Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)One of the biggest problems with getting a decent shave is temperature. If your skin is too cool, whiskers retract and resist your blade. This product should provide a solution, but it doesn't.
Obviously, the consumer must provide their own can of lather or gel. It should be noted here that I had to change my preferred brand of shaving gel to use this product, as the configuration of a Nivea can is not compatible. And while a "key" -- basically, a small flat-bladed screwdriver -- is provided to assist with removing/prying-off the plastic top of a metal can, the removal is still rather tricky. A little recklessness could send that "key" into your hand.
Additionally, the installation method for my device differed from the instructions included in the box. However, there were alternate instructions printed on a large, permanently-attached label on the back of the cylindrical base. By squinting at these difficult to see photos, I was able to lock an altered can of Gilette Fusion into place. There was some amount of mess, as you must line up the small tube atop the can with a hole at the base of the actual heating unit. Again, carelessness could result in a lot of wasted gel.
It takes about three minutes for the unit to heat the gel, but if the gel is not dispensed very soon, the product will turn off and return the gel to room temperature in minutes. This is a safety feature, I know, but it would be handy to have a bit more time.
And when the gel is heated, the temperature (even at the highest setting) is little more than what one might have by running warm water over the can itself. As a result, the gel cools soon after hitting the skin and doesn't seem to activate the whiskers at all.
What if you wanted to change gels? There is no obvious way to clean the product, to remove the traces of previous gels. Over time, I can only imagine the "plumbing" of the machine becoming more and more gummed up.
So basically, this is a product that I wanted to like, but I just couldn't. A little more R&D, a little more testing, maybe the next generation model will be better.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Conair HGL1 Combination Hot Gel/Lather Machine, Black
Click here for more information about Conair HGL1 Combination Hot Gel/Lather Machine, Black
