Five Things You Need to Know Before Purchasing a Blow Dryer

October 14, 2007 by Kristie Leong MD  
Published in Beauty Products

Are you in the market for a new blow dryer for your hair? Here are five factors to consider if you want your hair to look its best.

Having the best blow dryer won’t necessarily give you an enviable mane of hair, but it can be a great help in achieving your selected hairstyle. The right blow dryer can also help you achieve your hairstyle with more speed and less hassle if you know how to make the best selection for your particular hair type and situation. Here are some points to consider when choosing the best blow dryer for your hair:

Choose a wattage that dries your hair fast.

If you’re on a limited time schedule, you don’t have time to deal with a weak and ineffectual hair dryer that takes forever to do its job. The wattage of a hair dryer can run as high as 2000 watts, but all that power isn’t necessary. You can get by with as little as 1800 watts and still get your hair dry in a timely manner. If you have the money and you’re really pressed for time, you may want to consider the new thermal styling tools that use negative ionic energy to dry your hair in about half the time of a conventional blow dryer. The only drawback is the price which can cost you up to $100.00. These dryers tend to infuse more moisture into your hair during the drying process which can help to keep your hair healthier.

Look for a nozzle attachment.

A nozzle attachment added to your blow dryer allows the flow of warm air to be more focused so you can direct the flow of heat to certain parts of your hair that may be hard to reach. It’s particularly effective for straightening your hair as it tends to have a smoothing effect on the hair shaft when directed downwards.

Consider the number of heat settings.

You should choose a blow dryer that offers several heat settings. At the very least, you’ll need a hot or warm setting and a cooler one. The cooler setting will come in handy if you color treat your hair and have sustained damage which may respond poorly to heat. The cooler setting can also help to seal the cuticle of your hair which helps to hold your hairstyle in place. The hotter setting is convenient if you have relatively strong, undamaged hair and you need to dry it quickly.

The special needs of curly hair.

If you have naturally curly hair and want to enhance the look, consider choosing a blow dryer for your hair that has a diffuser attachment. This will enable you to enhance the natural curl of your hair while taming any unwanted frizz.

Consider the weight of your selected blow dryer.

If you have a small hand and long hair, holding a heavy blow dryer for long periods of time to get your long hair dry may cause hand fatigue. If you’re going to be using your dryer a lot, it might be best to choose one that’s lighter in weight that will still get the job done.

Choosing the best blow dryer for your hair shouldn’t cost you a fortune. A decent blow dryer that will work for most hair types can be found for under $50.00. To find the best deals on blow dryers, consider using some of the online price comparison sites or watch your local newspaper ads for special sales and discounts. Choosing the best blow dryer for your hair can not only enhance the look of your hair but also be a great time saver. Take advantage of it.

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