The 5 Best Humidifiers for Singers to Protect Vocal Cords

Proper hydration is good for everyone. But singers need to be mindful of being fully hydrated to properly sing and protect their vocal cords.

All thanks to drinking enough water and today’s modern devices like humidifiers. These allow you to reach your maximum potential in terms of singing while protecting your vocal cords appropriately.

Below we will discuss how singers can protect their voices by maintaining proper humidity in the environment.

And what are some of the best options for buying the best portable humidifier machine to improve their vocal health?

Benefits of Humidity for Singers

For singers, the vocal cords are the foundation of their success.

This means taking extra precautions to ensure that your vocal cords are not damaged when singing.

Becoming dehydrated means you are more vulnerable to injuries and even having your vocal cords permanently altered because of a lack of proper hydration.

You, therefore, need to be fully hydrated during the day to ensure that your vocal cords are ready to go.

A little maintenance and care for the vocal folds can go a long way in achieving success in this competitive singing profession.

This is why singers who have had successful, long careers have instituted proper guidelines to maintain good hydration and the health of their vocal cords.

How does Humidifier Benefits the Singers’ Vocal Cords?

When it comes to being hydrated for singers, it takes more than drinking a glass of water before a performance.

Getting a good portable humidifier for singers, therefore, makes sense.

Quite often, people do not fully realize how much water they need. This is especially true for singers who may be concentrating on their performance but not on how much water they are drinking.

This is why adding a personal humidifier helps because it provides moisture to the vocal cords in the air.

By installing a good humidifier in your recording studio, you can rest assured that your body and vocal cords are always hydrated, even in severely dry winter conditions.

You will be surprised to know that humidifier for singers offers several other benefits that go beyond protecting your voice and vocal cords.

These are like protection of musical instruments made of wood, protection of wooden furniture, relieving of sinuses and allergies, etc.

5 Best Portable Humidifiers for Singers

If you sing professionally as a vocalist or simply love to sing around the home, investing in a good portable humidifier means helping to protect your vocal cords.

However, as a range of different types and models are available on the market, it can be frustrating to pick the one that is highly suited for your vocals.

Well, we have just made it easier to choose the one by listing down some of the smartest models that are good for voice conditioning and hence for vocalists.

1- Proscenic 807C Humidifier

Proscenic 807C Humidifier is one of the best pieces for humidifying the space for singers.

This smart humidifier for intelligent homes comes with an Alexa control feature that can be controlled via an app on your smartphone, making it easier for you to schedule the mist and improve the quality of your singing.

The device also features an automatic sensor to adjust and maintain the most comfortable humidity level.

Its large water tank can provide you with a maximum working time of up to 36 hours. Then it gets auto shut off when the tank gets emptied.

A few other features that we like in this Proscenic 807C unit are:

• 5L capacity large water tank
• Warm or cool mist – customized humidity
• 7 Adjustable speed, negative ion function, and baby mode

The best thing is its aroma container, where you can easily add your favorite essential oils to enjoy the feel of fresh and pure aroma all the time while misting.

2- TTLIFE Ultrasonic Humidifier

TTLIFE Ultrasonic Humidifier comes with an upgraded design that is ideal for singers.

The model looks much like Proscenic 807C, with the only difference being that it does not include the Alexa control feature over an app.

The TTlife portable humidifier is an intelligent humidity sensing unit that can be used to set and forget the desired humidity levels inside the room.

It then works automatically to maintain the appropriate levels, which are always depicted on its LED screen.

Its unique built-in Ionic Generator technology helps purify the air and hence can easily control the secondary pollution inside your home.

The unit further comes with dual 360° rotatable nozzles that can evenly humidify the room, even at the corners.

The few features that we like most in this model are:

• 5.5L capacity large water tank
• Warm or cool mist – customized humidity
• Ionic Generator technology for purifying the air
• Aroma box to add essential oils
• 3-speed levels, BPA-free, whisper-quiet, remote control

Above all, this TTlife humidifier device comes with an Ionic resin filter that is most helpful in softening the hard tap water and reducing 90% of white coating that can be seen when you use a filter-less humidifier in your singing room.

3- iTvanila Ultrasonic Humidifier

No matter whether you have a home recording studio setup or you work on professional recording studio equipment, getting a humidifying device like iTvanila can help a lot.

This stylishly designed ultrasonic humidifier by iTvanila comes with a remote control to offer you 3 levels of customized mist to enjoy long-lasting diffusion while practicing or recording a song.

The device runs automatically to monitor and control the humidity so that the desired levels can be maintained in the surrounding environment inside the room.

Few good features that come with the machine include:

• 5L tank that lasts up to 50 hours
• Whisper-quiet operation with sleep mode
• Colored indicator lights that change with humidity levels

While reviewing the unit closely, we also noticed that people love buying this iTvanila ultrasonic humidifier device because it comes with 24 months of warranty from the manufacturer.

Also, it offers the best customer support 7 days a week.

4- LEVOIT LV450 Ultrasonic Humidifier

LEVOIT humidifier is easy to use and clean.

It comes with an auto indicator light, quiet touch, and auto turn-off functionality, making it safe to use the device for all.

The mist speed in this filter-free unit can be easily adjusted according to your comfort level.

And an ability to add your favorite essential oils makes it a great humidifier for aromatherapy.

This LEVOIT humidifier is also armed with features like:

• 4.5L tank that lasts up to 40 hours
• 3-inch-wide tank opening for easy refills without any spills
• 1-year buyer assurance with manufacturer’s support for a lifetime

5- Aennon Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier

Aennon Cool Mist Humidifier is another great personal humidifier for singers that can help them provide clean & fresh air all the time.

Not only does it keep their skin and voice moisturized, but it also soothes their mood to keep them stress-free and stays focused.

A few other features that come with this personal Aennon Cool Mist Humidifier are:

• 8L capacity for up to 20 hours of usage
• 7 color LED lights; auto shut-off whisper quiet
• Comes with 2x e-books + 1x e-course at no extra cost

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Humidifier for Singers: Buying Tips

Humidifiers for singers are available on the market in varied shapes and sizes. You need to select the one that is most appropriate for your needs.

The first factor you need to consider is the location where you intend to use the unit.

If you want to use the device in your small recording studio or a small office, you can get one that is portable and small-sized.

However, if you have a large studio or want to install a humidifier in your apartment, it’s best to go for a large-sized humidifier for your complete living area.

Or much better, if you can get a whole-house humidifier that can be installed directly to your HVAC unit for year-round humidification.

Singers who are traveling a lot can get a compact travel humidifier that can be operated in their car, a hotel room, or a road studio.

After deciding on your location and purpose, you should check for the extra features of these portable devices. Features that you may essentially need are:

1. Easy to use and clean
2. Auto shut-off for protection
3. Portability for moving around
4. Ability to add essential oils, if needed
5. Humidistat to auto control the humidity levels

Some of the modern features come at an extra price, and if you do not need them, why pay for the extra?

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What Causes Problems with Vocal Cords?

Other than the humidity levels, there can be many causes why a singer can face voice problems. Some of these may include:

• Misuse or overuse of your vocals
• Infection in the upper respiratory tract
• Growths on the vocal folds like vocal nodules
• Neurological conditions and psychological trauma

As a singer, you must keep practicing and test your voice/vocals daily.

As soon as you find any of the below problems, it can be an alarming sign for you to take precautions and stay protected…

• If your throat feels achy often.
• If your voice has become raspy
• If your voice is sounding to be deeper, suddenly.
• If you have a problem hitting some high notes when singing

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Should You Practice Singing With A Cough?

Cough, cold, or sinus infection can cause an irritating tickle in your throat.

Singing with a cold, cough or sore throat should be therefore avoided as much as possible.

Professional singers usually take the best care of their voices to avoid issues like colds, coughs, and other respiratory conditions.

But if the infection works its way, it’s best to provide proper rest to your vocal cords. Or else you could injure your throat muscles by straining them for long due to clogged sinuses.

Worse, it can affect your tonality and singing, which you do not want to risk anyway!

The best way to get relief from cough and sinus is by steaming your voice with a handheld portable vocal steamer (on Amazon).

This will help in conditioning your voice, making it healthy soon for your next singing event.

Is Steam Good for Singers?

Yes, inhaling the steam helps in moistening the vocal box and can be soothing for singers. Not only breathing the steam helps in relieving the irritating voice box but also it helps in improving the performance of singers.

You can sit comfortably and breathe the steam through your nose for about 3-5 minutes. Repeat 2-3 times a day if required. Make sure that you do not inhale the steam while standing over boiling hot stove water.

Cool or Warm Mist Humidifier for Singers?

The warm mist from the humidifier is more comfortable for the vocals of the singers. However, do remember that due to the boiling of the water in the machine, these warm mist humidifiers use more electricity and can be expensive and less safe to operate. You may consider them for small cold rooms as it helps in maintaining the optimum humidity and temperature.

Are Handheld Humidifier Mask Good for Singers?

Handheld humidifier masks usually come with a rechargeable battery and can be used anywhere you want. Most of the times these handheld units are recommended for singers who are suffering from allergies and want instant relief from the trigger.

Signs You Need a Humidifier for Vocal Hydration

Keeping proper hydration of your mouth and throat will help you sing, speak, and articulate your words easier and with less stress.

This means that you must understand the signs of vocal cord dehydration early and make the proper corrections to protect your vocal cords.

Being thirsty is the very first sign of dehydration. But there may be a few other signs that your vocal cords may suffer from a lack of proper hydration. These are:

• Scratchy or dry throat
• Additional effort to sing properly
• Frequent need to clear your throat
• Your urine becomes dark yellow

In addition to consuming eight to ten 8 oz glasses of water per day, you can take other simple steps to ensure your body is properly hydrated and your voice is conditioned.

Let’s discuss a few of them right below…

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What Are the Other Tips to Protect Your Singing Voice?

As a singer, your voice is your lifeline!

Protecting your singing voice is, therefore, most essential for you than anything else in this world.

To prevent losing your singing voice, there are many other factors to consider beyond getting a good combo humidifier.

Some of these tips for vocalists include:

• Do not overuse your voice
• Avoid talking too loudly or too softly
• Avoid yelling, screaming, or talking loudly for long
• Avoid decongestants and antihistamines when possible
• Use a humidifier in dry climates and when running the A/C
• Consider practicing good breathing techniques and voice-therapy
• Lower the intake of beverages that contains caffeine and alcohol
• Lower intake of milk and beverages with sugar increases mucus

Protecting your vocal cords takes a little work, but it is easy enough to incorporate into your day. A portable humidifier at night when you sleep not only helps your vocal cords but makes it easier to breathe.

For singers who want to maintain the health of their vocal cords, proper hydration, a humidifier, and taking things in moderation may mean a long singing career is in store.

How to Not Strain Your Voice When Singing?