The attack of the button! (Babyliss 5223U Cord Keeper Hair Dryer)

Member Name: sirg0508

Product:	Babyliss 5223U Cord Keeper Hair Dryer
Date:	01/11/09 (147 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: One less cord, easier to store, ionic conditioning

Disadvantages: Can cause injury

Parts of this review also found on Amazon.

Having accumulated many beauty appliances over the years saving space on storage is becoming a greater need. BaByliss have realised this and created the Cord Keeper 2000W hairdryer. Although the colour is fuchsia and looks rather pink in pictures it's more of a pearlescent red in real life fitting in well with other products from BaByliss including the Curling Wand.

The selling point of this hairdryer is the button on the side but unfortunately it is a rather dangerous one! The cord retracts with great force into the handle so unless you've got the plug in your other hand, it will cause an injury. It does give a caution in the instructions but someone is bound to not read them. I have found that it doesn't always retract fully though so either have to extend it and try again or push it in. To extend the cord the plug/cord has to be pulled with a red tape marker showing where to stop. It does take a bit of pulling and the fully extended cord is 1.8 metres which is a bit shorter than I had been used to but as I'm quite tall hasn't been too much of a problem.

At 2000W the hairdryer is powerful even on the lowest speed with three different heat settings (I prefer the second). It offers Ionic conditioning which helps prevent the hair going frizzy and leaves it shiny with no option to switch it off. There is also a concentrator nozzle which can be easily removed and put back on and the back can also be removed to clean the filter although I've a feeling this will break easily over time as it's a little flimsy.

The speed and heat settings are positioned on the handle and are flush with it making it impossible to accidentally switch off. While that can be a good thing if you're busy trying to style your hair with the other hand it makes it hard to switch off in a hurry. At the top of the handle is a cool shot button which is easy to press blasting the hair with cooler air to help the hair retain its style. At the lower speed I can hear the hairdryer fan speed up a little to cool the hair but it doesn't seem to change at the higher speed.

Overall, as a hairdryer it's very functional and one I'd recommend. With one less cord it's easier to store and it hasn't yet injured me. At 2000W it has great power and dries my hair quickly without leaving it frizzy. The only thing I would change is the power/speed button so it's easier to switch off with one hand.

Summary: Very functional hairdryer with added features.