Product Review: The Pibbs 514 Kwik Dri Hair Dryer

I've bought many things for my hair in the last few years-shampoos, combs, relaxers, and accessories--- but my number one hair purchase of all time is undeniably, the very appliance that I am sitting under as I write this article: my Pibbs 514 hair dryer. Goodness, where do I begin? It is an awesome hair investment, and for those of you that are serious hair connoisseurs, this item is a must have. Long gone are the days of the regular hard hat dryer which often needs books propped under it to get the height correct for use. Or better yet, gone are the days when YOU had to stack up numerous couch pillows to sit on yourself in order to fit comfortably under the dryer! The Pibbs Kwik Dri is a professional, salon dryer with an adjustable, standing arm that can be rolled around from place to place at the user's leisure.

So what makes this hair dryer any better than other traditional hardhat/tabletop dryers? One word: performance.

The Pibbs Kwik Dri lives up to its name: Kwik Dri. This is one of the reasons that these dryers are so popular in salons. The Pibbs Kwik Dri slashes drying times remarkably! My home rollersets on the lavender, large gray, and black magnetic rollers take approximately 35-40 minutes to dry under the Pibbs dryer. Under my old Conair hard hat dryer, my drying time was easily 90 minutes. The Pibbs Kwik Dri hood accommodates a variety of roller sizes*, and fits comfortably around the head to evenly dry even the toughest sections. The hood can be tilted up, down, sideways- however you wish! No need to rotate yourself under the Pibbs dryer to cover poor circulation areas or to avoid hot spots. With the Pibbs Kwik Dri, you are covered with a warm blanket of gentle, heat from every imaginable angle and direction for superior drying performance! Additionally, the Pibbs Kwik Dri maintains this high level of performance while still remaining whisper quiet for those around you.

I. The Positives

1.) Amazing Portability

The Pibbs Kwik Dri 514 hair dryer is a free-standing piece of salon equipment that features a rolling wheel base. These wheels allow the user to move the dryer comfortably to any place in the home and use any chair of any height the user wishes. You can roll the Pibbs Kwik Dri into your office, up to your favorite chair in the living room, or even sit at the kitchen table under your Pibbs dryer. Try that with a standard hardhat dryer!

2.) Heating and Drying Performance

Anyone who has ever sat under a traditional table top dryer knows that these dryers have "hot spots"-or areas where the dryer blows super hot air, and cool spots where the dryer barely circulates. This uneven heating problem is eliminated with the Pibbs Kwik Dri. The Pibbs 514 dryer features a high powered fan with a suction and blowing strength so powerful that you'll need to go under it with a hair net. This fan is so powerful that even the manufacturer cautions users against sitting under the dryer with loose hair. And the manufacturer's testament to this powerful motor? -- They include a mini net with your purchase of the dryer! Without a hair net, your hair will get drawn up into the fan- not a pleasant idea.

The Pibbs Kwik Dri features adjustable heat settings: (Cool 10 degrees to a Scalding Hot- 70) in 10-degree increments. The Pibbs comes complete with a timer so that you are in total control of your drying or deep conditioning experience. With the Pibbs Kwik Dri, you can start your drying session off with hotter air, and gradually reduce the heat as your hair dries. You would rarely need to use the 70 degree temperature setting on the Pibbs as it gets scorching hot under the hood. It'd send you running out from under there after a few minutes! In my opinion, about 50 degrees on the Pibbs is the most comfortable temperature.

II. The Negatives

Obviously, this article would be remiss without a section about this dryer's negatives. And though I am obviously thrilled with my Pibbs dryer, there are quite a few negatives associated with the Pibbs Kwik Dri that should be pointed out.

1.) Cost

In today's economy, this is probably the number one barrier to overcome for those wishing to enjoy the Pibbs Kwik Dri experience. The Pibbs Kwik Dri is quite expensive, most likely because it is intended for commercial use in salons. With a little research online, you can find reputable dealers and salons that sell the Pibbs for just under $300. I've seen the price for Pibbs dryers as high as $400-$500 and as low as $199. Keep in mind that the Pibbs shipment is large, so "good deals" on the Pibbs might not be so great after shipping and handling are factored in. I purchased my Pibbs Kwik Dri for about $240 with shipping and taxes included, and it was worth every penny. My Pibbs Kwik Dri has saved me money in trips to the salon and gives me salon results right here at home. In fact, it has even helped me become more disciplined in my deep conditioning regimen. Thanks to the convenience of my Pibbs Kwik Dri, I squeeze in 2 deep conditioning sessions each week-faithfully. It is truly an impressive piece of machinery.

2.) Super-Large Rollers*

This is probably not much of a problem for most of us, but those ladies who prefer to do an entire rollerset on the coke-can sized black or dark purple rollers may find the Pibbs Kwik Dri hood to be too small a fit. These ladies would also find regular hardhat, tabletop dryers a hard fit. I regularly set my hair on black rollers, and the fit is snug. What I've found is that adding a few gray rollers to the set on the sides helps me fit under the hood better. Also, lifting the Pibbs Kwik Dri hood's visor during drying will also give you more space under the hood. Those who use the standard gray rollers and smaller will have no issue fitting under the Pibbs hood, as it is definitely one of the largest dryer hoods available.

3.) Storage

The Pibbs Kwik Dry is a true piece of equipment, and I am stopping just short of calling it a piece of furniture! If you live in a small apartment, dorm room, or a crowded living area-finding a place to stash your Pibbs might prove challenging.

III. Alternatives

The Pibbs Kwik Dri also comes in another very popular model, the Pibbs 512 EZ Dri. This machine is very similar in performance to the Pibbs Kwik Dri (514), but is a bit more cost effective. There are also other imitation standing/rolling dryers out there that some ladies have used with success-so, for those of you in search of a Pibbs alternative these dryers might be a promising idea! Some of the more affordable roll-about brands are the Pebco Pro Tools Dryer, the Hot Tools 1059, and Babyliss Standing Dryer. Though I have no personal experience with those dryers, I would venture to guess that if they are anywhere near as effective as the Pibbs Kwik Dri-you would be good to go! Whether it is a Pibbs Kwik Dri or some other brand, I am sure that once you try a standing, adjustable height dryer, you will never use a table top hair dryer again.

Give the Pibbs Kwik Dri a try! It is certainly an investment that I've made, and will recommend to others, without regrets!