Where do you start with choosing the best hairdryer for your requirements?

You might think that choosing the right hairdryer for your hair is just a case of finding one that comes with a decent motor, a couple of speed settings and some attachments that suit your hair type.

Oh, if it were only that simple.

Hair can be the Goldilocks of the personal beauty world – give it too much heat, and it’s prone to frizz, but undercook it, and you will find it doesn’t possess the malleability that allows you to style it into the hair-do you’re after.

That means you need to be looking for a hairdryer capable of hitting the sweet spot, one capable of kicking out a consistent blast of hot air, but equally one that isn’t going to fry your head or damage your hair with excessive heat.

But how do you find that perfect hairdryer that’s going to do your hair justice?

Let’s find out.

Hair Type

The first step to finding the right hairdryer is identifying the type of hair you’re working with.

A trichologist (hair scientist) will tell you that when it comes down to it, drying hair is all about treating your cuticles right – hair cuticles are the outer layer of the hair and as such come into direct contact with the jet of hot air pumped out by a dryer.

The main hair types are:

Fine and thin hair: Needs a low heat and a softer jet of air than thick and coarse hair.
Thick and coarse hair: Typically needs lots of high heat and strong airflow to dry the bulk of the hair properly, often using a diffuser.
Curly or wavy hair: Needs hot hair paired with a diffuser to define the curls and reduce the frizz that this type of hair is prone to when heated.
Frizzy or damaged hair: Requires a consistent blast of hot hair, ideally with an ionic or ceramic-equipped dryer to minimise dryness and frizz.

Ioniser Technology

The science that underpins modern hairdryers doesn’t stand still, and the recent introduction of clever technology to the mix is testament to this fact.

Not least among these developments is the ioniser, which allows for more rapid and even drying by ejecting a stream of negatively charged particles over the wet hair, helping combat static electricity and the frizzy hair it causes.

It’s important to bear in mind, however, that hairdryers at the cheaper end of the market sometimes make claims they fail to deliver on when it comes to ionising tech.

To be sure you’re getting a bona fide ioniser in your hairdryer, check that the appliance’s spec mentions a specific amount of ions in cubic centimetres – it should give a figure in the region of 20 – 40 million ions/cm³.

Cold Shot Button

When shopping around for a hairdryer, it’s recommended that you look for one that comes equipped with a cold shot button.

The cold shot button on modern hairdryers has an important role to play in the later stages of hair drying when you look to style your hair when it’s almost dry.

The button will allow you to switch instantaneously from hot to cold air while maintaining the same air flow.

This means you can set your style in place, as your cuticles will respond to the blast of icy air by closing up, cementing your hairstyle in place.

Noise Reduction

We know noise is a big no-no for many people in the market for a new hairdryer.

Old-fashioned dryers can make a real racket – up to 80–90 decibels (the equivalent of a busy road) in some cases.

For a less noisy hair-drying experience, look for one equipped with a brushless DC motor, which has fewer moving parts than an AC version.

Equally, look for hairdryers that feature dampers and sound insulators in the main housing, and this will also muffle the noise.

Conclusion

Finding the right hair can be tricky, but once you understand your hair type and familiarise yourself with the new technologies transforming the world of hair drying, you can make an informed decision on which appliance is right for you.
To learn more about three of the best hairdryers currently on the market, CoolBlades share the facts in their recent side-by-side comparison guide.

Why not read our Effortless Morning Hair Hacks For Busy Mums On The Go.