The Steampod: How can you spot a counterfeit?

L'Oréal, the leading group in the cosmetics industry, and market leader both in France and internationally, is developing by constantly innovating. The brand decided to focus on an area that many women are passionate about today: straightening irons. L'Oréal released a new version of its flagship product: the Steampod. THE revolution in hair straightening irons, with a device that works using steam technology to provide care and quality straightening. In light of its success, the brand has launched the brand new Steampod 2.0. Its success sparked the interest of counterfeiters, who rushed to reproduce an almost identical product. Unfortunately, if you're not a connoisseur, you could easily be taken in by the tempting offers on the brand's copied products. In this article, we reveal some effective tips that will help you identify a genuine Steampod from a fake.

The aesthetics of the Steampod

The shape of the appliance is quite recognisable from the counterfeits. The handle should be thinner than the straightening nozzle. The gold-coloured logo and brand name should also appear on the handle. In addition to the logo, the words Steampod and the name of the product should also appear. Finally, the front of the straightening iron should have a large gold line. On counterfeits, this tends not to be visible, or even non-existent. What's more, the brand logo is never printed on an imitation, so make sure these elements are visible, as in the photo below:

Different temperature levels

An authentic Steampod has 5 different temperature settings.

The first temperature must be between 140°C and 150°C, the second between 160°C and 170°, the third is 200°C and the final temperature is 210°C. If your device has only a few temperature levels and does not have all 5, then you are probably dealing with a counterfeit. The steampod should also be suitable for all hair types. If you've already bought the product and tested it, and you notice a change in your hair, don't use the machine again.

The temperature is set using the "+" or "-" buttons. If your appliance has buttons with the numbers 1, 2, 3... Then your Steampod is an imitation.

The water reserve

A special feature of the steam straightener is the large water tank, so you don't have to refill it several times. This is separate from the straightener. It should have a transparent, black outline. The top should be slightly white with the L'Oréal brand name on it. You can check the authenticity of your product with this, as replica factories tend to opt for a tank that doesn't have the brand name or the same colour. The shape may also be subject to change if it is a replica of the brand's product.

The tank should look like this:

The power cord

Take a close look at the power cord and, more specifically, its shape. This part is often badly forged by crooks.

As you can see from the image below, the cord on a fake Steampod is more curved than a genuine Steampod steam straightener. You should also see slight lines anchored at the beginning of the cord on a real product.

Curious to find out more about counterfeit beauty products? Read our articles on GHD straighteners and MAC lipsticks.

Secure the purchase of your used Steampod with Obvy

We advise you to use Obvy to secure your transaction.

Obvy is a secure payment platform that helps you avoid the scams that are common in transactions between private individuals. When you make a transaction on Obvy, the funds are only credited to your seller when the buyer certifies that the goods purchased are in order. If this is not the case, you are automatically refunded and the item is returned to the seller.

By using Obvy to carry out transactions between private individuals, you can also benefit from payment in several instalments.