Let’s dive into the wild world of hair dryers, beauty enthusiasts!
I’ve tested and tamed countless models, ensuring you can style like a pro and enjoy great hair days every day.
It’s a fun journey packed with sizzling technology and excellent design.
Join me as we blow away misconceptions and unlock the secrets of hair dryers.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Choosing the right hair dryer is crucial to perfect styling and overcoming bad hair days.
- Hair dryers aren’t just tools but trusted partners that can significantly enhance your beauty routine.
- Like picking the perfect horse, finding your ideal hair dryer is all about fit, so ensure it meets your unique hair care needs.
Consider The Wattage First
One of the first things to consider when choosing a hair dryer is its power (wattage).
We put “wattage” as the first consideration because without the correct power, your hair may get damaged, and you may not get the desired result that you are looking for.
After thorough testing and research, we concluded that 1875 W of power is ideal for all hair types.
A hair dryer with less wattage will also work if you have short or fine hair.
Here is a chart of best-suited wattage for different types of hair:
| Type of Hair | Wattage |
|---|---|
| Thin, Fine, Frizzy, or Damaged Hair | 1200-1500 |
| Normal, Medium, Straight, or Wavy | 1300-1800 |
| Thick, Coarse, or Curly | 1600-2000 |
In conclusion, a hair dryer with 1300-1875 watts range is great for people who use it at home.
Other Features Of Hair Dryer
Weight
Because you may have to hold your hair dryer for long periods, depending upon the thickness and length of your hair, having a lighter hair dryer is worth considering.
If your hair dryer is not lightweight, your arm may tire while blow-drying your hair. Also, a lighter hair dryer is more travel-friendly.
Look for a hair dryer that weighs about 1 pound (0.45 kg).
This will make your blow-drying experience much easier.
Multiple Heat Settings
The heat adjustment setting is an essential feature on your hair dryer. Getting the right temperature is important, like hair straighteners and other hair styling tools that use heat.
You can damage your beloved hair severely or permanently without the correct heat settings.
A higher temperature setting can minimize your blow-drying time, but if your hair isn’t thick or curly, you risk damaging your hair follicles.
So, when looking for a perfect hair dryer, consider purchasing one that allows you to adjust the temperature according to your hair type.
Cool Shot
With this feature, you can blast your hair with cool air just before you have finished drying your hair.
This “cool shot” seals the hair cuticles and sets your hair for a long-lasting hold. This feature helps keep your hair sleek, smooth, and shiny all day long.
Switch to the “cool shot” setting when your hair is about 80% dry. This is when your hair will benefit most from this finishing touch.
Ergonomics
Just as weight is significant, so is comfort. If you have to hold your hair dryer for long periods it should feel comfortable in your grasp.
While shopping for a hair dryer, look for one that is easy to hold, ergonomic, and has a lightweight design.
The buttons should also be in a convenient place. They should be easy to reach. Most of all, your hair dryer should feel comfortable in your hand while using it.
Cord Length
A longer cord is important because it will allow for more movement.
A short hair dryer cord can limit its use if there’s no power outlet near your dressing table or bathroom.
Look for a hair dryer with a longer length cord (6 to 9 feet is ideal).
Hair Dryer Materials & Technologies
Tourmaline
Tourmaline hair dryers are a step ahead of other hair dryers. These hair dryers are coated inside with tourmaline, a semi-precious metal that emits negative ions into your hair when heated up.
These negative ions help your hair dry faster, lock in moisture within your strands, and help prevent damage.
Tourmaline hair dryers are the safest dryers for all hair types. And if your hair is thick or frizzy, a tourmaline hair dryer may be your best choice.
Ceramic Or Porcelain
Ceramic hair dryers are best for distributing the heat evenly throughout your hair.
This hair dryer helps prevent your hair from overheating and drying out. Ceramic hair dryers not only distribute heat evenly, they are also gentle on your hair.
Both ceramic and porcelain are less harsh on your hair. If you have fine, thin, or dry hair that dries out easily, a ceramic or porcelain hair dryer would best suit your hair type.
Ceramic dryers also provide negative ions, which are good for curly and damaged hairs and prevent further frizz.
Some latest ceramic hair dryers have infrared technology that delivers more consistent and evenly distributed heat and helps dry your hair from the inside out.
Titanium
Titanium hair dryers are best for optimal drying time. They provide for the evenest heat distribution in the least amount of time.
But these dryers are not as gentle on your hair as ceramic or tourmaline dryers are. Thus titanium hair dryers are recommended only if you have very thick hair that is hard to dry.
Titanium metal is very lightweight, and these hair dryers are easy to handle.
It’s important to know that if your hair is fine, frizzy, or damaged, then a titanium hair dryer may damage it.
Titanium hair dryers and straighteners are best for extremely thick, coarse, and curly hair.
Ionic technology creates millions of negative ions that help break down water molecules. The fewer water molecules in your hair, the faster your hair will dry.
With the ionic hair dryer, you are not just drying your hair with hot air. The ions help to break down the water in your hair, thus accelerating your blow-drying time.
This is great if you have thick hair and little time to dry it.
The only problem with ionic dryers is that most users don’t realize when to turn them off before they start to cause damage to their hair.
If the ionic airflow stays on your hair for too long after your hair is completely dry you may risk damaging your hair.
Also, you should avoid using ionic hair dryers if your hair is fine or thin. And this type of hair dryer is not as effective in adding volume as other hair dryers.
Infrared
Infrared technology is the latest superior technology in hair styling tools. This new technology spreads the airflow deeply while drying your hair gently.
This heating process is not only gentle but also reduces your drying time. Infrared technology is good for frizzy and damaged hair. It dries faster and doesn’t damage your hair.
Finding The Right Accessories
Hair dryers usually have extra accessories like a diffuser, concentrator, etc.
These added tools are necessary if you want to achieve different styles with your hair.
If the hair dryer that you are purchasing doesn’t come with these accessories, you may be able to buy them separately. But how do you know which ones that you may need?
Let’s talk about diffusers first.
- An added diffuser will allow your hair dryer to distribute hot air evenly.
- It also helps to separate the airflow from your hair dryer, which helps to keep your curls in place.
- It helps to minimize frizz.
- It’s most helpful for curly or wavy hair.
Another great tool you can use with your hair dryer is a concentrator.
This tool is very helpful if you straighten your hair regularly with your dryer. By using this add-on, you gain more control over your finished look.
Purchase A New Hair Dryer According To Your Hair Type
It’s important that you consider your hair type when looking for a new hair dryer. If you do not use a hair dryer recommended for your hair type, you could end up with damaged or frizzy hair.
Here is a chart of best-suited hair dryers according to hair type:
| Type of Hair | Type of Hair Dryer |
|---|---|
| Dry Hair | Tourmaline Hair Dryer |
| Fine/Normal Hair | Infrared Hair Dryer (with adjustable heat setting) |
| Thick/Coarse Hair | Tourmaline Ionic Hair Dryer |
| Curly/Wavy Hair | Tourmaline Ionic Hair Dryer (with diffuser) |
| Straight Hair | Non-Ionic |
| Natural Hair | Ionic & Ceramic Hair Dryer (with multiple heat settings) |
| Frizzy/Damaged Hair | Tourmaline Ionic Hair Dryer (with concentrator nozzle) |
Get to know about power consumption with ‘How many watts is a hair dryer‘ and learn styling techniques in ‘How to blow dry layered hair‘.
FAQs
What should I look for when choosing a hair dryer?
Can the wrong hair dryer damage my hair?
How often should I replace my hair dryer?
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has helped to inform you about the different types of hair dryers on the market today.
By implementing these tips, you shouldn’t have any problems deciding which hair dryer to purchase to help maintain your look and keep your locks shiny and healthy!
Sources
- Dana Oliver, Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Hair Dryers, Apr
