I have used a gas-powered hair styler (tongs/hot-brush) for many years now. The main reason for my choice of gas power is that the item can be used in the bathroom with no fear of electrocuting myself!
In my experience, hair stylers, particularly if used daily, have a limited life. I expect to buy a replacement about every three years or thereabouts.
Last year my daughters bought me a Braun Independent Power Brush (model HS3) from Tesco. It cost about £15.
******** What is it? ********
It is not like any styler that I have owned previously. It looks like ..... a hairbrush!
Overall, it is under 20cm long.
The business end has, on one face, five parallel 7cm rows of plastic "bristles" (approx 1.5cm deep) running vertically. These are called "comb lines". Every fourth bristle is slightly longer than its neighbours and has a rounded blob at the top. The other face of the brush has 15 plastic ridges (approx 0.25 cm deep) running horizontally, over the top of two metal strips, 1cm wide, running verically, separated by a 3cm plastic strip. If you can visualise anything from that description, you have my admiration (just think "hairbrush").
The handle houses a Braun mini energy cell (12.5 ml/7.0 g of isobutane gas). The end part of the handle clips on/off to allow for gas cartidge replacement. There is an on-off (gas flow) switch and a "start" (ignition) switch.
One side of the brush section has a small hole - through which is visible an orange glow when the brush is ready to use.
Said to be an "ideal styling tool in your handbag", the brush has a translucent, rigid plastic protective cover that can be put on after styling, even when the brush is hot. Applying the cover flips the on-off switch to off if this has not already been done.
******** What does it do? ********
It is for use on dry hair.
The appliance is used to "brush" the hair to "smooth and control" (Braun' words). Then it is used to "shape" the hair by winding the hair around the brush.
******** How does it perform? ********
It ignites instantly (following the advice to wait 5 seconds between turning on the gas flow and clicking the ignition switch). Heating-up is rapid -within 2 minutes.
Styling is quick and easy on my (currently) shoulder-length bob. The winding round is very fast - ten seconds or so per wind is plenty of time for my hair, and it takes about ten of these windings to complete the styling. In under 5 minutes, it gives a lovely turned-under effect, all round. This lasts all day, whether or not hair has been freshly washed.
It has never tangled my hair. My hair is fairly thick.
I have used it on my hair when it was shorter - again with excellent results, but I suspect that it is less suitable for longer styles.
As with all heat-styling appliances, regular use could damage the hair. In this respect, I have not noticed that the Power Brush is any better or worse than other stylers. I always use a heat-protective spray on my hair (and let it dry) before styling.
******** Cleaning and maintenance? ********
Braun gives a 2-year guarantee. I have had no reason to use this so far.
The brush has to be dismantled regularly for cleaning. This is essential, because the comb lines get conditioner residue on them, and stray hair (not a vast quantity, though) gets caught, just like on an ordinary hairbrush.
This dismantling/cleaning process is straightforward. Braun's instructions for this, and for operation and general use of the product, are excellent, easy to follow.
Replacement gas cylinders are readily available (eg at Boots; pack of two for just over £3). I find that each cylinder lasts about two to three months, used almost daily, so quite economical.
******** And the one gripe? *********
The end of the handle that holds the gas cartridge in place clips on. The clips holding it are not really adequate, and in using the brush, the end sometimes falls off, releasing the cartridge from the appliance. It may be that I am holding the handle wrongly and/or too tightly, or maybe it is a design fault.
However, the advantages of the Power Brush more than outweigh this one fault, and I would recommend it to potential purchasers.
More details
Price
£15
Size
Very Small
Material
mixture
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
