The Best Infrared Hair Dryer

When you’re shopping for a new hair dryer, going with an infrared option can offer benefits over a conventional hair dryer. Due to how the technology works, an infrared hair dryer can help you dry your hair more quickly and give you a smoother result. Not only does this mean less damage for your hair, but you’ll have a shinier and less frizzy result than with a non-infrared dryer.

When buying any hair dryer, you’ll want to consider the size and weight so that you find something that is easy to hold and not too heavy for longer use. For example, you’ll want something lightweight if your long hair requires a long time to dry. You might also consider whether you plan to take the infrared dryer with you anywhere since you can find travel-sized options that might suit your needs better than a bigger one.

The infrared dryer’s motor is important since it affects the power available. However, ones with high wattage also mean more energy use. If you don’t have thick hair, you might opt for a dryer with a lower wattage, just to save you in the long run. Also, some motors are louder than others, so you’ll want to look for low-noise options if the sound would bother you or perhaps a little one you’re trying not to wake while getting ready.

You’ll want to make sure you choose a dryer that has the right speed and heat settings. Most often, you’ll have a high speed that’s useful when you first start drying your hair and a low speed that’s good for when your hair is mostly dry already. It’s most common to find infrared dryers with two or three heat settings. Basic options allow for low and high settings, while others offer a medium setting in addition to those.

There are a few features you’ll find with most infrared dryers. One of these is a cold-shot button that you press to get cold air from the dryer to finalize your style. Another is the inclusion of at least two attachments: a diffuser, useful for styling curly hair, and a concentrator, useful for smoothing hair.

Some infrared dryers also allow you to remove the filter on the back so you can clean it out periodically. In addition, the dryer might have a hook that allows you to hang it on a hook when it’s not being used.

• If you’re in a hurry, you might reach for the blow dryer quickly after finishing your shower. However, you’ll get better results and help reduce the damage to your hair if you can wait a while. Use a towel or let the hair air dry at least halfway before you begin.
• While infrared hair dryers can damage your hair less than traditional dryers, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take some steps to protect your hair. First, you’ll want to use a heat protectant beforehand. While drying your hair, be sure not to put the dryer too close to your hair or focused on one part for too long since these practices can cause damage from overheating.
• Instead of blow drying your hair without a plan, take a little time to section it to both reduce tangles and get a better overall look. You can take advantage of sectioning clips for this, and some infrared blow dryers will come with some of these.
• For the best results, you’ll want to use your infrared dryer’s cool-shot button after you’ve finished drying and styling your hair. As it cools down your hair, this helps seal the style in for longer results.
• Since using heated tools like blow dryers is hard on your hair, use a good deep conditioner occasionally to nourish your hair.
• If you’ll use the blow dryer far away from the outlet, make sure you get one with a long cord. Needing to resort to using an extension cord can create a fire risk with such appliances.
• To boost volume and reduce frizz, focus on your hair’s roots as you dry it. A good brush will help you avoid making your hair too late during the drying process as well.
• If you’re wondering which of your infrared dryer’s heat settings you should use, consider your hair type. If you have thick, coarse hair that takes a long time to dry, you may benefit from the hottest setting. However, you might stick with the low option if you have damaged or thin hair. The medium setting can suit hair somewhere in between or be a compromise when you want a reasonably fast drying time but with less damage than the high setting.