TYME Curling Iron FAQ
TYME irons work differently from an ordinary curling iron or flat iron, so the questions we get are specific. Below are the answers we give most often, written plainly. If yours is not here, email hello@tymestyle.com and a licensed stylist will answer, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Eastern.
The short version. Four irons, all $149.99. The 1.25 inch does ringlet curls or beachy waves. The 2 inch does volume and movement. The Iron Pro and the Iron Air are the two that curl and straighten, and both are at their best on medium to coarse hair up to bra strap length. Every iron works on every hair texture and every ethnicity of hair. Start on the lowest heat setting. Returns and exchanges for 7 days, opened or not.
Choosing the right TYME iron
Which TYME iron should I buy?
Start with the look you want rather than with your hair type. The 1.25 inch curling iron gives you ringlet curls or beachy waves, depending on how you angle and rotate it. The 2 inch curling iron is not really for curls: it puts volume and movement into the hair, the body you get from a blowout. The Iron Pro, which is the original TYME iron, and the Iron Air both curl and straighten.
Thirty seconds with the quiz will answer this, or read the full comparison.
What is the difference between the 1.25 inch and the 2 inch?
The 1.25 inch makes curls and waves. The 2 inch makes body. That is the honest distinction, and the name of the 2 inch misleads people: it is there to give the hair volume, lift and movement, not defined ringlets. Plenty of people end up owning both, which is what the Size Matters bundle is for.
Which iron straightens?
The Iron Pro and the Iron Air. Those are the two that curl and straighten with the same tool, and the Iron Pro is the faster of the two at straightening.
Does hair length matter?
For two of the four, yes. The 1.25 inch and the 2 inch work at any length. The Iron Pro and the Iron Air are at their best on hair up to bra strap length and get harder to handle the longer the hair is, so if your hair is longer than bra strap we recommend one of the curling irons, even if straightening is what you are after.
Does it work on short hair?
Yes. You start at the top of the section rather than the bottom, so the curl simply ends where your length ends. You need roughly an inch of hair to work with. The 1.25 inch is the easiest on short hair.
Does it work on fine hair?
Yes. Either curling iron works on any hair type, so choose by the look you want, and start on the lowest heat setting. Fine hair takes a curl quickly and drops it quickly, so the thing that matters most is letting the curl cool completely before you touch it.
Does it work on medium, coarse or thick hair?
Yes, and the Iron Pro and the Iron Air are built for exactly that. Medium to coarse hair is where those two are at their strongest, and they both straighten as well as curl. The curling irons work on thick hair too; the Pro and the Air simply have more power behind them. Work in smaller sections than feels necessary.
Does it work on naturally curly hair?
Yes, and this is the part people are surprised by: the iron smooths as it curls, so there is no need to straighten first.
Does it work on my hair type and texture?
Every TYME iron works on every ethnicity and every texture of hair. Where they differ is what they are built to produce, not who they are for.
Can I use it on extensions?
If your extensions tolerate heat from a flat iron, they will tolerate a TYME iron. Check with the manufacturer of your extensions first, and start on the lowest setting.
Can I use a TYME iron if I am left handed?
Yes. We suggest trying the right handed method first, because around 90 percent of our left handed customers end up preferring it. Watch the tutorial playlist either way.
Heat, plates and how the iron works
What heat setting should I use?
Start on the lowest. If your hair is not holding the style, turn it up one setting and stop as soon as it does. Every texture and every density needs something different, and that is exactly why there is a range of settings rather than one temperature. You can always add heat. You cannot take it back out of the hair.
How many heat settings are there?
The 1.25 inch and 2 inch have four: 300F, 350F, 375F and 400F. The Iron Pro has five: 300F, 325F, 350F, 375F and 400F. The Iron Air runs from 280F up to 430F, the widest range in the line.
How long does it take to heat up?
The 1.25 inch and 2 inch curling irons take about 30 seconds. The Iron Pro and the Iron Air both take about 50 seconds.
Does it shut itself off?
The 1.25 inch, the 2 inch and the Iron Pro shut off after 30 minutes with no use.
What are the plates made of?
The 1.25 inch and 2 inch use PTC ceramic, which distributes heat evenly. The Iron Air uses ceramic paired with cool air vents. The Iron Pro uses titanium, which heats fast, holds temperature steadily and carries a higher ionic charge, leaving the hair smooth as the iron glides. Titanium is why the Iron Pro gets through coarser hair so quickly.
What makes a TYME iron different from a normal curling iron?
The twist is built into the tool rather than into your wrist. A slight turn of the hand changes the result, and because the shape heats and then cools the hair in the same motion, the style holds longer.
How do I get my curls to last?
- Go slower with looser tension. Slow gives the hair time to heat and time to cool, and a cooled curl is a set curl.
- Check your products. Heavy shampoos, conditioners and oily heat protectants weigh curls down. Use a lightweight heat protectant before, and a lightweight hairspray after. Nothing else is needed.
- Do not brush or rake the curl until it feels cool. Where hair cools is where it stays.
- Only then consider heat. If the style still will not hold, go up one setting.
How do I get both sides to match?
Mirror your angle, rotation and direction. A trick that works: when you get a curl you love on one side, draw a line on the mirror with a dry erase marker showing where the iron was. Match the iron to that line on the other side until the motion becomes automatic.
Where do I place the iron to start?
You begin at the top of the section, not the ends. Pull the section slightly forward towards the mirror so you can get right up to the root. There is a barrier on the curling side, so you can go close to the scalp. Rotate the iron back straight away, before you start sliding down. More rotation means more curl.
Hair health and damage
Is a TYME iron bad for your hair?
Any heat tool carries risk, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. What a TYME iron changes is the arithmetic. One pass instead of three or four, and a style that holds for days rather than hours, means far fewer total heat exposures in a week. Use a heat protectant every time, and stay on the lowest setting that actually sets your hair.
My titanium plates have scratches. Is the iron damaged?
No. Titanium scratches easily and it looks alarming, but surface marks have no effect on how the iron heats or performs.
Care and cleaning
How do I clean my TYME iron?
Product build up is normal. Let the iron cool, then wipe it with a damp microfibre cloth. If it has been a long while and there is heavy build up, a little rubbing alcohol will deep clean it, but for ordinary use that is not necessary.
How long does a TYME iron last?
It is built with components chosen to last five years or more of regular use.
Travel and voltage
Is the iron dual voltage?
Yes. TYME irons run on both 110 to 120v and 220 to 240v, so they work in North America, Europe, the UK and anywhere else drawing 220 to 240v. You need a plug adapter for the socket shape, not a voltage converter. We also sell versions that already have the right plug: the EU and UK Iron Pro and the EU and UK Original.
Ordering, shipping and returns
What is your return policy?
Returns and exchanges are accepted for 7 days from delivery, opened or not. Send the item back in the same condition it reached you, with everything in the original box. A flat $20 restocking fee applies to refunds and exchanges alike, and return shipping is paid by you. Full detail is on the returns and exchanges page.
How long does shipping take?
Three to five days within the United States.
Where can I buy a TYME iron?
Only here on tymestyle.com and on Amazon. If you see a TYME iron sold anywhere else, treat it as a counterfeit and read how to spot a fake before you buy.
Are TYME irons worth the money?
Work out what you already own. A wand, a flat iron and a waver, each replaced every year or two, costs more over five years than one iron that does the job. That is the honest case. The other half of it is time: most people are done in ten minutes rather than forty.
About TYME
Who designs TYME irons?
Licensed hair stylists, in both eras of the company. Jacynda Smith, a cosmetologist, founded TYME, began designing the original iron in 2012 and launched it in 2014, after years of hearing clients say they could not recreate their salon hair at home. Lauren Ashtyn owns TYME today and designed the 1.25 inch and 2 inch curling irons herself. She grew up in her mother's salon and has spent years behind the chair.
Where is TYME based?
South Carolina. TYME is a family owned business, and every iron is tested in a working salon before it reaches a customer. See where TYME has been featured.