Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Reckoned by many to be better than GHD's, are cheaper and more reliable (longer warrantee) |
| Disadvantages: |
Which model to chooose ! ! ! |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
Okay I'd just like to say I don't actually own this product but I'm going to soon. This is not a review as such but rather information about Babyliss 230 Straighteners and the cordless variety. I asked Babyliss some questions by email as I was unsure of the differences between the 2 models and some other general questions about both.
The models are:
- BaByliss 2085U Pro 230°C Straighteners (£35 amazon) (also available in pink)
- BaByliss 2099U Total Freedom 230 Cordless Straightener (£30 amazon) (clip-on cord included also)
The cord (3m) on both is a swivel cord, I think some
straighteners had a problem with no-swivel cords breaking, and also I'm sure they are easier to use.
I thought I would share this info to save others from bothering/bothering Babyliss - they were very nice in their answers, and there were a lot of questions to answer!!
So, please don't mark this down for not being a proper review as I'm sure it will be very useful to some people!!
Stuff you should know:
Both straighteners come with a good warrantee. The corded is 5 years and the cordless is 5 years. I did ask why the warrantee was longer on the corded variety but they said "The guarantee is a decision made by our Marketing Department and therefore we are unable to answer this question. However all our
products are made to the same high standards." However compared to GHD's which have a warrantee of a year I think and seem to last 3 years if very lucky, then this is very good regardless. And these straighteners are often compared to GHD's.
The corded comes with a heat resistant mat, a Straightening brush with tourmaline-ceramic coating and 4 sectioning clips, the cordless doesn't but it has a 'power base' anyways so the mat isn't needed.
The straighteners are not solid ceramic but ceramic coated, apparently; "The plates are ceramic coated as you cannot have solid ceramic plates that reach a temperature of 110oC as they are likely to crack."
And of course the 230's go up to 230 degrees (10 temperature settings - 150 to 230 degrees C). (The cordless has only 5 temperature settings).
I was worried about this coming off as my Wigo ones definitely look worn. I emailed Babyliss and they said "The coating on the ceramic would not come off under normal circumstances. If it should you could contact us to arrange repair or replacement under the terms of the guarantee."
Well that's good then!
If it is hotter, will this damage my hair more than straighteners using a lower
temperature, e.g. GHD's? Well I hardy expected a 'yes your hair will be worse than if you use GHD's' but I asked anyways, they said:
"Heat from any source can be potentially damaging to hair. We would therefore recommend a good conditioning regime and to only use as much heat as you need and no more by using the temperature controls on the straighteners."
Aha... yeah, pointless question maybe
They also said in response to my email to how the straighteners differed:
"Obviously apart from the difference shown above it is a matter of personal choice which product would suit your own personal needs."
I was worried that the cordless model would lose heat as it was unconnected whilst straightening but apparently "The 2099U cordless has an ultra fast heat recovery time and will straighten for 4 minutes without loosing heat."
Plus it has a snap-in cord anyways, so the cord is an option anyways, and it is still a '
salon' swivel cord (3m).
The corded model has 1 1/4" plates, whilst the cordless model has the slightly bigger 1 1/2" plates.
"Both models have an on indicator light and a heat ready indicator light. They both have a 10 stage temperature dial and cool touch comfort fabric."
Finally, there are some even newer straighteners called the BaByliss Pro 230 Elegance Bronze Straightener. This seems pretty much the same except it has ionic technology and apparently "Hair has a natural tendency to develop positive electrical charges. This tendency is amplified by the relative movement of the hair: dry frictions generate static electricity and positive ions.
Ionic straighteners produce negative ions. These cancel out the positive ions and static electricity.
Without static electricity the hair is more manageable and can be easily styled. The hair scales do not spread out and therefore form a smooth surface to make the hair shiny and smooth."
So basically if you wanna pay another £15-20 more for this ionic technology get Bronze. (it has only 3 heat settings however, and no sectioning clips but it does still have the heat resistant mat and also a sleek roll pouch for 'convenient storage', and the guarantee is 5 years).
Also it apparently has 'Advanced Ceramics™ - Ready to use in 30 seconds with ultra fast heat recovery' (don't know if the others have this) and '25% longer 1" nano titanium-ceramic plates for fast straightening of larger sections'
So I think it is thinner but longer? So slower but
better for root shaping and short hair?
So I have to make my own decision, hopefully my info was useful!! It's only my second review but it's very thorough I think. I've read many reviews saying these straighteners are better than GHD's, cheaper and more reliable, and I hope it's true!!
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