Most hairstylists will tell you to avoid heat styling like the plague if you want to have healthy hair. However, for many of us, that’s just not an option. Of all the heated hair tools we use, the blow-dryer is by far the most popular. But does it really matter which one you use and how much it costs?
The simple answer is yes. “Quality blow-dryers have heat control and power to help dry the hair faster,” says celebrity hairstylist and owner of The Private Room in Beverly Hills, CA, Tina Dizon. “This means not only less blow drying time, but it limits the amount of heat on the hair.”
Be wary of using cheaper blow-dryers because they can overheat, make the hair too hot and damage your hair cuticle. And damaged hair equals more frizz. Another downside to using a cheaper blow-dryer is that they tend to not have as much power, which means your dry time will be longer.
Your individual hair texture also makes a big difference when you choose a blow-dryer. Quality blow-dryers should have cool, warm and hot heat settings along with low and high power settings. “If you have coarser, curlier hair texture, your hair can withstand a higher heat and power setting,” says Dizon. “For finer hair, use a warm setting and different power. Use the low setting if you have thinner hair and high if you have medium to full hair.
Another tip, hold the blow-dryer before you buy it to make sure you’re comfortable with the weight. You also want one that has a cool button or setting to cool down your hair at the end, especially if you accidentally use too much heat on it.
“To achieve maximum results its always best to use a professional blow-dryer, says hairstylist at Jonathan and George Salon in Beverly Hills, CA, Gareth Bromell. “Blow-dryers now have ionic and ceramic functions that make the hair more conditioned and shiny.” Parlux is a great line of blow dryers that both Dizon and Bromell prefer to work with.
