Hair dryer buyer guides are thick on the ground. I mean you could go to any big store in the mall and find a ton of hair dryer reviews. But how many of them tackle the “big” questions like which is better, Ionic or tourmaline? Or if ionic is better than ceramic? Or if ceramic is better than tourmaline?
Identify your needs
Identifying your needs is the first step in finding the right hair dryer. You might think you know your hair type, but there are so many options to choose from. Are you straight or curly? Is your hair fine or coarse? What about its porosity or volume? If you’re not sure about any of these characteristics, there are online resources that can help you figure this out. Once you’ve figured out what kind of hair you have, it’s time to set yourself up with some basic guidelines.
Choose a hair dryer by function
There are many different types and styles of hair dryers. Some have a sleek, contemporary look while others are made to look like throwback vintage versions. Still, others feature modern, high-tech designs that match their equally advanced performance features. Dealing with this plethora of options means having to decide what you want your dryer to do for you. Do you need a diffuser attachment? A straightener attachment? How about a curling iron or hot air brush attachment? Before finding the best hair dryer for your needs, it’s important to know all the functions that can be performed by the device, and how each one will impact your hairstyling routine.
- A hair dryer is NOT a diffuser. A diffuser is an attachment that fits over the end of the blow dryer and helps disperse airflow around thick curls in order to prevent frizzing and protect curl definition from damage caused by extreme heat.
- A hair dryer is NOT a straightener. Straighteners come in various forms (flat irons, heated brushes) but none of them are attachments to your basic blow dryer toolkit, unlike curling wands or round brushes, they’re meant as separate styling tools in their own right. You won’t be using them during or immediately after using your hairdryer; instead, you’ll use them afterward if at all (depending on whether or not you’re going for curly vs straight looks).
Choose a hair dryer by brand
When choosing a hair dryer, it’s important to look at the brand reputation. Some brands are known for their quality and reliability, and others are better avoided. How do you find which is the best brand for you? First, think about longevity: does this company have a long-term relationship with other customers? Are they well-established in the community? Do they have a good track record of standing by their products? Will they offer a warranty if something goes wrong with your hair dryer? It would be ideal to choose a reputable brand that is known for making good quality products, offers reliable customer service, has been around for a while, and provides warranties on its products.
Choose a hair dryer by price range.
Let’s talk about the price range. You might be thinking, “Well, of course, I want to buy the hair dryer that’s most effective without being too expensive.” But there are a lot of considerations, and it’s best to think through some things before you start shopping.
First off, do you really need all the extra features? A lot of hair dryers come with attachments that seem cool at first but might end up collecting dust in your bathroom drawer. If you’re looking for a basic home model, keep it simple. Don’t overpay for a hair dryer with a bunch of fancy settings and accessories that aren’t relevant to your needs that just wastes money.
Choose a hair dryer by features.
If you want to get the most bang for your buck, it’s a good idea to do some research on the features that are available. These include:
- Ionic technology: This feature helps to dry your hair faster by breaking up water molecules and making them smaller so they can be more easily absorbed. The result is a speedier drying time with less frizziness and static electricity. If you’re in a hurry or don’t have much patience when it comes to doing your hair, ionic technology is definitely something worth looking into.
- Far-infrared heat: This type of heat dries hair from the inside out rather than only concentrating on the outside layers. It penetrates deep into each strand for greater moisture retention and less frizziness in dry climates or after swimming, as well as leaving behind less of an odor than traditional blow dryers because there’s no direct contact with hot air at all times like conventional models require (it works by emitting light waves).
- Tourmaline Technology: This is another one of those buzzwords that sounds fancy but really just means using crushed gemstones in the heating element of your blow dryer. Touted benefits include increased shine and reduced frizz without any extra effort or time spent styling, plus zero chance for damage due to overheating thanks to automatic shutoff features if something goes wrong during use–which makes tourmaline technology an excellent choice if you’re worried about protecting delicate tresses while also wanting great results fast.
It’s important to identify what you need in a hairdryer and then choose wisely in order to get the best product for your money
Now that you know the different features available on blow dryers, you’ll need to figure out what your main requirements are from a blow dryer.
- How often will you be using it?
- What features are most important to you? Are wattage and heat settings critical for your hair type, or is noise level more important to your day-to-day life?
- Do you want to invest in a high-end blow dryer that can be used regularly and consistently, or do you want something inexpensive that will do the job temporarily?
- How much money do you want to spend on a hairdryer?
- Is it worth investing in a higher quality hair dryer if it means healthier and better-looking hair down the road? Or is the price the number one factor in your decision-making process?