In 2022, Josh skipped the butane in favor of what the brand calls a Smart Cordless Battery, which pops out for easy charging. You can even purchase a Smart Charging Base Adaptor separately (which can charge up to two batteries at once). Each of these batteries should get you 60 minutes of styling at a temperature of up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
I was skeptical that these tools really wouldn’t die before I could style all of my hair (remember: long, full, lots of it). I also expected them to be heavy after hearing about the battery packs. But I just had to reach into the box to cross that second concern off my list: The tools were surprisingly lightweight.
The batteries came half charged, so I put both of them on the adaptor to charge fully and within 20 minutes: go time. I split my hair in half, using the curling iron on one side and the flatiron on the other. With their battery packs locked in, I set both irons to the highest setting (there are three heat settings that you can change with the click of a button). They each took around three minutes to heat up. From there, I sectioned each half of my hair into parts and then styled layer by layer, one side pin-straight and the other with relaxed, beachy waves.
The proof is in the picture and, well, pretty great, right? The results were definitely comparable to my current go-tos: the Dyson AirWrap for waves and the GHD Platinum+ Styler for straightening. But I did need a couple extra passes with the iron to get the same glass-like finish. And what about my battery concerns? Well, unfortunately, my massive head of hair was indeed too much and I did have to plug in for the last few minutes necessary to flawlessly style each side (luckily, these tools can be used plugged in or cordless). They would have lasted on a day when I was being less meticulous though (so, most days) and I will definitely be making these Harry Josh hot tools (and that Heat Resistant Roll Bag, of course) a permanent fixture in my suitcase (and maybe glove compartment) from now on.
