Hair Dryer Guide

What is a hair dryer?

I am sure many people are familiar with the daily routine of washing, drying and styling our hair.

Even though our hair naturally dries on its own, most people reach for a hairdryer to speed up the process. They blow hot hair in varying temperatures to get the style you want.

So how does the hairdryer work?

Well, it’s simple the hairdryer dries your hair by maximising the evaporation of water from the surface of your hair.

The hot air released from a hairdryer increases the air temperature in the areas around each hair strand, allowing the moisture in the hair to be extracted into the air.

In addition, the increase in temperature also makes it easier for the individual molecules in water droplets to overcome their attraction to one another and move from a liquid to a gas state.

What is the best hair dryer the professional’s use?

Hairdresser’s love using a hairdryer that comes with a variety of attachments to suit different hair types.

Often professional stylists use various hair dryers, from the Dyson supersonic hair dryer to the GHD Helios Hairdryer to the Babyliss Superpower Pro Hairdryer.

All hairdryer listed has its benefits, and they all give you that salon-worthy look.

What to look for when buying a hair dryer

What type of material?

Most hair dryers are manufactured using three materials, ceramic (great heat control), tourmaline (smoother hair) and titanium (control the frizz). Which you prefer is generally a personal preference; it’s essential to read up about each before purchasing.

What Attachments?

There are extra attachments that can improve the performance of your dryer—for example, a diffuser or a nozzle attachment helping to get silkier, smoother hair.

How much power?

More power equals faster hair drying. Most hair dryers are around 700w to 1800w in power, if high heat and faster drying is for you go for closer to 1800w.

What functions?

Some shoppers want extra functions from their dryers. For example, curlers, a brush or even extra bounce or gloss from a cool shot to finish the hair in style.

Heat settings

More heat settings offer great flexibility, higher heat settings are better for removing moisture however prolonged heat can cause damage to the hair.

Different types of hair dryer

Ceramic Hair Dryers

Ceramic is a reliable choice because the material disperses heat evenly and stabilizes the temperature quickly. What is this? Ceramic helps smooth hair by sealing hair cuticles and controlling frizz, which is why it is great for women with weak, damaged, or sensitive hair.

Titanium Hair Dryers

Titanium dryers generally provide a smoother and silkier texture, and control frizz better than the ceramic type as well. However, because titanium heats hair to higher temperatures more quickly, it can also cause more damage of not used with extra care. As such, it is best suited for women who have thick hair.

Tourmaline Hairdryers

Tourmaline, a semiprecious crystalline gemstone, is one such advanced inclusion in hair dryers to increase their efficiency. Tourmaline powdered coating inside the hairdryer helps generate negatively charged ions and far-infrared heat that helps lock in the hair’s moisture and delivers smooth, shiny, frizz-free hair.

Ionic technology

Ionic tech means that the water molecules in the hair break up faster because it creates negative ions. This means you are less likely to experience frizzy hair compared to other hair dryers.

It’s not just perfect for frizzy hair; ionic dryers are great for all hair types that are difficult to dry.

Ceramic or tourmaline heating

Elements of this type of hair dryers are known to be less damaging to your hair than metal ones because they emit infrared heat and lock in moisture. Not only that, but ceramic hair dryers also distribute heat evenly, preventing” hot spots” helping to minimise damage from heat. Tourmaline hair dryers release negative ions helping to create a smoother finish.

blow dryers’ of 1500 watts or more have more airflow

Higher wattage means stronger airflow, which results in a quicker drying time. Be warned, though, hairdryers with a higher wattage are generally heavier and more tiresome to control over time.

Find a dryer with multiple speed and heat settings-

You want a model that allows you to adjust the heat level. Search for a hairdryer that provides low, medium, and high heat settings so you can modify the amount of heat that your hair requires. High heat and speed are highly effective for drying your hair quickly, whereas a lower rate and heat provides more styling control and limit tangling and fizziness.

Weight

Choose a hairdryer that is right for you, depending on the technology and features; some hairdryers can weigh a few pounds. If you have thicker hair, you will most likely be spending more time holding the dryer. It makes more sense to go for a lighter hair dryer that is more manoeuvrable and less likely to strain your arm.

A hanging loop

This is useful as this will allow and help you to store your hairdryer out of the way while it cools down. Once all the features and benefits are out of the way and are being considered, you should look at the price tag. This will determine whether the hairdryer is a good value for your money.

A cool shot button

A cool shot button will provide a burst of cool air that seals the hair cuticle, making your hair look smoother and silkier. It’s a great accessory to have for the final step of curling your hair.

An option for a dryer with a cool setting to reduce frizz.

This feature is beneficial, especially if you want a shiny and sleek finish look. Because this will allow you to blast your hair with cool air when you are nearly finished drying your hair. This seals the hair cuticle for smooth and shiny hair.

Purchase a dryer with a diffuser for curly hair types

A diffuser is an attachment that helps distributes the hot air in a larger area without blowing your hair all over the place. The diffuser is very helpful, particularly if you have curly or wavy hair, because it keeps and defines the natural textures of your curls.

Choose a dryer with a concentrator nozzle that helps to straighten hair.

A concentrator nozzle is placed at the end of a hairdryer. It emits the air in concentrated steam, so it’s a handy tool, especially when straightening your hair. It can also help cut down the frizz.

Select a dryer with a comb or pick attachment

To create smooth locks, this can help stretch out the natural curl pattern when drying your tresses.

Thick Hair Type: Iconic Hair dryer

If you have thick hair, the struggle is real! You know all too well that waiting hours for your hair to air dry, struggling with a hairdryer can be annoying and takes ages. However, you can reduce the hair drying time by option for an ionic hair dryer or by using a high wattage hairdryer which decreases drying time and leaves a smooth finish.

Fine hair type: Adjustable heat setting

A hairdryer with an adjustable heat setting is crucial if you have fine hair strands, as they quickly soak in the heat much quicker than thicker hair. Buying a hairdryer with positive ion technology can also help create volume and body.

Wavy to Curly hair (2A-3G Curl Types: Hair dryer with a diffuser

A diffuser is significant for distributing heat evenly and enhancing your natural curls. Curly hair has a pattern that must always be protected, and a diffuser will help smoothen and lock in the curls while blow-drying. To preserve the shape of your curls, look for a diffuser with thicker separators.

Afro hair (4A-4C types): Heat settings and ionic technology

Using a high heat hairdryer can cause damage and hair breakage to your hair, so look for a hairdryer with multiple heat settings, which quickly helps you optimise the heat that is just right for your hair.

Dull hair type: Shine-enhancing hair dryer or ionic hair dryer

Some hairdryers deliver hair conditioning ions to your strands, restoring shine to the hair and helping to reduce frizz resulting in a smoother and healthier finish. The negatively charged ions in an ionic hairdryer are beneficial for a sleek, shiny blowout.

Choose the right hair products.

Ensure that your haircare is full of beneficial products that will protect your strands during the drying process. Don’t forget; use a heat protectant before heat styling! You can also finish it off with moisturising hair oil or finishing cream.

Grab the right hair brush

You can start by using a paddle brush while blow-drying your hair until your hair Is almost dry. Then, you can use a round brush to dry your hair; this helps create body and volume. To add extra shine to your hair, choose a round brush with boar bristles. This helps distribute the hair oils from root to tip.

Remember to pre-dry hair.

Using an absorbent microfibre towel before you use a hairdryer will help to reduce drying time or even let it air dry for a while. This helps speed up the process and reduces the chances of damaging your hair when drying. Also, when your hair is close to being dry, don’t forget to lower the heating settings too to prevent damage.

Section your hair when drying

Section your hair off and tackle each section individually; this will help to ensure that every area is dried correctly before moving onto the next section.