• Plate material: Ceramic
• Variable temperature control: Yes – 180C, 200C, 210C
• Corded/cordless: Corded
• Cable length: 2.4m
• Weight: 1.04kg

Design

Beauty fans will know that the steampod isn’t exactly brand new to the haircare market as, while the 3.0 launched in November 2019, there are, as the name suggests, two earlier versions of the tool.

With its latest model, L’Oréal has made some serious changes to the design because, while it still uses ceramic plates and steam technology to smooth and straighten hair, it’s far more compact – 14 per cent thinner and 37 per cent lighter than the steampod 2.0, in fact. Unlike its predecessors, the 3.0 also has a built-in water cartridge, compared to the previous device’s separate compartment, and boasts a rotating cord, which makes it much easier to handle.

When it comes to the steam itself, this is released from a number of little chambers that run down one side of the ceramic floating plates, with the water stored in a tiny tank. One thing worth noting here is that the tool requires you to use demineralised water (which is exactly what it sounds like, water that has had all of the mineral impurities removed) not just the stuff that comes from your tap, so as to prevent scaling. While this does require extra effort (and money), a little goes a long way – the brand says you can style up to 192m of hair without having to refill. The steampod also features a removable comb that runs along the side of the plates, which helps guide your strands, create a smoother finish and make styling easier, particularly for those with thicker hair.

Performance

When we first got our hands on L’Oréal’s steampod 3.0, we weren’t entirely sure how it would fair – unlike our trusty ghd’s, the tool is quite large, feels bulky in your hands and requires a little prep work before you can get started.

While it’s not complicated to navigate, you need to ensure the water chamber is full before switching the tool on and, as previously mentioned, this should be done using demineralised water. While we cheated and used some from our water filter jug, you can get your hands on the real thing quite easily, with Waitrose’s own-brand stuff costing little more than £1 for a litre (£1.10, Waitrose.com). If you’re tempted to skip this step, it’s worth noting that the warranty does not cover scaling.

Read more: The best ghd straighteners for every style and hair type

The steampod is super-easy to use, with clearly labelled buttons on the inside to turn it on and select your temperature of choice – 180C, 200C or 210C. A green light blinks to let you know it’s heating up and, after about 30 seconds, it stops flashing and lets out a gentle hiss of steam so you know it’s ready to go. When we proceeded to press the plates together against a small section of hair, steam was projected from small vents and the comb ran smoothly through our strands, ensuring even flyaways and baby hairs were pulled straight. Despite our initial concerns regarding the tool’s size, it felt easy to control and didn’t make our arm ache, with the swivelling cord meaning we could easily reach the back of our head.

So, what about the results? Well, to say we were surprised would be an understatement. In our experience, L’Oréal’s bold claims about the steampod’s abilities are legit, as our hair was left looking smooth with just one pass, leaving it noticeably less frizzy and soft. But, perhaps the best part was just how incredibly glossy it made our typically dull locks look – the steam technology left our hair feeling healthy and hydrated, with a smoother finish and no flyaways. We even gave styling waves with steampod a go too. As the tool is wider than your average straightener, it’s ideal for creating natural-looking waves that look like you’ve just stepped out of the salon – simply place a small section in the middle of the plates and wrap it around the tool, rotating and gliding downwards. Our only complaint? It’s a little noisy to use, not unpleasantly so, but enough to dupe your partner into thinking you’re tackling that growing pile of ironing, and not styling your hair.