InStyler Tulip Review: Does it Work?

InStyler Tulip is advertised as a product which can give you perfect curls and waves in 3 seconds. What do consumers say? Read InStyler Tulip reviews here.

InStyler Tulip

Tulip is a high-end curler which can provide curls or waves in as little as 3 seconds. The product began advertising in 2014, primarily on late night infomercials. Ads for the product can still be found online.

Tulip’s website can be found at trytulip.com. This domain was registered in December 2013.

A “sectioning petal” is included, which stands as a guide as to how much hair should be used at a time. There is a barrel surrounded by safety guard which is designed to prevent burns. There are several buttons to control rotation direction, heat, and timer (for type of curls).

• High, medium, and low settings
• Timing of 3, 8, or 12 seconds (will determine curl type)
• Rotation can determine curl direction

Tulip is used by draping hair next to the barrel and through a guide. Pushing the top button will activate the barrel, which rotates the pre-selected direction and automatically stops.

Cost

There are two payment options for the Tulip: A one-time payment, or broken into three monthly payments.

• One time option: $119.97 + $19.99 shipping for a total cost of $139.96.
• Monthly payments: $14.99 + 19.99 shipping up-front ($34.98) plus three monthly payments of $39.99 for a total cost of $154.95.

Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Canada will incur an additional $10 charge.

Currently, when you buy one Tulip, you will get a second one free. The pricing of Tulip has not changed since we first evaluated the product in late 2014.

Tulip Advertising

Tulip ran overnight infomercials on channels such as Discovery in late 2014 and throughout 2015. Below is a 3-minute promotional clip posted online.

Reviews

Despite the product’s large size, it does not feel as heavy as it appears. And, although the thought of a device automatically grabbing a section of hair may be unnerving to some people, it generally handles hair as depicted in the advertisements. A minority of complaints have suggested that the product may tangle hair, but this does not seem to be the case for everyone.

Use of the Tulip is straightforward, the learning curve is very small. After one session with the Tulip, most users will feel comfortable with the product.

Below is a rather extensive overview of Tulip by a YouTube reviewer.  The reviewer did not allow the product to heat up, so there was no beep for her first few curls. The product will not beep until after it has properly heated up, as indicated by the light on the handle.

When we first evaluated Tulip in late 2014, it held a 4.5 star rating on Amazon. A year later, that rating has slipped to 2.9 stars. The primary complaint is that of hair getting caught in the device.

It has also been suggested that the Tulip may not work as well on shorter hair due to the way in which strands much be threaded through the device.

Similar Products

While there are endless hair curlers on the market, and a new high-end curler seems to hit the market (and late night airwaves) every few months. Although Tulip appears to be somewhat unique in design, perhaps the Conair Curl Secret has been the most similar in its claims and advertising. That product is advertised as making “beautiful curls in seconds.”

Epic Conclusion

Consumer satisfaction for InStyler Tulip runs the gamut. A $100 curler is probably out of the price range of many women who feel that a traditional $20 curler is sufficient. Other complaints regarding difficulties with short hair or tangles should not be ignored.

If you’ve used the Tulip, please let us know what you thought.

This review has been updated since its original publication in December 2014.