BaByliss 5561SBU Travel Dry 1500W Hair Dryer

The first thing I like about this product is the cute design and foldable handle. The second and perhaps more important is that it is rather quiet, some hairdryers make a noise so loud that I feel sorry for myself and people around me. It was also the only travel hairdryer that I could find that still has 1500 W.
The downside is that it is actually not VERY small not VERY lightweight either. No, it is not exactly big or heavy, but I guess I had something even more miniature in my mind. And maybe the hairdryer that I have at home already is on the small side, who knows.
I will keep it though, I need it for the gym and maybe for some trips as well (although most of the hotels tend to have a hairdryer).

I wanted a very small, basic, inexpensive dryer for drying my fringe. I chose this one for those reasons, and also because I thought the switching voltage would be handy if I took it travelling. When it arrived I noticed that the voltage adjustment is a small coin-dial style button on the handle, which appeared to be pointing to the 120V, which I thought unusual in a product sold in the UK. The button has 120V on the left side near the top with an arrow pointing down that side, and 240V on the right with an arrow pointing down that side. The slot was angled down towards point on the arrow on the 120V side, rotated fully anti-clockwise.

So I read through the instruction manual, which has NO pictures to support it, and it says "To select the voltage required, insert the edge of a coin into the slot on the Voltage Converter Screw and turn. Please note that to select 240V, turn the Converter Screw clockwise, and to select 120V turn the Converter Screw anti-clockwise". Seems pretty clear, huh?

So I adjusted the screw clockwise, and tried using the dryer. As with any appliance, I started it on the low setting to see how it would go - it worked, but it seemed very hot and hard for a low setting, which worried me. However, as I'd followed the instructions, and read the warnings, I was not prepared to try turning the screw in the other direction in case I hurt myself or blew up the dryer.

I used it like that for a few days, but then commented on it to my partner, regarding how hot it was on low (hot enough that I hadn't even bothered turning it to high as I didn't need to). He had a look at it and said he didn't feel it was working correctly. He read the instruction as well, and agreed that I was following them correctly, so he tried turning the unit to high to see what it would do.

Within a second the fan was blasting and the element glowed red hot (visible through the plastic housing), and then the unit just stopped. Obviously it wasn't right and had either overheated or shorted out, despite being adjusted according to the instruction manual. I was just glad he hadn't electrocuted himself.

I was unwilling to try using the unit again, even if it hadn't shorted itself out, so I took out the packaging to get ready to send it back. As I was taking out the plastic wrapping from the box I noticed a small slip of paper caught up in the bottom of the box flaps. When I took it out it was a small note from the seller/agent stating that the unit was shipped set to the correct voltage for the UK and stating that to adjust it YOU TURN THE FITTING THE OTHER DIRECTION!

Now, this blatantly contradicts the manufacturer's own manual. Which would be fine - IF these instructions had been attached to the manual itself, and the relevant item blacked out or noted correctly. Instead it must have been loosely left in the box, and in this case had worked its way down into the base of the box and was not apparent when I originally unpacked the unit. I don't know about you, but I don't go looking for extra pieces of paper in the bottom of the box when I have the unit and its manual in hand.

Deciding to take one last chance we adjusted the screw in the opposite direction, so it now is wound fully anti-clockwise again and pointing to the 120V, and sure enough, it works as you would expect it to.

So yes, it's not a bad little blow dryer - it blows hot air in two strengths and does the job I purchased it for.

BUT - it very nearly caused a nasty problem - and had I tried to use it on high configured according to the instruction manual, it could have been a lot nastier than when my partner tested it (ready for something to potentially go wrong).

THEREFORE I would highly recommend that the seller/agent make the effort to amend the manual, AND attach the new information in such a way that this can't happen to someone else.

And if you purchase this dryer, do be warned.

This travel hairdryer is lightweight and very small, but powerful.It is perfect for me as I have very fine hair and it only takes about 5 minutes to completely dry it. I use it not as a travel item but for everyday use. It is very easy to store due to the fold down handle and is excellent value for money.