What temperature does a hair dryer reach?

If you’re worried about the impact of your hair dryer on your hair, you’ve come to the right place. No one can deny that hair dryers can be quite useful. But, as we all know, high heat can damage your hair. So, how hot does a hair dryer get? 

If you like to keep your hair in good shape, you’ll always need to use a hair dryer. As useful as a hair dryer is, it should be noted that improper use will result in hair damage. We will help you to learn what factors cause hair damage and what you can do to prevent it.

Table Of Contents

• 1 Average Hair Dryer Temperature
• 2 Factors That Affect The Temperature Of Your Hair Dryer
  • 2.1 Brand & Model
  • 2.2 Wattage (Power)
  • 2.3 Age & Use
  • 2.4 Diffuser
  • 2.5 Distance From Your Hair
• 3 At What Temperature Does Hair Burn?
• 4 How To Dry Your Hair Without Damaging It
  • 4.1 1. Prepare Your Hair
  • 4.2 2. Use Hair Protection Products
  • 4.3 3. Avoid Using Heat Tools On High Heat
  • 4.4 4. Partially Dry Hair
  • 4.5 5. Use The Proper Hair Dryer Tools
  • 4.6 6. Completely Dry Hair
• 5 Conclusion

The average hair dryer temperature ranges from 80 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. With maximum heat, it may reach temperatures as high as 140 degrees, which can burn your hair and the skin on your head. We recommend keeping the heat setting between moderate and high.

Factors That Affect The Temperature Of Your Hair Dryer

Many factors can affect the temperature of your heat styling tool, so it is good for you to know what they are and prevent this from happening.

Brand & Model

Choosing the best hair dryer can be very tricky, especially because there are many different brands and models on the market. Different hair types necessitate different heat settings when drying. If you have healthy hair, you should only use medium heat settings. You can choose between ceramic dryers that are well known for their stable heat distribution, ionic hair dryers that allow rapid drying or tourmaline hair dryers that use infrared heat to dry the hair from the inside out. That’s why we recommend doing thorough research when choosing the perfect one. 

Never use a hair dryer at a temperature that is too hot for the palm of your hand.

Wattage (Power)

You’ve probably noticed that most hair dryers have a small number on them, such as 1800 watts. But what exactly does that mean? Wattage is the amount of power used by your hair dryer. The more powerful the blow dryer, the higher the wattage. In general, the hotter the blow dryer, the more powerful it is. So, if you’re looking for a powerful blow dryer, go for one with a high wattage.

The ideal wattage is 1800 to 1875. But be careful: too much power can be dangerous.

Age & Use

If you use your hair dryer almost every day or have had it for ages, it is not uncommon to produce less hot air than before. For starters, a hair dryer is an electrical unit that generates heat in its internal components. Furthermore, using it at high temperatures results in less heat in the hair dryer. It also does not achieve its maximum temperature. The length of time it will work at its maximum temperature depends on the model.

Diffuser

A diffuser’s goal is to spread out the heat. As a result, the heat released by a hair dryer is no longer focused on one spot; instead, it is evenly distributed. The diffuser prevents only one area of your head from receiving the full force of the hair dryer’s heat. When you use a diffuser, the heat is distributed evenly, and the maximum temperature is rarely attained.

Distance From Your Hair

A greater distance between the hair dryer and the hair tends to diffuse heat in the surrounding area. As a result, less heat enters the hair. As you move the hair dryer closer to your head, the temperature rises. Keep the hair dryer at a specific distance from your palm to determine its temperature, then test it. If you’re unsure how a hair dryer works, you can read more in our article.

You should keep the blow dryer close, but you shouldn’t touch the hair if you want to keep it healthy.

At What Temperature Does Hair Burn?

Hair burns at a temperature of 451 °F, the same as paper. Hitting above this will melt your hair shaft, causing a slew of issues such as dry and brittle hair, breakage from excess frizz, spliced ends, curls that will be damaged by heat, thin hair and, in the worst case, loss.

How To Dry Your Hair Without Damaging It

You can dry your hair without damaging it if you protect it. Now that you know blow dryers can damage it, learn how to avoid it by reading the following tips.

1. Prepare Your Hair

If you must use a blow dryer, avoid doing so when your hair is entirely wet. Wet hair is more likely to frizz when exposed to hot air from a blow dryer. If you’re in a hurry, lightly towel dry your hair before applying it. To avoid ripping out strands or harming the shafts of your hair, avoid being harsh with it while towel drying. If you have the time, wait at least fifteen minutes after using a towel before blow drying your hair. This will allow your hair to dry naturally before applying heat.

2. Use Hair Protection Products

Whether you dry or curl your hair with hair dryers, avoid exposing your hair to excessive heat. Use a heat protectant spray or a lotion specifically developed to protect your hair from heat damage. These products work well on a variety of hair types. Because there are so many products on the market, consult a professional to determine which one is best for your hair. A deep conditioning treatment from a stylist can also help protect your hair. 

3. Avoid Using Heat Tools On High Heat

Avoid using your hair dryer on a high heat setting. When you’re short on time, setting your dryer on high seems like the obvious solution. However, this may cause your hair to become lifeless and frizzy. The damage will accumulate if this is your go-to answer for hectic mornings. Use the lowest setting or hair dryers with temperature regulating technology to keep your hair healthy and looking good.

Temperature controls and regulating technology are standard features of high-quality blow dryers. The regulating technology stops the dryer from overheating and the temperature controls allow you to access various heat settings. 

4. Partially Dry Hair

When using a hair dryer, it is critical to know how to dry your hair correctly. Portion your hair and clip it out of the way until you’re ready to dry that section. Begin at the neckline and dry tiny sections of hair from the segment. To avoid drying out a specific area, move the hair dryer in a sweeping motion. Making an effort to divide your hair into parts can result in a more professional look when you’re finished, as well as a shorter drying time. Not only does this save you time in the morning, but it also means your hair spends less time in the blast zone.

5. Use The Proper Hair Dryer Tools

Each tool has its unique set of specs and functions. The nozzles that come with the dryer are the most effective. Using the incorrect nozzle and brush frequently results in wild hair. More importantly, use the proper blow dryer. Some hair dryers lack the fine-tuned control required to keep your hair healthy.

Avoid using attachments that did not come with your blow dryer.

6. Completely Dry Hair

It would help if you committed once you began blow-drying your hair. If your hair is frizzy and flat, the hair dryer did not remove all the excess moisture. For optimal results, leave your hair to dry until it reaches room temperature. Proper tools, such as a high-pressure hair dryer and protective products, will help you move more quickly. You may also play around with your procedure by modifying how you split your hair into parts or switching to a microfiber towel to speed things up without rushing to the end.

Conclusion

How hot does a hair dryer get? A simple answer will be ‘’very hot’’. If you are unsure about what temperature is best for your hair, start with a lower blow dryer temperature setting. You can always turn up the heat if necessary. Also, keep in mind that blow dryers and other heat-styling tools are all appliances that you should use with caution, so read our tips carefully to keep your hair healthy.

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