Hello Maicurlies,

Today I have a review that I would like to share with you!

Now yes I know, I know, this review is going to be based on something that isn’t “correct”……I can live with the fact that I bought something fake (sorry)! So yes, this is all about my knock-off curl formers. You have no idea how much I wanted to buy these for the longest time and I finally was able to get my hands on some (yes not the real deal but still).

Disclaimer: So before I get into this review 1. I bought the knock-offs with my own money and I was not requested to do this review, I just wanted to share my experience and thoughts of them. 2. If you feel strongly (against) buying none originals then please skip this post…because you won’t like it (but then come back and read something else). 😉

Why did I opt for the knock-offs instead of the originals?

To break it down I have several reasons but the main two are: The originals are more than double the price of what I paid, I would have gotten less of the originals, and since I was not sure how much I would like/dislike them I decided it made more sense to pay less (in case I didn’t like them). 

Where can you buy the knock-offs?

I know that in the past the Vakind knock-off curl formers were available on Amazon however, I think they must have been blocked and blacklisted (I tried my darnedest to find them without success) so I ended up having to purchase from Ebay. There are different sellers on Ebay offering different sized knock-off curl formers and different widths too. I bought mine here and this is the seller details.

Details on the knock-offs I bought:

The seller offers (as off 13.03.2016)

• 10 curlers with 1 hook GBP 4.51 ($6.49)
• 20 curlers with 1 hook GBP 7.91 ($11.39)
• 30 curlers with 1 hook GBP 10.81 ($15.56)

The curlers are manufactures and sent from China. When I bought mine I ordered 60 curlers  (3 x 20 curlers). First I made an order of just 40 but then decided to add another 20 and paid $33.57 in total. I actually got 1 hook for each 10 curlers so I ended up with a total of 6 hooks even though I paid for 20 curlers and 1 hook…go figure (I am not complaining). My curlers are 45 cm long when stretched and 2.5 cm wide. As I mentioned there are different types of curlers available on Ebay and this seller actually also offers longer curlers on a different page (I didn’t notice this at the time but would have gone for those if I had). 

Each packet of curlers came in 10’s – 5 orange and 5 pink along with the hook (there is no colour option). The two colours lay your curls in opposite directions so the curls lay and frame your face nicely.

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Now I want to mention a few Pro’s and Con’s about the knock-offs along with some of the experiences I had while ordering them to keep you informed and provide as much information as I can.

Con’s:

Packaging – The curlers cam in sandwich bags, there was no pretty packaging so don’t expect to get something sturdy and “pretty” to hold your curlers. If you have a unused container/bag you might want to transder the curlers to that so you have them all together (that is what I did for the most of them). 

Instructions – There was no instructions on how to use the curlers. You can find a little guide on the sellers page when you order them but you don’t get instructions with the package. (If you are unsure about how to use them, I suggest watching a ton of YouTube videos beforehand so you know what you are doing and you don’t damage your hair). 

Hook – It is very simple to put the hook together but it can be a little tricky (requires a little strength) to pull them apart. I am unsure if it is the same with the origianl curl formers but you do have to pull the hook parts with a little strength to get them separate.

Communication – Communicating with the seller was really quite tedious! English is not his first language and since I don’t speak Chinese it became a little difficult when I contacted him to ask some questions. You will require a little patience (a bit of patience) since Emails can perhaps go back and forth without getting the answers you are looking for at first. In the end it worked out but just remember to be patient. (This can apply for other sellers on Ebay since they too might not speak the same language you do). 

Lost Order – I had to have my package resent to me because when I initially made my order, I never recieved the package. I Emailed the seller to inform him and he immedietly resent the package the following day after the email, so the issue was resolved but I feel like I need to mention this point. 

Curler ends – Some of the edges of the curlers seemed to be a little stuck together, probably from when they melted the plastic. However, once you put the hook through the curler they open up as normal. 

Uncomfortable – This is something that I think applies to all curl formers, at least from the reviews I have seen on YouTube (both originals and knock-offs). Trying to sleep with these in your hair is a nightmare! The curlers are quite hard and uncomfortable so be prepared for a sleepless night if you choose to leave them in! 

Installation – When I first tried the curlers it was not all that simple to get the hang of it, but once I got a few of them installed it become easier. 

Pro’s

Price – I got to save A LOT of money by opting to go for the knock-off’s it was nearly half the price to get 60 of these compared to double the price of the originals for just 40. 

Multiple Hooks – With the originals you get 2 hooks for 40 curlers with this option even if I went for 40 curlers I would have gotten 4 hooks (since I opted for 60 curlers I got 6 hooks) but the bottom line is you get more hooks which means if you break one, you will have extra and you can set up more curlers at a time which saves you time while installing! 

More Curlers For Less – More bang for your buck! You get more hooks that you would (in terms of price of the originals)! 

Free Shipping – I opted for free international shipping when I ordered which meant that I didn’t have to pay anything to get the package delivered however, going for this option meant having to wait 25 business days. You do have the option of getting the package sent quicker by paying roughly $35 (this was what it would have cost to get it sent from China over here so depending on where you live the price will change) and with that option I was told I would receive the package within 5 –  7 business days but I opted to wait. 

Size Options – Talking about buying knock-offs from Ebay, you get a number of length and width options when it comes to the curl formers you can buy so even if you do not opt for this seller, check out other pages on Ebay, I am sure you will find the right knock-offs you are looking for! 

Tip: When you order yours keep in mind that you might want to let your hair grow and if you plan on continuing to use them as your hair grows, try go for curlers that are longer than your hair. This way you won’t “out grow” the curlers (this is something I forgot!). However, if you do have curlers that are too short for your hair you can two strand twist your roots and then install the curlers a little lower down (below your roots) to make up for any missing length. 

Sometimes if I didn’t get all my hair within the latch of the hook my hair would refuse to want to be pulled through, if that happens STOP, push your hair back and retry! If you continue to try and pull your hair through you will yank your hair out!

I didn’t do a “how to” video on the curl formers since I feel there are thousands of videos out on YouTube already however if you would like to see a tutorial please let me know. I have a video review of the curlers along with a very quick (few second) demo of how I took down my curlers which was initially made for my Instagram page at the end of the review. 

Please let me know what you think of this review. If you own curl formers, knock-offs or decide to purchase some from this seller or someone else on Ebay please let me know how it goes, I love hearing from you!