World’s first ‘smart’ hairbrush will set you back $277
WHEN people are actually spending $277 dollars on a “smart” hair brush, it’s a fair indication that the world really has gone mad.
GONE ARE the days when a $3 brush from Priceline sufficed as a tool to unravel unruly locks.
Because like everything else, from a toaster to a toothbrush, the world craves a ‘smarter’ alternative to the ‘super basic’ original — and are willing to pay big bucks for the experience.
Just last month, at the world’s biggest technology show — CES in Las Vegas — consumers were indulged with a string of super hi-tech gadgets crafted to make the mundane hassles of cleaning, cooking or even getting ready that little bit easier.
Beauty played no exemption to the trend, with a ‘smart’ grooming alternative that promises to do a whole lot more than just untangle your hair, showcased to the world.
Dubbed the Kérastase Hair Coach Powered By Withings is L’Oreal’s latest gadget that includes a microphone for picking up the sound of brushing and breaking hairs, a conductivity sensor for determining how wet your hair is, and an accelerometer and gyroscope (which went over our heads too), that enables the user to learn more about their hair through a specially devised app.
Who knew a quick whip through your hair could be so complicated?
The initial reaction to this brush for most people would be “how stupid” — especially considering it will set you back $277 when it lands in Australia later this year. But is the experience worth the price tag?
The brush not only counts how many times you stroke your hair, it also gauges the quality and health of each section of your head.
Loaded with sensors and a microphone, the brush is able to determine which parts of your hair could use some conditioning, or perhaps a quick treatment.
You can also track how you brush your beloved locks to see if you’re getting “better” at the thoughtless activity over time.
Basically, brushing your hair is now a sport that’s tested by your previous attempt.
The handle also plays as an electronic measurement feature — collecting date about how ‘hard’ you brush, and where you should consider taking it easy.
The information is stored in an app — so you can receive a full debrief about what’s right and wrong with your hair.
The upside is that the brush requires no charging, and it’s a pretty simple ‘paddle’ design.
Receiving the International CES Innovation Award in January, which celebrates “outstanding product design and engineering in new consumer technology products”, the brush collects data and feeds it into a consumer-friendly app via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
This app takes into account humidity, temperature, UV and wind, and provides information including a hair quality score, data on the effectiveness of brushing habits, personalised tips and product recommendations.
The beauty industry in Australia continues to boom, and hair care isn’t exempt.
In 2015, consumers justified spending $600 — $700 on a hairdryer by Dyson — a “revolutionary” and “intelligent” device that promises to “change the way” hair is dried and styled.
Hair dryers live and die by their heat and air output, but this powerful product — which is the world’s most expensive dryer — received mixed reviews.
Some claimed the device created a blow-dry that rivalled that of a professional, while others claimed the hype didn’t warrant the price tag.
“Technology is transforming consumers’ daily beauty routines,” Guivee Balooch, of L’Oreal, said of the smart hairbrush.
“Smart devices have a huge potential to impact how we care for our hair and skin.
[We] have reinvented what a person’s relationship with their hair can look like, and are showing how connected devices and revolutionise the beauty industry.”