Hair dryer FAQs
What’s the best hair dryer for my hair type?
Not all hair dryers are made equal, and finding one that works best for you will depend on your hair type. Fine, straighter hair types will benefit from ion technology to increase volume, while variable heat settings will help you limit the amount of heat damage.
If frizziness is your bugbear, a cool-shot button – which delivers a burst or ongoing stream of cold air – will seal the hair cuticle and help reduce the effects of humidity on your locks, while wavy and curly hair will benefit from the use of a diffuser, which is an attachment tool that allows for heat to be distributed evenly. For thick hair, a higher wattage will ensure a faster drying time, though, you can be more susceptible to heat damage, so always use a heat protection spray beforehand.
When drying afro hair that has dense curls and texture, too much continuous high heat can cause breakage, so, look for varying heat settings that allow you to control this and minimise damage.
What should I consider when buying a hair dryer?
Size and weight
Hair dryers have slimmed down in recent years, making bulky devices a thing of the past. However, it’s still important to consider the size and weight of the product. Thicker, curlier hair will take longer to dry, which means heftier hair dryers will take their toll on your arms after extensive styling. More complex, cutting-edge technologies tend to lead to heavier hair dryers, with lightweight travel dryers offering a more basic hair-drying experience.
Power and temperature
If you’re looking to dry your hair as quickly as possible, look at the wattage, not the temperature. Nowadays, you can buy hair dryers operating at 3,600W, but a high-quality device only requires around 1,800W. For those with curlier hair that only needs setting or drying with a diffuser, high speeds aren’t as important.
While it’s normally advisable to keep to as low a temperature as possible, to minimise damage, thicker, curlier hair requires more heat. No matter your hair type, everyone should look for a variety of temperature settings – the more options, the more control over your styling.
Ceramic vs metal
The key difference between ceramic and metal hair dryers is that ceramic heats evenly and metal unevenly. As a result, ceramic dryers are less damaging to your hair, even if they take longer to heat up. Metal dryers are best suited to thicker hair, which requires stronger blasts of heat to dry quickly. Metal dryers also tend to be lighter than their ceramic counterparts.
What are ionic and ceramic technologies?
The word ‘ionic’ is often thrown around when it comes to hi-tech hair gadgets but it is very rarely explained. The term comes from its use of negatively charged ions. While your hair features both negative and positively charged ions, the water on wet hair is positive. Ionic hair dryers blast negative ions to help break down the particles which, in turn, helps hair dry faster compared with when it’s left to its own devices. Because the negative ions help close the hair cuticle, it also leaves strands smoother, sleeker and frizz-free. This is particularly helpful for protecting the definition and pattern of your curls, but as it removes moisture, fine hair can be left looking limp.
Meanwhile, ceramic technology is designed to evenly distribute heat. This works by coating the inside of the dryer with ceramic (or sometimes porcelain) and covering the metal or plastic components, which conduct more extreme, uneven temperatures. Hair dryers with this technology also take extra measures to protect your hair from heat damage, repeatedly checking the temperature and adjusting accordingly. Temperatures will be hotter at the start of your blow-dry, cooling gradually.
While some hair dryers combine both technologies, most ceramic hair dryers are already equipped with negative ions to help control frizz – just not to the extent of an ionic hair dryer.
The verdict: Hair dryers
While Remington’s one dryer took the title of best hair dryer overall, thanks to its reasonable price point, attachments and precise approach to styling, it was ghd’s helios and Dyson’s supersonic nural dryer that proved the most effective on straight and afro hair. Indeed, Remington won the prize for versatility, as well as being Nicole’s favourite for curly hair overall and, while it’s actually rather affordable, we felt it performed like a premium dryer. That said, Revlon’s airflow control dryer proved an even more affordable option and was both curly hair-friendly and suitable for on-the-go use.
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