Pibbs 514 Kwik Dri 1100W Professional Salon Hair Dryer with Timer, Temp Control, Adjustable Height & Head, Rolling Caster Base, Flip-Top Visor, CE Certified, Made in Italy, Black, PIB-514

I like this dryer and am pleased with it so far. The length of my hair has outgrown the regular dryers and would take so much time to sit and still would not dry my hair as I wanted. With this one, I can sit for an hour and my hair is completely dry and that’s not even my goal lol. I prefer 75% dry and to air dry the rest but this dryer is the goat! It’s easy to use and works very well for me!

Hesitating to buy this dryer because of the price is a short-sighted move. If your hair regimen includes regular salon visits for professional-quality wash and sets, this dryer will pay for itself in 10 home washings. Over 2+ months you would have spent the same money.For African-American women especially who have relaxed shoulder-length hair, wash and sets create much less damage than blow-drying followed by curling irons (direct heat and stress, followed by more direct heat and stress). The drawback, though, is the time spent under the dryer. Longer, porous hair (like mine) can take a minimum of 90 minutes drying time with other standard chair dryers, even at the salon. Add to that the 1 or so hour spent prior on the shampoo, conditioning, and actual hair setting process, and you're talking about a 3 hour total investment, which does not include any wait time before you're actually seated for your hair service. So, I cannot understate what a huge deal it is that the Pibbs Kwik Dri cuts that drying time in half, from 90 minutes to 45 minutes. What this means:1. I can now exercise the option to wash and set my hair on weekday mornings before work, if I have to, just by waking up an hour or so earlier than I would normally. This was an impossibility before, unless I wanted to set my alarm for 3:30am.2. I can now schedule dates and other social events on the same days I sweat my hair out at the gym, without having to worry about not having enough time in between to re-do my hair.3. Psychological barriers to washing and setting my hair at home have been removed. The prospect of sitting under the dryer for 90 minutes after struggling with the setting process, contributed to the overall dread in facing this task. This was made all the worse by the knowledge that your end result - using cheaper dryers which would not dry the hair evenly, or get as hot - would fall way short of the salon outcome. As a result, I avoided the whole process, which meant my skill level in setting my own hair never improved, which just created a vicious cycle that would drive me back to the salon for the professional setting results I wanted and needed. But now, because my hair only takes 45 minutes to dry with the Pibbs Kwik Dri, and I am assured of a positive, professional outcome for the time spent, I am more motivated to set my own hair at home, which means I do it more often, which means my setting skill level improves, which means with every week that passes I'm able to consistently achieve the same or better results at home (with the products of my choice), which keeps me out of the salon, and money in my pocket.Bottom line: no other dryer on the market, or even in salons, comes close, and I've gone through my fair share for home use, the most recent being the Virgo CD320 salon dryer. What makes the Pibbs Kwik Dri 514 so effective is (a) the super hot settings, and (b) the unique hood design that extends all the way down the back, and around all sides, trapping in the heat and keeping it from escaping out the bottom, so that it circulates evenly from top roller to back roller. Note that to use this comfortably, as others have mentioned, you definitely need to get foam ear protectors, and wear some kind of light towel around your neck, to protect it from the heat. You can always adjust the heat downward, but that sort of defeats the purpose of the quick drying results. Just suck it up, keep it on the next to highest heat setting (60), and protect your ears/skin, and you'll be fine. Another benefit is that it's so easy to move from room to room, and the hood height can be adjusted on the stand to fit most any chair setup. I use it with my existing living room armchair, and the castor wheels on the base roll comfortably under so that I can sit back in luxurious comfort with my feet on the ottoman, and still have the dryer hood extend, or overhang, comfortably over the back of the chair.Don't even get me started on the $120 or so dollars I'm saving every month by doing my own hair, or the fact that I'm no longer a slave to my stylist's schedule and availability. She now sees me only for rare cuts, color treatments or (relaxer) touch-ups. Overall, I am 100% satisfied with the quality and performance of this dryer, and have recommended it to everyone I know. You will forget all about the initial investment once you start reaping the immediate benefits mentioned above, and realize that you can't put a price on your valuable time. I can always earn back the $300 I spent on this, but I'll never be able to get back the time I lost or wasted previously (not to mention lost "quality of life" opportunities where I could have been engaged in other enjoyable activities), associated with this process.

This is my second standup bonnet dryer. Last one I had for 3 years and probably used 5 times a week. I have naturally curly hair, no need for rollers here. Lol, my dryer is one of my favorite things- makes my life sooooo much easier. Anyway, this one is high quality and sturdy. I bought it six months ago. My last one was top heavy and quite unstable. It gets pretty hot and I can dry most of my shoulder length thick hair in 10 minutes without sweating. My only complaint is that the short hairs in the back blow a bit and causes a tangle. My hairdresser solved this issue by reminding me to pin that area down, simple fix.-one clip, I definitely think this dryer is worth the price tag. My stylist has the Babyliss Pro Ionic Rollabout Hard Hat Hair Dryer or something like it in her salon. I like that one as well. It dries extremely fast but no wind. It can get too hot if you get distracted so beware. But a nice alternative for half the cost. Good luck.

5/5/2015In the past several weeks, I have used the dryer 3 times. The dryer can get very hot to the point where I have to cover my ears. Granted, you can lower the temp but I want to dry as fast as possible. It blows air really hard so you will likely need the hair net they provided. For conditioning with a plastic cap, you will need a headband or similar to keep the dryer from pulling it off. The hood is large but the front flap is what limits the roller size. I use about 18 to 20 purple rollers and there's plenty of space in the hood. I just have to twist my head a little to fit through the front flap. I am dry in less than 45 min with hair slightly longer than shoulder length. In Houston, I pay $40+ for a shampoo set and style every 2 weeks. In my case, the dryer will pay for itself in 3 to 4 months. I would recommend.4/14/2015 Why did I order this dryer?I have not used the dryer yet. But decided to write review to include pics and initial thoughts for wondering minds. I am African American with shoulder length relaxed hair. I intend to do roller sets with a combo of red, purple and/or gray magnetic rollers. I am tired of wasting so much of my time in the beauty shop every 2 weeks.ShippingI ordered on April 9th, shipped on 10th and received today the 14th via FedEx. So no complaints on shipping.PackagingBelow my expectations but no damage. One big box included 2 boxes, one for head and another for the stand. See pics attached.AssemblyTook less than 5 min. Just attach pole to base with screw and washer, then sit head on pole. The head slides down far enough over pole so you shouldn't be too concerned that head will fall off. But other than a snug fit, nothing keeps the head on the pole.The dryer2 knobs for temp and time. Pole height adjusts easily with screw turn knob. The pole will not slide up and down while sitting under it. You will have to get up and adjust height. Hood is full coverage down to neck and I felt like there was no escaping! Hence the hair net included with the order. Photo attached.I plan to use it this weekend so I will update my post after my roller set results.