There is an article by Joe Schwarcz at the McGill Office for Science and Society on February 28, 2024 titled The “Repronizer” Merits Reproach, and subtitled It looks like a hairdryer, but the manufacturer explains that it is more than that. But the explanation reeks of twaddle. He opens by stating:
“We have become accustomed to seeing a lot of gobbledygook online. But the jargon that purports to explain the workings of the ‘Repronizer’ elevates bunk to new heights. What is the Repronizer? A device to ‘bioprogram hair.’ Not a hair dryer, the profusion of ads proclaim, although it sure looks like one.”
There is a three-minute YouTube video from from BeautyTech Distribution titled How to use your Repronizer where it sure looks like a typical blow dryer – except there also are a couple of washable air filter disks. It does not mention the wattage though. I looked up the instruction manual for the Repronizer 4D and found it draws 1200W at 100 V. Assuming that current of 12 amperes, at 120 V it would draw 1440 W.
There is another article by Krista Limoges and Olivia Cigliano at Women’s Wear Daily on October 27, 2023 titled The 9 Best Affordable Hair Dryers for Under $100. The 1440 W for the Repronizer actually is less than the typical 1800 W for their best blow dryers.
Yet another article by Maryam Lieberman at W Magazine on April 4, 2023 titled This Miracle Japanese Blow Dryer Uses Heat to Produce Healthier Hair gives it a glowing review and says:
“The technology behind this device is unparalleled. For its haircare line, Lumelinia relies on the power of quantum technology, which takes surplus moisture from your body and brings it to the surface level of your scalp. (As one of the company’s reps explained to me, the process is similar to taking a raisin to the hydration level of a grape.) They recommended I do ‘a slow pass every day, and you will see, it will improve your hair.’ I have been, every morning, and the results are remarkable.”
But Ms. Lieberman says the Repronizer sells for $1020, or over ten times the price for those dryers reviewed by Women’s Wear Daily. That’s absurd!
Dr. Schwarcz’s article mentions but does not link to a five-minute YouTube video demonstration of the Repronizer 3D Plus. The captions say:
“In this test, one designated portion of hair on the back of the head is blown with warm and cool air alternately in 5-minute intervals for a total of two hours.”
After two hours moisture content of the hair increased from 15.3% to 21.5%. That’s NOT what you’d expect from a dryer – but is what would happen if the humidity of air in the room was higher than where the test subject had been previously. (The moisture content of hair varies with humidity).
The sixth paragraph of Dr. Schwarcz’s article points out:
“Any proper scientific experiment requires a control. In this case, that would be having the subject sit for two hours without the Repronizer doing whatever it does. Just let the hair air dry. I suspect the results would be the same. I base my opinion on a paper published in the Annals of Dermatology that reported on washing tresses of hair and then exposing them to different drying temperatures by holding the dryer at different distances. The results were compared with using no dryer at all. There was more surface damage to hair when a hair dryer was used than when the hair was allowed to dry naturally.”
There is actually another eight and a half minute YouTube video from BeautyTech Distribution titled REPRONIZER 4D PLUS DEMONSTRATION TEST. This time they did a three-hour test, but with a 0.47” thick plate glass blocking the wind. Yet the moisture content again rose, from 11.5% to 13.7%. What’s really going on here? As I said before, the moisture content of hair varies with humidity. In fact, one type of hygrometer uses a hair as the humidity sensor. The astonished folks viewing the demonstration are being misdirected to look at the visible Repronizer as the cause of hair changes rather than the invisible real cause of humidity in the video studio.
The dishwasher detergent pods I use are Finish Powerball Quantum. They work well, and Quantum in the name sounds impressive. Anytime you see quantum in a fancy explanation you might as well replace it with rectum – which is where the bogus wording came from.
The blow dryer cartoon was adapted from one at Opencilpart.
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