Builds up limescale over time (BaByliss Straight & Shine Steam Straightener)

Member Name: elmyras

Product:	BaByliss Straight & Shine Steam Straightener
Date:	30/08/03 (401 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Works like a dream at first, Relatively low price

Disadvantages: Need to use distilled water otherwise limescale will build up, The large size can be cumbersome to use at times, The filter can get fragile from the heat and break

I have what I can only describe as kinky, frizzy hair. Either when long or short, it will dry and shape itself like a puffy, fluffy mushroom (this is helped by the fact that I like to have layers in my hair). This is all the more frustrating as both my sisters have hair that dries straight and sleek.

My previously short bob was getting too long for the Braun Straight & Shape to be very effective and so I went into Boots on a whim to see if I could find a more 'heavy duty' straightener. I was attracted by the Straight 'n Shine due to it's 'shot of steam' feature. It summoned up the image of clothes ironing and, well, that always works better with a little steam. Somewhere in the blurb (or perhaps it was the manual) it stated that the steam is good for your hair, helping it to retain moisture. To this day, I still don't know whether this claim holds true. The price was around £25 and seemed a lot to me at the time (well, I had only just left my student days) but it is quite reasonable now that I have seen the prices for some of the others.

Before using the Straight 'n Shine, I read the manual in detail and followed the instructions for use almost to the word (I'll get to the reason for that 'almost' in a moment). There is a small filter that needs to be soaked in water for 10-15 seconds (a little longer if you haven't used it for a while). This filter is then attached to a plastic tank which you would have filled up with water. Now, the manual advises that you should use distilled water if possible. I don't have any distilled water (does the average person?) and so I filled the tank up with tap water from the bathroom.

The results:
I have to say, I remember thinking "Wow," this thing works like a dream. The steam really does aid in the straightening process. I didn't really need to use the shot of steam as the plates have holes where steam is slowly released (just like a
normal iron). The positioning of the button for the shot of steam is such that you will accidentally press it numerous times.

I admit, I used this straightener almost everyday at first, not thinking twice since I had been encouraged to think that the steam was good for my hair. You can apparently also use it without filling the tank with water. My hair has always seemed a little dry and I can't say I noticed it getting any worse.

After a month, upon detaching the filter from the water tank, a piece of plastic from the filter broke off. I found that it still worked although some steam did escaped from the filter. After a while, I noticed that limescale was beginning to build up on the interior of the straightener. No problem. If you don't use distilled water, the manual advises filling the tank with diluted vinegar and leaving it on till evaporated. I did this and my overall impression was that it wasn't a very effective treatment. It also smelled and turned the filter to a brownish colour.

The maintenance process didn't seem to work and so over the two years that I used the Straight 'n Shine, the holes in the plates gradually clogged up with limescale. I essentially had a plain old Straight 'n Shine. It didn't work as well without the steam and after one final failed attempt to clean it, I dumped it in the bin and reverted back to the humble Braun Straight & Shape.

I have read the other reviews here and nobody else seems to have encountered any maintenance problems so I guess it's really up to individual experience. On the whole, the Straight 'n Shine worked well for me at first and I got quite a lot of mileage from it. I wanted straighter and sleeker hair which I got for a time but I could've done without the bother of limescale of all things!

Today, I received my new Hairtools straightener (I ordered it after having read a review on it here at dooyoo) and it is amazingly good.
But that's a whole other review.

Summary: