****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I've used $20 dryers my whole life and a few years ago I tried a friend's high quality dryer and couldn't believe how quickly it dried my hair. So, I recently got sick of the one heat setting my cheap-o dryer had (the so-hot-I-need-another-shower-after-drying-my-hair setting) and decided to invest in a quality dryer. I wanted a dryer with multiple heat settings and a powerful airflow. I have really long hair and also happen to be hot natured, so I'd rather use a strong airflow and minimal heat to dry my hair as quickly as possible.I went to Ulta and tested out several dryers and narrowed it down to this dryer and a Hot Tools dryer. They each had their pros and cons: this dryer definitely had a stronger airflow but the Hot Tools dryer was lighter. After reading some reviews, I went with the Rusk Speed Freak and I've been very happy with my purchase. It dries my hair as quickly as my old one did, but without making me feel like I'm sitting on the surface of the sun (on the medium setting, that is--on the hot setting it dries my hair in no time, but I'm usually sweating afterwards). Plus, now my hair is more silky and doesn't feel dried out like it did with the other dryer--which probably has to do with the difference in the amount of heat I'm using. It also seems to keep my hair from frizzing as much as it used to. My hair is very straight, but I live in Alabama and the humidity here can make it really frizzy. I haven't had the dryer during the summer months to see whether or not it locks out that kind of humidity, but I've been able to tell a difference in the frizziness since I've switched dryers.However, there are some things to note about the dryer that some may consider cons. First, I agree with a lot of the prior reviews I've read: the dryer is a bit on the heavy side. However, I was used to using a small travel-sized dryer and by now I've adjusted to the weight of the new dryer, so it doesn't feel that heavy anymore. Second, I have to be careful when I'm drying my hair not to let the dryer tangle it. Again, I have really long hair (like waist-length) and the airflow on the high setting is so powerful that if I'm not careful to keep the dryer angled the right way it will swirl my hair into knots (kind of like the wind can do to long hair on windy day). I learned that lesson the first time I used it and have since been more careful and generally don't have too many problems with it knotting my hair. Third, the adjustment buttons are located right where most people would put their hand to hold the dryer, so sometimes I accidentally change the the power or heat setting when I shift the dryer in my hand. It doesn't happen too often, so it doesn't bother me, but it could be aggitating to others.All-in-all, I am very happy with this dryer and would recommend it to just about anyone who has "normal" upper body strength. I could see where it would be difficult for someone with weak arms/shoulders to use this dryer, but if you're unsure whether or not it would be too heavy, I recommend visiting your local Ulta store and trying it out. Like I mentioned before, that's what I did and I knew it was a little on the heavy side when I bought it, but that it wasn't so heavy that I couldn't hold it for 10 minutes to dry my hair.
