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VS Sassoon has been chosen as the best brand for hair dryers in Australia, with 100% of surveyed customers recommending the brand. Customers also gave the hair dryers high ratings for value for money, ease of use and performance. Founded by stylist Vidal Sassoon, the company sells not only hair dryers but also a range of straighteners and stylers.
While most hair dryers look very similar, they differ in the type of technology that they use. Apart from budget models, which are made from cheaper materials and simply blow out hot air, most modern hair dryers are either ceramic, ionic or tourmaline.
Ceramic hair dryers contain ceramic either in the heating element, the body or as a coating on parts. This composite material preserves the natural moisture of hair by penetrating the shaft with infrared heat. Ceramic models heat up quickly, disperse heat evenly and offer mild heat.
In hair dryers with ionic technology, negative ions reduce frizz and speed up the drying process by breaking up water molecules. As smaller droplets are able to enter the hair shaft's outer layer, surface tension of your hair is reduced. Ionic models leave hair shiny and frizz-free and retain moisture in the hair.
When used in the internal parts of a hair dryer, tourmaline speeds up the drying process and reduces static. As it is a semi-precious mineral, these hair dryers are usually more expensive than other types. Tourmaline models dry quickly and seal in important moisture.
One type of hair dryer that does look different from others is a travel model. These are lightweight and smaller in size and are suitable for taking on holiday when you don't have much room in your suitcase. Usually these come with lower wattages of 1,000-1,200, although it's possible to find some 2,000-watt models. You can find travel hair dryers that have retractable cords and fold in half so that they save on space.
With many different brands and models on offer, it's important to understand the different factors to consider when looking for the right hair dryer to suit your needs.
Key factors to consider include:
Hair dryers can cost anywhere from $20 through to $600, so it really depends on what your budget is and the level of performance you are expecting. However, just because a hair dryer costs hundreds of dollars doesn't mean that you are going to notice a huge amount of difference. There are many fantastic hair dryers for less than $100 – check out some of these in our guide to the best hair dryers of 2019.
Wattage typically ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 watts. The higher the wattage, the more powerful heat it produces and the faster it dries your hair, but you don't necessarily need to shell out more money to get good performance. For most people, a hair dryer that is around 1,800-2,000 watts is more than sufficient for quick drying. You can look at higher wattages if you have very thick or curly hair, and lower wattages if you have thin or frail hair.
Holding your arm up for a period of time can be tiring, especially if you are drying long hair or hair extensions. If you've found that previous hair dryers that you've owned have caused your arm to ache, look for a lightweight model that will make things a lot easier.
Depending on the make and model, there are special features that may be useful to you depending on how and where you dry your hair as well as on your hairstyle.
Like with any electrical appliance, safety should come first when using your hair dryer. Follow these safety tips while using your hair dryer:
Most models should last you at least a few years or 500 working hours without any problems. However, there are a few signs that you should look out for that indicate it's time to buy a new one:
