Other reviews have argued that the Babyliss 7435U rotary hair trimmer is a rubbish gadget. I think that this is a bit unfair. It's important to remember that with this trimmer it requires a bit of practice and it's important to follow the instructions regarding cutting technique. There are also one or two other important factors that might determine whether this trimmer can give you a decent haircut.

I've used a couple of hair trimmers in the past and they were of the conventional type - those with the straight cutting edge. The problem with the straight bladed trimmers is when it comes to shaving the back of the head. Unless you have someone willing and brave enough to help you it can be a bit tricky. That's one reason I decided to give this circular innovation a try. I seem to remember the manufacturer's blurb suggesting that this device would make shaving the back of the head a lot easier.

On first sight and touch it seems to be a well designed device with a nice weight to it. It's easy to grip firmly in one hand, which means you can position it around all areas of your head including the back of your head. I would suggest that this rotary trimmer is only really suitable for cutting your hair if you want it short all over and of the same length. There are two circular graded attachments that snap onto the round body of the trimmer providing 6 cutting grades in total. Grades 1 to 3 can be found on one attachment and grades 4 to 6 on the other. Once an attachment is clipped into place you have to twist it whilst using a safety lock in order to get the setting you want. I generally only use the 1 to 3 attachment for the shortest hair cut. I would imagine it being very difficult to get an even cut using grades 5 or 6.

As mentioned earlier using the trimmer requires practice. It's important to use a circular motion as you move the trimmer around your head rather than a sweeping motion from one side to the other. As a precaution you might want to use one of the higher grade settings for a longer cut first. Then if you make a mistake you can go to a shorter grade and repair or hide the damage. After the first trim you might miss some longer hairs but you just have to keep going over the same area carefully until all stray hairs are cut short at an even length. I can get quite a good finish to the top and sides of my head... almost professional.

However, I would say that this rotary trimmer is most suitable for people with rounder heads as opposed to angular heads... if you know what I mean. More suitable for a Wayne Rooney type than a Ronaldo I would say (not that I could ever imagine those two cutting their own hair). I am more like a Ronaldo (in terms of head angularity rather than good looks and football skills). To extend this theory further the trimmer is probably better suited to younger heads as a child's head tends to be more round than an adult's. Here it's also worth mentioning that the trimmer represents a safe way to cut as opposed to using scissors. However, getting back to head shape, I have found it particularly difficult at times to achieve an even cut length at the back of the head, especially just above the nape. This is unfortunate as I can easily reach the back of my head with this trimmer and cover the whole region. But once or twice whilst attempting a number 2 cut I unintentionally made a spectacular zigzag bald patch at the back. The only way to repair such damage was to adjust the attachment to the lowest grade possible and go extremely short all over. Hence I spent a week looking like a prison inmate. So in order to cut your hair at the back with this trimmer you'll probably still need assistance from a willing friend/partner. Of course if the mullet ever comes back in to fashion (which I doubt) or if you're a WWF wrestler then this won't be a problem because you would no doubt leave the back to grow long.

There is an extra straight bladed trimmer (as pictured) included in the box. This is to trim those parts that the rotary trimmer can't reach such as around the ears or doing your sideburns if you're Bradley Wiggins fan. This small trimmer has quite a small cutting head of about 1 inch in length, but works really well. It comes with its own grading attachment with grades 1 to 6. It requires two small batteries that were supplied with the unit upon purchase from Argos. It's important to keep both trimmers well oiled before use if you want them to be durable. A small bottle of oil comes with the kit for this purpose. You will also receive a small pair of ordinary scissors, a long slim plastic comb that inevitably breaks in half and a rather crappy nylon bag to store everything in.

Cleaning the trimmer is quite straight forward although a little awkward at times. After a trim I tend to give it a gentle tap and then wipe the interior with a damp cloth. You won't get rid of every hair but regular cleaning and oiling is important to make sure the blades don't get clogged.

The hair trimmer is easy to charge. The power cord can be fitted easily and safely into the charging point and the plug is not too bulky. After the first charge, subsequent charges take only an hour or so and each charge should last you seven haircuts at least.

The BaByliss 7435U hair trimmer cost me £44 from Argos. At the time of writing they are now selling a newer version - the 7545U for the same price, but I'm sure many of the points outlined in this review will still be relevant. The BaByliss 7435U certainly has it's good points but it may not be the ultimate solution for a DIY haircut - in fact I don't think there is one yet. It didn't really solve the problem I wanted it for - to provide an easy method for cutting hair at the back of the head. However, I still try, and I'd still probably recommend this trimmer... at least for round heads on a budget.