RevAir Reverse-Air Dryer (RA90020)
Pulls each section into a wand and dries it stretched. Heat I ≈ 158°F, II ≈ 220°F, O = cool; tension 1–7.
See it on AmazonPick by the job, not the hype.
| Option | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Air-drying in loose sections | Everyday styles, when you have the time | Thick, bundled sections can stay damp. Leave room and time for air to get in. Air drying isn’t damage-free either. |
| The dryer you already own | Drying or diffusing with the right attachment | Keep it moving and about 6 inches away. Distance and motion matter more than the brand. |
| RevAir (RA90020) | Drying and stretching detangled sections, with no heat blowing on the scalp | Heat I ≈ 158°F, II ≈ 220°F, O = cool; tension 1–7. It doesn’t detangle or replace styling skills. |
| Dyson Supersonic Nural (HD16) | Premium drying and diffusing; Wave+Curl diffuser and wide-tooth comb included | Scalp protect mode adjusts heat near the scalp. No proven advantage for kids; you don’t need it on top of a RevAir. |
| Shark Glam (HD6051S) | A dryer plus straightener, glosser, curlers and frizz tool in one | It includes direct-heat tools. Those are for teens and adults, not young kids. |
Sources RevAir · Reverse-air dryer · RevAir · How to use · Dyson · Hair dryers · RevAir · FAQs · Dyson · Supersonic Nural hair dryer · Shark · Glam ceramic air styling & drying system (HD6051S) · Lee et al. · Hair shaft damage from heat and drying time of hair dryer (Ann Dermatol, 2011)
RevAir with kids: the gentle settings
RevAir says it’s safe for all ages because no heat blows on the scalp, face or neck. It gives no child settings, so these are ours: start lower than the adult advice and go up only if you need to.
Under 3: cool only
Use the O (no-heat) setting to dry and stretch, or skip the dryer. Their hair needs length to feed the wand anyway.
From about 3: low heat
Setting I (about 158°F). Save II for older kids and adults. Finish each section with 5–10 seconds on O.
Tension 1 to 3
RevAir tells adults to start at 3. For kids, start at 1 or 2 and go up one level only if the hair isn’t stretching. If it tangles or they wince, go down.
Prep and section
Detangled, damp (not dripping) hair with a heat-protectant leave-in. No gel or mousse. Work 2–3 inch squares, smaller for thick hair.
Hold steady at the base
Feed the section in and hold the wand steady near the roots with a gentle dab. Don’t pump it up and down.
Keep it short and kind
Ear muffs if the noise bothers them, breaks when they need them, and an adult runs the machine. “Pause” means pause.
Why, and the fine print
RevAir’s low setting runs around 158°F and high around 220°F, well below flat irons, which can pass 400°F. In emergency-room data, almost all kids’ styling burns came from curling irons and curlers, not dryers. There’s no study of reverse-air drying in toddlers, so we keep the under-3 rule simple: cool setting or no dryer.
A lab study found a dryer used at a distance with constant motion did less damage than air drying alone. The lesson: low heat and motion, not “never heat.”
Sources RevAir · FAQs · RevAir · What levels should I set my speed and heat to? · RevAir · RevAir Kids · AAP · Electric hair styling products a common cause of burn injuries in children
The three dryers
Dyson Supersonic Nural (HD16)
Five attachments including a Wave+Curl diffuser and wide-tooth comb; Scalp protect mode; 4 heat levels and a cold shot.
See it on AmazonShark Glam air styling & drying system (HD6051S)
Dryer plus Silki ceramic straightener, Glossi ceramic styler, 1.25″ auto-wrap curlers, concentrator and FrizzFighter. Scalp Shield mode.
See it on AmazonStore links are for convenience; we haven’t tested every item, and prices change. Check the current listing before you buy.
Heat-protectant leave-ins
Spray milks soak in fast and don’t gum up a RevAir. Use them on damp hair before any heat.
Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Divine Strength Leave-In Milk
Spray milk; the maker says it protects up to 450°F. Castor oil, black cumin seed, ginger. Lightly scented.
See it on AmazonFRAGFRE Hair Detangler Spray
Fragrance-free leave-in labeled as a detangler and heat protectant, made for sensitive skin.
See it on AmazonStore links are for convenience; we haven’t tested every item, and prices change. Check the current listing before you buy.
Device only, or the bundle?
Compare the current listings. If the dryer inside is the same, extra clips, towels, bags and bottles don’t make it dry any better. Buy the bundle only if the extras fill real gaps at a good total price.
Before you order, check when the return window starts, any return fees and shipping, condition rules, where you’re buying from, the warranty, voltage, and which attachments come in the box. We don’t list prices here because they change.
With a child, introduce the tool first and do a short, comfortable test, only the way the manual allows. Don’t copy an adult’s tension setting. Keep it away from bath water, and stop for heat, pulling or fear.
Wondering about steaming?
Check the maker’s current details
Water and noise are two different problems.
| Need | Start here | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Dryer noise | Cut unneeded noise, and use well-fitting kids’ earmuffs when it helps. | Earmuffs need a good seal and supervision. They aren’t waterproof. Don’t turn a show up to compete. |
| Hating water on the face during rinses | Control where the water goes and how fast. Let them call pause. | A visor or washcloth is optional and won’t keep every drop off. |
| Keeping pool water out | Follow the swim-plug maker’s age, fit and supervision rules exactly. | Small plugs are a choking risk. Don’t push putty into the ear canal, and earmuffs aren’t a swim plan. |
| Ear pain, drainage, tubes, a perforation or ear surgery | Follow your child’s doctor’s water-care advice. | Don’t guess at an ear problem or swap the doctor’s plan for a store-bought fix. |
Earmuffs that actually fit
BANZ makes Baby (newborn–2) and Kids (2–10+) earmuffs, and the maker lists both at NRR 26. The difference is fit, not protection: the cushions should surround the whole ear, with hair pulled out from under them, snug but not pressing. Switch to the Kids size when the Baby band is maxed out or the cups no longer cover the ears.
Sources BANZ · Kids vs baby earmuffs
Take care of the gear
Follow the model’s filter and cleaning instructions. Check cords, guards, attachments and clips. Damaged or questionable electrical gear isn’t a bargain.
Store tools unplugged, away from kids and water. A soft bonnet-dryer attachment doesn’t mean you can walk away. A scalp massager is optional; you don’t need one to clean the scalp or grow hair.
Return to the small kit
Supporting sources
Checked October 26, 2026. Source roles and limitations are part of these instructions.
RevAir · Reverse-air dryer · Date not displayed
https://myrevair.com/products/revair
Optional drying/stretching device. Purchase price, bundle contents, and returns must be checked for the exact listing at checkout; no toddler superiority is established.
RevAir · How to use · Date not displayed
https://myrevair.com/pages/how-to
Detangle before use and follow the supplied model manual. Adult demonstrations do not establish a child’s heat or tension settings.
Dyson · Hair dryers · Date not displayed
https://www.dyson.com/hair-care/hair-dryers
Supersonic dryer variants differ. Airwrap and Airstrait serve different styling roles; they are not interchangeable with reverse-air drying.
RevAir · FAQs · Date not displayed
https://myrevair.com/pages/faqs
Maker says it is safe for kids because no heat blows on the scalp, face or neck. Heat I ≈ 158°F, II ≈ 220°F, O = no-heat cool shot. Tension 1–7; start at 3 and II for adults; lower tension if it tangles. No minimum age or child settings given.
Dyson · Supersonic Nural hair dryer · Date not displayed
https://www.dyson.com/hair-care/hair-dryers/supersonic-nural/amber-silk
Five attachments (Wave+Curl diffuser, Gentle air, Wide tooth comb, Styling concentrator, Flyaway); Scalp protect mode; 3 speeds, 4 heat levels, cold shot.
Shark · Glam ceramic air styling & drying system (HD6051S) · Date not displayed
https://www.sharkninja.com/shark-glam-ceramic-powerful-air-styling-drying-system/HD6051S.html
In the box: Coanda Auto-Wrap curlers (1.25″), Silki ceramic straightener, Styling concentrator, FrizzFighter, Glossi ceramic styler; Scalp Shield.
Lee et al. · Hair shaft damage from heat and drying time of hair dryer (Ann Dermatol, 2011) · 2011
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22148012/
Lab study on hair tresses: surface damage rose with temperature; a dryer used at 15 cm with continuous motion caused less damage than air drying. Not a study of children.
RevAir · What levels should I set my speed and heat to? · Date not displayed
https://support.myrevair.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002730193-What-levels-should-I-set-my-Reverse-Air-Speed-and-Heat-to-
Test a wet 3×3-inch section at speed 3 for 10 seconds; go up one level at a time only if needed; cool (O) for the last 5–10 seconds. Not all coily hair needs high tension.
RevAir · RevAir Kids · Date not displayed
https://myrevair.com/pages/kids
Same device marketed for kids; no child-specific settings or minimum age.
AAP · Electric hair styling products a common cause of burn injuries in children · 2023
https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/conference-news-releases/electric-hair-styling-products-common-cause-of-burn-injuries-in-children/
ER data 2013–2022: about 68% of styling-tool burns were in children 10 and under (median age 4.3); curling irons and curlers caused 97.4%.
BANZ · Kids vs baby earmuffs · Date not displayed
https://usa.banzworld.com/pages/kids-vs-baby-earmuffs-explore-banz-hearing-protection
Baby earmuffs newborn–2 years and Kids earmuffs 2–10+ years, both NRR 26 dB per the maker. Cushions must surround the ear, hair out from under them, snug not tight.
