Hairdryer 'exploded' with a loud bang and a smell of burning

'As my Uncle Suhuy used to say, speaking technically as a sorcerer, "If you don't understand it, don't screw around with it."'

-- Roger Zelazny

If it can be dismantled and every part identified (though possibly short-circuit or otherwise broken), then repair may be practical. If cheap, it is probably made in China and some or all parts may not be available.

I'm guessing that it's beyond economic/possible repair. If you have reason to believe it's a design problem, then yes, go for a different model, otherwise, well, everything eventually dies of something. Another one of the same kind might last thirty years.

They all have DC motors, I thought?

The dryer should have an overheat thermostat, to shut off if overheating due to no airflow (clogged, held shut, propeller falls off, etc). So there's one failsafe in there.

I'd open it in any case, just to see what broke, and then you'll see if a fix is reasonable or safe. The filament tends to get hotter with age, too -- I have a hairdryer now used for heating workshop things that runs for about 3 minutes before the thermostat cuts out. Enough to dry/heat/cure some things...

You may stop trying to even open it as too much trouble if there's some odd security bit at the bottom of a deep hole.

Thomas Prufer

From my reading, the salon versions usually have AC motors that are wired independently of the heating element. This is what allows cold air to be blown.