Pibbs 514 Kwik Dryer on Casters 

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.

My experience is limited, since I have only used the dryer three times after my ancient Daisy portable dryer finally conked out. After reading many of the reviews for the other lower priced table-top dryers, I decided to spend the money for this one. The instructions for assembly were missing the one for my model with the stand and instead had the ones for the wall mount. However there was a diagram and it was easy to follow. The simple bolt that another reviewer said was missing was actually screwed into the bottom of the pole which I located by following the diagram to assemble.. A second reviewer commented that the transparent flap in front of the hood that should move up and down didn't and she had to squeeze under the hood. I also found that the flap did not move but after examining it I tried harder and found that it was just very stiff. It now moves smoothly. Since I do a roller set I do not use the hairnet but agree with the instructions that if you use the dryer to dry loose wet hair that is not extremely short you should use the hairnet as the appliance does not have an adjustable speed and is as fast as the highest speed on my salon dryer. The temperature is adjustable and there is a timer. The stand is sturdy and moves easily; I just had to rearrange a closet to store the dryer. I hope the dryer has a long life; so far I am pleased with this purchase.

I have very curly hair. I grew up having my hair relaxed starting at age 10 and went natural in college, then relaxed it again, then natural again a few times. Living in Miami it was hard to straighten my hair with heat, but once I moved to Chicago it was more duable. I usually used a blow dryer with a comb on it, straightening comb and curling iron, then wrapped my hair and slept on it and then had to use the curling iron on it again and so on before it was completely straight. And, to avoid damaging my hair I'd have to use moisturizers on my hair which would weigh it down at times so I was rarely 100% happy with it. I had a bonnet hair dryer which took forever to dry my hair so I gave up on that and stuck with my routine of the blow dryer, etc. Having grown up going to hair salons, I hate going and sitting under hair dryers. And since I've been natural I've been only 3 times. The first time, the person straightenging my natural hair burned my hair and I actually had to cut it because parts of my hair was never curly again. The other times weren't much better.

But, I was tired of just wearing my hair natural all the time and the blow drying had taken it's toll and thinned out the ends of my hair so I saw the reviews here and decided to give it a shot. I used setting lotion on my hair and roller set it, just like my hairstylists used to. My hair was dry within an hour using this dryer. And, it's shiny and healthy and when I comb it there's no breakage. I can't believe it! I didn't know it was possible for my hair to feel this healthy and smooth! And All I use is a light sheen spray and so it moves and it's amazing! Lots of compliments.

So, I would recommend this dryer and mostly because of how fast it dries. I also love that it's on the adjustable stand because I can just sit in a wingback chair I have in my bedroom with the dryer set up behind it and relax and watch tv while it dries. I'm very happy with it.

So Im writing this while sitting under my new (very hot dryer) lol. I have been looking for a good dryer and I almost bought one that was about $200 cheaper until i read ALL of the reviews for this. Its funny because even the "bad" review wasnt bad. She just said that she doesnt use it for curlers but rather deep conditioning and it didnt work well for her that way.

I LOVE THIS THING. I have very curly mixed hair and I like to have it straight sometimes. My old cheaper bonnet dryer broke after years of good use. So it was time for an upgrade. I have to say I AM VERY IMPRESSED. I did my daughters hair this morning and it only took me one hour. My sister came over and I did hers as well. I am on to mine now and we all had deep conditioners (with the net wrap that came with the dryer over my shower cap of course) Usually it takes me about 4 hours to do just MY hair so I dont even think about anyone elses hair that day. So I agree that it cuts the hair doing process in half

I am so happy that I took the advise of the over reviewers. This was well worth the money and I am sure i will get ALOT of use out of it. (so will my sister and daughter lol) I dont feel like doing my hair is a chore anymore. I will say that if you have long hair, you should purchase a triangle net wrap for over your rollers. The one that comes with the dryer is really only good to put over your shower cap for deep conditioners. You will need something a little bigger to wrap around the rollers. Other than that. PLEASE TAKE MY ADVICE AND THE ADVICE OF ALL THE OTHER REVIEWERS. THIS IS WORTH IT TO PURCHASE. You will not regret it.

I bought this dryer several weeks ago and I am absolutely 100% pleased with the product. Initially I did have to think twice about the cost but I figured that if it was a great product it would pay for itself in the long run. With a month's worth of use it has absolutely already paid for itself.

The dryer was very easy to set up. I completed the set up in 10 minutes. The quality of the legs on wheels is wonderfully convenient and the legs are of a super quality. This is a product that will last for years. It was easy to adjust the height of the bonnet to any seat. This dryer gets HOT!! As another reviewer mentioned. The lid on the bonnet must be firmly lifted...do not try to jerk it open or you risk damaging the lid.

I have a short bob hair cut, African-American course hair and my hair was silky soft and dried in less than 30 minutes. Salon quality results. My husband also commented on the quality of the machine and my results.

One additional added bonus for me. I have a medical condition that limits my ability to see my stylist at her shop. This is a perfect purchase for someone home bound or with limited mobility.

I hope you find this review helpful. I shop online daily and this is one of my best purchases.