Hair dye

Hair dryer or blow dryer is an electromechanical device designed to blow cool or hot air over damp hair, in order to accelerate the evaporation of water particles and dry the hair. Blow dryers allow to better control the shape and style of hair, by accelerating and controlling the formation of temporary hydrogen bonds inside each strand. These hydrogen bonds are very powerful (allowing for stronger hair shaping than the sulfur bonds formed by permanent waving products) but are temporary and extremely vulnerable to humidity. They disappear with a single washing of the hair.

History[edit | edit source]

The first model was created by Alexander F. "Beau" Godefroy in his salon in France in 1890. The handheld, household hair dryer first appeared in 1920. Early blow dryers used to be heavy, often up to 2 pounds (0.9 kg), and were difficult to use. They also had many instances of overheating and electrocution. Today's hand-held hair dryers are much lighter and safer to use.

Types[edit | edit source]

There are two types of hair dryers: the rigid-hood dryer and the flexible-hood dryer. The rigid-hood dryer is used in beauty salons and can be placed over the client's head. The flexible-hood dryer is used at home and includes a flexible hose that blows the air.

Technology[edit | edit source]

Hair dryers use three different types of energy to work: electrical energy, heat energy, and mechanical energy. Electrical energy is used to generate heat; this heat energy is then converted into mechanical energy when the electric motor turns the fan. The fan pushes the hot air out of the hair dryer.

Safety[edit | edit source]

Modern hair dryers have safety cut outs, which switch off the heater elements if they get too hot. This prevents the dryer from overheating and catching fire. Some hair dryers also have a 'cool shot' button, which turns off the heater and blows room-temperature air while the button is held down.

Environmental Impact[edit | edit source]

Hair dryers use a significant amount of electricity. This contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly if the electricity is produced by coal-fired power plants.

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Translate this page: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, தமிழ், తెలుగు, Urdu, ಕನ್ನಡ, Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, বাংলা
European español, Deutsch, français, Greek, português do Brasil, polski, română, русский, Nederlands, norsk, svenska, suomi, Italian
Middle Eastern & African عربى, Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Kiswahili,
Other Bulgarian, Hungarian, Czech, Swedish, മലയാളം, मराठी, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, ગુજરાતી, Portuguese, Ukrainian

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.