Customer Reviews

Helen Of Troy Hot Tools 1-1/2" Big Bumper Iron with Heat Control

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this iron, but have used it for years with some irritation. Let me explain.

Yes, I love this curling iron as it does a great job straightening and smoothing the riotous red curls I fight after every shampoo. The iron is easy to use, it's not unattractive as such items go, and it has a wide-range of settings.

The issue I've had with it has been in the spring mechanism that will wear down rendering the iron unable to open or close properly.
Also, I had previously only found this iron at Sally's Beauty Supply for $80. Ouch. So the issue with the spring and the need to replace the iron was irritating. Sally's took back a couple of the irons after the springs wore out after only three months. But the last iron I have used (and which I was replacing this time) lasted for almost two years before giving out completely.

In looking to replace my iron I found that Amazon offered it at a great price from an affiliate. I couldn't believe how much cheaper this same iron was here. I was so happy with the price that I decided to buy the iron again and then be able to cheaply replace it when the spring on the new iron gave out.
What a nice surprise I had when finding TWO replacement springs included in the box. Apparently the manufacturer is aware of the problem. There is also an order form for replacement springs for $2.50 + shipping. With the two springs included in with my new iron I was able to repair my old iron to keep in our RV, and have the new one - with an extra spring at the ready - in my home.

This iron heats quickly and does a great job smoothing. Mine let's you set your own heat settings and the higher settings are indeed very hot, good for curly hair.

I now have the hot tools irons in all sizes. I first bought the 1" and loved it and have slowly added to my collection, so that I can get different looks. I have naturally tight curls, that are unruly. I use the 1 1/2" when I want an almost straight look, but want the sides to go back a bit, and the back to have some really big loose curls / waves. I use the 1 1/4 inch to get the Jessica Simpson / Daisy Duke look. I use the 1" for medium size loose curls (Easy to shake out), and the smaller size for tight curls or corkscrew curls.

I find the 1 1/2" to be faster than using a straightener, and can get an almost straight look with it but add a bit of large curls if that is what I am going for. I use the 1 1/4" the most (more on a daily basis). It is good for Medium to long hair. Note: the two inch, for me, is very uncomfortable and awkward to use. I have burnt my ear twice, and the curls almost always fall out. That is the only one I regret buying.

I bought this curling iron because I read Kim Kardashian uses on her hair and I love her hair plus I saw so many hair tutorials on utube of females that used it and their hair came out good as well. I love this curling iron cause I have naturally curly very long hair and when I straighten my hair and try to curl it with a regular curling iron the curls won't take in my hair or they won't stay but with the Hot tools 1.5 I get nice curls that actually stay in my hair. Also the fact that I can control the settings is a plus!! The price on here was great cause at a hair store by my house they want like $60 - $90 depending on which size you buy!!!

Love how the hot tools curls hair. But they have a 'spring' problem and this brand new one is already making the squeaking noise that my older curling iron started to make after several years. Disappointing. Fortunately, an extra spring comes in the box, but how long will that last and then the possibility of buying a new curing iron. Fortunately purchasing at Amazon saved me money compared to retail stores that also carry this product and the differences were worth purchasing through Amazon...Thanks Amazon!

Curling irons and I do not have a positive history. Even if I somehow manage to avoid dropping them, at some point they just tend to stop getting hot. NOT a desirable trait in a curling iron. And then there's the size thing. For some reason I can find 1 1/4" ones locally, but not 1 1/2." Since I use mine more to smooth frizzies and do a slight flip, not to curl, I toyed with the 2" irons...but after reading the reviews ("heavy, awkward to use") I downsized. The 1 1/2 is not only the perfect size, but the Hot Tools iron is a solid piece of equipment. It just FEELS well-made. It has a jillion heat settings but I keep it on the high end of medium (my hair is thick) and it's perfect. Heats fast, holds the heat, and unlike cheapo irons that I have to set on high from the outset, this one leaves me room to adjust should it start "cooling" in the future. Would unquestionably buy again, but I don't think I'll need to for a while!

i couldn't find a curling iron that works on my hair coz it is very smooth and thick....but this iron works like magic. i can have nice waves in mins.

I love this iron and have not had any problems with the spring, but I am sure after much use it will break.

works great at straightening out very curly/kinky hair, but still leaving a little body. barrel is too big to add definition to your curls, however. It is more of a smoothing out tool. This is my 3rd Hot Tools iron and they're the best.

I dont get what kindve hair this works for. Im half latina, I look caucasion, people say my hair is black, but seeing family I dont consider my hair black, I have thick straight hair, and a lot of it. I used very little hair to see if I could curl it, I heated it up to a high setting, I kept it in my hair for 15 secs, it was very hot, as I had touched it to my head by accident, practically nothing happened except for the very end was curled. Seeing I was new to curlingn irons I looked up youtube vids to see what I was doing wrong, I tried 2 techniques, rolling the hair around the shaft, then clamping, and clamping the end and rolling up, still nothing, Im keeping with my straightner to curl, its ceramic, curls last long, and it actually works... reason I looked for something else is that my particular flat iron has a gap that rips my hair out. IDK why people like this, except that it seems like a sturdy machine, it is a bit heavy.

I read a review of this curling iron (not on Amazon) about how well this curling iron worked. Once I got the curling iron at home, I loved it. It gave me waving curls and worked great when I wanted a straight, sleek look. This curling iron lasted for over three years. When the curling iron started to not keep heat, I figured I was do for a new curling iron. Bought a curling iron (different brand) at Target for around the same price and it hasn't even lasted three months. So, now I'm back to buying this curling iron, which I'm sure won't let me down.