Lux would like to learn…What is the benefit to using an ionic hair dryer or a ceramic hair dryer? I’ve heard that you can blow dry more quickly by using an ionic or ceramic dryer. Is this true? How does it work?
The Right Brain accommodates:
The quick answer is that “ionic” doesn’t mean anything in terms of speed of hair drying. Ionic refers to the charged components that a chemical can be broken down to. For example, when table salt (sodium chloride) dissolves in water you get sodium ions and chloride ions. Ions can also be released under conditions of high temperature or high energy. But even if your blow dryer did bombard your hair with ions, those charged particles wouldn’t have any effect on how long it takes your hair to dry.
Ceramic dryers (meaning dryers with a ceramic heating element) can heat up faster and more evenly than some other types, so maybe your hair will dry a little quicker because of that. But that’s only because you spend less time waiting for the dryer to warm up. And that’s not very much time!
The Beauty Brains bottom line
We haven’t seen any data to show that ionic hair drying appliances are better than any other kind. But ceramic dryers might offer you a faster, more consistent heat source. If any of our Beauty Brainiacs (as we affectionately refer to our readers) have experience with ionic or ceramic dryers, please let us know.
(BTW, is it my imagination or is the woman in this picture having just a little too much fun with that hair dryer device?)
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
LOL at the picture – facehugger technology has come a long way!
I bought an ion dryer because people told me the reason my hair always came out wild and nasty when I used a blow dryer was because I needed to have either negative or positive ions blown at my hair. It didn’t help. I still do wash and wear because I still look like an extra from The Lion King when I blow dry my hair. Ions or not.
While you technically answered the question, you didn’t tell us what sets ionic hair dryers apart from the others. I’ve been advised that they are better for curly hair.
I have found that using an ionic dryer is better to prevent frizz and flyaways. My hair gets super frizzy really easily, but noticeably less hen I use the ionic setting.
SO, is there a difference between a $20 and a $200 hair dryer ??? My current cheap hairdryer is getting older, and i think is going soon and I would love suggestions for replacement….I have lots of very wavy to curly, yet fairly fine hair, treated with hair color for decades, so i am not a heavy user, maybe 2-3x a week for drying….Please advise anyone….Thanks
Ann, only difference I found is the more expensive dryers do tend to last longer. I’ve bought cheap ones and they’re usually “dead” within a year. The ones over $50 usually last me a couple of years.
I recently got a vintage hooded GE one on eBay that works great. But it’s best for women who like to use curlers like me. Not for women looking to do more modern styles.
I have fine, curly color-treated hair that’s almost down to my waist. I’ve tried almost all of the dryer types available – ionic, ceramic, tourmaline, regular (old fashioned), etc. I don’t do blow-outs or straighten my curls… and it really didn’t make a difference what sort of dryer I used. The big thing for me is to use a good bowl-type diffuser attachment! I hang my head upside down, cup a few stands of curls into the diffuser and dry each area for a minute or so. (I move on to the next section…. and go back to the start for a second and 3rd round, until my hair is 75% dry, then let it air dry.) For curly and wavy hair, the big problem with frizz is due to dryers blowing the hair allover the place and disturbing the curls with the force of the air. My stylist also warned me not to handle wet curls too much, because that can also cause frizz. If I do need to handle a few curls before they’re dry, I rewet them with a bit of water in a sprayer bottle. (Works also great to refresh limp or floppy curls.)
I have to agree that some cheapy dryers may not last as long, but I’d also say that there’s no need to spend more than $50 on a good one. My current dryer is a ceramic-type from Revlon, that came with a bowl diffuser attachment. I bought it – on sale for $25 – at CVS, about 5 years ago. I use it about 3x a week and it’s still working like new.
Finally I knew the difference between Ionic and Ceramic Hair Dryers from reading your blog. Thank you so much.
@ Tanya – my experience exactly! Actually I had a TiGi dryer that was slowly going out on me. I replaced it with a Revlon dryer and after only a month it went to half speed for no reason while I was drying my wavy/curly hair. After calling the company (turns out the dryer is made by Helen of Troy) I was instructed to ship the malfunctioning dryer back to them with a note explaining what had happened. Within a week I had a brand new dryer.
My only complaint is that dryers with diffuser attachments are harder to find and the diffuser from one dryer will not fit another. (The Hot Sock being excluded from that. I am talking about bowl diffusers in this case.)
I also agree there is no need to spend more than $50 on a dryer. I researched dryers online before buying the Revlon dryer and found that Good Housekeeping actually recommended this particular one. They said for the money it stacked up really well against the $200 variety hairdryer for home use. (Salons are a whole different ball game. Their dryers are on a lot every single day. Home use is nowhere near as hard on a dryer.)
From my experience, ionic hair dryers, when used properly, seem to lessen the frizz I usually get after drying my hair. Doesn’t really have an effect on how fast or slow my hair dries, just on the shine and condition of my hair after drying.
{ 3 trackbacks }