How to choose a hair dryer
Among hair care tools, a hair dryer occupies a special place. It is multifunctional and solves several problems at once. If handled correctly, it will guarantee a perfect daily hairstyle.
The content of the article
Choosing a hair dryer: basic criteria
Power is the key indicator. 2200 W for a home appliance is already too much, unless you have the skills of a professional stylist. Specialists of this profile are able to style their hair beautifully in a very short period of time; an ordinary woman simply will not have time to do her hair before her hair dries. The worst situation will be with short hair, which, due to the nature of the haircut, requires careful styling. A very powerful hair dryer will dry them in a matter of moments.
Important!
A strong stream of hot air from a very powerful device will dry your hair faster than you can style it.
The second important criterion: the presence of overheating protection (without this function the device will fail faster). Third: ease of use. Helpful notes in this regard:
- the thing should not be heavy;
- a short cord will cause a lot of problems, because manufacturers prohibit the use of extension cords with hair dryers;
- buy devices with the most flexible wires, otherwise they will constantly break;
- if the handle is very short, and buttons and control levers are located on it, then they must be protected from careless unintentional pressing;
- Removable mesh will greatly facilitate the process of caring for the device and help extend its “life.”
It is also worth paying attention to additional protective coatings. A good option in this case: Soft Touch or Soft Feel. It gives a visual varnish effect, but the device becomes velvety to the touch (will not slip out of your hands). Significantly increases impact resistance and sound insulation properties (the hair dryer ultimately makes less noise). It has anti-corrosion characteristics (after installation, you can leave the device directly in the bathroom).
However, this option also has its drawbacks. For example, strong detergents leave permanent stains on it. This must be taken into account not only during the process of caring for the device, but also at the stage of choosing a storage location.
Types of hair dryers
Main classification:
- domestic (household);
- professional;
- road.
The latter are characterized by compactness and can operate offline. There are practically no powerful models among them. This indicator is more typical for professional devices (more than 2000 W).
Which hair dryer to choose for home use
Ideal option: a quiet device of medium power, with minimal energy-consuming properties (otherwise everyday use will hit your pocket) and a long flexible cord.Its design must provide the ability to regulate the temperature and volume of air flow. Nozzles are desirable, but you shouldn’t “sacrifice” other characteristics for the sake of them. A broken hair dryer with a huge number of removable accessories is unlikely to be useful.
What functions should a hair dryer have for your home?
He must dry the hair evenly, but do it at a speed convenient for the individual user. Otherwise, there will be problems with creating a hairstyle.
Important!
Curly girls who don’t like to wear wavy hair should take a closer look at hair dryers that combine the characteristics of a straightening iron.
Material for home hair dryer
Budget models that are not sold in specialized stores are much cheaper, but have many disadvantages. One of them is the housing material that does not meet safety standards. Ideally, it should not heat up at all after prolonged use. However, thin-walled plastic, from which cheap hair dryers are made, perfectly withstands high temperatures. This not only threatens to damage the device, but can also cause an accident.
Even well-known equipment manufacturers sometimes use low-quality plastic.
Advice!
To avoid buying a hair dryer with a surprise, smell it right in the store. If there is a specific smell, then when heated it will most likely intensify.
There are also models that combine several materials at once. In their case, plastic can be supplemented with steel inserts, ceramic coating, and carbon fiber.
Important!
Ideally, the entire device should be made of carbon fiber. Today this material has the best characteristics.
Much depends on the type of heating element.According to this criterion, the following are distinguished:
- Metal. Classic performance. Such devices are generally affordable, but can heat the hair unevenly, which ultimately leads to hair splitting. Another drawback: increased energy consumption.
- Ceramic. They cost more, but do the job well. Does not dry out the scalp and hair.
Do you need additional functions for a home hair dryer?
The ionization function is never superfluous. It reduces the negative impact of hot air currents, protects against dehydration and drying out, and also indirectly helps eliminate greasiness (the root zone ceases to be greasy). Due to it, the hair can more easily withstand daily drying and styling. It is also worth taking a closer look at models with cold air supply - another function that guards the health of curls.
It is worth paying attention to the equipment. Additional attachments expand the functionality of the device. The most popular devices:
- concentrator (narrows the range of air flow);
- diffuser (air diffuser);
- styler (attachment for creating hairstyles).
We focus on the price indicator
As mentioned earlier, cheap products (price tags up to 1000 rubles) presented in non-specialized stores are absolutely not suitable for daily use. For the rest, you should be guided by your own skills: if you have the skills of a professional stylist, then turn to expensive hair dryers from European brands that produce exclusively beauty tools (from 5 thousand and more). If there are no such qualities, then take a model in the mid-price category.It is usually represented by high-quality devices from well-known manufacturers that produce all types of home appliances (2.5–8 thousand).
Important!
Some companies increase the price of the device not by increasing its service life and reliability, but by expanding the configuration. This combination is something to be wary of.
Which brand of hair dryer is better to choose?
Reliable brands:
- Braun.
- Vitek.
- Rowenta.
- Bosch.
- Philips.
You can also find interesting and reliable hair tools from Parlux and Velecta. These are European brands specializing in the production of professional and semi-professional beauty devices.
How to choose the right hair dryer
You can't do without a preliminary inspection. Take the device in your hand and move it diagonally upward. This is necessary, since drying, according to rules and regulations, must be carried out at a distance of at least 50 cm from the head. If in this position the brush experiences strong pressure and it is uncomfortable to hold the hair dryer, then immediately abandon the idea of buying it.
Next, inspect the wire (it should be flexible and tight at the junction with the body and pin). Don't forget to smell the device (ideally there should be no odor).
How to choose a hair dryer depending on your hair type
Weak and brittle hair requires careful handling. In their case, there is no need to chase power; 1200 W is enough. Well, 1600–2000 W will ensure quick drying of a thick mop.
Important!
If you have very voluminous hair that does not need additional volume, do not use powerful hair dryers or use low-power settings.
Length matters too. The bob dries easily and quickly, therefore, for reasons of safety and preservation of the hair structure, women with short hairstyles are better off using low-power hair dryers.They are also ideal for styling.
Expert advice on how to choose a good hair dryer
Before purchasing, think about who, where and how the tool will be used. For a home appliance, ease of use is paramount. Professional models hardly fit this definition. They are heavy. Road ones will irritate with their slowness: the drying process will take an prohibitively long time.
