When should you replace your hair dryer?

Just because your hair dryer turns on and blows air, it doesn’t mean that it’s functioning properly. Most people buy hair appliances and think that they work properly until they simply stop powering on. However, for the safety of your hair, it’s important to know your dryers inside and out. And, not all dryers are created equally. You may be wondering how salon quality dryers and drugstore dryers compare.

There are some major differences from the motor, to the safety, to the wattage use. Cheaper dryers have a fraction of the shelf life of professional dryers. Regardless, you’ll want to look for the signs to tell if your dryer is past its prime. If it is, there’s a good chance that you are damaging your hair with each use.

More than the damage, a dead dryer yields at-home results that are dull and messy compared to what new dryers can do. We’ve compiled a list of the signs you need to look for when deciding when to upgrade your hair dryer!

Your dryer is very old and used often

If you know that your dryer is 5-6+ years old, and you are someone who uses a dryer on a regular basis, there’s almost a 100% chance that you need to replace it. If it’s cheap, you absolutely do. There’s no question that cheap dryers have a very limited shelf-life (2-3 years max). If you know that your dryer is used up simply because it’s old, it’s time to get a new one.

You’ve never changed the filter

Carbon filtering is a method in which carbon is used to remove chemicals and impurities from the air before it is blown onto your hair. Most people don’t understand how crucial it is to change the carbon filter on their dryers. If you aren’t sure if it’s time to clean your dryer’s filter, go ahead and take a look at it. If it looks like there is a collection of dust or particles on the backside of your dryer, you know it’s time to change the filter. Carbon filter replacements can be found for purchase here.

When you use it, it smells like something is burning

If you notice a burning smell when you use your dryer, a few things could be happening. First, your dryer can simply be too old. When your dryer is old, it tends to actually burn your hair rather than just dry it. Another way an old dryer creates a burning smell is when the dryer’s ability to safely draw electricity from your outlets has declined over the years, so now it draws too much and begins to overheat.

Another possible reason for the burning smell is a lack of maintenance or filter replacing. If this is the case, the actual particles are being burnt by the appliance itself. If your dryer is really old and overused, all three of these things can be happening at once. However, one thing is for sure: a burning smell is a sign of a dryer you should not be using.

Your hair seems very damaged or frizzy upon use

At FHI Heat, we use negative ion technology. Negative ion technology is an advanced way to dry hair in which the ions are used to work with the chemistry of the hair to absorb water without stealing any of the hair’s natural moisture. This method is used in place of simply constant hot air as a dry method.

In addition, it repels humidity, thereby giving you a shimmering blow dry! If you find that your hair feels damaged or dries frizzy, it may be because the dryer (like mentioned above) is burning your hair; however, it may simply be time for you to get with the times and experience newer blow-dry technology.

Your dryer is making a rattling noise

Any rattling noise within a dryer means that something isn’t right. If you find that your blow dryer sounds like it’s rattling, that most likely means that either the motor within the dryer is damaged, the impeller is broken, or the spinning blades are broken. You may want to open up the dryer to see if something is simply loose rather than broken; however, if something is loose, it’s an indicator of wear and tear on the dryer and you’ll eventually want to replace it.

It takes forever to actually dry your hair

If you find that the dryer is taking way too long to dry your hair, this means that there is something wrong with the heating elements within the machine. This is likely a technological issue and means that you probably need a dryer upgrade! If it is not a technological issue, then it can be because of any of the above reasons, which again would mean that it should be replaced. A slow dryer is essentially a dead dryer.

If you find that any of these qualities apply to your dryer, you’ll want to get it replaced ASAP. Our various dryers use the best of the best materials such as ceramic and tourmaline, and some feature ion generators and dual voltage. Beyond that, our dryers are equipped with the newest motor technology. The motors are lightweight, designed to last a long time, and are exceptionally efficient. To find the dryer that is perfect for you, take a look at our dryers here!