Since launching in 2019, Tracee Ellis Ross’ beauty brand Pattern has been a favorite for natural haircare. The conditioners have gone viral multiple times over, and the blow dryer is a go-to for curly hair heat styling. As someone always looking for products to make my washdays easier, I was very eager to test out the brand’s latest hair tool: the Pattern Hair Steamer, which is designed to boost hydration and enable products absorb more deeply. Over the course of two months of use (I used it to refresh my hair every other week), I found its sleek, ergonomic design and handy attachments helpful in transforming my wash days into relaxing, self care sessions.
I have high-porosity, tight-textured hair, so getting my twist outs sufficiently moisturized has always been a struggle. I use leave-in conditioners and hair oils throughout the week to maintain a consistent bounce, but I’m always seeking out tools that help lock in moisture from my washday onwards. The Pattern Hair Steamer has become an invaluable tool that’s easy to use and leaves my curls hydrated and bouncy.
Our score: 9/10 | Attachments: Prong and diffuser | Temperature: Up to 284 degrees Fahrenheit | Runtime: 16 minutes | Warranty: 2 years
Best for:
- Curly, coily or kinky hair textures
- Reviving curl patterns after heat treatments or protective styles
- Low porosity hair (that struggles to retain moisture)
Skip if:
- You have a looser curl pattern
- You’re on a budget
- You prefer getting deep conditioning treatments done at the salon
A Sleek, Functional Design That’s Easy To Wield
The steamer’s sleek, neutral brown exterior matches the brand’s “au naturel” aesthetic. When I pick it up, it has a slight heft to it—but not so much that it would strain my arm after a few minutes of use. Its 6-foot cord also gives it enough length to easily maneuver it around my head.
The seven prongs on the device’s front have blunt, rounded ends that never felt irritating against my scalp. If you want to switch out the head, the two protruding buttons on either side are designed to lock attachments securely in place.
There’s a built-in water chamber at the bottom for whenever you need to refill: Grab it by the two indents on its sides and pull downwards to remove it. The brand also recommends periodically cleaning it out to prevent any residue buildup, so the steamer also comes with a microfiber cloth and a small flush bottle that you fill with distilled water to rinse out debris or mineral deposits.
Delivers Seamless Hydration
Overall, using the Pattern Steamer is pretty intuitive. Once you’ve loaded it with a filled chamber and plugged it in, a press of a button will power it on. The LED-lit button blinks until it’s sufficiently heated (it should take about a minute), at which point it glows solid. Finally, you flip the switch beneath the head to get the steam going.
After washing and deep conditioning (using the Pattern Breakage Barrier Hair Mask), I used this tool to quickly and efficiently detangle my hair. The steady flow of steam was always gentle on my scalp, and the extra moisture allowed the wide prongs to glide softly through any unruly strands without issue (or extra breakage). Detangling with a brush is normally the most tedious part of my washdays, so the fact that this tool can do it in half the time is a godsend.
The steam also expands cuticles to allow for deeper absorption of haircare products. After detangling a section with the steamer, I combed through a combo of products that work best for me—including a leave-in, curl cream and mousse—before twisting and then curling it with a flexi rod. I usually dry with an at-home bonnet dryer. Using the steam to prep each section, my curls always come out incredibly hydrated and bouncy, with a noticeable lift that’s hard for me to achieve otherwise.
Streamlined Attachments
The tool also comes with two attachments you can swap out depending on your needs. Each can be twisted on to lock securely onto the steamer. The first one has four prongs close to its center—along with holes around them—to separate hair and stretch it. I found this one pretty interchangeable with the original head, but I use it if I crave an even heavier layer of hydration.
The second is a diffuser attachment, which is designed to encircle parts of the head like a halo. This is more for gathering a lot of curls at once to give your ends a thorough steam. I use this one frequently while doing my twists, as my high-porosity hair dries quickly, and I always have to rehydrate my strands so they can be styled while my hair is still wet. Before using the Pattern Steamer, I would achieve this with a simple spray bottle; with this diffuser attachment, I can cajole my curls with a deeply penetrating stream as often as I please.
Final Thoughts
The Pattern Hair Steamer is an incredibly helpful addition to my haircare routine: It makes detangling a breeze and delivers a steady burst of hydration that my parched, high-porosity strands can’t get enough of. While some of its attachments were more useful to me than others, I still get plenty of value out of the device overall. Gone are the days when I dread tedious washdays; I now look forward to clarifying my roots with this tool’s almost spa-like steaming process.
The results also last. I still oil my scalp and use a leave-in conditioner to maintain hydration throughout the week, but my hair has a healthier appearance overall. Those who would rather deep condition regularly at the salon may not opt for this. However, if you want to turn your washdays into hair-rejuvenating self-care sessions from the comfort of your home, I highly recommend it.
My Expertise
As a lifestyle editorial assistant here at Forbes Vetted, I work across the beauty, travel, fashion, and home and kitchen categories. I’ve been a consumer of all things natural haircare for over a decade.
This assignment was assigned and edited by deputy editor Jane Sung, who oversees the beauty and grooming vertical. She’s covered beauty and lifestyle topics for over two decades and has produced numerous haircare stories and tested reviews like the best blow dryer brushes, shampoos for color-treated hair and hair growth serums.
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