How Do You Know if a Hair Dryer is Powerful?

By Leah Williams •  Updated: 06/11/22

Have you ever wondered what makes a blow dryer powerful? 

Do you feel like you’re spending too much time blow drying your hair without it actually drying?

Your hair dryer could be the reason why!

In brief, a hair dryer can be called powerful if it has a high wattage. You should choose a hair dryer that has a wattage of 1800 to 2000. It packs more wind and can cut down drying time for your hair too.

In this article, we’ll help you find an answer to the question “how do I know if a hair dryer is powerful?”

Let’s do a little digging, shall we?

What Makes a Powerful Hair Dryer?

There are different types of hair dryers on the market and each one of them comes with certain features designed for helping you achieve a smooth finish for your hair.

Nevertheless, a powerful hair dryer is what you need to maintain beautiful silky hair!

Here’s what makes a powerful hair dryer!

Ceramic and Tourmaline Material

Ionic or tourmaline dryers provide a faster drying effect for your hair. It gives off intense negative ions that help break and scatter water droplets quickly in the hair shafts without causing frizz. 

Ionic dryers seal the hair cuticle and retain moisture, resulting in a smooth and sleek finish.

Moreover, the ceramic or porcelain dryer provides less harsh heat that distributes more evenly on your hair, making it less likely to be dehydrated. 

Porcelain or ceramic dryers also blast off negative ions that speed up dry time.

Some ceramic dryers feature infrared technology. It uses longer energy waves that penetrate the hair’s internal parts, drying it from the inside out.

High Wattage

The higher the wattage, the stronger the power. We need a stronger motor for blasting more wind power without exposing hair to excessive heat damage. 

Choose a hair dryer with a wattage of 1800 to 2000, especially if you have thicker hair. 

A blow dryer with higher wattage can save you more time in drying your hair. You will also achieve the smooth, salon-quality hair you desire after the blow-dry session. 

Caution! Low wattage hair dryers make your hair susceptible to heat damage.

Heat Settings

Hair dryers with multiple heat and speed settings are a fine choice as it’s suitable for any hair type and hairstyle.

Use a high heat setting for thicker hair to remove excess moisture quickly. If you have normal hair, the medium heat setting will work well for you. While the low heat setting is suggested for fine hair. 

You also need to look for a hair dryer with the cool shot button.  The cool shot function releases cold air which helps style your hair after drying and also prevents frizz. 

Bonus Tip: Use a round brush to add more volume while blasting cool air. This finishing touch gives you shiny and smooth locks.

Attachments

The concentrator nozzle is a blow dryer attachment that is great for heat styling as it gives your hair a beautifully smooth finish. It blows the air directly into the area that you want to smooth.

You might also need the diffuser attachment if you wear your hair curly to help spread out the airflow of the blow dryer.

Caution: Always point the nozzle downwards to reduce frizz and flyaways. Do not point the nozzle to your hair shaft. 

Importance of a Powerful Hair Dryer

The blow dryer’s power is the key to its superior performance. Powerful blow dryers have higher airflow and better heating capacity which leads to quick and efficient drying.

That said, your hair and scalp are exposed to less heat which prevents frizz, dryness, and heat damage. Also, it gives you more options for trying different hairstyles.

As mentioned earlier, a good hair dryer has a wattage that ranges from 1800 to 2000, also known as easy power or ultra-powerful. This type of hair dryer is good for thick hair too!

The good thing about ultra-powerful hair dryers is their heating power and the ability to regulate airflow with relative precision.

The multiple heat settings allow you to customize the drying for any hairstyle or hair type as well as the time for blow-drying.

So, a powerful hair dryer is indeed your hair’s great friend!

Recap

A high-quality hair dryer is a good investment for hair health. It’s worth owning a decent hair dryer that is safe to use on your hair.

You want the best for your hair and a powerful hair dryer is a must-have!

So, to know how powerful a hair dryer is, you should check the wattage, material, attachments, and other important features.

Be sure to choose a hair dryer with 1800 to 2000 watts for the best hair results!

Check out our recommendations for the best hair dryer for thick hair.

Leah Williams

Leah Williams is the founder of Lucky Curl and has been in the hair care and styling industry for the last 15 years. Since then, she has developed incredible expertise and a deep understanding of how to treat and style the most difficult hair types and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with the readers of Lucky Curl.

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