot, you might experience trouble over time with it burning itself out if left on for extended periods of time. Not to mention the damage it might do to your bathroom counter. No need here, it really does heat up quickly.
Welcome to the world of wonderful comments on your hair, and enjoy your new T3 Tourmaline,
Terri
Customer Review: Greatest Flat Iron Ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't ever write reviews, but I had to here! I have used many flat irons over the years, this one is the absolute best. A friend loaned me hers and I had to have one. A good thing after reading the many reviews here, they would have probably scared me off. I have very thin hair, but soooo much of it that it looks really thick. It is VERY wavy, without being curly at all, so I have to either flat iron it or curl it or it won't look done. Curling is a bad idea, for not only is it very drying but it doesn't hold very well in my hair, falling to waves again in less than an hour (even in the winter). Flat Ironing works much better.
Okay, so I know the routine of patience, pull the flat iron slowly, use a heat protecting pretreatment, and all that, but with other irons (including a Chi), they just didn't make it look like my stylist makes it look. Which I knew meant that it had to be the iron, for I was using the same products that she was. Her flat iron runs about $600, great for her in her line of work, much too costly for my budget, there just simply has to be a better solution than that.
By the way, my stylist said, "NEVER EVER put any hot styling tool to your hair unless it is absolutely positively dry, or you will ruin your hair over time, causing it to break and split, so I always either use a blow dryer or let my hair air dry (often overnight) before using a hot iron on it.
Finally an iron that gets warm enough that if done slowly like you're supposed to, only takes one swipe over the hair, to straighten it. Even my stylist has to make two or three swipes! Better yet, it holds real well in the high humid temperatures found in the St Louis Metro area and this is the warmest summer on record.
All that said, I love the iron, its cord is long enough that I don't have to stand on top of the outlet, the outside doesn't get so hot that I can't touch it, it doesn't catch my hair and break it off at the plate edges. It makes my hair feel silky smooth and everyone comments on how healthy my hair looks. All of that with using a tool that heats to 410 degrees, wow! I am thrilled! Enough Said! My T3 Tourmaline Model 83922, will be my last flat iron ever!
I have been using a T3 for about 6 months now with no problems to the unit or my hair. It heats up VERY quickly, so I don't need to leave it on for any length of time at all before actually using it, plugging it in just a minute or two before use. I would think with any unit that gets this hot, you might experience trouble over time with it burning itself out if left on for extended periods of time. Not to mention the damage it might do to your bathroom counter. No need here, it really does heat up quickly.
Welcome to the world of wonderful comments on your hair, and enjoy your new T3 Tourmaline,
Terri
Customer Review: not worth the money
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this in like February or March because my [...] Jilbere flat iron (which I pretty much loved) finally kicked the bucket - I NEVER cleaned the plates and kept dropping it from my 4 ft high dresser onto hard tile. Hey, in college, space is limited. Anyway. I bought this because it had superior reviews on [...]and I thought that for [...]a bargain compared to buying it in the salon) it would work perfectly. Simply put, it doesn't. I never ever EVER use it on wet hair, but even on dry hair with heat protectant in it, it just seems to damage my hair. Granted, my hair is pretty thick and coarse, but my old iron could make it smooth. This can't. It just frizzes and cause all the little ends to stick out. What's more, it doesn't keep my hair straight. Within hours it starts to frizz and go back to being wavy. But I kept using it (though not very often) for a few months because I had no other options. By May my hair was totally dry and frizzy, with tons of split ends. I just stopped straightening and pulled it back. Very disappointed in this product - I'm saving my money for a BaByliss or a Solia. Bypass this and go for a cheaper one, you'll get better results for half the price.