A Powerful Hair Dryer for the 21st Century
Written: Sep 21 '02 (Updated Jan 08 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Dries hair quickly, ions work!, easy to use, 2 heat settings, cool shot button
Cons: Brief instruction book does not detail all the features.
The Bottom Line: I bought it not sure if the ion feature really worked. It does, and I love the way this hair dryer leaves my hair...soft, manageable, easy to style.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Conair Ion Shine Hair Dryer 146i |
I love the reliability of Conair hair dryers. My old Conair, which I owned for about 10 years, finally went to that great hair salon in the sky. One day the heating coil failed. After researching the various models, I chose a Conair Ion Shine 1875 Watt Ionic Dryer (Model 1461) as a replacement. It's a fabulous machine.
This hair dryer blows me away
The color of the dryer is silver and black, stylish. It's easy to hold with a comfortable grip and is lightweight. All the controls are on the handle. A "Cool Shot" button is highest on the handle. When pushed and held in, this feature produces a cooling blast of air. Beneath the "Cool Shot" button is a rocker switch that offers two speeds (high and low) in addition to the OFF position. Another toggle switch is lowest on the handle and controls the ON and OFF function of the Ionic feature.
While using the dryer on the highest heat setting and pushing the "Cool Shot" button, it took a few seconds to notice the temperature cooling. Then a continuous cool wind blew from the dryer. When I released the "Cool Shot" button, the dryer quickly returned to blowing heated air.
A hinged filter is located at the back of the hair dryer. It is easy to open and simple to remove the filter for cleaning. The filter feels like layered nylon netting; lots of holes for air circulation. Just remove and rinse the filter in clean water. Don't stretch the filter while cleaning it. Let the filter fully dry, and then replace it in the hair dryer. (There are no instructions for cleaning the filter. I have an air cleaner with a similar filter, and this is how I clean it.)
My hair falls just above the shoulders. Using the Concentrator Attachment (a wedge-shaped device that easily clips to the hair dryer nozzle), my hair dried even faster than usual. The Concentrator is designed to dry the top and bottom layers of the hair while also applying gusts of air to quickly dry the hair root, which adds hair volume.
Is it really 75% quieter?
The packaging says "Quiet Motor...75% Less Noise". A chart on the side of the box shows the Conair Ion Shine dryer at a sound level of 65-72 DBAs, about the noise level generated in an office. The chart then shows a typical 1875 watt full-size hair dryer emits up to 87 DBAs, louder than noise in a video arcade.
I experimented. Granted the sound is quieter than a regular hair dryer, but on HIGH, I still found it difficult to talk with other people even when they were six feet away. When the dryer is on LOW, conversation is easier, though we still had to slightly raise our voices.
Tales from an Ion Disbeliever
Advertising hype, I told myself. The hair dryer box proclaims: "Ions help to reduce frizziness and static electricity. Promotes shiny conditioned healthy hair. Ions surround the hair shaft, making it smoother, shiny and more manageable!". Sure...right...tell me another one.
Surprise! It works. As I used the Conair Ion Shine hair dryer, my hair actually felt softer and more manageable. I told myself I was imagining things, but my hair really feels softer and is easier to style after using this hair dryer.
What are Ions?
Ready for a mini science lesson? An ion is an atom or molecule that has lost one or more electrons, causing it to acquire a net negative or positive charge. Whew!!
For years people have used air cleaners and ionizers to purify the air in buildings. These "clean air" machines introduce electrically charged negative ions into the air to cleanse it of contaminants. This effect duplicates nature, such as the negative ions produced by waterfalls. Scientists have proved that negative ions relieve depression and even quicken the healing process. So what does this have to do with hair?
Conair is only one of many manufacturers to jump on the "ion" bandwagon. Is there actually any scientific proof that ion hair dryers improve hair quality? If so, I haven't read about it. However, I did notice a definite difference using the ion hair dryer as compared to a regular hair dryer. My hair also dried faster. The scientific explanation for this is that the ions reduce the size of the water droplets on hair strands, enabling quicker drying.
Safety Features
The brief instruction booklet says: "If overheating occurs, an automatic safety device will shut the dryer or the heat off to prevent damage or personal injury." I was delighted to read this. The booklet also lists basic safety instructions such as don't use the dryer near water, unplug after using, do not wrap the cord around the hair dryer at any time, do not use outdoors, do not use near aerosol sprays, do not use with voltage converter.
The Plug
The cord leads to a plug that measures approximately 1 1/2 inches wide x 2 1/4 inches high x 1 1/4 inches deep (when plugged into the outlet). This hair dryer is equipped with an Appliance Leakage Circuit Interrupter. In case the hair dryer encounters a malfunction or is immersed in water, this ALCI will activate, shutting off the hair dryer.
Pricing
I paid $17.99 for the Conair Ion Shine 1875 Watt Ionic Dryer (Model 1461) at BJ's Wholesale Club. Before purchasing this product at BJ's, I researched prices on the internet. Stores varied in price from $19.99 to $29.99. I love a bargain, and $17.99 is the best price I've yet to find.
My Hair Styling Routine
After washing my hair, I comb it out and then use the Conair Ion Shine 1875 Watt Ionic hair dryer to remove most (but not all) of the moisture. I comb my hair again. Then I use a Conair Hot Air Brush to curl my hair.
Summary
This hair dryer is a quick-drying wizard, and my hair feels great after using it. I admit that when it comes to hair-styling appliances, I'm a devoted Conair buyer.
Update (January 8, 2004)
I'm still using this hair dryer and love it. If I had to pick one thing to complain about, it would be the hinged filter located at the back of the dryer. This filter is difficult to open and close. It's wise to occasionally clean the filter, but I've had to arm-wrestle the hinged filter open in order to do this. Perhaps not all the ConAir Ion Hair Dryers have this difficulty with the hinged filter. Even with this problem, I still enjoy using this hair dryer.
I hope you found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Conair Ion Shine 1875 Watt Ionic Dryer (Model 1461) Specifications:
* 1875 Watts of Power
* Quiet Motor
* Ionic Device with ON/OFF Switch
* Two heat settings (High/Low) with Rocker Switch
* Cool Shot Button
* Concentrator Attachment
* Professional Length Line Cord
* Hanging Loop
* Full-size Silver/Black Casing
* Hinged Filter
* UL Listed
* Two Year Limited Warranty
Please read my other reviews.
HoMedics Foot Pro Massager
Holmes Warm Mist Humidifier
Janome Jem Sewing Machine
Black & Decker Pro Finish Iron
JVC DVD Player (Model XV- N44SL)
Hoyle Card Games (software)
Belkin UPS Emergency Battery Backup
Maytag Gemini Oven
Copyright 2002 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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