e927's Full Review: Conair Tc605bc Therma Cell Compact Curling Iron
I bought one of these because it was so compact and perfect for travel/on-the-go use, and smaller than an older cordless curling iron I had that was falling apart. This is OK, but I've largely given up on using it because it just wasn't meeting my needs.
The basics: Unlike most curling irons, the Conair Thermacell iron is cordless and heated by a Thermacell (butane) cartridge -- no need to plug it into a wall. Simply screw the Thermacell cartridge into the bottom of the curling barrel (the cartridge forms the handle), turn the unit on to get the butane flowing, and push a button to ignite the flame, which heats the curling iron. It usually works pretty well, but sometimes it takes a few tries to get it going (you'll hear a slight "pop" when it lights and the barrel will get warm pretty quickly) It only takes only 1-2 minutes to get fully hot.
The curling iron itself is rather small -- the barrel is no more than 1/2" in diameter about 4 inches long, so it's best for touch ups or people with short hair.
It comes with a removable brush attachment. I've never used this.
Thermacell cartridges cost about $5 for a 2-pack. They can be hard to find in stores -- some drug stores sell them near the curling irons or else order online. I usually buy several at a time so I have them. You can see thru the plastic case and see the liquid in the cartridge so you know when it's running low.
What's great: It's a small product, with a compact, heat-resistant hard plastic carrying case, which makes is great for travel (kind of... more on that later). You can place the hot iron back in the case and be on your way. With no electrical outlet, you can use it anywhere -- in a parking lot, while camping, in a public bathroom (they never have working outlets!), etc. The butane cartridges are easy to use and last for dozens of uses (depending, of course, on how long you leave it on).
Not so great: It doesn't get as hot as regular irons and the spring is rather weak -- it doesn't clamp down on my hair that well, so the end result can be only so-so.
While this is billed as a great travel item, unfortunately, with the TSA guidelines, it's too complicated to travel with this. (butane is a flammable liquid) While I believe you can still bring one cartridge on a plane, I've never gotten a straight answer as to whether is must be in carry-on or checked luggage, and if in carry-on, should it be in your ziploc bag or attached to your curling iron? Because I hate being singled out in the security line and don't want to have to explain my cordless curling iron to someone and risk having the cartridge confiscated (as noted above, they can be hard to find in stores), I gave up traveling with this. I now have a heat-resistant pouch that I put my regular curling iron or flat iron in. Yes, I do need to find an outlet (and an adapter plug if I take it overseas), but I like the peace of mind knowing it will get through security OK -- and the regular version just works better.
The Conair Thermacell iron still comes in handy closer to home for touch ups, but that's about all I use it for. Because it is small, not too hot and has a weak clamp on my hair, I can not use it as my primary styling tool.
I should also note that I had an older Conair cordless curling iron that was larger and had a dark barrel. This one was much better -- it clamped down hard on my hair and seemed hotter. Unfortunately, the dark paint started to flake off and the plastic cover cracked, which is why I bought this one. It was also larger and had a wider barrel.
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