Braun C 31 S Smoothstyler Medium CURL Cordless

I have been using Braun gas powered styling wands for more years than I care to remember - having been born with straight hair (and having a mother who really wanted me to have curls) over the years I have spent time and money trying to introduce a 'bend' into it.

Not for me the tight curls I had as a child (courtesy of my mother perming it on a regular basis) nor is the straight hair so popular these days. I like a little 'bend' just enough to help it frame my face in a softer way. (I need all the help I can get!) This styler however is not only capable if giving me the slight bend I crave it can also be used to smooth hair if you have curls and want to smooth them out - how's that for versatile?

So, as my old Braun was loooking a little tired, I went out seeking a replacement. My wanderings took me into Curry's where they were offering the Braun Smoothstyler C31S for just £12.99 - the shelf edge label suggested this was 'half price' and I never can resist a bargain!

The box comes complete with the styler, cover, styling brush a small and a large gas refill and a small and large handle to suit the gas refills - which is pretty good value for money. This model also has a steam feature for more gentle styling and longer lasting styles.

You can use the styler with or without the brush attachment depending on how you prefer to style your hair and this model also has a handy 'energy level indicator' so that you can see when the gas canister is 50% and below. Oh how I wish I had an 'energy level indicator' for me!

There is a cover which fits over the wand which is stylishly designed so that it automatically switches off the gas if you have forgotten to do so - handy if you are going to pack it into your luggage - saves the embarassment of your suitcase catching fire at the airport!

The Braun energy cell is easy to insert and replace - just remove the handle by pressing the release and insert the gas canister on to the base - pushing firmly until it clicks into position - put the handle back on and you are ready to go. To heat the appliance up just push the switch up to the first position to start the flow of gas, wait 3 seconds then shift the switch to the maximum and ignition will light the gas. After a couple of minutes an indicator dot on the unti will turn dark indicating the unit is ready for use. The brush attachment is easy to clean as it just slides off and can be washed separately.

This is a very handy piece of equipment that personally I would hate to be without. The new design is more stlish than the older models and the new features make it even easier to use. Certainly a very good buy at £12.99 and, even at full price worth considering. Refills cost around £3.20 for two of the large energy cells.