The best hair dryers offer fast blow drying at home, and with a little practice they can help you create a professional looking blowout too. However, to achieve this you’ll need to find the right blow dryer for your hair type. In our list of the top-rated hair dryers, we’ve highlighted the best picks for different types of hair, including fine, curly and long. Hair dryer brushes are best for those short on time, as they smooth while drying.
If you have fine hair, the best hair dryer for you needs to have a temperature control feature so you don’t overcook your hair. But the opposite is true for long and thick hair: this often needs a hair dryer with maximum heat and power to blast through your mane. If you have short hair, a hair dryer brush is a good choice, and ideal for pairing up with one of our best hair clippers to keep your cut looking fresh.
Our recommended best hair dryers are made by well-known brands such as BaByliss, Conair, Remington and Dyson. You can buy a decent blow dryer from under $30, right up to $400 for the luxury Dyson Supersonic. As with all gadgets, the more you pay the longer your hair dryer will last, so it’s worth thinking about how often you use a blow dryer. If you use it several times a week, it’s worth paying a little extra for a hair dryer that will outlive a cheaper version.
To help you decide which blow dryer is right for your hair type, check out our list below, which runs through the top features of the best hair dryers you can buy today. And if you’re looking for other ways to style your hair, try a curling iron for waves and curls. Considering shaving your head instead? That’s a big style change so take your time before making a move, then read our guide to the best electric head shavers for advice and recommendations.
1. Dyson Supersonic: Best hair dryer for thick hair
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Anyone with thick hair will know that it can take a little while to dry after washing, Dyson however brings its magic touch to personal grooming with its Supersonic hair dryer that makes even the thickest of tresses dry quicker than most.
This hair dryer not only looks great, but it’s also lightweight and balanced with the motor in the handle. Plus it’s quieter than most other hair dryers too and cool to the touch.
We also love the attachments, which go on magnetically and include a gentle air attachment, a styling concentrator, and a diffuser. Other features include precise heat settings for fast drying, regular drying and gentle drying, as well as a handy cold-shot function to set your style.
While this hair dryer remains an extremely expensive choice, if you are serious about getting quick and professional results when drying your thick hair, it’s definitely one to consider.
2. Conair InfinitiPro: Best hair dryer for curly hair
Anyone with wavy or curly hair will know what a delicate balance it can be to heat-dry your hair while keeping those joyous curls defined and frizz-free. But luckily, the Conair InfinitiPro is on hand to help.
Included with the hair dryer is a diffuser with a unique multi-chamber design, and this attachment, together with the gentle power of the InfinityPro, is what impressively enhances curls so that they have plenty of shine, volume and (most importantly0 minimal frizz. If you decide you want to go sleek for the day, this Conair hair dryer also comes with a concentrator attachment for smooth hair styles.
The hair dryer has three heat and two speed settings for custom heat and airflow control. A cold-shot button locks in curls, waves and style, while the powerful AC motor delivers plenty of steady airflow. There is also ceramic technology with uniform infrared heat to enable faster drying with less damage. A superb addition to our best hair dryers round-up.
3. Revlon One-Step Blow Brush: Best hair dryer brush
When it comes to making you look good, it’s fair to say that Revlon knows a thing or two about how to do this – and with the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer Brush, it doesn’t disappoint.
This convenient hair dryer brush gives your hair gorgeous volume and excellent shine, while keeping it neatly detangled with the nylon pin and tufted bristles. The brush can also go closer to the scalp than a traditional hair dryer to really ensure you get plenty of lift at the root.
The lightweight ergonomic design comprises one non-detachable oval brush head, but there’s still plenty of flexibility with three heat and speed settings, plus a cold option too. The brush also has a cool tip to make it easy to hold as you style.
With its advanced ionic technology, Revlon promises 30 percent less frizz for a sleeker finish, and because the hair has less time with heat this also means less heat damage.
4. John Frieda Frizz Ease Blow Dryer: Best hair dryer for fine hair
Trying to create boost and maintain volume with fine flyaway hair can often be tricky. Here though, hair-care experts John Frieda has put its company know-how to the test with the Frizz Ease Full Volume Hair Dryer that adds volume, bounce, and shine to your hair.
This top-rated hair dryer uses ionic technology to double-up on sleekness and frizz control with plenty of gentle power. There are lots of options to customise the air blast to suit your fine hair too, with three heat and two speed settings, plus a cold air option that is essential for particularly fine hair or to use on younger family members.
The hair dryer also comes with a diffuser attachment, handy for defining curls and getting them to hold in finer hair. John Frieda also brings tech to this gadget with a titanium ceramic–coated grille that evenly distributes heat to minimize heat damage.
5. Conair 1875-Watt Blow Dryer: Best hair dryer for most hair types
With a good steady blast, the Conair 1875-Watt hair dryer makes light work of drying your hair, with quick and professional results. Whether your hair is delicate and fine or textured and wavy, it’s a great all-round affordable choice.
The dryer features ionic technology to help keep frizz under control, ramp up the shine and minimize static, while tourmaline ceramic tech helps against heat damage. There are three different heat settings and two speed settings on offer, all of which are easy to control at a flick of a switch – just find the combination that suits your hair’s texture and length the best.
The Conair 1875-Watt hair dryer also comes with a cool-shot button, which is an essential extra to help lock in your hairstyle. Other handy features include a concentrator nozzle for precision styling, while the 5ft cord makes it easy to dry your hair in a spot that’s most convenient for you. If you’re looking for a family blow dryer too, this is the best hair dryer you can pick up right now.
6. Joyyum Hot Air Brush: Best hair dryer brush on a budget
When it comes to results, convenience and portability, hair dryer brushes are a fantastic choice. However, with these plus-points usually comes a higher price. However, the Joyyum Hot Air Brush Styler offers an affordable and versatile option to guarantee a good-hair day is always at your fingertips, no matter what your budget.
The hot air brush comes with three attachments – a 1.5in brush for creating volume, a 1in brush for curls, plus there's a comb for straightening and smoothing your hair easily. The brushes also have soft nylon bristles to keep the hair free from tangles and static.
The styler features standard ionic technology where negative ions are generated to make the hair shinier, leaving hair with less frizz and less static. There are also two heat settings and a cool shot for long-lasting, professional results.
7. BaByliss PRO TT Blow Dryer: Best hair dryer for travel
Whether you’re planning an overnight stay or a long trip abroad, this Babyliss travel hair dryer has your hair-styling needs covered wherever you go, with the dual voltage making it suitable for worldwide use.
With a clever folding handle, this lightweight compact dryer won’t take up much room in your luggage. But just because this dryer is small in size, it doesn’t mean it won’t deliver when it comes to making sure your hair stays healthy and great-looking.
Packed with tech found in bigger dryers, the Babyliss travel hair dryer includes integrated tourmaline crystal technology that emits millions of negative ions to eliminate static and keep hair shiny too.
Ideal for all hair types from fine and flyaway to thick and wavy, the dryer also uses far-infrared heat to help your hair dry faster and protect it against heat damage. This small but smart Babyliss travel hair dryer is perfect for those who want all the reliability of a top-rated brand without the bulk of a full-size model.
8. Remington D3190: Best hair dryer with diffuser
Anyone with curls or waves will know how difficult it can be to recreate a professional blow dry finish at home. However, using a diffuser attachment can really help. Diffusers sit on the end of the hair dryer nozzle to contain heat and distribute it evenly over a wider area rather than blast it out in concentration (which can be a disaster for curls, making them lose definition and frizz up).
The diffuser on the Remington D3190 hair dryer is perfect for hair of all lengths, with a nice wide area to rest the hair on and longer ‘fingers’ to keep your hair in place while they dry. With plenty of volume and definition on offer, the blow dryer’s Advanced Coating Technology ensures damage protection for your hair too.
This top-rated hair dryer comes with all the usual features you’d expect to find on a professional standard blow dryer, including a concentrator nozzle, plus three heat and two speed settings. All that for a great price.
Today's cheapest prices on the best hair dryers
Best hair dryers FAQ
How much do the best hair dryers cost?
You can find hair dryers intended for home use ranging in price from under $20 to over $300. When researching high-quality, affordable options, we selected hair dryers priced between $15 and $300, which is quite the price range. If budget is no option for you, look at the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, which is the pinnacle of blow dryer technology right now.
Whatever their listed price, you can often find blow dryers for less at retailers like such as Amazon, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Walmart and Target, especially around big sales events and during holiday shopping periods. However, several experts we talked to told us that you can justify splurging on a hair dryer because more expensive models, with premium heat protection features will help your hair stay healthier.
You can also expect a more expensive model to last longer. While a hair dryer priced under $30 may burn out after just a couple of years, a more expensive hair dryer should last at least five to ten years, so you won't have to worry about buying a replacement for a while.
What features should a good hair dryer have?
Most of the hair dryers we have tested are designed with multiple heat and air speed settings, along with the following accessories and features. The accessories to look for when choosing the best hair dryer for you include:
Concentrators direct air to a focused section of your hair to provide faster drying times and help with straightening.
Diffusers are used to distribute airflow and can reduce frizz and define curl. Cool shot buttons provide a blast of unheated air to help seal the hair cuticle and set your style.
Some hair dryers come with extra accessories like straightening combs, quick-dry nozzles and sectioning clips. Other things to look for include removable end caps and air filters for easy cleaning, longer cords for more mobility and a good weight balance for comfortable handling. We also recommend considering the placement of control switches and buttons and getting a feel for your preferred grip type.
Does the hair dryer's power matter?
A hair dryer’s power is determined by its wattage. We tested blowers ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 watts. Experts recommend choosing a device with 1,800 watts or more for the best results, especially if you have thick hair. Salon models often have 3,600 watt models.
This higher power comes with a much higher price tag, but it can cut drying time in half. This is important because less exposure to heat results in less damage to your hair. Also, higher-wattage dryers tend to last longer.
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