Customer Reviews

Conair HGL1 Combination Hot Gel/Lather Machine, Black

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

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.

I bought this at Walmart just before Xmas. It is junk and not worth $20. It is easy to use and fits most gel and foam cans (not Nivea or the standard foam cans). If you ever went trick or treating as a teenager (you know what I mean) then you can certainly pop the top off the can and put this together. The problems with this thing is:
1) The gel does not get warm enough even at its highest setting.
2) It cools off to room temp as soon as you get it to your face.
If you do not want clutter on your counter then you have to put it away after each use.
3) It recommends that you unplug it after and between uses.
4) Very hard to clean.
This would work great if you could dispense it from the can right onto your face. If you want a warm and great shave, then spend $5 and get a fog free mirror and shave in the shower. If you like to blow money and throwing $20 away is your thing then get this.

I gave this to my husband as a birthday gift, and it works VERY well in heating up gel to whatever temp you like. The highest setting can get very hot if left on too long, but within 1 min - 1 min 30 sec the gel is perfect temp for the face. My husband likes that the lather is warm before it touches his face in the morning, and it helps a bit in shaving as well.
Also, I've used this product myself (on my legs) and LOVED the way the gel lather felt on my skin. It's wonderful to have it heated up instead of cold, and it does help in shaving. At this price, it's a great gift! (One small complaint is that it is pretty large and will look out of place and kind of unsightly on your bathroom counter.)

I gave this to my boyfriend as a birthday present and he loves it! He likes having the gel warmed up before it touches his face. When he first tried it out he put it on the warmest setting, and it was a little too warm for comfort for him, so he just adjusted it down. I think there is plenty of room for adjusting the temperature to your liking. His only complaint is that the gel that first dispenses IS warm enough, BUT if you need another large dollop right away, it isn't always as warm as the first. But if you give it about 15s (which is about how long it takes for him to apply the initial dollop on his face)for the cooler gel to warm up near the heating element it is not a problem! :) I'm very happy with this product and so is he!

I bought this item and used it with shave gel. It worked good, heated to a good temperature, but not exactly hot. But I didn't like the smell of the gel when it was heated. I bought shave lather and when trying to use it the lather comes out all over the unit. I reseated the lather container several times and each time it just flow out every open space. I have since thrown it away. I will try one of the other models and see if I have better luck.

To get hot lather, which is nice, you first have to get the device installed on top the can. I would not recommend this if you are easily frustrated. The directions provided are sparse in several languages. First you have to pry the top off the can of shaving cream. They provide a pry tool for that purpose which works well on some brands of shaving cream better than others. Then you have to fit the device on top the can. It worked well with one brand in a large size can. When I tried it with a smaller size can of shaving cream it emptied half the can during the installation process. Using a different brand in a large can, I had trouble prying the top off the can. If you have time and patience, and are willing to spend some money on various brands of shaving cream to find one that works well, give it a try. Otherwise, be forewarned it may lead to frustration and bad language.

It would be nice if companies intending to sell products in the US (apparently manufactured somewhere in Asia) would provide a clear set of instuctions in English, in reasonable large readable type, with illustrations. In this case, they need to clearly specify the type shaving cream can the unit is designed for. I do not need instructions in foreign languages, and get tired of limited instructions in six languages.

What's not to like about hot shaving cream rubbed into your beard? With this bizarre contraption from Conair... plenty.

Firstly, what should frighten you away from purchasing this is that it has six controls on top of the damned thing. Six controls to do what one or two should do. Believe your eyes, because it only gets worse! Secondly, what you can't see, is a set of instructions that are so overwrought, and so edged out by disclaimers denying legal responsibility, that none of them are helpful. Thirdly, if you think the visible portion of the device is poor, wait till you see how you insert the can. Again the instructions (found in three different places) might as well be written in a different language for how poorly they describe the process of attaching a can of shaving cream. You pry the head off a can of shaving cream, you insert the bare nozzle, into the head and close an almost razor sharp collar around it. I guarantee you you wlll do it wrong and fill the collar with shaving cream. What could be more natural than sticking you finger into the cap to remove the excess lather that is now in the way? Well if you value your fingers, don't do it. Because wiggling your finger around too vigorously, is when you find out that the collar is rather sharp: ninetey percent chance you injure yourself.

Quantity of Foam per Button Press: If you succesfully overcome this device and get it to dispense, the gel nozzle produces an unsatisfying squirt-gun stream of hot shaving cream. The device can only heat up cream that has left the can and is in the Conair cap; a miniscule amount. An LED flashes at you to tell you that the tablespoon of shaving cream in your hand is all that you get until it can heat some more. That's good for five more minutes. If you leave the device plugged in, you are warned it's still a bathroom electrocution hazard (even if it's turned off!). The device makes your can top-heavy so Conair provides an enormous sleeve to put it in, and one imagines, to prevent the now electrified can from toppling into your sink, tub or toilet. Your reasonably sized can of shaving cream and is now the size of a quart of milk.

No wonder this thing only appears in stores around Christmas. Every choice this design makes is a dud, compounding problem after problem.

Sorry to say, but this product did not work as promised. The black canister does not hold any type or brand of Lather can, only Gel type cans. I did call the customer service number and asked why this is, and the rep told me that it is a Type - O on the package. In order to use with a Lather can, you just put the device on the top of the can and use as is. The older Model product did fit the lather type cans, but this one does not. Sorry but if you are going to use this with a lather can, you might want to get the older White Model. The product looks starange when you cant use the Black canister as pictured.

Thought this would get hotter than it does. Hubby had hoped so too. Can and does provide good usage, but could be better. Overall ok.

Very stylish in Euro Black. Works quite well, love the adjustable settings. Works well with gel or lather. It's still new, hope it lasts a long time.