Trib tested: hair dryer and straightener
Jill Greenwood
I tested the Remington straightener and hair dryer for a week, and I loved both so much that I never want to use any other! The hair dryer was big but lightweight. It features three speed and heat settings and has a unique shine-therapy component. While you're drying your hair, you press a button that releases a conditioning, vitamin-enriched mist to add an incredible shine to your hair. It usually takes me about 20 minutes to blow out my hair using a flat brush, but this hair dryer cut the time in half.
I followed the hair dryer with the Remington Protect & Shine Therapy 1-inch straightener. This is the best one I've ever used. It's small, lightweight and easy to handle. The ceramic-infused conditioning plates heat well and help protect your hair and add shine with moisturizers, conditioners and avocado oil. I noticed my hair felt healthier and less damaged than when I've used similar hair implements. My hair was left with a flat, smooth and shiny look. I got a lot of compliments. Both products are easily worth the price.
Melanie Wass
The Remington Protect & Shine Therapy line failed to live up to my expectations. The hair dryer smelled like it was on fire when I used the highest heat setting, and when I turned it down to the middle setting, my drying time increased by almost 8 minutes. If it wasn't for the hint of mint I smelled in the air, I wouldn't have known the patented Vitamin Shine system was working. I don't have drastically dry or dull hair to begin with, but I didn't notice a difference in the overall shine when I was finished drying. In fact, my locks were just as frizzy as when I use my cheaper dryer. To think that every couple of months I would have to buy replacement cartridges simply adds to my disappointment.
The straightener claims to protect and moisturize your hair during styling. I don't see it. When the straightener was turned to its highest setting, I could smell my hair burning and see smoke rising in the air. I quickly turned it to the middle setting, and I still could see smoke. And the ceramic plates added static to my mane. Let's just say I won't be replacing my usual styling equipment with the Remington products any time soon.
Caroline Hirt
After using the Remington Protect & Shine Therapy line for a few days, I can honestly say I wasn't blown away. Beyond the pretty color scheme, the Rambo-esque, lock-and-load hair dryer was difficult to aim. Loading the cartridge is easily done, but wielding this tool is a bit tricky. Because the cartridge is situated at the mouth of the dryer to dispense into the air, air blows from only the top half, leaving you feeling as if the bottom half of the opening is clogged with lint or something. The spray did nothing to tame my static. The cool-shot button on most dryers has been replaced by the mist button. The mist did not make my hair feel like it was any more moisturized than usual, although it did leave a slick, nonsticky coating on my hands that had to be rinsed off in the sink.
The straightener plates are infused with vitamins and conditioners that are supposed to help during styling, picking up where the dryer leaves off. After applying my normal detangler and hair gel, I used the straightener, starting out on the "1" setting under the advice of other testers. If I had a way to measure the temperature, I'm sure I would find there is very little difference in the settings, as the iron got very hot at "1." I didn't notice any benefits to the vitamins and conditioners and thought the straightener worked like any similar implement I had used.
Although I would use the hair dryer and straightener if that were all that was available, I won't be rushing out to swap my tools.
Additional Information:
Remington Protect & Shine Therapy Hair Dryer and Straightener
Cost: $49.99 each; $9.99 for the two-pack refill cartridge
Where: Mass retailers
The claim: The The Protect & Shine Therapy Hair Dryer emits a delicate sheer mist, consisting of shine-enhancing moisturizers and avocado oil to the eliminate frizz, damage and dullness that can occur with daily hair-dryer usage. The Protect & Shine Therapy Straightener features plates infused with a special blend of vitamins and conditioners that evenly emit during styling to protect and moisturize.
