Photo Credit: RDNE Stock project via www.pexels.com
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of achieving the perfect blowout, and with the right hair dryer, it’s possible. But it’s worthless putting in all that effort when your hair dryer keeps leaving your hair damaged. Instead of the light, voluminous and shiny locks, you’ll end up with dull, lifeless hair and a whole lot of breakage.
The hair dryer you use can make all the difference, and while applying heat to your hair in any way can cause damage, there are some wonderful options on the market that can minimise it. So, let’s help you find a hair dryer that won’t damage your do.
How Can Hair Dryers Damage Your Hair?
Let’s get to the root of the situation and understand how hair dryers work so we can see what we need to look for in a good one.
Essentially a hair dryer generates airflow directed down the barrel, over and through a heating element. Using a hair dryer isn’t necessarily bad and usually only causes minor damage to the hair cuticle when used correctly. However, using a hair dryer at a higher temperature than 66°C can cause irreversible damage to the cuticles and, eventually, the inner fibres of the hair.
Why does this happen? Well, when you blast hot air onto your wet hair this causes small bubbles to form inside the shafts. This causes the strands ti weaken and make it susceptible to brittleness and dryness – hello, frizz!
X tips to help choose a hair dryer that will not damage hair
Let’s face it, we love a beautiful blowout, so ditching the dryer is not an option. Instead, here are some tips to help you choose a dryer that won’t damage your hair.
- Consider Your Hair Type
Understanding what your hair needs are the first step to helping you choose a hair dryer that will help and not hurt your hair. Those with thicker hair will require more power to dry their hair efficiently, while people with thinner hair usually don’t. Curly-haired beauties require a little more TLC and attachments to prevent damage.
- Choose A Hair Dryer With Power
Feel the power! While hair dryers with more power will usually come in on the market at a higher price – they’re worth it for the sake of damage control. The higher the wattage, the more power your hair dryer will have and the less time you’ll spend drying.
Trust us, using a dryer with more power can potentially cut your drying time in half, and the less it’s exposed to heat, the better. Here is a quick guideline to how much power your hair dryer should have depending on your hair type:
- Thin and fine hair – 1800W +
- Thick hair – 3600W max
GHD’s range of hair dryers offers professional power of up to 2,100W motors to deliver high pressure for fast-drying and smooth and shiny hair.
- Ceramic and Tourmaline Are A Must
For that smooth and glossy look, a hair dryer that uses Ceramic and Tourmaline technology is going to be your friend. Ceramic technology helps to distribute heat more evenly when styling. Tourmaline is the mineral that helps smooth your hair by helping seal the cuticle to retain moisture and prevent dehydration. No, frizz, it’s just smooth styling.
- Opt For A Cool Shot Button
This is a magic little button that will make all the difference. Hair dryers with a cool shot button will blast cool air to help set your style and prevent excessive damage by swiftly sealing the cuticle and effectively preventing moisture loss.
- Look for Attachments
Always look for a hair dryer with attachments. This one is mainly for those with curly locks – a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment will be your best friend by spreading the hot air to a wider surface area to prevent direct blasts onto your hair. That said, the attachments also give your hair more distance from the element and ensure your hair isn’t exposed to it.
- Heat And Power Controls Are Essential
Having a dryer with controls will give you power to prevent hair damage. You can use the power control to use a higher setting to remove moisture quicker, and the lower setting can be used to gently style your hair. This is an awesome feature to prevent hair damage because you don’t need heat as much as you need power.
Strategies To Prevent Damage When Using A Hair Dryer
Using a quality hair dryer is gives you a headstart in keeping your hair healthy, but you need to know how to use it correctly. Here are some effective strategies to prevent damage when using a hair dryer.
- Deep Condition Often
One of the ways hair can be damaged is when it is exposed to moisture for too long due to the cells swelling and bursting to the cuticle. Hello, breakage. The key is to condition frequently and protect the hair shaft by reducing friction between the stands and making it easier to brush and comb.
- Use Heat Protectant Spray
Whenever you’re going to be using a hair dryer, always prep your hair first with a good-quality heat protectant. Heat protectants are designed to provide a thin protective coating around the hair fibre. A quick spritz can make all the difference.
- Use More Power And Less Heat
The longer your hair is exposed to heat the bigger the chances are of getting damaged. Ideally, you want to use a hair dryer with more power so your hair dries faster and has less heat exposure.
Is it better to use a hair dryer or to air dry to avoid damaging my hair?
While using excessive heat from a hair dryer can cause significant damage, using a high-quality hair dryer at the right heat and distance from your hair can actually cause less damage than air drying.
This is because the hair cell’s membrane is actually damaged when staying in contact with water for longer, according to a study at Yonsei University. The water in the hair swells and weighs down hair and weakens hair in the long run through hygral fatigue. Ideally, a combination of blow-drying and air-drying will give you the best results.