'Ionic ceramic technology' - real science or marketing speak?

August 13, 2006 3:36 AM

'Ionic ceramic technology' - real science or marketing speak?

I just bought a new hairdryer for the first time in years. Most of the decent looking ones claimed to utilise 'ionic/ceramic technology', with a bullshit-sounding explanation on the box.

I bought one, I've used it once, and it actually seems quite good (my hair was much softer and silkier than usual), but I'm dubious that this technology is real. A Google search didn't turn up anything conclusive.

So, is it real science, or marketing bullshit?

posted by girlgeeknz to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (4 answers total)

Ionizers built in to hair dryers attempt to generate enough negative ions in their airflow to reduce the positive static charge created in hair by friction of hot dry air and styling brushes used during a styling session. If your hair is long, dry, and prone to static when dry, you might benefit. If you have oily, shorter hair, your benefit will probably be less.
posted by paulsc at 4:22 AM on August 13, 2006

I've always been suspicious of the ionic hairdryers too, but I can tell you on the ceramic front, I have a pricey Chi ceramic hair iron and it's night and day compared to the cheap metal ones.
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:15 AM on August 13, 2006

Anecdotally, I've found my hair to be smoother and silkier when I dry it at home using my ionic hair dryer vs. at the gym using their non-ionic dryers. I use the same shampoo and conditioner in both situations, but there may be other factors (hardness/softness of the water, etc.) that contribute to the difference I see and feel so I wouldn't call my results scientific.
posted by misskaz at 6:18 AM on August 13, 2006

Actually, I'm pretty sure there's real science behnd it. Although, as paulsc points out, it's somewhat dependant on your hairtype etc in the first place. But static does cause not only each hair to fly up, but the keratin sheaths on the hair to rough up and stick out, so preventing static buildup while doing something that would normally cause static is likely to have some effect on your hair (assuming static bothers it in the first place). I think the marketing spin can take the science too far, but the underlying concept is sound.

Personally I have fairly oily, tightly curled hair so static isn't a problem. Therefore I wouldn't pay a lot more for one using this technology, but I wouldn't avoid it either. And if my hair was fine and dry I'd probably try it out.
posted by shelleycat at 2:06 PM on August 13, 2006