tru ceramic pro vs. Maxiglide

Melrose wrote: Thats funny my TCP doesn't change color when it heats up.  The plates are the color red all the time.

The plates are supposed to change from a bright red to a deep maroon color when they get hot.  If yours doesn't and/or the paint chips off, you probably got a knock-off.  Where and when did you buy yours?

ETA: Maybe you can get some help here http://trueceramicpro.com/alerts/.  They said they will mail out replacements, but I don't know about refunds.   A working repacement is better than a $119 loss.  Maybe you can sell it? 

I have both the True Ceramic Pro and the Maxiglide.  First, I'll start off by saying that I am a black girl with relaxed hair.  If I don't relax my hair it is completely unmanageable.  I don't know if I would be considered a 4a or b or what -maybe somebody could help me out with that one.

Anyway I ordered the TCP back in December and I have been using it religiously up until a couple of days ago.  I recieved and first used the Maxiglide about two weeks ago..

Each tool has its advantages, and each has its shortcomings.  My TCP has always worked very well.   It was and still is such a miracle worker, and when I use it, I have strait and generally humidity resistant hair.  I have read several reviews where people had the "ceramic" plates chip off, but I never had any such problems with mine. I ordered it off of the actually informercial in December, so maybe I just got lucky. What I love about it is that it is very light and easy to use... it not only functions as a flat iron but it works very, very well as a curling iron once you get the hang of it.  Also, if I have a while to spend on my hair and I straiten in small sections at a time, I found that I could get at my nappy roots pretty effectively.  The cord is nice and long so it gives me plenty of working space.  It heats up in no time and you can tell whether its hot or cool by the color changing plates; I definatly love that.

So why did I decide to buy the Maxiglide?  Basically I wanted to see if I could get anything better.  I had done a lot of research about the Maxiglide and it has gotten rave reviews, so I said, "Hey, it's only $80, why not give it a try."  Not only that, I after I used the TCP on my hair for about six months or so, I noticed a TON of damage.  I don't know if it has to do with the iron itself, or if I was not protecting my hair properly.   When I first got it, like an idiot I was using 340 degrees of heat on my hair, but recently I went down to 270 even though it didn't work as well with that setting.  Either way my hair went from beautiful, thick and even all the way through, to uneven and very thin at the ends.   But it's still no where near as much damage as I got with my old non-ceramic iron.  Another thing that I don't like about the TCP is also something I like.  Because it's so small, you can't straiten as much hair so it takes a bit longer.

As for the Maxiglide.  I've only had it for two weeks, but I feel like I've seen enough to review it.  It arrived in much nicer packaging than my TCP did.  Much, MUCH nicer.  The TCP was just thrown in a box with all the stuff it came with and some packing peanuts, so one of the bottles of hair product they sent proceeded to leak all over the place.  Nice. 

Compared to the TCP, the Maxiglide is huge, but I expected that.  It was a little more complex to use first off.  I actually had to read the instructions first to figure out how to use it.  The blue light on the thing is pretty, but blinding; definately wear shades when you first turn it on.   The Maxiglide is a lot heavier that the TCP.  'm sure I'll get used to it, but it was a little hard to get the hang of at first. 

The little combs on the plate... um, they're great for the relaxed part of my hair, but when I tried to go over new grownth, it wasn't pretty.  I thought I was going to burn my hair off because the plates got stuck in my hair a few times.  For any girls (or guys) out there with hair like mine, I would suggest that you use the flat plate instead of the comb plate.  Anyway, the finished product was amazing.  I finished my hair in about 15 minutes and it was very strait; straiter than with the TCP or any other flat iron I have ever used.  It was really easy, the directions said to just let it glide through your hair and that's how it was. I didn't have to clamp down very hard at all. Pretty effortless when just going for a strait style, but the flipping was a little awkward for me and didn't work very well.  The TCP definatly has the Maxiglide beat when it comes to styling versatility.  I had a hard time using the steam burst technology. The blue button is at a really ackward place and it's hard to press it without clamping the plates all the way down on your hair. 

When I use the Maxiglide, my hair stays strait all day long as it did with the TCP.  However, the Maxiglide held up a little better in South Texas humidity for me; it remained just a strait as when I walked out the door.  The TCP did hold up nicely as well, but there a very small amount of frizziness towards the ends. I only have to straighten my hair with the Maxiglide about once a week, because it holds up so well.  I rarely have had to do any touch ups.  With the TCP I would have to touch up my hair every two to three days, so that may be another reason why I have so much damage.  I've only used my Maxiglide twice, so I don't know well it'll do as far as damage goes.  I am due for a trim (or maybe even all out cut) sometime this month so, I'll be ready for a fresh start, so I'll let yall know if I notice any significant damage.  Hopefully not.

Anyway, overall, both are good products, but I think the Maxiglide is better because of how well it straitens.  I recommend it especially for people with long and/or very thick hair that is still somewhat manageable.  If your hair is coarse, use the flat plate.  If you can get a good one, I recommend the TCP for people with shorter hair or if you want something that functions as both a curling iron and a flat iron.  I indend to keep both of them.  I'll probably use the TCP for my baby hairs around head and use the Maxiglide for the rest.   I hope this review is helpful to someone.  Feel free to ask me any questions you might have.

Maxiglide: 4.5/5
Pros: Hair comes out bone strait, great resistance to humidity, straitens very easily and very quickly, steam burst technology, I don't have to use it very often - less damage?
Cons: Pin plate not good for coarse hair, takes a while to heat up and cool down, big and heavy, doesn't curl hair as effectively as TCP, steam burst is awkward.


True Ceramic Pro: 4/5
Pros: Very versatile... functions as curling iron and flat-iron, straightens very well, very good resistance to humidity, heats up and cools fast and color changing plates, light and compact - very easy to travel with.
Cons: Smaller plates = longer straitening time, caused damage to my hair? Doesn't straighten as well or resist humidity as well as the Maxiglide. 

I wouldn't bet my money on the true ceramic pro. There were a number of people in this forum who were complaing that the true ceramic pro chipped off on the "ceramic" plates to reveal metal, and that it's covered in red paint. Some also complained that it burned their hair off. Just thought i'd warned you guys!

Having said this, you'd probably be better off purchasing the maxiglide.