JUMP TO Section Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.- Best overall
- Best lightweight
- Best for fighting frizz
- Best for thick hair
- Best for quickly drying
- Best professional
- Best for volume
- Best for accessibility
- Best for curly hair
- Best for damaged hair
- Best overall
- Best lightweight
- Best for fighting frizz
- Best for thick hair
- Best for quickly drying
- Best professional
- Best for volume
- Best for accessibility
- Best for curly hair
- Best for damaged hair
- What to look for in a hair dryer
- FAQs
- Our experts
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Getting a salon-quality blow dry at home can feel impossible when your hair dryer doesn't match those of a professional caliber. Finding the best hair dryer first requires considering what's best for your hair type regarding heat, speed settings, and styling attachments.
Our absolute favorite hair dryer is the Dyson Supersonic, which checks all these boxes and then some with its Air Multiplier technology that dries hair faster and limits heat damage. For a quick drying option, look to the BabylissPro Rapido Dryer, which is similarly lightweight yet powerful.
"We recommend selecting dryers with long-lasting motors and designated heat distribution systems to prevent overheating the hair during drying," says Sergio Bove, Vice President of U.S. Sales for Swiss hair dryer manufacturer Valera. "We also favor an ergonomic design with a lightweight construction for long-term drying sessions and to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome and elbow pressure difficulties."
Ahead, we spoke to eleven hair professionals to find the best hair dryers for various hair types and preferences.
Our top picks for the best hair dryers
Best overall: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer - See at Amazon
Best lightweight: T3 AireLuxe - See at Amazon
Best for fighting frizz: Dyson Airwrap - See at Amazon
Best for thick hair: BabylissPro Nano Titanium Dryer - See at Amazon
Best for quickly drying: BabylissPro Rapido Dryer - See at Amazon
Best professional: Turbo Power Twin Turbo 3500 Ceramic And Ionic Hair Dryer - See at Amazon
Best for volume: GHD Air 1600W Professional Hair Dryer - See at Amazon
Best for accessibility: T3 Featherweight StyleMax Hair Dryer - See at Amazon
Best for curly hair: Pattern Blow Dryer - See at Amazon
Best for damaged hair: Conair Pro Style Bonnet Hair Dryer - See at Amazon
Best overall: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
- Heat settings: 4
- Speed settings: 3
- Power: 1,600 watts
- Weight: 1.8 lbs
- Attachments: Flyaway attachment, styling concentrator, diffuser, gentle air attachment, wide-tooth comb
- Ceramic or ionic: Ceramic and ionic
Pros: Fast-drying, reduces frizz, adds shine, sleek design, comes with 5 attachments
Cons: Price
The Dyson Supersonic is on the lower end of the wattage spectrum, But it came highly recommended as one of the best hair dryers by the most of the experts we spoke to. The main features that were called out were its ability to fight frizz, its sleek, lightweight design, and fast drying time.
"The Dyson Supersonic is a go-to for fighting frizz," says Nick Stenson, artistic director of haircare company Matrix. "The technology that Dyson has created gives it a strong, controlled airflow that dries hair quickly with minimal frizz. And it includes 5 attachments, my favorite being the Flyaway attachment to give those sleek looks."
The obvious downside is the high price tag, but don't worry — there are plenty of more affordable picks below.
Best lightweight: T3 AireLuxe
- Heat settings: 5
- Speed settings: 3
- Power: 1,875 watts
- Weight: 1.07 lbs
- Attachments: Drying concentrator, styling concentrator
- Ceramic or ionic: Ceramic and ionic
Pros: Lightweight, 5 heat settings, comes with a paddle brush and round brush
Cons: Price, does not come with diffuser
This lightweight, ergonomic option features digitally controlled settings and T3 technology, which reduces drying time. "T3 technology allows for the dryer to monitor heat so that it is not over exposing the hair," says Stenson. "It can also dry larger sections so that you can condense the drying time."
Best for fighting frizz: Dyson Airwrap
- Heat settings: 3
- Speed settings: 3
- Power: 1,300 watts
- Weight: 1.5 lbs
- Attachments: Coanda smoothing dryer, 1.2" Airwrap™ long barrel, 1.6" Airwrap™ long barrel, Soft smoothing brush, Firm smoothing brush, Round volumizing brush
- Ceramic or ionic: Ceramic and Ionic
This tool has gone viral for good reason. The popular Dyson multi-styler now features re-engineered technology with 6 different attachments, including one of the best hair dryers for fighting frizz, the Coanda smoothing dryer. The hair dryer attachment features two modes: Drying mode, which can be used on any hair type to pre-dry hair or set finished styles, and Smoothing mode, which can be used to smooth flyaways and works best on naturally straight or wavy hair or straightened hair of any type.
"At home, I use the Dyson Airwrap," says Shelly Aguirre, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. "It does seem to keep the hair healthy, and it's pretty quick. I also like all of the attachments. I can make my hair straight or add some loose curls or just some body depending on what look I'd like to achieve."
Read our full Dyson Airwrap review.
Best for thick hair: BabylissPro Nano Titanium Dryer
- Heat settings: 6
- Speed settings: 6
- Power: 2,000 watts
- Weight: 1.89 lbs
- Attachments: Concentrator nozzle
- Ceramic or ionic: Ceramic and ionic
Pros: Fast-drying, lightweight, 6 speed and heat settings
Cons: Only comes with concentrator nozzle attachment
When it comes to the best hair dryers for thick hair, a higher wattage (aka, stronger airflow) is necessary in order to dry hair efficiently. "When searching for a blow dryer for thick hair, you want to look for a dryer in the 2000 [wattage] range," says Matrix Artistic Director Nick Stenson.
This dryer from BabylissPro boasts 2,000 watts and features a whopping 6 heat and speed settings.
Best for quickly drying: BabylissPro Rapido Dryer
- Heat settings: 6
- Speed settings: 6
- Power: 2,000 watts
- Weight: Less than 1 lb
- Attachments: 2 concentrator nozzles
- Ceramic or ionic: Ionic
Pros: Fast-drying, lightweight, 6 speed and heat settings
Cons: Price, doesn't come with diffuser
This lightweight pick from BabylissPro is among the best hair dryers for longevity — it promises 10,000 hours of high-speed drying. "A great option is the Babyliss Pro Rapido Dryer [which is a] 2000-watt dryer with great attachment options," says Stenson.
Best professional: Turbo Power Twin Turbo 3500 Ceramic And Ionic Hair Dryer
- Heat settings: 4
- Speed settings: 2
- Power: 2,000 watts
- Weight: 1.1 lbs
- Attachments: 2 concentrator nozzles
- Ceramic or ionic: Ceramic and Ionic
Pros: Fast drying time, 4 heat settings
Cons: Price
Because of their power and longevity, Twin Turbo offers some of the best hair dryers for professionals. Multiple experts pointed to the 3500 model as their favorite tool for long salon days. "This dryer's worth every dollar, especially for professionals like me who use a dryer for 10 hours every day," says Piet Sinthuchai, hairstylist and creative director of Vartali Salon in New York City. "The compact design makes it so easy to handle in different ways, plus the cold button is my favorite."
Holdsworth notes that she wouldn't recommend this for the average consumer as it's incredibly powerful and could be misused, leading to damage.
Best for volume: GHD Air 1600W Professional Hair Dryer
- Heat settings: 3
- Speed settings: 3
- Power: 1,600 watts
- Weight: 1.8 lbs
- Attachments: Concentrator nozzle
- Ceramic or ionic: Ceramic and ionic
Pros: Ergonomic design, 9-foot cord
Cons: Only comes with a concentrator nozzle
This professional-level hair dryer delivers high-pressure air flow for a quick and effective blow dry. "The GHD Air is powerful and can truly be an ace in the pocket to anyone with long and/or thick hair," says Brown. "This dryer gives maximum force, minimum frizz, and a smooth finish."
Best for accessibility: T3 Featherweight StyleMax Hair Dryer
- Heat settings: 5
- Speed settings: 3
- Power: 1,875 watts
- Weight: 1.04 lbs
- Attachments: Drying concentrator, styling concentrator, diffuser, comb
- Ceramic or ionic: Ionic
Pros: Lightweight, comes with 4 attachments, 9-foot cord
Cons: Price
You don't need bulky, cumbersome tools to achieve a quality blow-dry at home. This lightweight dryer from T3 is just over one pound and features an easy-to-hold design and a 9-foot cord for easy styling.
"As a pro, it's highly important for my guests to feel able to achieve anything I do in the salon at home," says Brown. "Ergonomics and accessibility play a huge role in that success. A favorite dryer is the T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer, which supports just that. At 16.6 ounces, this dryer is lightweight and ergonomic for all body types."
Best for curly hair: Pattern Blow Dryer
- Heat settings: 3
- Speed settings: 2
- Power: 1,875 watts
- Weight: 1.12 lbs
- Attachments: Diffuser attachment, wide tooth comb attachment, brush attachment, concentrator nozzle
- Ceramic or ionic: Ceramic and Ionic
Pros: Specifically designed for curly and coily hair types, comes with 4 attachments, aesthetically pleasing design, lightweight
Cons: Price
As one of the best hair dryers for curly hair, The Pattern blow dryer is made "for the natural gals that don't need super straight hair," celebrity hairstylist and founder of NTRL by Sabs Sabrina Rowe Holdsworth.
Created by actress Tracee Ellis Ross, Pattern's entire line is tailored to textured hair. The lightweight yet powerful dryer comes with four attachments to help create a variety of curly styles — plus, its chic terracotta design will look stunning in any bathroom.
Best for damaged hair: Conair Pro Style Bonnet Hair Dryer
- Heat settings: 2
- Speed settings: 2
- Power: 1,875 watts
- Weight: 7.8 lbs
- Attachments: N/A
- Ceramic or ionic: Ionic
Pros: Multiple airflow settings, folds easily for compact storage, adjustable height for easy use
Cons: No additional attachments
If you have damaged hair, this bonnet-style hair dryer is for you. With just two heat and airflow settings, this dryer offers a gentle dry that leaves hair shiny and salon-quality. One of the biggest pros about this hair dryer is the extra-large hood that allows room for a full set of large rollers if you're looking for a faster, even dry when executing a voluminous blowout at home.
What to look for in a hair dryer
The best hair dryers will have at least 2 heat settings and 2-speed settings, though ideally there would be 3 of each. Generally, lower heat/speed is better for fine or damaged hair and higher is more suitable for thicker hair.
"If the hair is fine, or more susceptible to damage, start with a medium heat setting and see how it goes," says Kutcher. "If you can get your achieved style using medium heat, keep it on that. The higher the heat, the more likely your hair is to be compromised."
No matter what your hair type, finishing with a cool shot is recommended for setting styles and adding a boost of shine.
Best hair dryer FAQs
What kind of wattage do I need?
Most experts recommend anywhere from 1800 to 2000 watts. More wattage means more power, so if you have thick hair, a higher wattage will cut down your dry time. "Lower only makes sense for those with fine, medium hair types that are straight," says Holdsworth. "Wavy and curly hair needs more power."
When traveling abroad, an adapter doesn't always work, and a blown outlet could damage your hair and dryer. Because compatibility varies to much country to country, your best bet would be to use the hair dryer in your hotel or, if it's somewhere you travel often, purchase a tool specifically for that destination.
What is the difference between ceramic and ionic technology?
Ceramic technology involves a constant flow of heat and is generally recommended for dry or damaged hair. "Ceramic technology distributes heat evenly through the tool, preventing hot spots that can damage hair," says Holdsworth. "This creates a consistent and controlled heat, which can help eliminate frizz and straighten hair without causing damage. Ceramic tools tend to work best on dry hair, as the heat can cause moisture from wet hair to evaporate and potentially damage hair."
Ionic technology emits negative ions that break down positive ions, producing static electricity in the hair. This neutralization process can help reduce frizz and flyaways, Holdsworth explains. "Ionic tools work by sending negative ions into the hair, making it more receptive to moisture, which can be especially helpful in humid climates," she adds.
While they serve different purposes, most hair dryers today offer both ceramic and ionic technology.
What attachments will I need?
Concentrator nozzle: Most hair dryers come with a concentrator nozzle, a thin, narrow attachment that helps to direct the airflow to a specific section of the hair. This helps to add volume, straighten the hair, and minimize frizz.
Diffuser: This wide, circular attachment evenly distributes heat to the hair without disturbing it, making it ideal for drying curls and waves, Hardges says. Because it's gentle on the hair, Coelho adds that diffusers can also benefit fine or damaged hair.
Brush: This attachment helps achieve smooth and shiny blowouts.
Comb: Similar to the brush attachment, the comb can help shape the hair and detangle.
Pik: This attachment, which looks like a comb with longer teeth, helps smooth and straighten curly textures while giving volume to the roots.
Our experts
- Sergio Bove, VP of U.S. Sales for Swiss hair dryer manufacturer Valera
- Piet Sinthuchai, hairstylist and creative director of Vartali Salon in New York City
- Stephanie Angelone, hair extension specialist and lead stylist at RPZL Salon in New York City
- Leigh Hardges, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago
- Shelly Aguirre, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago
- Jessica Gray, hairstylist and color specialist in Troy, New York
- Adrien Coelho, owner of Très Confidentiel Salon in Paris, France
- Christin Brown, celebrity hairstylist and curl specialist in Santa Barbara, California
- Nick Stenson, Artistic Director at Matrix
- Shayna Kutcher, hairstylist and color expert in Florida
- Sabrina Rowe Holdsworth, celebrity hair stylist and founder of NTRL by Sabs
Catherine Santino Freelance Writer Catherine Santino is a freelance writer who covers beauty, culture, and entertainment. Her work has appeared in Bustle, HelloGiggles, Ladygunn Magazine, Wonderland Magazine, and many more. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
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