How to Buy a Hair Dryer
By Anna Wallner and Kristina Matistic
Sept. 19, 2006—Hair is said to be the No. 1 beauty concern for many women. So aside from all the goop you put on your hair, like styling potions, shampoos and conditioners, a hair dryer plays a big role in creating your best 'do possible. Some of us can't imagine living without one! Here are some tips that should you select the best one for your particular needs:
- Higher wattage means higher heat. Don't go over 2,000 watts or you could burn your scalp.
- Consider the thickness of the casing. Thicker casing helps protect the motor and prevents cracks if you happen to drop it.
- Look for a hairdryer with a long nose that will allow you to direct heat more efficiently and keep long hair farther away from the filter, where it can get sucked in and singed.
- Check out the length of the cord to make sure it's long enough for your setup at home.
- "Quiet" stylers are a good, considerate choice if you live with others or are worried about missing phone calls.
- Be sure to buy a model with a removable filter. Taking it off and cleaning it regularly will add years to the life of a hair dryer.
- Test the control panel in store by holding the hairdryer in your typical drying position. Some designs have the control buttons in awkward places, causing you to change speeds and heat levels by mistake while styling.
- Look for a "cold shot" button. The blast of cool air helps set the style of specific sections of hair and can close the hair cuticle.
- If you want to make the most of your curls, buy a hair dryer with a high-quality diffuser.
- Professional hairdryers cost more, but they save a lot of time if you've got long thick hair that takes forever to dry.
- In our tests we preferred mid-priced hairdryers. We found the bargain models too noisy. And while the top-of-the-line salon brands did a speedy job, they were too heavy.
(Anna Wallner and Kristina Matistic host The Shopping Bags. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)
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