Buying a hairdryer

We all want to achieve salon looks when we do our own hair, so it pays to invest in a good quality hairdryer. You will not only get better results, but it will also last longer. 

Most professional hairdryers use AC heavy duty motors. Look for a hairdryer with a high wattage – the higher it is the more powerful the hairdryer.  It can be difficult fiddling around with a dryer in one hand and a brush in another, so ensure that it is not too heavy. 

You need to control the temperature and airflow. Ideally, you want at least two speed settings as well as high and low heat options. The high is good for rough drying your hair. Once you start styling switch to a lower setting. To avoid burning your scalp and damaging your hair, don’t hold your dryer too close to your head or hold it in one spot for too long.

A cool shot button is good as it produces a blast of cold air which helps set the style. A professional dryer tends to generate more air-flow than consumer hairdryers so hair is dried faster. You need to keep the filter clean to prevent reduced airflow.  

Also look at the nozzle. Narrow nozzles help to concentrate the heat in one area so you are not disturbing sections that you have already dried. This is especially important for frizzy hair.

Always dry hair down the hair shaft to ensure that the hair cuticles lie flat, so you won’t get that fluffy effect.

A diffuser can be good for curly hair, but the downside is that it can take longer to dry hair. 

Buzz words

Ionic, ceramic and tourmaline are words that you often see on the boxes of hairdryers luring you with promises of shiny, healthy tresses.

These technologies have become more popular over recent years. Often manufactures combine a couple of them.

An ionic function emits negatively charged ions which bathe the hair, so water molecules can penetrate deep into the hair. Companies claim this process speeds up the drying process, reduces static electricity and protects the hair, making it shinier, smoother and less frizzy. 

Ceramic is said to heat more evenly and, therefore, the hair is not subject to as much heat damage.

Tourmaline technology claims to emit more negative ions than a normal ionic dryer and is reputed to make the hair less static as it helps to retain moisture in the hair.

These technologies have often been disparaged by scientists. In tests carried out, by Which?, it concluded that an ionic function “reduced microscopic signs of hair damage caused by drying at high temperatures and speeds, though the same can be achieved by drying on low speed and power.”

These are two hairdryers that I have used and have provided good results.

Parlux 385 PowerLight 385, £135, hairtools.co.uk

This new light state-of-the art dryer is sure to be another success for this Italian brand, so beloved by top hairdressers. Thanks to the new K-Lamination motor the PowerLight  is the most  powerful model (2150 watts) to date. It also uses both ionic and ceramic technology and is eco-friendly as well as being extremely quiet.

The dryer also has four temperature settings and two speeds and a coldshot button and comes with two concentrator styling nozzles. If you have frizzy hair, use the narrower nozzle. Comes in a variety of colours.

How it performed

This dryer is superb to use as it is so light, you can concentrate on working that round brush. My hair also seemed to be dried in no time at all. I got a great result with this dryer. My hair was so silky and shiny but, to be honest, from Parlux, I would not have expected any less.

T3 Featherweight 2, £155

If you have locks that are hard to style or don’t want to use the usual high heat, high wind speed type of dryers, then this tourmaline ionic dryer could be for you. The company claims that it is faster than other dryers and that it has been “clinically proven to be better for your hair than air-drying”. 

The dryer also has two speed settings and three adjustable heat settings, the medium heat is ideal for fine hair. There is also a cool shot button. The Advanced SoftAire Technology delivers a greater volume of air to speed up the drying process. It has a long-life motor – itsT3 Tourmaline infusion process is said to last for the dryer’s life time.

How it performed

I first tried the dryer the day before I was due to go the colourist, as my hair is at its most difficult to blow-dry. The dryer is ultra-light and easy to manoeuvre, but does take getting used to. I usually rough dry my hair before styling, but with this dryer, it is better to work on sections from the beginning. Take out any excess moisture by dabbing hair with a towel.

The drying process was quick. My hair had plenty of body and was silkier and less frizzy than it would have been had I used a basic dryer. Remember it is a hairdryer not a miracle-worker, so if you have “fluffy” hair you still need to create tension in your hair by styling it using a good quality round brush.

By Daralyn Danns