What's the Difference Between an Ionic Hairdryer, a Ceramic Hair Dryer and a Tourmaline Hairdryer?
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Low on time? Check out our key takeaways below
Key Takeaways
- Understanding hairdryer types is crucial, as ionic, ceramic, and tourmaline technologies each offer unique benefits for hair care.
- Ionic hairdryers work by producing negative ions that help reduce frizz and dry hair faster, but they can over-dry fine hair.
- Ceramic hairdryers are great for even heat distribution and can adjust temperature automatically, helping to minimise hair damage.
- Tourmaline hairdryers leverage the mineral's ability to emit negative ions, significantly cutting drying time and enhancing glossiness while reducing heat reliance.
- Combination dryers that integrate ionic and ceramic technologies offer the best of both worlds, catering to a variety of hair types and concerns.
- Investment in quality hairdryers pays off with better results and less damage, making it worthwhile to choose wisely based on individual hair needs.
Advancements in hair-drying technology have made choosing a hairdryer overwhelming for some people.
However, the jargon is well worth understanding. Investing in a specialised, salon quality hairdryer pays you back with big benefits: the perfect blowout with minimal hair damage.
Revolutionary ionic, ceramic and tourmaline hairdryers dry hair to a frizz-free, sleek finish in less time. Find out which hairdryer technology is right for your own marvellous mane.
We've also included a few of our best selling hair dryers, to make choosing easy.
What Is an Ionic Hairdryer?
Ionic hairdryers produce millions of negatively charged ions, which break down the positively charged water molecules.
Negative ions don’t open up the hair shafts, so the hair remains smooth and sleek.
Benefits of Ionic Hairdryers
Here are the benefits of ionic dryers:
- You can use a lower temperature to dry your hair.
- The definition of curly hair is preserved.
- Your hair dries faster.
- You'll see far less frizz.
What Are the Drawbacks of Ionic Hairdryers?
It's easier to over-dry your hair with ionic hairdryers, which is particularly damaging to fine hair.
- Fine, thin hair may be left limp and tired-looking.
- Ionic hairdryers can cost more than traditional and ceramic models.
Best Ionic Hairdryers:
Here's our roundup of the best Ionic hairdryers.
A Powerful, Lightweight and Professional Ionic Hairdryer
Get creative with the Parlux Alyon 2250W in iredescent Jade. This professional Ionic Hairdryer has a high powered K-Advance Plus motor powered at 2250W with Air Ionizer Tech ionic technology, which allows hair to dry faster with less damage. This futuristic Ionic hairdryer model also distributes heat evenly with 4 temperature settings, 2 speed settings, a cold air button, making it a super versatile option. We recommend this Ionic hairdryer for those with unruly hair looking for sleek, but voluminous results.
The Mermade Hair Hair Dryer uses ionic technology to create a lush, bouncy blowout. With 2 speed settings, 2 concentration attachments and a cool shot function, this Ionic hairdryer is perfect for all hair types and sits at an extremely affordable price. Plus, it's small size makes it easy to use and very travel friendly! You wont regret this instagrammable option.
The ghd Helios hairdryer is a lightweight, but powerful option that uses ionic technology to really pack a punch. This precision technology creates a smooth and shiny finish on the hair like no other. Extremely quiet and ergonomic, this Ionic hairdryer is really worth the investments. It's also available in a range of colours to suit your preferences.
What Is a Ceramic Hairdryer?
A ceramic hairdryer is beneficial to nearly all hair types.
The inside of a ceramic hairdryer is specially coated to help distribute the heat evenly. In a traditional hairdryer, the airflow can be uneven.
Benefits of Ceramic Hairdryers:
Here are the benefits of ceramic dryers:
- Ceramic hairdryers can regulate heat by automatically sensing the room temperature and adjusting accordingly.
- At the beginning of a blow-dry, the air flowing out of your dryer is hotter. The air then cools gradually. Your hair will dry faster and incur less damage in the process.
What Are the Drawbacks of Ceramic Hairdryers?
Ceramic hairdryers are slightly more expensive than traditional hairdryers, but the added benefits make them worthwhile.
- Ceramic models do release some negative ions to help control frizz. However, if frizz control is your main hair concern, it would be worth investing in an ionic hairdryer over a ceramic one.
If you'd like the benefits of both ionic and ceramic technology, combination dryers are available.
These contain the ceramic coating whilst also distributing only negative ions for quicker drying. Parlux makes a large variety of combination dryers, depending on your other criteria.
Best Ceramic Hairdryers:
A Highly Rated Ceramic Hairdryer with a Cool Shot Function
The CLOUD NINE The Airshot Hairdryer is a salon quality ceramic hairdryer that offer a sleek and professional blowout at home. It has a powerfull engine for speedy drying time, a ceramic element and anti-static tecnology for smooth results and a nifty cool air shot funtion. The ceramic techology in this hairdryer leaves the hair with less frizz and damage, which is also a result of it's adjustable temperature controls. Plus, with an adjustable swivel cord, this ceramic hair dryer is incredibly easy to use.
The Hybrid Ceramic/Ionic Hairdryer
The Parlux Advance Light Ionic & Ceramic Dryer 2200W is an extremely lightweight option and one of our bestselling options. With the benefits of both ionic and ceramic technology, this dryer is truly salon quality, causing less damage all round. It features a cool shot function, 2 speeds, 4 temperatures and a powerful K-Advance motor. Truly the best of both worlds.
What Is a Tourmaline Hairdryer?
Tourmaline is a semi-precious mineral known for its ability to emit negative ions.
Negative ions break down positively charged water molecules in a similar way to ionic hairdryers. In fact, some Tourmaline hairdryers use both technologies for even faster drying.
Benefits of Tourmaline Hairdryers:
Here are the benefits of Tourmaline dryers:
- Tourmaline is said to reduce drying time by up to 40%, which makes it the hairdryer technology of choice in many salons.
- Tourmaline breaks down water molecules with negative ions, so a Tourmaline hairdryer is less dependent on heat to dry the hair. As heat is known to damage the hair, this is seen as a preferable option.
- Tourmaline dryers are known for leaving hair looking glossy and frizz-free
What Are the Drawbacks of Tourmaline Hairdryers?
Tourmaline dryers are more expensive because Tourmaline is a rare gemstone. It’s worth researching whether it's benefits are worth the extra cost.
- If you have oily or limp hair, the smoothing effect may leave your hair flat and encourage oils to travel down the strands, so tourmaline should be avoided.
Best Tourmaline Hairdryers:
This next option is obviously not your traditional tourmaline hairdryer. The Silver Bullet Genesis Hot Air Brush is a 3-1 volumiser, hairdryer and curler. This easy to use styling brush has a ceramic and Tourlamine barrel, ideal for those with damaged hair. This incredible option takes the time out of styling, and works efficiently on towel-dried hair. So take the plunge and try this real game changer.
A Next-Generation Tourmaline Hairdryer
A next-generation Tourmaline hairdryer for a faster blowout and healthier hair, the CLOUD NINE The Airshot Pro will soon become your BFF. Lightweight, powerful and very adaptable, this tourmaline hairdryer has three heat settings (plus a cool shot) and three speeds. Added bonus it comes with a 3 metre cord and a soft dust bag.
