This Under-$50 Curler Might Just Replace the $600 One Under Your Sink

I know I’m not alone when I say that I don’t want to spend more than 15 minutes on my hair when I’m getting ready. I already have a 10-step skincare routine and a full face of makeup to do—spending a ton of time doing my hair just doesn’t fit into my process. I’ve tried investing in expensive tools and products to expedite the process, but I’m often left unimpressed with the results. So I’m in the market for something better, and I wasted no time asking associate beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock for the secret to her luscious curls. She was quick to recommend SHEGLAM’s new assortment of haircare products. The brand has become a favorite among beauty enthusiasts for having high-quality and affordable makeup products, and its transition into haircare will be major—I was already sold when I heard that all SHEGLAM Hair hot tools feature GlossPro™ technology, which prevents overheating and damage through temperature regulation. Kaitlyn test-drove the It-Curl One-Touch Instant Curler along with the brand’s heat protectant and hair oil, and her testimony is all we need to know that this under-$50 hair tool is competing with the $600 one in our bathrooms (and winning). Keep scrolling for the play-by-play and her honest review.

Kaitlyn’s everyday hair routine: “I style my hair once or twice a week, so I can save time by just touching it up each morning. And by ‘touching it up,’ I mean running some styling cream or hair oil through it, adding a spritz of dry shampoo, and using a flat iron to either straighten it or create waves (I can’t operate a traditional curling iron for the life of me—they either create asymmetrical, weird-looking curls or they leave unsightly crimps behind).”

Kaitlyn’s hair care green flags: “The products have to be easy to use because, despite being a beauty editor, I’m not good at styling my hair. They have to be non-damaging because I have fine, color-treated hair that needs some serious TLC, and I refuse to use anything that will make it worse. Finally, they have to be long-lasting, because my hair is stubborn and doesn’t hold a style easily.”

Step 1: “I started by misting SHEGLAM Hair’s Hot Streak Leave-In Protection Serum throughout my hair from mid-lengths to ends. I love that it’s lightweight, so it doesn’t weigh my fine hair down, and that it protects my hair from thermal damage up to 450 degrees.”

Step 2: “I plugged in the It-Curl One-Touch Instant Curler, waiting until I heard a long beep to make sure it was done heating up to my desired temperature (340 degrees). Taking one small section at a time, I threaded them through the top of the curler and pressed the button to twist it down onto the heated barrel. It couldn’t have been easier, and the best part was that it alerted me with a beep when the hair was curled and I could pull the tool away. I didn’t have to guess whether or not the piece would be curled or if my hair would be damaged from too much heat exposure. Pro tip: Hold the curler upright—never lean it over to one side. This allows the curler to do all of the work for you, twisting the hair into the perfect position for a shiny, bouncy curl.”

Step three: “Once my hair was curled, I applied a few drops of SHEGLAM Hair’s Hot Streak Thermal Defense Glow Oil Elixir to my hands, rubbed them together, and gently ran them through my hair for lightweight shine, hydration, and a velvety rose scent.”

Kaitlyn’s styling favorites: “As for the styling products themselves, I love that they’re lightweight, nourishing, and protective. SHEGLAM Hair’s Hot Streak Thermal Defense Glow Oil Elixir is formulated with jojoba, camelia, and sunflower seed oils for soft, glossy, expensive-looking hair. The Hot Streak Leave-In Protection Serum is formulated with hydrolyzed protein and argan oil for stronger, more protected hair from the inside out. I’ll be reaching for these products time and time again because they don’t have any of the red flags I avoid in hair products.”

Kaitlyn’s newest obsession: “I’m obsessed with this curler. It’s by far the easiest curler I’ve ever used. There’s absolutely no guesswork, practice, or patience needed—it instantly creates the most perfect-looking curls. As someone who struggles to style their own hair, it’s going to be a staple in my hair routine. It took me 15 minutes to create lustrous, bouncy curls that were shiny, smooth, and healthy. These products are a no-brainer for me, especially because they’ve gotten me multiple compliments. After using them for the first time, my neighbor stopped to tell me, ‘I love your hair!'”