what's that burning smell............? (BaByliss Straight & Shine Steam Straightener)

Member Name: hot_rock_chick

Product:	BaByliss Straight & Shine Steam Straightener
Date:	03/07/01 (439 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Powerful, Easy grip

Disadvantages: The pain!, Pointless accessories, Fiddly attachments

According to the woman in Boots, this is the latest and most poweful hair straightner you can buy(in Boots anyway) so off I trundeled to the cash desk with my new purchase. I kinda wish I hadn't bothered.

My last straightners were the Babyliss convertible ones, sturdy and functional but lacking precision. However my new Babyliss straighters were supposed to have it all - a gentle "mist" to protect the hair, and special shot of steam function which gives an extra hot blast where ever you want it, a comb and smoothing attachment.

However I didn't and still don't find it particurly good. It does heat up fast (in about 5 minutes) but for one thing, the so called steam dosen't seem to do anything. the shot of steam function is quite slow (you press the button and it takes a good while to come out - not quite a "shot"). Plus I very seriously burnt my scalp a few weeks ago when I'd pressed the button held it a bit too close to my scalp and - ouch!! couldn't go near that area with anything (including shampoo!) for days. Yet there is no warning included in with the appliance.

Another thing is that the combing attachment is made of plastic - fair enough I hear you say, but when the straightners get too hot the plasic expands (I think thats what happens isn't it? science buffs can correct me!) and as a result it keeps slipping off. This is EXTREMELY annoying, especially when there is the other side of your head to go!!!

The water resevoir which has to be filled each time you use the product is a little fiddly. On it is some kind of water expellent made out of felt which seems extremely fragile and unlikely to last two long without tearing.

Are there any plus points to this appliance? Well it does heat up very fast, and it is a nice shape, which makes it fairly easy to use. It is quite powerful as well, and my hair seems to stay straight for longer. However I do think the who
le steam business is a waste of time, because there is no way your hair is going to be "protected" when your running hot irons over it. Nor do I think the shot of steam helps, I think it is just because it the metal plates get so hot. Another thing is the burning smell it seems to omit regardless of wheather it has my hair between it or not!

And if your wondering why I didn't get a refund - I tried a week after I bought it the people in Boots said because I'd used it once, I couldn't return it - ever. So I'm afraid I'm stuck with these for a while!!

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