We Found the Best Hair Dryers to Make Blow Drying a Breeze… Literally
Picking out a new hair dryer is not unlike shopping for a mattress or a new set of cookware. They’re all pricey products that you'll use every day for years to come. Like these other monumental buys, the stakes can feel quite high when searching for the best hair dryer for you. To feel informed before such a staple purchase, it’s important to consider your hair type and a few key blow dryer features. Below is everything you need to consider when looking for the best hair dryer for you. We've even highlighted some of our favorites to get you started in your search.
What Should You Look For in a Hair Dryer?
Features like attachments and speed settings are important, but Los Angeles-based hairstylist Lana Grand says that above all else, a dryer’s wattage is the most important feature. “Wattage and your hair type should be the first step to selecting your hairdryer,” she says. “Higher wattage provides more power, allowing for faster hair drying. They’re great for normal, thick, or textured hair types–or people with limited time on their hands. Fine hair works great with lower wattage dryers.”
About the Experts:
Glenn Ellis is a celebrity hairstylist based in Los Angeles.
Ashley Gomila is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist and hairstylist.
Lana Grand is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist.
The Best Hair Dryers For Every Hair Type
1. Best for a Shiny Blowout:
GHD Helios 1875W Advanced Professional Hair Dryer
Celebrity hairstylist Glenn Ellis loves GHD Helios hair dryers for the way they deliver shine to strands. In fact, the brand promises 30 percent more shine with its precision styling control. It also features “advanced internal aerodynamics,” (fancy!) with airflow traveling at 75mph. Speed is something Ellis also looks for in a dryer. “A dryer that is light in weight and also has a high wind speed helps the hair dry faster,” he says.
Hairstylist and makeup artist Ashley Gomila also loves this dryer because it’s “high powered and lightweight which is easy on my arm for all day use,” she says.
2. Best Dryer from a Hairstylist:
HARRY JOSH PRO TOOLS Pro Dryer 2000
Gomila is also a big fan of hairstylist Harry Josh’s hair dryers because it has a ton of power, a whopping eight settings and ION functionality to customize any blowout while delivering shine. “Harry Josh is a stylist himself which makes the quality and design impeccable and easy to use,” she says. The pros know their hair tools.
3. Best Affordable Blow Dry Brush:
REVLON One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer
What did we do before the influx of blow dry brushes? The Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer might be low on temperature settings but it’s high on usability. Even blowout beginners will find this dryer brush cuts down on drying time and creates those cool-girl waves all in one.
4. Most Luxe Favorite:
DYSON Supersonic Hair Dryer
Every hairstylist we spoke to waxed poetically about the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer—and for good reason. Ellis says it has a “high wind speed and also is easy to hold and change heat settings,” while Gomila says it’s “compact and aesthetically pleasing and does a great job smoothing the hair.” Much of this smoothing and frizz-reducing comes from the concentrators and attachments.
Concentrators attach to the blow dryer's nozzle but have a flat, narrow opening and create super-targeted airflow. This is an ideal tool to pair with a round brush if you're looking to achieve a salon-level blowout at home. Because concentrators work by heating small sections of hair at a time, it's a good idea to have your hair partially dry before using this attachment to avoid heat damage.
5. Best Ionic Hair Dryer:
REMINGTON Salon Collection Ultimate Power Hair Dryer with Ionic Conditioning Technology
Remington hawks some of the best and most affordable hair dryers around. This one is a bit of an update to the brand’s usual options with ionic technology for conditioning. Ionic hair dryers work by transferring negative ions to the hair. Negative ions attract the positive ions in water. This causes water molecules to divide into smaller particles that either evaporate or penetrate the hair shaft (hello, moisture). Overall, this results in a shorter drying time, and a short drying time means healthier hair that's frizz-free. Win, win!
6. Best Ceramic Hair Dryer:
BABYLISSPRO Ceramix Xtreme Hair Dryer
If you’re looking for ceramic technology, look no further than BaBylissPRO. This one dryer has ceramic, ionic, and infrared technology for gentle heat that’s nice to your hair. It’s not the most lightweight of the bunch but it’s seriously fast-drying with four heat settings (including a "cold shot" button), two speed settings, and a concentrator nozzle.
7. Best for All Hair Types:
DRYBAR Buttercup Blow-Dryer
The bright yellow hue of Drybar’s Buttercup Blow Dryer looks chic inside any bathroom but this hair tool isn’t just pretty—it’s powerful, too. The professional hair dryer features iconic technology and frizz-free blowouts with 20 percent less time than most professional dryers on the market.
8. Best for Volume:
InfinitiPRO BY CONAIR Full Body and Shine Pro Hair Dryer
Thosewho love the volume of ‘70s and ‘80s blowouts reach for Conair’s InfinitiPRO dryers. This one especially delivers powerful air flow for body, a professional AC motor that lasts up to three times longer than other Conair dryers, and infrared heat generated with titanium technology to gently and evenly dry your hair.
9. Best for Curls on a Budget:
REVLON Volume Booster Hair Dryer
Not only does this Revlon dryer feature 1875 watts of power, three heat settings, and negative ions to minimize frizz, it also comes with a curl-enhancing diffuser attachment. If you've never seen a diffuser attachment before, it might look a little intimidating. They come in all different shapes, but the most common is a flat-vented diffuser. It kind of looks like a saucer with prongs poking out.
When attached to the nozzle of the blow dryer, the diffuser creates dispersed airflow, which is super important for people with curly hair. A less concentrated airflow helps to keep the hair's wave pattern intact. “Use diffusers on medium heat to avoid creating frizz,” says Grand. “And try adding conditioner instead of mousse or gel to your curls prior to applying heat. This will help add definition and moisture, leaving hair feeling soft and frizz-free.”
10. Best for Hydration:
PANASONIC Nanoe NA65K Hair Dryer
Did you know Panasonic made hair dryers? It does! And they’re seriously high-tech. This one features patented “nanoe technology” to draw in naturally occurring moisture from the air and “infuse moisture-rich nanoe ions into hair.” This helps minimize frizz and enhance hydration and shine.
11. Best for Thin Hair:
CONAIR 1600 Watt Fine Hair Dryer with Ceramic Plus Technology
To ensure less damage to fine hair and thin hair, look for dryers with a lower wattage, like this one at 1600. What does that mean exactly? A hair dyer's wattage relates to the power of its motor. Simply put, dyers with a high wattage will dry wet hair faster. A base wattage to look for is 1,500 watts or higher. Those with thick hair will want to look for something closer to 1,800 or 2,000. Low wattage hair dryers typically have a lower price point (and can be more gentle on fine strands), but keep in mind that you’ll also need to replace them more often. “Hair dryers with a wattage of 1,800 to 3,000 will not burn out as fast,” says Grand. “They also allow for a more proportional amount of wind to the heat ratio, so you are not blistering your hair with just heat.”
12. Most Quiet Dryer:
HOT TOOLS Lite 'N Quiet Turbo Styling Dryer
Whether you have a sleeping roommate or partner, a loud hair dryer can drive them crazy. This option from Hot Tools promises to be more energy-efficient and quieter than other popular dryers. Plus, it has all the must-haves, including six heat settings, two speed settings, and a “cool shot” button.
13. Best for Thick Hair:
INSTYLER Turbo Ionic Dryer
Thanks to this dryer’s adjustable heat, airflow, and ions, it’s great for those with thicker hair textures. Plus, the ultra-lightweight, ergonomic design ensures your arm doesn’t hurt while getting through those thick strands. Be sure to change the Turbo Ionic Switch to high for thick and coarse hair. Those with fine/thin hair should stick to the low setting for less damage.
14. Most Long-Lasting:
TURBO POWER Twinturbo 3900 Advanced
If you’re not trying to replace your hair dryer all the time, Ellis recommends this one for its long-lasting power. Seriously, it promises to last more than 3,000 hours! “It's not as light but it will dry your hair super fast and the dryer itself lasts a long, long time,” he says. Plus, it comes in seven fun colors so what’s not to love.
15. Best for Frizzy Hair:
T3 Airluxe Professional Hair Dryer
The T3 AireLuxe professional hair dryer is especially stellar for those with frizzy hair thanks to the wider airflow (128 percent wider, infact!) designed to help hair retain 60 percent more of its natural moisture. More moisture means less frizz overall, making it also great for those with natural hair. And that’s not all this techy hair tool can do. It features 10mm negative ions per second to banish frizz and enhance shine, as well as a smart microchip to control 15 heat and speed settings for minimized heat damage.
16. Best for Damaged Hair:
EVA NYC Healthy Heat Pro-Lite Dryer
This luxe, galactical dryer comes equipped with tourmaline-infused ceramic components, a feature that combines ionic technology with infrared heat. This type of heat can penetrate straight to the hair cuticle, essentially drying the hair from the inside out and reducing flyaways. The process results in significantly less heat damage. In addition to reducing damage, tourmaline blow dryers are also famously fast-drying. They've been found to dry hair up to 40 percent faster than non-tourmaline tools.
17. Best Professional Hair Dryer for Home Use:
FOXYBAE Rose Gold Dryer
Here is a professional dryer that has all the components you need to achieve a salon-worthy blowout in the comfort of your home. It's made with a ceramic, tourmaline material, it has three different settings for temperature and speed control, and it features a “cool shot” button to lock everything in place. Additionally, this dryer comes equipped with a powerful AC motor (the kind you're likely to find in your favorite salon). This type of motor allows for super strong airflow with minimal noise.
18. The Best for a Fast Blowout:
EVA NYC Spectrum-Far Infrared Dryer
Short on time? This innovative, ionic dryer is made with "spectrum technology" and your best bet for lighting fast hair styling. This lightweight hair dryer maximizes output and minimizes styling time by using red beam far-infrared technology. This heats hair from the inside out, decreasing heat damage, reducing frizz, and increasing shine. It's also made with an AC motor that emits an impressive 1,875 watts.
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