Hair Dryer

There are so many hair dryers in the marketplace and just which one is the right one for you? There are so many different types, styles, different features, and probably even more important, different prices. So just exactly how do you go about selecting the right one?

When shopping for a new hair dryer, there are many factors to consider:

1) What type hair do you have? Is it long, short, fine or thin, thick, curly, damaged, etc.? 

2) Are there any weight or ergonomic issues that need to be taken into consideration? 

3) Is the dryer going to be for at home use or travel or both? 

4) What is your budget?

Once you have answers to these questions, it makes it much easier to weed through the vast assortment of hair dryers that you can choose from. However, whether your hair is damaged or not, always be certain that the dryer you select has ceramic and ionic technology. Why? These technologies are important in the drying process. In a nutshell, ionic technology helps evaporate the water quickly from your hair. Ceramic technology results in even heat distribution across the hair and eliminates damaging hot spots while using the dryer. The negative ions that are created break down the water drops into tiny particles that are absorbed into the hair shaft, and the drying time is reduced considerably. The end result is less damage to your hair and more hydration for shiny, healthy hair.

In choosing a hair dryer that is right for the type hair that you have it boils down to the wattage of the dryer. There are hairdryers that typically range anywhere from 250 watts to 2000 watts of power. Among these you will find hot air brushes that actually dry and style your hair, styler dryers that include comb and brush attachments, wall mounted dryers, hard and soft hat hair dryers, and your customary pistol grip type dryers. In conjunction with wattage, consideration needs to be made for the heat/speed settings that are included with the dryer.

One of the many complaints that people have when using a hairdryer is the weight of the dryer. This is understandable because let's face it, people who have a lot of hair end up having to hold their dryer for longer periods of time. And, if you are styling your hair with a styling brush while drying your hair, it may take even longer. Just think about the hair stylist who is blowing out hair all day long! People who already have carpal tunnel type issues or tendencies also need to be mindful of what is not going to aggravate this further. Fortunately, the manufacturers of hairdryers have listened to the professionals and you can now find more of a variety of lightweight dryers, ergonomic handles, and even well balanced dryers. These dryers generally have the motor of the dryer centered to where the weight of the dryer is well distributed and there is less stress in whatever position you are holding it.

Since many of us are constantly on the go, whether it be traveling for our job, traveling for pleasure, or even working out at the gym, the desire is to have a dryer that is specifically designed for travel, or one that will serve a dual purpose. This category opens up an entire new spectrum of things to be taken into consideration. Does your travel take you into other countries? If so, you will need a dual voltage dryer and the appropriate adapter plug designed for use in the particular country you are visiting. Here again, weight can be an issue with the new weight restrictions put on baggage as well as how much space will the dryer take up? There are many foldable travel dryers now available that are lightweight and compact so this shouldn't be an issue. These are also very popular for those who just want to keep a dryer in their gym bag for when they work out.

Lastly, what is your budget? The good news is that there are so many excellent dryers in all price ranges that this should not be an issue. Obviously, if you want the best of the best, expect to pay more and in most situations you will be glad you did.

Now that we've covered what to consider, exactly what type hair dryer should you be looking for?

Short, Fine, Thin, Damaged or Fragile Hair

Depending on how short or how thin or fine your hair is, a hot air brush just might do the trick. These range anywhere from 250 watts to 1000 watts. They are sold by the barrel size ranging from 3/4" to 1 1/2" and come with either flexible ball-tipped bristles or nylon bristles.

With a traditional type dryer the maximum wattage needed is 1600 watts or less. At a minimum you will want a dryer that has at least two speeds (low and high) and at least two heat settings (cool or cold and warm/hot). A cool shot button typically comes on most professional dryers and this is a great benefit to lock in the style when you are finished drying a particular section of your hair.

Medium, Straight, or Textured Hair

If you have medium length hair that is not fine, thin, or damaged, you can basically use any wattage hair dryer but 1600 to 1875 watts will work best. If you find a dryer that meets your criteria but happens to be on the higher wattage scale, be sure that it has multiple heat/speed options so that it can be easily adjusted to your particular hair type and hair style that you desire.

Thick or Wavy Hair

If you have the type of hair that takes a long time to dry, you should be looking for a minimum of 1875 watts or higher. Again, the more heat/speed settings on the dryer will provide you with the flexibility Or, if your hair takes a long time to dry, a minimum of 1875 watts should be used.

One last consideration to be made when purchasing a hair dryer is the attachments that you will need for the dryer. Most professional models come with a concentrator, which is key for spot drying or focusing on a particular area of your hair.Two additional considerations to keep in mind when shopping for a hair dryer is how many heat settings and how many speeds the dryer has. At a minimum you want a dryer that has at least two heat settings. If your hair is fine, thin, damaged, or fragile curly, you will benefit from cool or cold settings as these will prevent further heat damage and if you have fine hair, the cool air will plump up any limp strands. If you has thick strands you should use the full heat settings. The hot air blowing out of a dryer helps to create a style and the cold air locks the style in. That is why so many hairdryers come with cold or cool shot buttons so that you have the option to easily press that button once you are ready to lock in a particular section of hair that you are styling with your hair brush while drying. When it comes to the number of speeds you want in a dryer, you want at least two speeds. The two speeds will consist of high and low. If your hair is fine, thin, damaged or fragile, your hair will benefit from the slower speeds. If your hair is thick or takes longer to dry, the speed needs to be medium to high.