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Hair dryer

technology Maturity 7-9 Next article →

A hair dryer is a helpful tool for styling hair.

Braun hair dryer
Braun hair dryer

It works by blowing air that is warm or hot. This helps people control the shape of their hair. The warm air helps create temporary hydrogen bonds in each hair strand. These bonds are quite strong, but they are also very delicate. Humidity can make these bonds disappear quickly. A single hair washing will also wash them away.

HairDryer
HairDryer

Using a dryer can give hair more volume and discipline.

How does this device work step by step? Most dryers use a fan and electric heating coils. The fan is usually powered by a universal motor. Inside the dryer, there is often a coiled nichrome wire. This wire is wrapped around mica insulators to keep it safe. Nichrome is used because it does not rust easily when hot. The fan blows air past these hot coils to warm it up. Some dryers even use ceramic elements for instant heat.

AEG Foen Nr72355 03 mod03 res
AEG Foen Nr72355 03 mod03 res

Many dryers also have a cool shot button. This button turns off the heater to blow room-temperature air. This helps to set a style and reduce frizz.

People have been inventing hair dryers for a long time. In 1888, a French stylist created the first version. It was a large bonnet that attached to a gas stove pipe. It was not something you could hold in your hand. Gabriel Kazanjian was the first to patent a dryer in the United States in 1911. Handheld models finally appeared around 1920. These were made by companies like National Stamping and Electric works. They were very heavy and used only 100 watts of power.

Sit-down salon hair dryer
Sit-down salon hair dryer

Many important changes happened to make dryers better and safer. In 1954, the design changed to move the motor inside the casing. During the 1960s, dryers became lighter because of better plastics. Some dryers use a diffuser to spread air out for curly hair. Others use a concentrator to focus heat on one small spot. In the 1970s, new safety guidelines were created in the United States. Since 1991, all dryers must use a special safety circuit. This prevents people from getting hurt if the dryer gets wet.

There are two main types of dryers used today. The first type is the handheld dryer used at home. The second type is the rigid-hood dryer found in salons.

A hood dryer has a hard plastic dome for the head. It blows hot air through tiny holes to dry hair evenly. You might also see a hair dryer brush used for volume. Some of these brushes can even rotate automatically. These tools help people achieve many different looks every day.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Braun hair dryer.jpg
Braun hair dryer.jpg
File:HairDryer.jpg
HairDryer.jpg
File:AEG Foen Nr72355 03 mod03 res.jpg
AEG Foen Nr72355 03 mod03 res.jpg
File:Hooded dryer for infrared hair drying at hair salon - shown from three perspectives.jpg
Hooded dryer for infrared hair drying at...
File:Sit-down salon hair dryer.jpg
Sit-down salon hair dryer.jpg
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