It’s common knowledge in natural hair care circles that applying heat when using a deep conditioner or hair mask helps the product penetrate better. When going to the salon isn’t an option, many black women resort to creative ways to do this, like wrapping conditioner-soaked locks in layers of plastic wrap to lock in moisture or wrapping their hair in a hot towel and putting on a shower cap. While these methods make sense, they just don’t work. They’re time-consuming and ultimately don’t deliver enough direct heat and moisture to open up the hair cuticle. So when I discovered Pattern Beauty was making a portable at-home steamer, my curls instantly went wild.
“Just as we recommend moisturizing your skin right after a shower to lock in moisture from the humid air, you can do the same with your hair,” says board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD. “Heated moisturizers help open up the cuticle so it can better absorb more water. This is good for your hair in the short term, but keeping your hair moisturized on a consistent basis will benefit it in the long run.”
Pattern aims to bring the benefits of hair steaming into people’s personal bathrooms so that “you don’t have to put a plastic cap on your conditioner bottle and sit there all day,” says Nikita Durham-Wilson, the company’s vice president of product development. “Now you can skip that step and steam your hair for optimal penetration in 15 minutes, then enjoy this little treat. No more washing all day long.”
I never pass up an opportunity to cut down on the time it takes to wash my hair, so I tried out the Pattern Steamer.
Tracee Ellis Ross, known and celebrated for her voluminous locks, founded Pattern in 2019. Since its inception, the brand has successfully launched products for curly hair (shampoo, conditioner, scalp serum, and a range of styling products). Last year, Pattern entered the heat tool market with a hair dryer. This year, the company launched a Best of Beauty Award-winning curling iron, and is now releasing a vaporizer.
Pattern’s product development team conceived of the steamer by discussing and thinking about common hair concerns across different natural hair types and hairstyles. “This is what our consumers want,” Durham-Wilson said. “We conducted a comprehensive consumer survey, and a steamer ranked highly in what consumers wanted from Pattern.”
The Pattern team started designing the steamboat about 15 months ago, and Durham-Wilson says it took them 19 iterations to find the perfect design.
The Pattern Steamer comes in the brand’s signature mustard yellow color, has a flat base (can stand upright on a flat surface) and a neck that’s comfortable to hold in one hand. The head has seven split ends built into it that release steam to moisturize, detangle, and add volume to your hair. The kit also includes two attachments: a disc that attaches to four additional teeth between the original seven for better detangling, and a rotating cone diffuser that helps create curls.
Setup is simple: press the two buttons on either side of the base and remove the water cartridge. Once the water tank is removed, lift the small round latch on the water tank and fill it with distilled water. If you fill the steamer to the maximum mark (150 ml), it will run for 16 minutes.
I recently colored my hair and got a silky perm to prepare for the start of fall. But in about two weeks, it’s time to wash my hair, praying that my curls will hold up to the heat and chemicals. I plan to use some intensive treatments like Pattern Bounce Back Pre-Shampoo and Pattern Breakage Barrier Repair Mask to restore my curls, and I’m also looking forward to trying out this steamer. After all, the manufacturer claims that this tool is best for use in intensive care units.
I’m no stranger to naturally curly hair (I’ve had it for about 10 years), but I am new to using hair tools. Despite my inexperience, I found this steamer easy to use. I quickly read the instructions, then opened the water tank at the bottom and filled it with water. After putting the water tank back, I pressed the start button, waited for it to stop flashing, turned on the steam function, and voila! Within seconds, steam was coming out of the machine.
While the machine was heating up, I applied a generous amount of Pattern Bounce Back Pre-Shampoo to my straight hair and rubbed it in with my fingers. I usually use Olaplex No.3 as a pre-wash, but this time I decided to switch things up and use all of Pattern’s conditioners. As the product slowly soaked into my hair, I noticed that my hair was getting a little frizzy, but once I started using the steamer, my curls were super bouncy.
I started using the steamer without any attachments other than the standard brush and with my hair full of shampoo. The standard brush detangles my hair just as well as a wide-tooth brush. The extra comb attachment gives my curls even more volume. Detangling my hair has never been easier. The combination of steaming and shampooing makes my curls glide through the brush with ease and leave them soft and moisturized.
After washing my hair, I separated it into four sections to make it easier to steam my entire head. Before picking up the steamer again, I applied the Pattern Breakage Barrier Mask, which has a thick, sticky gel texture, to my hair. One of the cool things about this steamer is that you can turn the steam function on and off without having to unplug the unit or turn it off completely, like you have to do with many other steamers. (This steamer automatically turns off after 60 minutes.) This makes it easier to use when moving between sections of your head. I made the mistake of leaving the steamer in one section too long and holding it too close to my scalp and got a little burned, so a word of advice from the wise: keep the steamer about five to six inches away from your scalp. If you want to stay close to your scalp, don’t stay there too long.
The steam and hair mask made my curls soft and smooth again. I combed through each section of my hair, paying attention to split ends, and then ran the diffuser over my entire head. I usually apply the mask to my hair, put a plastic cap on it, and then do small chores around the house to pass the time while the mask soaks in; however, with this steamer, I was able to save about 30 minutes.
I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the steam iron is to use and how hassle-free it is. It doesn’t leak at all, the steam doesn’t fog up the entire bathroom, and it doesn’t make floors, mirrors, or sink surfaces slippery. Overall, I’ve noticed less hair loss when I brush my hair, which means I have less hair to clean up at night before I go to bed.
I finished washing my hair and braided it into little pigtails and curls. With each braid, I couldn’t help but admire how soft and moisturized my curls felt — as if my hair was saying, “Girl, where have you been hiding that tool all this time?”
While the curling sensation wasn’t any different from normal, the Pattern Hair Steamer made my hair wash day easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable—and that’s a win for me.
I have 2B/2C curly hair, and after using the Pattern Steam Iron, I am convinced that it is designed for textured hair with tighter curls. I tried it on my curls by running a comb through damp hair and spritzing with Ceremonia Leave-In Conditioner and Bumble and Bumble Curl Spray.
After a shower, my hair has a lot of moisture left in it, so using a steamer when my hair is well-moisturized doesn’t seem necessary to me. However, I find that using a steamer with a mask works better for my hair type.
The Pattern Steamer has completely replaced the bulky regular facial steamer I used before. I use it along with the Pattern Intensive Conditioner to keep my 3C curls moisturized and nourished. Its detangling attachment gently detangles my curls without pulling them out—it has truly changed the way I look!
The retail price of the Pattern Steam Iron is $169. Considering the ease of use and storage, and the numerous benefits it can have on your hair, this tool is definitely worth the money. Other steam curling irons on the market, such as the Kingsteam Steam Curler and the Q-Redew Steam Curler, are slightly cheaper but are larger in size and awkward to use. Large steam irons like the Kingsteam are difficult to store and awkward to carry, while small steam irons like the Q-Redew are limited in their functionality due to the lack of accessories.
Pattern’s steam engine is a great fit. It’s not bulky, but it’s comfortable enough to hold and steam your entire head with ease. You do have to hold it and manually move it through your hair, so if you like to sit under your dryer to easily apply steam, the manual control feature may be inconvenient.
In addition to the hands-free feature, the various accessories also make it more flexible and versatile than other steam machines on the market. Plus, it’s stylish and will look great on any bathroom countertop.
Pattern Steamer is available now at patternbeauty.com and will be available in Ulta Beauty stores and online beginning October 14th.