Benefits of Ionic Hair Dryers

Ionic hair dryers are increasingly popular in today's salons, but they're also a smart purchase for people who blow-dry their hair at home. Unlike standard dryers, which can dry out hair, ionic hair dryers work to break down the water molecules on the hair shaft. Best of all, they're relatively inexpensive and available in most stores.

How Ionic Hair Dryers Work

Ionic hair dryers employ negatively charged ions that break down the water molecules and reduce them to a fraction of their size. This is because water molecules are positively charged, and are therefore attracted to the negatively charged ions. The warm air from the hair dryer is then easily able to penetrate each hair shaft from the inside out, minimizing damage to the hair follicle and the amount of time it takes to dry the hair.

Benefits of Ionic Hair Dryers

Because ionic hair dryers cause water molecules to break down and thus evaporate more quickly, the person using the dryer often spends less time under the hot hair, which minimizes hair damage. In addition, ionic hair dryers work to flatten and tighten the cuticles of the hair, making each hair shaft shinier and softer and increasing the overall volume of the hair. Negatively charged ions also minimize the amount of unwanted frizz caused by static electricity.

Standard Hair Dryers vs. Ionic Hair Dryers

Ionic hair dryers are different from standard hair dryers because standard dryers emit positive ions as opposed to negative. These positive ions do not assist in the breakdown of water molecules, resulting in a longer drying time and more exposure to heat. Standard hair dryers also open the hair follicle, resulting in frizzy, dry hair.

Purchasing the Right Ionic Hair Dryer for You

Choosing the right ionic hair dryer is essential in guaranteeing sleek, moisturized hair. When purchasing an ionic hair dryer, pay close attention to the wattage---this is the general guide to the power of your hair dryer. A higher wattage indicates that more power is used, often resulting in more heat. These dryers are excellent for people with heavy, thick hair, whereas smaller wattage is best for people with thin, lighter hair. Temperature is also an important characteristic of an ionic hair dryer. The hotter the airstream used, the faster the hair will dry, but the heat can result in more damage to the hair shaft.

Expert Insight

According to TotalBeauty.com, the best ionic hair dryer is the Revlon RV544 Tourmaline Ionic dryer, which also received over eighty positive comments on Amazon.com from consumers. This hair dryer blends two types of hair drying technology: ionic and tourmaline, and it is far less expensive than many other models. An additional ionic dryer that received high marks is the T3 Tourmaline Professional Featherweight, which was awarded first-place in InStyle magazine's 2008 beauty awards for best hair dryer.