Product · L'Oréal Professionnel Paris
L'Oréal SteamPod 4: steam styler for defined curls
Note: This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
The SteamPod 4 is the fourth generation of L'Oréal Professionnel's steam styler, and unlike most straighteners it is sold as much for curls as for straight hair. The listing promises bouncy, defined curls, plus a wide range of other looks for any hair type. It suits people with thick, curly or textured hair who want heat they can adjust and the extra slip that steam brings. Its defining feature is the steam itself, combined with a choice of combs matched to your hair.
- Body shape
- Steam styler with combs
- Plates
- Ceramic with steam
- Heat
- Adjustable, up to 210°C
- Weight
- 1.4 kg
In its favour
- The listing states it creates bouncy and defined curls, not only straight styles.
- Heat is adjustable up to a listed 210°C, so you can tune it to fine or thick hair.
- Different combs are supplied to match your hair type and the look you want.
Good to know
- At a listed 1.4 kg it is the heaviest tool here, which can tire your arm when curling.
- It needs filtered water in the tank; the listing warns against tap water.
Our take
How the SteamPod 4 is used
You select the comb that fits your hair type and the look you want, fill the built-in tank with filtered water and set the heat to suit your texture. The listing is firm that tap water should not be used, presumably to protect the steam system from limescale. L'Oréal describes its patented steam technology, new features and an ergonomic design.
Heat is adjustable up to a listed 210°C. The number of settings and the lowest temperature are not given.
Curling with steam
Because the plates are ceramic and the body is designed for twisting, you curl in the same way as with a flat iron: clamp, turn and glide. Steam helps hair move round the plates rather than drag, which is useful on dense or coarse hair. The listing calls the results bouncy and defined, though how long curls hold will depend on your hair and any product you use.
Weight and practicalities
Amazon lists 1.4 kg and a length of 33.5 cm. That is heavy for a styler, and curling a full head means holding it at awkward angles, so expect arm fatigue on long sessions. The tank needs refilling regularly. The listing does not mention sleep mode, cable length or voltage.
SteamPod 4 against other curling options
The ghd Chronos Max has wide close-edge plates and motion-responsive heat at a fixed 185°C, and it is far lighter on its listing. The Shark SilkiPro adds dryer airflow and three combs, reaching 230°C. For finer hair that needs gentle heat, the Cloud Nine Original Iron goes down to 100°C.
Who should look elsewhere
If you want a quick, light tool for touch-ups or travel, a steam styler with a tank is the wrong shape for the job. People with very fine hair may also find the weight and steam unnecessary when a simple plate straightener at low heat would do.
Verdict
Choose the SteamPod 4 if you have thick or curly hair, want adjustable heat and like the idea of steam helping hair glide as you curl or straighten. If weight is a concern, the ghd Chronos Max is much lighter, and the Shark SilkiPro is the alternative if you also want to dry hair with the same tool.
Compared with alternatives in: Best straighteners for curling and waving hair, Best straighteners for curly and afro hair, Best straighteners for thick hair
Amazon listing title: L'Oréal Professionnel SteamPod 4, Steam Hair Straightener, UK Plug