BaByliss 2085 U/2085 CTE/2086 CTE

I have never really straightened my hair a lot, as it tend to look a little wrong when its uber straight, but I find them quite handy for just neatening up my hair before a night out.
Recently I've found myself using them more frequently, which when your 'shared' GHDs reside for most of the year in Bangor, becomes a little difficult. I suggested that, seeing as my sister had had them for the first two terms of uni, it was only fair that I ...
...down to well at all infact my sister ended up threatening not to go back to uni if I got my way.

So it was a bit of a surprise to find these waiting on my bed when I arrived home yesterday.

So naturally I was quit excited and began to rapidly unpack the whole contraption.
It states on the box, 'Babyliss straighteners are used by the Word's leading hairdressers', so they can't be that bad can they.
The straighteners ... more

I have never really straightened my hair a lot, as it tend to look a little wrong when its uber straight, but I find them quite handy for just neatening up my hair before a night out.
Recently I've found myself using them more frequently, which when your 'shared' GHDs reside for most of the year in Bangor, becomes a little difficult. I suggested that, seeing as my sister had had them for the first two terms of uni, it was only fair that I should have them for the last. This didn't go down to well at all infact my sister ended up threatening not to go back to uni if I got my way.

So it was a bit of a surprise to find these waiting on my bed when I arrived home yesterday.So naturally I was quit excited and began to rapidly unpack the whole contraption.
It states on the box, 'Babyliss straighteners are used by the Word's leading hairdressers', so they can't be that bad can they.
The straighteners have several key features:

• 230 degree salon temperature performance
• 10 temperature settings fron 130 to 230 degreesC
• Heats up in 30 seconds
• Ultra-fast heat recovery for constant high heat
• On/off switch with indicator light
• Cool-touch comfort fabric
• Heat Protection mat, which wraps around the product for storage.
• 4 easy-grip sectioning grips
• 3m salon type swivel cord for easy use

Now having only used GHDs before, I might inadvertantly end up comparing them, but I don't mean to.
My first impressions having taken them out of the box, was infact that they were indeed copying GHD - black hair straighteners with orangy/gold coloured ceramic plates, but then again what else are straighteners actually meant to look like, there aren't really that many options. The greatest excitement for me came when I discovered the '4 easy-grip sectioning grips'. Something along the lines of....wow, now i really can pretend to be a proper hairdresser....might have crossed my mind, which you might expect from a 5 year old, but there you go. I all seriousness though I was impressed. I hadn't expected them to be in the box and seeing as I usually spent ages running round my room for a hairband to be used for exactly the same purpose, so I did think it was a clever idea.
There are separte on and off buttons situated on the top of the straighteners with an indicator light that shows you when the straighteners or not. and there is a dial on the inside, showing the various different temperature settings.

When I first turned them on there was a rather unsettling singeing smell, but i assumed it was simply because it was the first time I was using them, and it was not where near as bad the next time I used them.

It says on the box that they warm up in 30 seconds (possibly longer for the higher temperature settings which is fairly quick really. But unlike the GHDs there is no flashing light to tell you when they have finished heating up, so its a bit of guesswork. Once they have heated up they are really easy to useand the cool-touch material (situauted where you hold it) makes sure that you ca hold them without it getting too hot. This , however does not mean that it will stop you from getting burnt if you happen to touch the wrong bit.

I was pleased with the results....it didn't take long to straighten my hair, and it was left with a nice silky smooth finish/feel to it. For good measure I een had a little scoot around in the car, windows down (seeing as it is a nice day) and thankfully I didn't end up looking like Bridget Jones, as when I emerged 40 minutes later my hair was still as straight as it had been beforehand. Admitedly if it were wet I might have to use them again, but we shall have to wait and see.

As with all straighteners they do damage your hair if you use them a lot, which is why I think it is a good idea that they have a range of temperature settings. The cord is also long enough for you to move around with if you feel the need, or the mirror is just a long way fro the plug.
They also come with a heat proof mat, which means you can then place them down on most surfaces as long as the mat is in place. Quite handy when you leave them on accidently for 2 hours or so.

Overall I would say they are a good set of straighteners, they have a 5 year guarentee so they may not last as long as other brands, but then they are not reallt that expensive either. It did annoy me that I didn't know when they had heated up, but then i guess thats me just getting used to them. But if you need a pair of straighteners that are cheaper than GHDs and do a good job these are perfect. 

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