Looking to upgrade your hair dryer? Maybe you’re in the market for a top of the line model to treat your hair right. Perhaps your old one has seen better days and needs replacing. Whatever the reason, hair dryers are important.
They’re one of the most common and popular hair tools – they become a part of our daily routines so easily many of us don’t even think of it as a styling tool. They’re a necessity that’s integral to having sleek, manageable, and beautiful hair on a daily basis.
But do you know what to look for in a hair dryer? Do you know which features are the most important, and how to use blow drying to create salon-worthy hair that has bounce, volume, and shine?
You should always go for a trusted brand when it comes to hair dryer. After all, you’re probably going to be using it pretty much every day, and why wouldn’t you want to treat your hair right? Cheap quality hair dryers won’t last as long, offer uneven results, and could even damage your hair with dangerous heat.
The stylist-approved way to use your hair dryer
It might sound like it does what’s on the tin but believe it or not there are definitely tips and tricks to getting the best out of your hair dryer. It’s not always as simple as point and shoot – you need to properly prep your hair, choose the right setting, and use the correct technique.
Prep your hair
Well-styled, beautiful hair starts a long time before you’re curling, straightening or even blow drying it. You need to make sure you’re looking after your hair well to keep it looking and feeling healthy.
When you wash your hair, you need to be regularly using a salon-quality shampoo and conditioner. Plus, you should choose one that’s meant for your hair type and condition. There are a variety of great quality products out there to select from, so even if you suffer from very dry or colour damaged hair, you can find a shampoo and conditioner set to treat your locks. For example, hair that’s tired and dull (or suffering from split ends, aging or colour damage) we recommend using the Azure Rescue & Repair Revolutionary shampoo and conditioner to repair cuticles and soothe hair over time. If you’ve got hair that’s sometimes prone to dullness or lying flat, try using Azure Amplify Volumising shampoo and conditioner as part of your hair washing routine.
After you’ve washed your hair, use a towel to dry it as much as possible. Avoid the temptation to ruffle it up – this can damage your hair’s cuticles. To reduce frizz, use squeezing and blotting motions to get out as much moisture as possible. Brushing very wet hair can cause more breakage and damage. If you need to brush or comb out knots before you start to blow dry, try using a dab of leave in conditioner to provide a bit of lubrication for your locks. For extra volume, use a little Azure Amplify Featherweight Styling Cream.
Dos and don’ts of prepping your hair
DO use the right shampoo and conditioner beforehand
DON’T ruffle your hair when you towel dry
DO squeeze, blot, and scrunch the water out
DON’T brush wet hair without leave in conditioner
Customise your settings
If you’re using a good quality hair dryer, chances are you’ll have access to a few different features and functions.
Using different heat settings and adjusting temperature settings means you can tailor your styling to your hair type. This can not only dramatically reduce the time it takes to dry your hair, but can also reduce heat damage and keep your hair as healthy as possible. If you’ve got particularly fine hair or are worried about damage (from aging, colour, or excess heat), use a lower setting and concentrate on not overworking sections. If you’ve got very strong, thick, or coarse hair, you might choose a higher temperature. It’s all about what works for you – test the settings until you find the perfect combination. Regardless of your hair type, you should use a low or medium heat setting at first until all the water has evaporated off your hair and it feels dry.
The right technique
Work in sections to fully dry all your hair before you start styling it. Use a low or medium setting to get all your hair fully dry. Once you feel a section is dry, move on to the next one until it’s all touch dry.
Use the included concentrator nozzle to direct the hot air, prevent hair from getting overheated, and add extra shine.
Once your hair is mostly dry, it’s time to start styling. Clip or pin the top sections of your hair up and away. Starting with the lower sections, start gently brushing through, pointing the hair dryer downwards to encourage sleek smoothness.
Once the bottom of your hair is dry and smooth, clip that back and undo the top. With these, aim the hair dryer at the root to add volume. Then use your paddle or barrel brush to move down the lengths.
For straight hair: pull your brush through all the way down to the tips in one smooth motion. After you’ve dried it all with warm air, set it with the cool shot function. For curls or waves: use a rounded brush to roll your hair into curls. Give them a blast with the warm air from the dryer, before setting them in place with the cool shot.
Finishing touches
Once you’ve dried and styled, it’s time to set it all in place so your hard work doesn’t go to waste. Use hairspray to set your style, or run a little argan oil through the tips for texture. Hair dryers are there to get moisture out and get you ready for the day after a shower, yes. But they’re also great tools for styling with heat – a salon-quality blow dry is the ultimate way to guarantee a good hair day.
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