I am sort of a minimalist in regard to make-up and hair, but I still try to look my best. I was sent the Karmin G3 Salon Pro Clipless Tourmaline Curling Iron to try out with styling my hair.
I had never used a clipless curling iron before and my hair is just below my ears for length. The Karmin G3 does work on my hair for the longer layers on top, but it did not come with a heat-resistant glove so I ordered one on EBay and had to wait for it to arrive before starting the review or I would have probably got my fingers quite a few times. The 2014 version of the Karmin G3 Salon Pro is to include a heat-resistant glove.
Inside the box is a carrying case with heat mat for storing the curling iron, a product registration card , manual, and the professional clipless curling iron.
The heat mat is attached to the carrying case with a velcro strip so it can easily detach to be used or be attached around the carrying case for storage. The case has a nice sleeve built in to keep the barrel of the curling iron protected.
Features of the Karmin G3 Salon Pro Clipless Tourmaline Curling Iron:
- Quickly heats to 410ºF with ceramic heating technology
- Ultra polished tourmaline ceramic barrel to produce smooth, long-lasting curls
- Ideal for all hair types, from thin to thick
- Heat resistant grip
- 2 year warranty
- Long 9 foot swivel cord
I read through the manual first since this design was new to me. The Karmin G3 Salon Pro Clipless Curling Iron is to give soft, smooth curls and waves without using any extra styling aids. If you have dry or damaged hair, or hair that is difficult to hold curls typically, you may want to use a shine serum or curl enhancer or flexible hold hairspray to complete your look.
You should never wrap the cord around the curling iron. You can wrap the cord up, but secure it with a twist tie. If you need to clean residue from the barrel, do this when it is cool and unplugged. A soft, damp cloth is recommended for cleaning.
Like with any other curling iron, you do not want to touch the barrel. The manual says to use the heat protective glove that came with the curling iron – this is not included. The included heat mat should be set out during use and when the curling iron is cooling down to prevent burning your counter top or any other work surface.
After you have washed and dried your hair (do not use on wet or damp to prevent more damage to hair), you can gather your hair in sections and leave a couple of inches near the roots straight. It only takes 5-10 seconds per section to curl. I used my daughter as a guinea pig to take the following images.
She has very thick hair and it is somewhat coarse, lucky girl. Mine is thick and fine.
The curling iron has arrows to increase and decrease temperature with a power button in the center. It is hard to tell, but the digital display in this image reads “off” that appears when you initially turn the unit on. You have to hold the power button for about 2 seconds and then use the arrows to adjust the temperature.
After you have set the desired heat, it will also show you the temp as it is heating up or cooling down.
I gathered her hair and used the curling iron with the handle facing up and the barrel facing downward. You can see the barrel as you wrap hair around it. You are in control with how tight or loose you want the curls to be with wrapping and using the different parts of the barrel. The tapered barrel is 1/2″-1″ in diameter.
Overall, I think the Karmin Professional G3 Salon Pro Professional Curling Iron heats up very quickly. There is no worry of crimping the hair without a clip. I styled my daughter’s hair at night and even with sleeping on her hair with no styling products, she had some waves in it yet the next morning. The 9 foot swivel cord was a nice feature too.
It does take some practice to get used to holding the end of the hair so you can get it curled and not leave the ending inch or so straight. You can go back and touch up sections. I would strongly recommend a heat-resistant glove if you are new to this style of curling iron since the barrel becomes extremely hot. If you have long hair or as you get used to the product, you may go without the glove.
I wish there were a few extra sections included in the manual. It does not say which side should be up when using the heat mat. The design looks almost like it is screen printed on so I assume it is the plain side, but it would be nice if it was stated so for use.
Then as far as operation, I wish it would have included that the digital display will read “off” when you plug-in the iron. Then you have to press the power button for about two seconds and use the up or down arrow keys to adjust the temp. There is nothing stated on the controls in the manual. I am guessing the digital display reads in Celsius because the highest the unit read for me was 220°.
The Karmin Professional G3 heats up very quickly, in about 30 seconds. I am not sure if this is correct for this particular product, but it says “styling irons” have a sleep mode or automatic shut off after 1 hour of non-use under “Frequently Asked Questions” on the company website.
To learn more about Karmin G3 Salon Pro Pressional Curling Iron, please visit http://www.karmin.ca/karmin-professional-salon-pro-clipless-ceramic-tourmaline-curling-iron.html. Karmin also makes other styling products, like straight irons and hair dryers. This unit retail for $149.95 with free shipping. International shipping is available for free too.
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Disclosure: I received a Karmin G3 Salon Professional Curling Iron in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received. The thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.
