Is this portable curler worth it? TYMO CurlGo Eco review

On mid-length hair, I love a loose, bouncy curl. It looks chic and gives hair volume, but it’s not too tight, where you end up losing a lot of the length.

But I’ve never been great at curling my hair. Quite frankly, I can’t always be bothered with the effort of curling my hair, especially as I’m not fast at doing it. I’ve never been able to curl my hair using straighteners, and I’ve only ever had success with a wand to curl my hair, but it takes me quite a while to do it.

The TYMO CurlGo Eco is a portable hair curler that promises effortless loose, bouncy curls in as little as 10 minutes.

Read this review to find out how well the TYMO CurlGo Eco worked on mid-length, straight, and sleek hair; how easy and quick the device was to use; and how long the loose curls lasted.

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About the TYMO CurlGo Eco

The TYMO CurlGo Eco is a portable hair curler that delivers effortless loose curls. The device automatically curls hair with its clever rotating barrel, meaning the curler does the hard work for you. Silky, shiny curls can be created in as little as 10 minutes. According to TYMO, the curls are long-lasting, staying in place for up to 1 week.

The curler has 3 different temperature settings: 210°C (410°F), 185°C (365°F), and 160°C (320°F). The TYMO CurlGo heats up in under a minute. It also has an 8-second automatic timer that beeps to indicate when you can take your hair out of the barrel, but you can leave hair in for 3-5 seconds longer if needed.

This curler comes with an anti-scald design for safe styling, as the outer parts of the device do not get hot. As the hair rotates in the barrel, there is an anti-tangle feature. If hair becomes stuck in the barrel, the device stops rotating, allowing you to safely and easily unravel hair from the barrel.

There’s a safety lock on the back of the device that prevents you from accidentally turning on the device when taking it on the go. You can only power on the device when it’s unlocked. The device automatically switches off after 10 minutes of inactivity to preserve battery life.

Since testing the original TYMO CurlGo, this curler has now been renamed to CurlGo Eco. The main difference worth noting is that the Eco version doesn’t include a 65W charger, although a USB-C charging cable is supplied. TYMO says you can use a compatible USB-C charger instead.

The barrel size and temperature settings remain the same, so my testing experience should still be relevant to those features. However, check TYMO’s current product page for the latest information on what’s included with the device before buying.

The TYMO CurlGo Eco costs £109.99. Shipping is available worldwide.

How to use the TYMO CurlGo Eco

Using the TYMO CurlGo Eco is straightforward. Simply follow the steps below:

1. Wash and thoroughly dry hair. Ensure all strands are detangled.
2. Unlock the device and press the power button for 2 seconds to switch it on.
3. Briefly press the power button to adjust the temperature. The temperature is indicated on the front of the curler.
4. Select the desired rotation direction via the arrow button on the curler (left or right).
5. Hold the curler vertically with the slot facing away from the face.
6. Insert a 1-inch section of hair into the slot.
7. Press the rotate button to wrap hair. Wait for it to automatically stop, or press again to stop/start rotation.
8. After the rotation stops, wait 8 seconds for the beep, and gently release the curl downward. You can leave hair in for 3-5 seconds longer after the beep if desired.

TYMO CurlGo Eco vs TYMO CurlPro

TYMO sells other automatic curlers, too, including the TYMO CurlPro. The main difference is that the CurlGo Eco is cordless and portable, making it handy for travel, whereas the CurlPro needs to be plugged in during use. The CurlPro is also more affordable, costing just £59.99, so it’s worth considering if you mainly curl your hair at home and don’t need a cordless device.

Honest TYMO CurlGo Eco review

Below, I share my honest experience and review of using the TYMO CurlGo Eco, including the look of the packaging, ease of use, how the curls turned out, and how long the curls lasted.

Packaging and device appearance

I love the baby pink curler. It’s so cute and girly. The device looks pretty and sleek.

This curler comes with easy-to-read instructions. The manual isn’t unnecessarily lengthy, and you can learn about the device and how to use it quickly. There’s also a quick-start guide on how to curl your hair, which is handy.

Charging

The device charged quickly. Honestly, I’m not exactly sure how long it took to charge, as I wasn’t in the room while it charged, but it was certainly within about 4 hours. While it’s charging, the device emits a flashing white light. Once it’s fully charged, the white light remains on.

Handily, the device also has a built-in light to indicate battery life. When you’re using the device cordless, the light indicator stays blue when the battery isn’t low. When the battery life is between 5%-10%, the light turns orange. At below 5% charge, the indicator light flashes orange.

The TYMO CurlGo curled my hair without the battery life draining to 10% or under.

How easy the device is to use on mid-length straight hair

I set the temperature to 185°C. Beyond the 8-second automatic timer, I left my hair in the curler for about an extra 3 seconds, as my mid-length hair is straight and sleek. It took me around 50 minutes to curl my entire hair.

Now I’ve got used to the curler, I think I could curl my hair in around 30 minutes. I doubt I could meet the 10-minute claim from TYMO, as my hair is so straight that it needs that extra bit of time in the barrel. However, being more familiar with the device and taking slightly larger sections of hair, I think I could bring the time down.

I found the device easy to use and think it’s beginner-friendly. Putting my hair into the barrel took a bit of getting used to, as doing it in the mirror when you have poor hand-eye coordination isn’t the easiest! However, once I’d got the hang of this, it was straightforward.

The only part of my hair I struggled to curl was the back and the shortest parts of my hair – the underneath strands. My strands aren’t long enough for me to pull around to the side to see to curl them, so I got McKenzie to finish those bits for me. That’s the only downside of using the TYMO CurlGo Eco; you’ll likely need an extra pair of hands just to finish the parts of your hair you can’t see if you’ve got short- or mid-length hair.

The curler is lightweight, which makes it perfect for travelling. It also means you don’t get arm ache when you’re curling your hair! Another massive bonus.

How the loose curls look

Here’s how the loose curls turned out:

I love how the curls turned out! They’re loose, bouncy, and soft, which is a versatile and classy look. These loose curls would look great for pretty much any occasion, but especially for weddings, evenings out, or more formal occasions for an elegant finish.

I brushed the curls gently once I’d finished curling my hair for a softer look. But I think I’d skip this another time for a more defined – but still loose – curl.

How long the curls lasted

My hair is notorious for not taking to waves or curlers particularly well. And when devices curl or wave my hair well, the effect usually doesn’t last long.

Before I curled my hair, I applied my usual volumising mousse after I showered, as I find this helps give my hair more volume and grip. I also spritzed some heat protectant spray to prevent as much damage as possible.

The curls dropped even within an hour of me doing them. I think the nature of a looser curl meant that it was more prone to dropping. After 5 hours, the curls had dropped massively, with only a very slight wave left in my hair and no sign of a curl pattern.

I wish the curls lasted longer. At the hottest temperature and maybe leaving the curls in the barrel for an additional 2 seconds, I think my curls would’ve had more longevity. Even then, I’m not convinced they’d last all day. They certainly wouldn’t last for a week!

Who is the TYMO CurlGo Eco best for?

The TYMO CurlGo Eco may suit you if:

• You want a cordless curler for travel or occasional styling.
• You prefer loose, bouncy curls.
• You value a lightweight device.
• You’re willing to spend time learning how to position your hair correctly.

Think carefully before buying if:

• You need to curl your hair very quickly.
• Your hair is difficult to curl, and you need long-lasting results.
• You have short or hard-to-reach sections that are difficult to position in the barrel.

The verdict: Is the TYMO CurlGo Eco worth it?

Overall, I’m impressed with the TYMO CurlGo Eco. It creates beautiful, loose curls, is lightweight, and becomes easier to use once you’ve got the hang of it. However, it took me much longer than TYMO’s 10-minute claim, and my curls started dropping within an hour. I also found the TYMO Rovy Compact easier to use.

Despite the issue with longevity, I still rate the CurlGo Eco highly because I love the look of the curls, and the lightweight, cordless design makes styling more convenient. The main compromise is that the results don’t last as long as I’d like on my hair.

Rating: 4.5 stars

I’d recommend the CurlGo Eco if you want a cordless curler that’s convenient for travel and you’re happy to spend time styling your hair. If long-lasting curls are your main priority, I’d bear in mind that the results weren’t particularly long-lasting on my straight hair.

Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 7 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has combination skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.