The Drybar "Buttercup" and the T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i Hair Dryer Review

The journey begins to find a new hair dryer.  Over the past two years, I decided to grow my hair long. Not sure if this is stylish for an almost 50 year old.  However, I wanted to try it.  I was 16 years old the last time my hair was long! 

I have used a drug store brand hair dryer my whole life.  The kind you can pick up for $25.  Although, now that my hair was getting long, I have been getting super frustrated spending 40 minutes trying to dry my hair.  I found myself washing my hair at night and letting it air dry until morning.  This only led to a rats nest in the morning.  Knots galore!  Not fun trying to brush those out in the morning.

A friend of mine and I were on our way to Napa Valley for the day when she suggested that I take the plunge and purchase a high end hair dryer.  For me, to spend up to $200 on a hair dryer seemed ridiculous.  Like really?  Do you even get what you pay for?  

If I was to spend that kind of money, I would rather put it towards a Coach or Michael Kors purse.

However, I took her advice and began to look online to see what was the best hair dryer.  My dad always taught me to do my 7 P's when researching anything.

Some of the features I was looking for in a hair dryer:

• Drying time - how long did it take to dry long hair?
• Weight - I didn't want a beast of a hair dryer.  I wanted something light weight and a sleek design.
• Color - I really wanted something stylish for this kind of money!  Something that would look great on my vanity.
• Quality - I wanted quality.  For this price point, I wanted something that would last a long time and would perform like a champ.

There was so much chatter on the internet about various hair dryers. It seemed like one brand kept popping up ... The T3 Featherweight Luxe hair dryers.

Because I was spending this kind of money for my first high end hair dryer ... I decided to purchase three hair dryers and from there  .... I would make my final decision.  

Which hair dryer would end up living with me until it's last breath?

I ended up purchasing three hair dryers:

• T3 Featherweight Luxe Hair Dryer in Pink (QVC.com)
• T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i Hair Dryer in Black (Amazon.com)
• Drybar Buttercup Hair Dryer in Yellow (QVC)

T3 Featherweight Luxe Hair Dryer in Pink (QVC)

This hair dryer runs about $181.00 plus another $10.00 in shipping.  It is a beautiful pink color (you can buy it in other colors).  The best part about this hair dryer is that it is light weight and there are many color options to choose from.  It left my hair silky smooth with beautiful volume. 

I liked the overall feel of the T3 .... but I will tell you, my very first priority in a hair dryer was drying time.  I needed some super power in my hair dryer that could cut my drying time down to less than 10 minutes.  This one cut my drying time down to about 20 minutes.  It didn't seem like much air was coming out of this dryer.  It seemed to lack .... power.  

As much as l loved all the other features on this beautiful little gem - it just didn't cut it when it came to getting my hair dried fast!  So, back it went.  I was a bit disappointed because of all the three hair dryers, I liked the look and color of this one best!  It was so sleek and beautiful.

T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i Hair Dryer in Black (Amazon.com)

This seems like it is the deluxe model of hair dryers on the market.  I am not an expert by any means ... but with this price point, you'd think it had every bell and whistle possible. 

At Beauty.com this hairdryer goes for about $250.00.  I found it on Amazon.com for about $162.00 plus another $10.00 or so for shipping.  When this first arrived, I thought for sure this was the model that would win out.  

With this price, it had to be the Cadillac of hair dryers. This hair dryer was much larger than the pink one above. I used this hair dryer multiple times because I really wanted to like it.  But the more I used it the more I realized it was just like the pink featherweight luxe that I had tried above except this one was even larger and more bulky and still did not have the air power I was looking for.    After much contemplation - this one went back too.  It simply lacked the power I was looking for in a hair dryer.   

I think it ultimately boils down to which feature is most important to you? If it is look and style the T3 Featherweight Luxe wins out by far! 

Drybar Buttercup Hair Dryer in Yellow (QVC)

Oh, my sweet and precious Buttercup.  As you can already tell, I ended up choosing the Buttercup as my hair dryer of choice.   Why you might ask?  Well, it really boils down to performance.  The first time I used this hair dryer I was blown away that I could literally dry my hair in 8 minutes.  Yes, 8 minutes,  You heard that right. 

My hair is now past my shoulders and although it is very fine - there is a lot of it!  I put some volume product on my hair and started to blow out my hair.  I was literally shocked when I looked down at my iPhone and noticed I was done when my timer hit the 8 minute mark!  I was almost sold the minute I tried this.  Although, I had to get over a couple of hurdles in my mind before I made my final decision.

Those hurdles?  Honestly ...... I am not a fan of this bright yellow color.  I know it is suppose to be cheerful and vibrant, but for me this dryer lacked elegance.  I am more of a Audrey Hepburn or Jackie O kind of gal.  I just couldn't see either of them sporting this hair dryer on their vanity.

To plop this amount of yellow onto my make up station .... was so hard for me.  I like style.  Yellow, just doesn't scream style for me.  

The downside for some of you with the Buttercup might be the color as well.  But, the other hurdle I had to get over before making my final decision was also the weight.  The Buttercup is much heavier than the T3 and it does feel more bulky when you pick it up to dry your hair.  It probably fells more like you are driving a Mercedes.  Rock solid.   But, I believe it just reflects the quality and the power behind the dryer.

The Buttercup has a nice long cord - so you don't have to worry about it getting tangled up.  There is no issue at all when trying to style your hair.  The cord is long enough to move the dryer anywhere! 

The other amazing feature on the Buttercup is how the cooling button locks into place.  So, while you are curling your hair with a brush and the Buttercup - you can lock the cooling button to help lock your curl into place.  The T3's did not have this option at all.  This really is a selling point if you use your dryer a lot for styling.

As much as my heart wanted to love the T3's for the beautiful styles and colors ..... I had to choose performance over weight and color.  The Drybar BUTTER CUP won over my heart.

I found in searching online the best value for the Buttercup is on QVC.com.  I am not sure if it will remain that way forever .... but as of right now, that is the best price in town.  Plus, they throw in some hair clips as well.  Which makes purchasing this expensive Buttercup a little easier to swallow.

FUN LITTLE FACTS

• I love fall.  It is my favorite season.  A friend of mine dropped me off a dozen donuts from the famous "Apple Hill" here in California.  Apple donuts.  If you never had them - they are amazing!  Worth the calories!  A true friend loves at all times.
• Today, I am breaking out my boots for the first time this fall!  The weather has finally cooled down here in California ... and today is going to be a boot day! Yahoo! 

AN ENCOURAGING WORD

• The world is filed with negative people.  People who will always try to discourage you, reject you, abandon you and hate you.  Today, despite feeling discouraged .... try to move in the opposite way.  
• We can choose to be kind and loving people despite how mean others can be to us.  
• Don't let others control your day, your future and the beauty that is within you.  Don't let their negativity rob you of allowing the sun to shine on you today. 
• Despite what anyone has ever said - you are beautiful! 

What do you love about fall?  I would love to hear from you!