Special hair care every time you blow dry: the advantages of an ionic hair dryer
Hair dryers are a must-have beauty accessory, a special buddy for creating sophisticated styles or on-the-go blow drying for a chic or dishevelled look in just a few minutes. In short, a hair dryer is a real fixture in the bathroom. Nevertheless – and contrary to what you might be tempted to believe – the technology that goes into these devices has made enormous advances in recent years, resulting in significant changes to their performance and hair care in particular.
Users nowadays are interested in a particular cutting-edge technology (you can say that again!) that first began to appear in the world of hairdressing a few years ago, but which is sometimes poorly understood: the ionising function, which protects hair from heat and static electricity during the drying process. Here we focus on ionic hair dryers, how they operate and the advantages they bring to different types of hair.
Blow drying: watch out – fragile hair
Using a hair dryer inappropriately can have quite serious effects on the hair’s and scalp’s health. In fact, drying it at too high a temperature and / or holding the device too close to the scalp may make the hair dry and brittle, accelerate the onset of split ends and dry out the scalp. This results in that well-known combination of greasy roots and dry ends, which you’d hoped you had seen the end of for good once you’d left puberty behind...
Ionic hair dryers can potentially save the day when it comes to these problems thanks to their on-demand anti-frizz technology that cuts the blow drying time.
What is an ionic hair dryer?
When hair comes into contact with the hot air from a hair dryer, it is charged with positive ions: this gives it an electrical charge (responsible for generating the static electricity we know so well), making the hair much more difficult to style
Ionic hair dryers rebalance this electrical charge by emitting negative ions that are sent to the hair on demand using a special control button. The hair’s electric charge disappears – the frizz too – and the hair is now easier to comb. It goes without saying that the ionic function is perfectly harmless, and even beneficial for the hair in addition to being practical.
The advantages of an ionic hair dryer
The ionic function closes the scales of the cuticle (the outer layer of the hair that protects it): this is what stops the hair from frizzing and prevents the charge of static electricity.
The result is hair that is not only more disciplined and easier to style, but also shinier because the surface is now smoother (since the scales are closed), reflecting the light better.
Closing the scales also helps to protect the hair’s core from the heat, which is harmful if the drier is used repeatedly.
Finally, the ionising function speeds up the drying time, thereby reducing the hair's exposure to heat and minimise the impact of the exposure on its vitality.
When should you avoid using an ionic hair dryer?
Although the ionic function is harmless and boasts effects that are highly-prized for certain hair types or hairstyles, drying with negative ion emissions is not suitable for every profile. In fact, sometimes frizz is the desired effect, especially for fine hair that struggles for volume. In this case, the ionic function will systematically prevent the hair from having the slightest chance of retaining the light touch that blow drying can give it.
Similarly, not all the different wave profiles of curly or frizzy hair are compatible with using an ionic hair dryer, since it can damage the hair’s natural curls and its hold.
All of which means we strongly recommend seeking the advice of a professional hairdresser in these instances.
Ionic professional hair dryers… why not let yourself be tempted?
Whether you’re a home user or a professional, if you're thinking about investing in a new hair dryer, here are a few (very) good reasons to choose an ionic model to replace your old equipment.
Home users: an ionic professional hair dryer in your bathroom
If you use your hair dryer daily or almost daily, investing in a professional ionic hair dryer is almost certainly going to benefit your hair enormously – apart from some notable exceptions (see the section on “When should I avoid using an ionic hair dryer?”).
Repeated use of a hair dryer may have known adverse effects on the overall health of your hair. Using the ionic function will act to protect not just your hair but also your scalp since it reduces the required drying temperature compared to a conventional hair dryer.
If you use a hair dryer for blow drying or more sophisticated hairstyles, and if the static electricity charge is a problem for you, then an ionic hair dryer may also be a faithful friend thanks to its anti-frizz function.
Find out all about Velecta® Paris’s ionic hair dryers and treat yourself to professional drying quality every time you wash your hair.
Professionals: choose ionic professional hair dryers, and revamp the way you blow dry in your salon!
Ionic technology is particularly suitable for repeated and / or prolonged use, meaning it’s the perfect fit for professional hairdressers. It’s more comfortable and faster since it eliminates static electricity and shortens the drying time. The hair is then more malleable and easier to sculpt, meaning blow drying – or creating elaborate hairstyles – is quicker and keeps the hair healthier at the same time.
It also reduces the overall drying time, which is an appreciable advantage in terms of the comfort of your working position. Some models of ionic professional hair dryer from Velecta® Paris are also ultra-light for optimal comfort for professionals.
Discover the full range of ionic hair dryers from Velecta® Paris.