Best Hair Dryers
Hair dryers can make light work of drying and styling your hair. Now they come with a range of features that suit different hair types and styles, so it’s important to know what’s on offer so you can choose an appliance that’s right for you. Continue reading...
Parlux 385 Power Light
- Number of Speed Settings2
So on the net i went to buy another Twin turbo because of its durablity (I had dropped it many times over the years, accidentally of course) and it didnot once let... Read more me down. But i stupidly decided to purchase a Parlux 3800. It worked fine and did the job but nothing special except for the colour was Aquamarine. On holidays my daughter went to pull a plush toy out of my over night bag ( that was on the floor mind you) and as she pulled it out, the parlux followed and dropped on the floor. The fan on the inside detached from the body and when I turned it on, it made a squeeking noise. I emailed the online shop i bought it from and they followed up on the waranty for me. To which I receive a response that " Unfortunatly, our Waranty doesnt cover user's damage at this stage and Alternatively they can contact our affiliated repair centre" How very disapointing that a hairdryer that costs $300+ cant even withstand the smallest of drops. 5 MONTHS it lasted people. Buy the twin Turbo, any model people its more durable and works if not better than the Parlux. Save your money and dont buy the Parlux for its asthetics. I wish i had of gone with my first instincts. So do i spend $100+ on posting it to the repair centre and fixing it or spend $120 on a brand new Twin Turbo that will last me another 20years?? Twin Turbo it is. Im so diapointed!!!! Dont do it.
Parlux 3200 Compact
- Price (RRP) $225.95 to $243
- Number of Speed Settings2
Dyson Supersonic
- Number of Speed Settings3
Remington Aero
- Price (RRP) $24.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
ghd Air
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Remington Pro Air Turbo Hair Dryer D5220AU
- Price (RRP) $49.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
VS Sassoon Go Travel VS5344A
- Price (RRP) $24.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
Kmart Anko 2000W RCY-106
- Price (RRP) $16
- Number of Speed Settings2
Parlux 3800 Eco Friendly
- Number of Speed Settings2
VS Sassoon Total Protection Professional AC VSP420A
- Price (RRP) $64.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
Parlux 3500 Super Compact
- Price (RRP) $236.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
Parlux Advance Light
- Number of Speed Settings2
Kmart Anko Travel RCY-82
- Price (RRP) $10
- Number of Speed Settings2
Remington Jet Setter 2000 Hair Dryer
- Number of Speed Settings2
VS Sassoon Venezia 2400 AC Professional
- Price (RRP) $159.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
Remington Salon Stylist Hair Dryer AC4000AU
- Price (RRP) $59.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
VS Sassoon Pro Dry 2300 VSD120A
- Price (RRP) $29.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System HD440S
- Price (RRP) $499
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I have a short fine hair, I us... Read moree the Oval brush to staighten and dry me hair, the brush doesn't pull my hair too much which is amazing. Easy to use and takes me about 20 minutes, the same time it took me using my old dryer. I tried the paddle brush but I don’t see much difference Auto wrap curlers need some getting used to, having a different curler for each direction is unnecessary. I love the diffuser for my daughter's thick curly hair. With that being said, it would be lovely if we can choose which stylers to buy and not having to buy them all The wand is too long, making it hard to use. 3 heat and 3 airflow settings. Then there is the Cold shot button to lock in your style, which is very hard to use as you need to keep pressing it. I have good results after using it. However it's so loud compared to other hair dryers / stylers. It is easy to clean, comes in a luxurious black leather case which is very nice.
Philips Prestige Pro HPS920/00
- Price (RRP) $149
- Number of Speed Settings6
Philips MoistureProtect HP8280/00
- Price (RRP) $139
- Number of Speed Settings6
TNS SuperDryer
- Price (RRP) $599
- Number of Speed Settings3
VS Sassoon VSLE5543BA
- Price (RRP) $39.95
- Number of Speed Settings3
Silver Bullet Black Velvet
- Price (RRP) $109.95
- Number of Speed Settings3
The product comes with a soft touch finish that deteriorates rapidly after 18 months of ownership. It turns extremely sticky and unpleasant to use.
Overall it does not last a decent period of time to warrant the premium you pay. Show details
Cabello Pro 3600
- Price (RRP) $129
- Number of Speed Settings2
VS Sassoon Expert VSD361A
- Price (RRP) $54.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
I love all the different settings and I even use it on my 4 year old! She loves it!
I use the diffuser end on my hair as I have long, curly hair and I love to keep my curls, so I use it to tone down the frizz and add more curl! Works a treat!
Excellent hair dryer! Show details
Hot Tools Black Gold Volumiser
- Price (RRP) $149
- Number of Speed Settings2
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Halo The Jennifer 3900 Dryer by Elchim
- Price (RRP) $229.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
VS Sassoon Cord Keeper 2000 VS289A
- Number of Speed Settings2
Remington PROluxe Salon Hair Dryer AC9140AU
- Price (RRP) $99.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
Turbo Power TwinTurbo 2600
- Price (RRP) $119.95
- Number of Speed Settings2
Having long, thick hair, I get it dried in no time. It has 2 different sized nozzles and 2 heat and speed settings. It really is the perfect hairdryer! Show details
Types of hair dryers
Retail hair dryers
Retail hair dryers are designed for everyday use at home. However, that doesn’t mean that these necessarily skimp out on quality; there are plenty of premium models on the market that come with salon-worthy features.
Professional hair dryers
Professional hair dryers are salon-quality, and usually have an alternating current motor, which lets them produce more heat. They tend to be of higher quality than regular hair dryers.
Other types of hair dryers
Travel hair dryers are lightweight and usually have a foldable handle, letting you easily tuck them into your suitcase or travel bag. They usually don’t have much in the way of fancy features or attachments, but do the job just fine.
You can also find dryer hoods, which are placed over the head to dry hair and set your style in place.
What to consider when choosing a hair dryer
Ionic vs ceramic vs tourmaline
Hair dryers sometimes have technologies that are said to provide certain benefits. Here are three that are commonly found in hair dryers.
Ionic
- Ionic technology breaks down water molecules so that they can dry your hair faster, but they also help retain moisture in the hair so it stays healthy and nourished.
- An ionic hair dryer works by neutralising positively charged ions in the hair.
- Quick-drying with less heat helps minimise frizz.
Ceramic
- Suitable for most hair types.
- Heats up quickly and provides even heating.
- Ceramic emits infrared heat which penetrates each strand of hair from inside out.
- They’re thought to be more gentle on the hair than regular hair dryers.
Tourmaline
- Tourmaline is a mineral that is sometimes used as a coating for the interior of hair dryers.
- Like ionic technology, tourmaline generates negative ions, and helps speed up drying while smoothing the hair.
Your hair type
We all have different hair types which respond differently to heat. Some hair dryers will state what type of hair they’re suitable for, or which of their features are suitable for your hair, but here’s an overview of what to look for depending on your locks.
- Thin or fine hair: Use a hair dryer on a low heat setting, as thin hair is susceptible to heat damage. A ceramic hair dryer is ideal.
- Thick hair: A high heat setting will help dry hair faster, particularly a hair dryer with a concentrator attachment.
- Wavy or curly hair: A hair dryer with a diffuser attachment will help maintain your natural curls. A dryer with ionic technology will also help reduce frizz while keeping your locks hydrated. Cool shots can help you style your hair to keep your cursl in place.
- Frizzy hair: Ionic or tourmaline hair dryers help reduce static and keep hair smooth.
- Dry or damaged hair: towel drying is preferable to using a hair dryer or heat to dry your hair, but if you do use a dryer, use it on a low heat setting and apply a heat protectant first. Ceramic hair dryers are preferred as they provide even temperature.
Temperature and airflow settings
If you want more control over the heat and air speed of your dryer, consider choosing a model with multiple temperature and airflow settings. This lets you adjust the settings to suit the type and condition of your hair.
Higher settings are more effective at drying, while lower settings are handy for hair styling and are better for drying damaged hair or hair prone to breakage.
Size and weight
Drying your hair can be a workout. If you’re buying in store, check how easy a blow dryer is to hold, keeping in mind that if you have thicker hair, you may have to be holding it in the air for a while.
Attachments and accessories
Attachments and accessories that may come with your hair dryer or that you may be able to purchase include some of the following:
- Concentrator: Concentrates the airflow to where you want it, which is useful for drying certain areas, controlling where you want to style, and adding volume to thicker hair.
- Diffuser: A hair diffuser disperses the air instead of blowing it into one concentrated area, and is thought to cause less damage and be better suited to thicker hair (although it takes longer to dry hair), as well as maintaining natural waves and curls.
- Brush: Some hair dryers have a built-in dryer brush that can make it easier to style your hair while it dries.
- Smoothing nozzle: An attachment that dries hair with controlled airflow, helping you create a natural style with your hair.
- Gentle air attachment: This creates a gentler airflow, and is useful for drying thin, fine, dry or damaged hair.
- Silencer: This attachment reduces the noise level of the hair dryer.
Power
The higher the wattage, the more heat a hair dryer produces, meaning the quicker it’ll dry your hair. Usually between 1300 and 1800 watts is sufficient to dry most hair types fairly quickly. If you have thick, curly hair, you might want to consider a higher wattage.
Extra features:
- Cool shot: This gives a burst of cool air which is useful for setting your hairstyle in place.
- Boost: A feature that increases airflow to make drying faster.
- Universal voltage: This lets you use your hair dryer anywhere in the world without needing a voltage converter (although you may still need a travel adapter).
- Auto shut-off: This turns the hair dryer off when it’s put down and turns it on again when it’s picked up.
- Storage case: Keeps your dryer safe and secure while you’re travelling or keeping it in storage.
- Swivel cord: A feature that prevents the cord from getting tangled.
- Hook: A hook or hair dryer holder lets you hang your dryer on the wall, so you can neatly store it and keep it away from wet surfaces in your bathroom.
- Infusions: Some hair dryers are infused with a conditioning element, such as keratin or argan oil, which is released into your hair when you use the dryer to help nourish and moisturise it.
- Touch cool: This means that the surface of the hair dryer and its attachments stay cool so you don’t burn your head or hands.
- Cordless design: Cordless hair dryers are those that can be powered by battery for drying on the go. These dryers are usually also mains-powered.
Price
Hair dryers vary greatly in price. Cheap hair dryers like Kmart hair dryers, for example, can be as little as $15 to $20, while more premium models like Dyson hair dryers can cost over $500. However, you don’t need to spend that little to get a good deal or that much to get a decent hair dryer; there are lots of mid-range models that are highly rated by reviewers on ProductReview.com.au.
How long do hair dryers last?
Generally speaking, hair dryers last somewhere between 600 and 1000 hours of use. Depending on how often you use it and how long it takes for you to dry your hair, this means your dryer should last anywhere from 3 to 7 years. However, more premium, durable models will likely last longer, even with regular use.
Rather than counting the hours of use, pay attention to how your hair dryer is functioning so you know whether it’s in need of repair or replacement. If the hair dryer is overheating or if you notice a burning smell, it may be time for a replacement.
Ensure you dispose of your old hair dryer correctly by checking how to recycle e-waste with your local council.
Alternatives to hair dryers
If you’re after an appliance that can dry and style your hair simultaneously, then consider a hair styler with a drying function, such as one of the following:
- Hot air curling brush: Hot air curling brushes are round barrels that simultaneously dry your hair while brushing and detangling. You can use this hair dryer brush to create hairstyles such as bouncy waves and ultimately cut down your preparation time in half.
- Hot air straightening brush: A straightening hot air brush appears at first glance to be a standard hairbrush, but is heated – comb through your hair to dry and make it straight and sleek.
Thanks for taking the time to express how you feel. Here at Dyson, we value all feedback, and like to help our owners get the best possible experience with their machines, so if you wish to discuss yo... Read more
ur feedback in more detail, check if the machine is running to specification, do some styling troubleshooting with us, and find solutions, we'll be happy to help you. To get started, reach out to our experts for support, via the contact page on our website: https://www.dyson.com.au/dyson-support We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your hair dryer