Love it: the L’Oreal Professionnel SteamPod styler - now for home

I fell in love with L’Oreal Professionnel’s in salon SteamPod service the first time I tried it, so to say that news that the beauty mega brand had released an at home version was exciting stuff would be an understatement. It was love at first steam. No lie!

It takes up a little bit more space than many of my other tools, but the way it works differs from regular styling irons and that’s what I love about it. Suitable for all hair types - even the most sensitised due to the caring effects and Pro-Keratin technology - it’s a right little wonder that gives a result that outlasts all types of humidity, and in no time at all. The SteamPod is a collaboration between L’Oreal Professionnel and Rowenta – the inventors of the first clothing steam iron, and this same technology has been translated into a heat styling tool – or smoothing iron - over 5 years of research and development. By delivering a “calculated continuous stream of pressurised steam” the styler works to gently open up and smooth the hair cuticle in one slow movement, meaning minimal damage and seriously soft locks. Steam gently warms the fibre from the inside out and retains the natural moisture levels found in the hair, then transports and activates the ingredients deeply into the hair fibre to treat and repair. Last up, the smoothing plates close the cuticle, seal the ends of the hair and give it a silky smooth finish.

The home version of this system includes a separate steam station – significantly smaller than the salon version – but the rest of the styler looks and works the same. And the process is pretty much the same, starting with a shampoo, towel dry and application of the correct Steam Pod treatment product. My hair, despite being coloured, is in remarkably good condition after a decent trim so I use the L’Oreal Professionnel Steam Pod Replenishing Smoothing Cream for normal to slightly sensitised hair (around 20mls applied on the lengths and ends). There is also a cream for medium to highly sensitised hair and a serum for extremely damaged hair. Next, blast dry your hair to about 80 per cent dry and then start using your SteamPod until your hair is just perfect. Magic!