By Molly McLaughlin on July 25, 2010 in
We've all struggled to recreate the "salon look," but it seems like you can never quite get your hair to look as nice as it does when someone else styles it. Part of the problem may be your hair dryer. For many, it may seem like a no-brainer purchase, but there are a few features to pay attention to when shopping for a new blow dryer. You've probably seen the words ionic, ceramic and tourmaline on the packaging of hair dryers, but there's little science to back up manufacturer's claims. And there are other important features you should consider when shopping for a new hair dryer. Let's explore.
Ionic dryers are said to dry hair faster, by using negative ions to shrink water droplets in the hair. Ceramic dryers contain ceramic, rather than metal coils, which is supposed to prevent overheating. Tourmaline is actually a gemstone that is added to the heater and is supposed to generate a higher number of negative ions than regular ionic dryers. Many dryers combine two or more of these features, but these features alone do not mean a dryer will perform well. Wattage is an important specification; experts say those with thick, wavy hair should get an 1875 watt dryer, while those with fine or hair can go down to 1200-1500 watts. Finally, it's essential to see how the dryer performs in professional tests. User reviews are also very helpful in confirming the blow dryer's durability.
All of our best reviewed hair dryers are ionic dryers but each also incorporates either ceramic or tourmaline technology. The best hair dryer overall, the Revlon RV544 ($20) as well as our professional pick, the T3 Tourmaline Professional Featherweight ($175) also contain tourmaline. Our pick for best travel dryer is a ceramic model, the Andis 1875 Ceramic Folding Dryer ($20). To see which hair dryer is the best for your budget and hair type, read our newly updated hair dryer report.