I don’t usually make recommendations for expensive holiday gifts. I assume that when giving or receiving pricey presents, you know best about what you need/want to get or give.
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However, I have two recommendations that are worth considering if price is not an object.
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
About 18 months ago, I finally decided to buy myself a Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer during Ulta’s spring 20% off sale (reviewed here). Their 20% off sale is on now through December 24.
I had wanted a Dyson Dryer for a long time because my thick, coarse hair took forever to dry with my regular hair dryer (I don’t remember what kind of dryer I had been using). The Dyson appealed to me primarily because it was supposed to be able to dry hair in 5 minutes or less. There are 3 heat settings and 3 “force” settings (how hard the air comes out). I had been using the middle heat setting, but I recently went down to the lowest setting, and it is just fine. The Dyson dries my hair in 4-5 minutes. It’s amazing. I get back 10 minutes of my life every time I dry my hair, lol.
In addition, the Dyson is lightweight and easier to hold. And it is much quieter than my old dryer.
There has not been one day when I have regretted buying the Dyson. The MSRP is $399.99. It’s available at Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman-Marcus, Bed Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, and a lot of other retailers. Check it out!
GHD Platinum+ Professional Performance 1″ Smart Styler
More than a decade ago, I bought a GHD Flat Iron because my stylist at Vidal Sassoon Salon in Boston recommended it. But instead of buying the 1″, I bought one with a wider plate (it may have been only 2″ but it seemed more like 3+”) because I thought, with my thick hair, that I would need that. Big mistake. It weighed a ton. I couldn’t fit my hair, especially toward the crown of my head, in the device. I put it away somewhere years ago, and I bought a 1″ CHI at TJ Maxx.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I fried my bangs and some of the rest of my hair with my now 10+ years old CHI flat iron. Both my Sassoon colorist and stylist insisted that I throw away my ancient CHI and buy a 1″ GHD Platinum+ Professional Performance device.
Because the GHD Platinum+ Professional has a MSRP of $249, I thought about it harder than I might have several years ago when I was working full time. I thought I would buy it during Ulta’s 20% off sale in December, but I realized I couldn’t wait a month. I looked online for sales, and I came up with a good price for it on Groupon. There was also a good price at Costco.com, but the model they were selling was white. With my color-treated red hair, the white flat iron would be orange within a few uses! I didn’t even know that Groupon sold products, but I decided to buy it via Groupon.com. It was about $165, I think. It arrived within about 10 days. I just checked Groupon, and it says that they are not currently available. Glad I bought it when I did.
I am extremely happy with my new GHD Platinum+ Professional Performance 1″ Styling Device. It is very lightweight. Although the box says “20 seconds”, I find that it heats up in 8 seconds. It plays a little electronic sound when it’s ready to use.
My CHI flat iron had a dial that I used to set the temperature, but after years of use, the temperature settings on the dial had long ago worn off, so I never knew what temperature it was set to – as a result, I burned my hair badly.
One of the things that makes the GHD Platinum+ Professional different is that GHD has determined the optimal temperature for straightening hair without damage, and the device is set to that temperature (365 degrees). I don’t have to set anything. Once it heats up, I am good to go.
For my hair, one smooth pass with the GHD flat iron on each hank is enough to straighten my hair and leave it silky smooth. It takes only a few minutes to straighten my hair. I love it.
It has a swivel cord to make it easier to use. It automatically shuts off after a period of non-use in case you forget to shut it off.
The GHD Styling Device can be used to make waves and maybe even curls. I haven’t tried that yet. It’s doing exactly what I wanted it to do: saving me time as I straighten and not burning my hair. I think the GHD is well worth it.
When the Styling Device is not in use, there’s a rubbery sleeve that keeps the two arms together, closing it.
Retailers that carry the GHD Platinum+ Professional Performance Smart Styler include Ulta, QVC, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and more. There are also deals through Walmart.com.
When I went to the salon in November, my stylist cut off about 3 inches from my hair and trimmed my bangs as short as she could without me looking too weird. Unfortunately, two inches of my bangs still feel like Brillo. I can hardly wait for my hair to grow so I can cut off the fried part!
My sister has the Dyson dryer and absolutely loves it. So much so, in fact, that when I offered her any of my hair dryers she said, no thanks!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Starling Deodorant in Pink Rose Review
That is so funny that your sister turned your dryers down, but as a Dyson owner, I completely get it!
There’s nothing like a Dyson for hair. I have several dryers and like them all but the Dyson is true love. I like the looks of that GHD. My hair isn’t thick anymore so I wonder if it would be too much for me.
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I don’t think the GHD would be too much, but probably you should wait till you start going to stores again, and check it out in person.
Thank you for the honest review of the Dyson hairdryer. I’ve been listing over it for so long but the price always stops me. I might finally splurge!
Anastasia, I have never regretted buying the Dyson hair dryer for one second. It was a game changer for me, and I had a fairly high-end dryer prior to this. Worth considering during the sales that are everywhere now 😉
No, no, NO you can NOT talk me into a Dyson! Travis will KILL me if I bring home a $400 blow dryer. Son of… now I am going to NEED to purchase this. Do you think if I get it during a 20% off sale it would make him want to kill me less?? 😉
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Can’t help you with that one, madam 😉 But wait, didn’t you say your hair hasn’t been cut in a long time and is really long? If so, you could tell Travis that the Dyson will dry your hair so much faster and save you money in electricity over the long run?? Just a thought 😀
You are a devious genius. I will probably have to save up and wait for a 20% off coupon for this one though 😉
LOL! The fancy Dyson can definitely wait 😉