A hair dryer is a universal device that is found in almost every home. It is used not only by women, but also by men. Not only the quality of drying, but also the health of the hair depends on the quality of the hair dryer. The beauty industry is ready to offer us everything - from professional, powerful devices to folding travel mini-hair dryers. Which is better? Let's figure it out.
It would seem that what’s so difficult about choosing a hairdryer? After all, this is such a simple device designed to dry your hair. However, a hair dryer that is not selected according to your hair type can easily injure and damage your hair. In addition, the functionality of the devices has already gone far beyond the limits of ordinary household drying. If some time ago the market was not particularly diverse, now you can choose a model that perfectly suits your needs. With the help of modern hair dryers, you can create elastic, long-lasting styling, create volume, or, on the contrary, straighten an unruly mop. So similar at first glance, all hair dryers have different characteristics and, therefore, can offer you completely different opportunities. Why is it possible to create the most complex hairstyle with one hairdryer, while another is barely able to tame bangs crumpled after sleep?
Types of hair dryers
The type of design of the hair dryer directly determines its capabilities. For example, if you need a lightweight mobile device in order to always look great on business trips and travel, there is no point in taking a heavy professional hair dryer. At the same time, you need to understand that the road version will not be able to create Hollywood curls. And even with daily use and increased loads, it will not last long. Each type solves its own problems.
Compact . Hair dryers designed for occasional use, as well as travel and the gym. As a rule, these are budget models with low power and limited functions, 1¬2 speeds, cold air is rare. Many models have a folding handle for easy transportation. And sometimes you can find hair dryers that are completely battery-powered, which frees the design from the cord and makes the hair dryer even more mobile. These hair dryers take quite a long time to dry your hair, especially if you have thick and long hair. But a compromise has to be found between modest size and power. It is not recommended to take them for constant home use - low power combined with a not very durable motor are not designed for constant and long-term drying. But if you often travel, go to the pool or gym, having such a device is very convenient.
Household . One of the most common types of hair dryers on the market. If you are not a sophisticated stylist, and your list of needs mainly includes drying after a shower and light, at-home styling, a household hair dryer is quite suitable for you. Such models have average power, usually up to 1800–1900 W, several operating modes - you can choose speed, heating, and use different styling attachments. Between professional and compact household hair dryers there is a strong middle level. They will last a long time if used carefully, they can handle even thick, long hair in not too long a time, and they are optimal in weight and size.
Professional . It’s not worth taking a professional hair dryer without experience and skill. They are much heavier and larger than household ones, and most likely it will simply be inconvenient for you to work with such a clumsy unit. In addition, the power of professional hair dryers is high, the hair dries very quickly, and if there is a lack of skill, it is easy to overdry it and even burn the scalp with high temperatures. But professional hair dryers have a big advantage - versatility and durability. Most often, they have very flexible settings, allowing you to choose a mode depending on the type and condition of your hair. It is professional hair dryers who can style, bouncy curls and airy volume. At the same time, they cope with any tasks not only well, but also quickly. Professional hair dryers are designed primarily for stylists and hairdressers, therefore they have high-quality, durable AC motors for long service life with constant use.
Hair dryer - which one to choose?
The following tips should be considered before choosing a hair dryer for home use from a store. Decide on the following points: the purpose of using the device (drying, styling, straightening); frequency of operation; hair type Drying and straightening at home can be done with a simple concentrator hair dryer. A hair dryer brush works better for styling. The model with fingers is needed to add volume.
When planning to wash and dry your hair or create hairstyles every day, you need to purchase a powerful hair dryer in a heavy case that protects the device from overheating. Hair dryers are professional, household and mobile (travel, folding). Professional ones have a lot of weight and power, a durable body. Household ones are designed for independent use, so their weight is light and their power is lower than that of professional ones. The road version is even lighter and less powerful.
What is the temperature of the hair dryer?
Harmless drying depends on the temperature the hair dryer produces at the outlet of the nozzle. Some models offer temperatures of 120-130 degrees. It is clear that such a temperature is not necessary for the scalp. The highest and normal temperature of the device 10-15 cm from the nozzle is approximately 70 degrees. For thick and coarse hair, this temperature is acceptable, but for thin and brittle hair it is dangerous. It is better to start with a gentle mode, then dry with a hot hairdryer, and then finish drying with a cool one again. The gentle mode is about 40 degrees.
Hair dryer power - which one to choose?
The speed and quality of hair drying is directly proportional to the power of the hair dryer. After all, the stronger the flow of hot air, the faster drying and styling takes place. A home hair dryer can produce about 1500 watts (simple ones up to 1000). Hair salons use other models, because the speed of work is directly proportional to the power of a professional hair dryer. This is approximately 1900-2400 watts. This can also be used at home.
How to choose a hair dryer?
How to choose a good hair dryer? Let's give some tips from hairdressers:
- First of all, you need to make it as convenient to use as possible. An important part of a hair dryer is the cord. It must be long so that it can be plugged into any outlet, and flexible, otherwise there is a possibility of the cord breaking.
- Overheat protection. A good hair dryer is heavy. Because there is a temperature concentrator inside that protects the device from overheating. In low-quality models, the plastic of the case may melt or catch fire. Choose a more expensive instrument with a ceramic or tourmaline coating. The service life of such devices is much longer.
- Acceptable hair dryer power.
- For the convenience of your family, check the device in the store: is it noisy? A good one should not make sharp or loud sounds.
- Determine the power of air flow and temperature for yourself so that they are comfortable. Don't forget about the cold mode.
- The attachments that come with the hairdryer will delight those who love different looks.
- The filter is one of the positive aspects of expensive devices. It increases its service life.
How to choose a hair dryer brush?
The comb attachment allows you to create a huge number of hairstyles: voluminous curls, curls, curled ends or straighten your hair. There are a lot of models of this type in stores, so we’ll tell you how to choose a hair dryer and hair comb. A device with maximum power will be more appropriate. The density of the curls and their size depend on the diameter of the nozzle. The thinner the diameter, the smaller and more curled the curls are. The most convenient attachments are those with soft bristles, similar to the shafts of massage combs. Soft bristles help you easily straighten your hair and create volume at the roots.
Which hair dryer is best for straightening hair?
Every fashionista has her own secrets and requirements for straightening, so here are just a few tips on which hair dryer is best to choose. The concentrator hair dryer is ideal for hair that is not very wavy. The air flow is directed directly to the strand. The styler attachments allow you to efficiently straighten even curly hair. Hair dryers-combs (brushes) are multifunctional and do a good job of straightening. The device, equipped with an ionization mode, facilitates easy styling, smoothing the hair scales.
What hair dryer doesn't damage your hair?
How to choose the right hair dryer to maintain the health of your scalp and the beauty of your hair? After all, any temperature setting affects their condition. The higher the temperature, the drier they become. Therefore, you need to use the lowest temperatures and shorten the drying and styling period. According to user reviews, a device with a delicate one damages your hair less if you use products for it: balms, conditioners, creams that protect against heat.
How to choose a professional hair dryer?
Regular hair dryer or professional hair dryer - which one to choose? The difference between domestic and professional ones is the temperature and the strength of the air supply. This is very important, because uneven heating (with conventional hair dryers) of the surface of the hair damages it. Modern special hair dryers have many functions that may not be useful in everyday life, and it’s difficult to dry your hair yourself with a heavy hair dryer. Choose one that you can hold with one hand. And with a set of devices that will really be useful to you.
Power
The more power a hair dryer has, the stronger the air flow it can produce. If you're tired of drying your hair for an hour at a time, it's because your hair dryer doesn't have enough power to handle your hair faster.
Moreover, there is no connection between air temperature and its strength. Lightweight travel hair dryers can sometimes produce scalding hot air. But its power is low, and therefore drying still takes a long time. First of all, the quality of drying and styling is influenced by power. And you should choose it based on your hair type, since high-power models will simply dry out and fluff your hair.
Device and characteristics
A standard construction hair dryer consists of a housing, inside which is hidden an electric motor with a fan on the spindle, which forces air into the thermal insulation casing.
Inside the latter there is a heating element, and the casing itself ends with a nozzle through which heated air is blown out.
The body often has a pistol grip with a start key and operating mode switches. Actually, because of this, the tool is also called a hot air gun, hot air blower or heat gun.
Material
The body of the hair dryer is made of durable heat-resistant plastic, which at the same time acts as an additional thermal insulator.
The handle often has an anti-slip rubber coating.
The heating element consists of a ceramic base on which a nichrome spiral is mounted.
Dimensions and weight
The length of the construction dryer ranges from 220 – 300 mm, the average width is 70 – 90 mm, and the height is 190 – 250 mm.
Straight models have slightly different sizes.
The instrument weighs between 0.5 and 1 kg, but there are options weighing up to 2 kg.
Power and operating temperature
Oddly enough, its performance depends on the power of the hair dryer. Thus, the power consumption of household models is 930 – 1800 W, professional up to 2 kW, and industrial models even higher.
The air heating temperature correlates with the power of the heating element, and can vary widely, depending on the model.
Thus, the simplest devices are capable of blowing air at a temperature of 300–500°C, while more expensive options belonging to the professional class have a heating temperature of 650–800 degrees.
It should be remembered that if there is a cold blowing function, the minimum temperature of the blown air can reach no more than 25 - 50°C when the heater itself is not used.
Air flow, like heating temperature, indicates the performance of the tool.
Thus, the simplest models produce about 450 liters per minute or less, while for industrial-level hair dryers this figure can exceed 650 l/min.
Modern construction hair dryers are equipped with one or more regulators that allow you to step-by-step switch or smoothly adjust operating modes.
The ability to adjust the temperature of the blown air and its speed allows you to select the mode suitable for certain tasks.
The operating time of the tool without interruption also depends on the class of the tool, since we are talking about a construction hair dryer, the working part of which is a heater that can fail during prolonged operation, rendering the surrounding mechanisms and the body itself unusable.
Ordinary household hair dryers can work continuously for 10 minutes, while for industrial models this time is at least 30 minutes.
Types of nozzles and their purpose
The nozzle of a construction hair dryer is a large-diameter tube, the end of which is usually closed with a grill to prevent foreign objects from getting inside.
The air flow during operation of the tool is blown straight and evenly.
This design turns out to be ineffective when performing some tasks, so removable nozzles are used to configure the heated air flow differently:
- Focusing – nozzles whose purpose is to provide targeted, local heating. These are round nozzles whose outlet diameter is smaller than the nozzle diameter. They are used for soldering copper pipes, as well as for sealing cracks and crevices using a special welding tape made of plastic.
- Flat - form a wide directed air flow, ensure effective removal of old film, wallpaper, putty and other finishing and paint materials from surfaces. Flat nozzles are also used to deform plastic products, including polyvinyl chloride structures and polystyrene boards. This also includes special wide-spray nozzles.
- Reflex - used when it is necessary to heat up self-compressing hoses or plastic pipes before welding before they are deformed.
- Slotted - used in cases where there is work to be done on welding PVC sheets and foil. Another name is slotted nozzles.
- Cutting – necessary for cutting foam plastic, and for forming both straight and shaped cuts.
- Side nozzles with built-in glass protection (glass protection) are used when removing paint, varnish or putty from surfaces that cannot withstand high temperatures.
- Mirror ones are necessary if plastic parts and elements are to be welded.
- Welded – for connecting welding synthetic cables. The so-called welded mirror, intended for contact welding of joints of products made of plastics, has a slightly different configuration.
Also, various gear nozzles are made for the construction hair dryer, which, in fact, are adapters for slotted or carved nozzles.
In turn, due to their shape, they can be used for spot heating of the material.
Attachments for a construction hair dryer can come complete with the tool itself, they can also be purchased separately, or, in order to save money, you can make them yourself, since their cost on average ranges from 300 to 2,000 rubles.
Additional options
Construction hair dryers of all types are equipped with various additional functionality that ensures the safety of the tool, its efficiency, capabilities and ease of use.
The most popular and at the same time important functions are the following:
- Overheat protection - prevents tool failure by automatically turning off the heating element, which leads to cold air blowing over the overheated parts of the hair dryer, thereby quickly cooling it. This function is called thermostop. Overheating itself can occur when the flow of heated air is directed perpendicular to the surface, as a result of which part of the heat is actually mirrored, returning back to the hair dryer.
- Indication of operation is most often an LED, which is constantly lit while the hair dryer is turned on.
- Blowing with cold air is necessary both for cooling the tool itself and for working with plastics, vinyl and other fast-melting materials. The mode represents air injection by an engine with a disconnected or slightly heated coil, as a result of which the temperature of the air mass at the outlet is 25 - 50 degrees, depending on the hair dryer.
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There are models that have a separate nozzle for cold air.
- Temperature control is an extremely useful feature that allows you to work effectively with a wide range of materials. For budget models, the temperature is switched by only two regulator positions: low temperature - about 300 degrees, maximum - about 500 degrees. In professional models, the adjustment is not performed positionally, but smoothly, and with fairly high accuracy. The regulator itself can be either in the form of a rotary knob or electronic. The second option allows you to set the operating temperature using buttons, and all information is displayed on the display.
- Adjusting the blowing air speed is a necessary function when working with parts that require light airflow. An example would be various delicate materials such as vinyl or epoxy.
- LCD display – in models with electronic control, allows you to accurately adjust operating modes.
Useful in cases where constant control of the heating temperature is necessary, for example, in work where the technology does not allow a deviation of even 10 degrees. - Settings memory – the design has a memory module that allows you to save virtually pre-configured working profiles, thereby ensuring quick switching between them when performing the corresponding work.
- An air filter is required where there is construction and other dust in the ambient air. This often occurs in various production areas. The fact is that microparticles can seriously damage the heating element in a short period of time, correspondingly reducing the service life of the tool itself.
- Temperature maintenance system - independently maintains the air temperature value in a certain range, or at a specific point, regardless of environmental conditions, including when the input voltage changes.
Among other things, you can find construction hair dryers on sale with a permanent or removable heat-protective casing.
In the latter case, you can almost halve the diameter of the nozzle, which will allow you to reach hard-to-reach parts.
Some installation technologies involve exposing the surface to high temperatures. To do this, use a special tool called a hair dryer. You can find a huge number of options for such a tool on the market, all of them have certain advantages and disadvantages. Due to the large selection, the question arises of which hair dryer to choose and what characteristics you should pay attention to first.
Temperature and speed conditions
Budget and compact hair dryers often have only one heating mode - hot air. With it, drying occurs, of course, faster, but the risk of injuring your hair is much higher.
Most household hair dryers operate in three modes: hot, warm and cold air. Professional hair dryers can support up to 8 temperature levels, but for home use this is often not necessary - only a specialist will be able to notice the difference and know how to apply certain settings in practice.
Hot air – used for quick drying and styling. Under the influence of high temperatures, hair becomes more flexible and obediently takes on the desired shape. But it is not recommended to dry damaged and porous hair in hot air.
Warm air is optimal for safely drying hair. Yes, it will be a little longer. But if time is important to you, choose a hair dryer with a power of at least 1500–1800 W, then even warm air will dry your hair relatively quickly.
Cold air is considered the safest. First of all, it does not damage the hair. Combined with high power, cold air can dry hair just as effectively as hot air from a low-power hair dryer. But it will be much healthier for your hair. In addition, cold air is used to fix the styling.
Speed modes allow you to adjust the airflow power to suit your needs. Usually hair dryers have from 1 to 4. It is convenient to dry your hair at high speed, and to style it at reduced speed so that the curl does not fly to the side.
It is optimal for the device to have independent adjustment of heating and speed . This means that different buttons on the hair dryer will be responsible for heating and speed. Then you can independently select the necessary settings for your work.
Purpose of a hair dryer
A technical hair dryer is used to solve a huge number of problems, among which, for example, the following can be noted:
- Heating of heat-shrinkable insulation during its installation.
- Softening of primers and paint coatings, making them easier to remove from surfaces.
- Drying finishing materials, including cladding and putty.
- Thawing, or more simply put, defrosting containers, pipes and drains covered with ice.
- Welding of tarpaulin, linoleum, PVC products, including film, molding of the latter due to the property of the material to soften under the influence of high temperature and gain hardness when cooling, maintaining the acquired shape.
- Classic soldering using silver and tin.
Among other things, a construction hair dryer is used to melt various compositions, as well as when performing hot fitting - an action known as pressing.
This tool is often used to disinfect structures made of wood using the firing method.
Additional functions
Almost all hair dryers have some kind of additional attachments. With them, not only styling, but also drying itself is often more efficient and easier. The most important thing in choosing a hair dryer with attachments is to check how tightly and firmly they are attached to the hair dryer body. For example, hubs that need to be constantly turned during operation can easily fly off the case. And picking them up while hot and reattaching them is not so pleasant.
The main attachment, which is found in almost all models, is a concentrator . It is a narrow nozzle that narrows the air flow, distributing it specifically to the selected strand. The optimal nozzle width is 6–9 mm. Narrow concentrators will provide even more precise styling and will be able to capture the smallest strands. But it will be inconvenient to work with a whole volume of hair. Concentrators wider than 1 centimeter can disperse air too much and fluff up other nearby hair instead of treating an individual curl.
The diffuser provides gentle drying. This is a wide disk with many “fingers” tubes through which air passes. A diffuser is a godsend for curly and frizzy hair, since the evenly distributed air does not disturb the structure of the curls or change the hairstyle. In addition, it does not injure the hair structure and does not cause discomfort to the scalp during drying at high temperatures. But it is impossible to style your hair with a diffuser. There is a myth that a diffuser creates volume at the roots, but this is not true. For volume you need brush attachments.
Brushing is an attachment in the form of a comb. Depending on the type of teeth and diameter, brushes perform a variety of tasks. Round brushes are mainly designed for curls, volume and soft waves, while flat brushes are designed to straighten and smooth hair.
Ionization is a nice addition to any hair dryer. Charges the air with negatively charged ions, which remove static electricity from the hair. This function is especially useful for fluffy and porous hair, since thanks to ionization, the hair scales close, and the hairstyle becomes as smooth and manageable as possible.
Description and characteristics of a construction hair dryer
A construction hair dryer is often called a heat air gun. In slang, the name sounds like a leaf blower. The official name refers to the pistol grip. Usually, it is closed in a circuit with a hole in the middle.
The hand wraps around one side of the arc, similar to wielding a firearm. The front part of the handle contour, similar to a trigger, protects the skin from reflected hot air flows and possible splashes of the material being processed.
At the back of the hair dryer body there are openings for air intake, and at the front there is a heat-protective circular casing with an adjacent nozzle. Hidden inside the housing is a heating element and a fan that directs gas flows into the nozzle.
The hair dryer also has a motor, but it is electric. It ensures relative safety of using the device. The first hair dryer in history worked on petroleum products, and subsequent models used an alcohol burner.
The principle of operation of the device allowed us to abandon the use of fuel. Unlike other heating devices, it produces only hot air. There is no open flame. This means that there is no need to support combustion processes.
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The main characteristic of the hero of the article is productivity. They are guided by the question of how to choose a hair dryer . The liters of air passed through the nozzle per unit time are counted. Usually it's a minute.
In second place among the characteristics of the device is operating temperature. With a construction hair dryer it reaches 800 degrees. Not just drying, but welding is possible.
hair dryer usually achieves more heat. The characteristics are interrelated and supported by the energy consumption of the device. Powerful blowers run at 500-2500 watts. There are also models with a power consumption of 3.4 kilowatts, for example, Steinel “HG-5000”. For weak devices, 100-400 is enough.
Low-power hair dryers weigh no more than household hair dryers. The weight of the Steinel “HG-5000” exceeds 1.2 kilograms. At the same time, high-end models come with additional functions. You can get a construction hair dryer with adjustable temperature and air flow speed.
Tips for choosing
If you need a hairdryer for traveling and going to the gym, you should definitely get a compact model designed specifically for these purposes.
Do you have fine, porous hair that needs special care? Hair dryers up to 1800 W with several temperature settings will provide delicate care.
And if you want to often experiment with hairstyles or have an unruly head that nothing can tame, you will need powerful, functional models.
Professional hair dryers will help stylists and those who feel confident with styling tools.
