The Lunata Cordless Styler Pro makes cordless flat irons actually seem worth it
The Lunata Cordless Styler Pro makes cordless flat irons actually seem worth it
In the year of 2021, when you can find a cord-free version of most household items, it may seem somewhat surprising that wired flat irons are still the common version of the hot tool. After all, shouldn’t a tool with the the versatility to straighten, curl, and wave be free from the limits imposed by awkwardly placed bathroom outlets?
That’s not to say there are no options for cordless flat irons out there. Just last year, the Dyson released its first cordless iron for a cool $500, adding to a line up of other wireless irons from longtime heavy-hitters in hair like GHD and Chi.
Yet these brands aren’t dedicated to the cordless life like Lunata, a beauty tech company that sells exclusively cordless hot tools, which so far includes a selection of curling wands, curlings irons, and of course, flat irons. While Lunata may not have reached cult-hair product status, if the brand keeps putting out flat irons like the Lunata Cordless Styler Pro, there’s a very strong case to be made that it could definitely get there one day.
To cord or not to cord
I have to start this review with a confession — though the benefits of a cordless flat iron may seem obvious, I came into this experience as a complete skeptic.
Sure, being cord-free is just one of those features that seems like it’ll make life easier, but I figured that the best place for most people to do their hair is actually right in front of their bathroom mirror, where usually there is, at the very least, a workable outlet. It’s not like you really want to be walking around while carrying an object that I know for a fact we’ve all burned ourselves with while standing perfectly still. Plus, you’d have to charge the iron with a cord anyways.
Credit: mashable photo composite / dyson, lunata, ghd
Then, as I combed through review after review of the range of cordless options out there, I saw the same complaints came up again and again — cordless straighteners were heavy, they don’t heat up as evenly, they tend to be pricier without improved functionality, and their battery life isn’t impressive enough to justify their cordless existences. Overall, it seemed that the reason hot tool brands hadn’t ditched wires was because the wires served a very important purpose. They provided the power so flat irons could get hot enough and stay hot enough to actually be an effective styling tool.
At this point, I want to be clear that this review is not intended to be a takedown of cordless flat irons. I actually quite liked the Lunata Cordless Styler Pro, but to understand why it stands out, you have understand the general expectations for cordless flat iron functionality, because they are simply not the same as corded ones. They are heavier, they are pricier, and most do have about a 30 minute battery life.
Is it weird to call a flat iron elegant?
As soon as I opened the box, I realized the Lunata was not the flat iron of my high school days. It was not even the flat iron of my early 20s. The Lunata Pro is the flat iron of a woman — not in the sense that only women can use it, but in the sense that the person who uses this matte hot tool with gold accents is a person who has his, her, or their shit together. (This flat iron is also available in black and gold, which unsurprisingly, also looks sophisticated).
Credit: bethany allard
This point only became more evident once I turned it on, as it heated up in just over a minute to its full temp of 450 degrees Fahrenheit (people with their shit together don’t have time to sit around waiting for flat irons). Stylists have told Mashable before that almost no one needs quite that level of heat from their straightener, especially if they want to to avoid frying their hair off. Luckily, the Lunata Pro understands the importance of hair care, so its temperature is adjustable in 10-degree increments from 200 to 450 degrees.
Finding that just right temp is easy with the plus and minus buttons located on the inside of the iron, next to the on button and lock switch (more on this switch later). The placement of these buttons though not that unusual is definitely ideal, as there’s minimal risk of hitting them and adjusting the temperature or fully turning off the iron during styling.
Credit: Bethany Allard
Once you set it, you can track the flat iron’s temp as it heats up degree by degree thanks to the easy-to-read screen. I typically settled for temperatures of about 350 to 380 degrees, because although the strands of my hair are fine, I have a decent amount of wavy hair.
In the couple of weeks I tested this flat iron, whether I was straightening, curling, or accentuating my waves, the Pro’s titanium plates handled the job beautifully. It glided over my hair smoothly and didn’t pull or leave kinks in my hair, seeming to prove that the common cordless complaint of uneven heating does not apply to this flat iron. The curved edges were especially useful for creating loose, bouncy curls.
As for how Lunata handles the other gripes about cordless flat irons…
There’s no getting around it — this flat iron has some heft to it. Its weight was the first thing I noticed when I lifted it out of the box. It makes sense — four rechargeable lithium ion batteries aren’t feather light. Honestly, because the flat iron’s design looked so much like a wired one (minus the wire, obviously) both in size and shape, I was surprised that it felt as heavy as it did.
However, despite my months and months of not exercising (I truly have not even tangentially thought about trying a few push-ups), I easily adjusted to the weight. Even when I styled my hair for 30 minutes instead of my usual 10 to 15, my arms felt perfectly fine.
The battery life was better than expected
Even if my arms had felt a little heavier, the power that these batteries pack might just be worth it. In about an hour and a half, you get a full 60 minute charge. While it may not seem like a ton, if like me you’re styling your hair for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, that’s four to six potential uses before you have to dig your charger back out. Considering most other cordless irons out there sit at 30 minutes of battery life (Lunata’s two other flat irons max out at 40 minutes and 45 minutes), the Pro’s offering of a full hour is impressive.
Of course, you could just get into the habit of charging your flat iron every night, but if the whole point of cordless irons is to avoid wires as much as possible, well then, I want to be avoiding wires. Feasibly, you could take this iron with you on a short trip and not even have to bring the charger. Plus, it’s nice know that if I did want to spend more time on my hair, I wouldn’t feel rushed.
When the battery does run low, the screen lets you know with a little “LoP” before turning off about a minute later. A blue status bar next to temp also gives an indication of the battery life, but this is something I figured out only at the end of my testing period, as this information wasn’t anywhere in the manual or on Lunata’s website, leading me to assume it related to the iron’s temperature. Once the battery is entirely full, the screen will read “FUL” when the iron is plugged in.
Credit: bethany allard
If you do happen to ignore the battery life indicator like I did, being caught by surprise by a low battery isn’t a huge deal, as you can plug the flat iron in and continue to style while it charges.
The lock switch was a neat concept, but the execution left much to be desired
What actually proved to be disappointing was the Lunata Pro’s lock switch. At first, I considered it a thoughtful additional feature, since there’s no cord to wrap around the iron and keep it from opening while stored (though it does have a heat proof silicone storage sleeve).
However, the third time I used the iron, I went to click the lock switch back into place and it simply…fell off. I didn’t feel at all like I was forcing anything to move in a way it wasn’t supposed to.
After it happened I managed to pop the button pack in and I tried to be more gentle. Though it seemed like I had solved the problem at first, I couldn’t get the button to fully switch into its locked mode, so the moment I set the iron back down on my bathroom counter, it popped open again. I ended up avoiding the switch and use the sleeve to keep things together.
Again, not a total deal-breaker, but for $250, I did expect more than to see a switch break in three uses. With that said, from the 30 reviews on Lunata’s website and others I saw online, no one else seemed to have this problem, so it could have just been the case of a faulty flat iron.
Is the Lunata Cordless Styler Pro worth it?
The Lunata Cordless Styler Pro is an elegant flat iron doesn’t sacrifice functionality for the sake of ditching its cord. As it is $250, I hesitate to say add it to your cart no matter what, as there are more affordable, corded options that can heat style just as well.
However, if you’re someone who travels, styles other people’s hair a lot, likes to touch up on-the-go, or are simply cursed with outlets nowhere near a decent spot to style your hair, this could be you go-to hair tool.
It’s clear that this flat iron comes from a brand with a mission to perfect the cordless hot tool, and though it hasn’t quite done it yet, the Styler Pro proves Lunata is well on its way there.