A hand held appliance including a fluid flow path extending between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a ceramic heater within the fluid flow path wherein the fluid flow path is non-linear and the heater is non-linear. The appliance may include a housing wherein the housing houses the heater and encloses the fluid flow path, and wherein the housing is curved. The heater may be curved. The housing may include a straight section and a curved section and the heater is housed within the curved section. The heater may include at least one heating element comprising a flat ceramic plate and a conductive track. The heating element may be arcuate. The heating element may have a constant curvature.