Hair Dryers

As with every other appliance, the bigger your budget, the more extras you can get or the better overall performance. Let's have a look at some of the things you should consider before making your purchase.

Heating Elements
Cheaper dryers use metal or plastic heating elements that burn with a fierce heat which are very hard on your hair. These models produce positively charged ions which cause the neutral cuticle covering of the hair shaft to open, causing the hair to become frizzy and very dull. Prolonged use of such a dryer will also eventually make your hair very dry and brittle, and ultimately split and break.

More expensive dryers use ceramic heating. Ceramic heating is 'radiant' which means the gentle heat penetrates the hair shaft and heats from within. These types of dryers are much kinder to your hair and generally leave it in a better condition.

An ionic hair dryer produces negatively charged ions which eliminate static and frizz by 'trapping' moisture causing the cuticle to remain flat. The hair is left with a smooth, shiny finish. Ionic dryers generally dry the hair a lot quicker too.

Tourmaline is a fairly recent addition to hair dryer technology. Dryers with tourmaline generate negative charged ions, which means that hair dries quicker, and looks sleek and very shiny.

The more heat and speed settings a dryer has, the more control the user have over the airflow that is produced, so you can select the option that suits your need. For initial rough drying you may want a hotter, faster airflow, but as the hair dries you may want to reduce the heat. For styling, you generally want a reasonable heat with a slower airflow speed.

Speed Settings: As mentioned above, multiple speed settings give the user more control over the airflow produced. Cool Shot settings are useful too for setting styles (this is simply cooler air).

Wattage: Wattage varies greatly between driers and gives a guide to the power of the dryer. The higher the wattage, the more heat the dryer produces, the quicker your hair dries. I would recommend something around 1300 watts or over for regular use.

Weight: Professional dryers tend to be much lighter than others as they have to be held most of the day by hairdressers. But they are great for domestic use too – they are easier to move around your head and keep high, and are generally more comfortable to use. Travel dryers are the lightest of all but you may sacrifice power and choice of settings.

Diffusers and Attachments: To enhance natural curls, or create more volume, use a hairdryer with diffuser. The attachment diffuses the airflow, drying the curls or roots with a gentle flow, rather than a hot blast. A concentrator attachment forces the airflow to a targeted area, which is useful if you like to straighten your hair using a brush.

Travel Hair Dryers: Although they usually are much less powerful, travel dryers are much more portable than other models, are lightweight and have a foldable handle for easy storage.

Flex Length: Try to get a dryer with a long flex, or else you will be limited to where you can use it. If space – or tidiness! - is an issue, you can also find dryers that have a retractable flex.