Top 5 Best Hair Dryers
Updated June 2023
A quality hair dryer is a must-have in both the home and salon. The right type of hair blow dryer can make the difference between dry, damaged hair and soft, silky healthy tresses. While a superior dryer may cost a bit more than the average big-box store brand, it may be worth paying more for a better unit, as the benefits you'll reap in the long run will more than make up for the higher initial cost. The right hair dryer will shorten your drying time while leaving your hair healthy, silky and manageable.
After exhaustively analyzing and comparing close to 80 different hair dryer models, we invested over 21 hours creating this buying guide, comparison chart and list of the top ten hair dryers. Our selections were based on a number of different criteria, including heat settings, power, cord length, weight, attachments and price.
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Best Overall: Shark HD113BRN HyperAIR Hair Dryer
The Shark HyperAIR is our top pick and we give it our highest recommendation. This is an exquisitely designed and crafted hair dryer that uses a triple combination of heat, air flow and power to dramatically reduce hair drying time. It's also very lightweight and quiet, and its ionic system helps to hydrate the hair while drying it, enhancing the shine and reducing electrostatic charges.
This dryer has three heat and air flow settings, and comes with an IQ 2-in-1 concentrator and IQ curl diffuser attachment to give you even more ways to dry, style and shape your hair. And for more controlled action and to lock in a style, it also includes a cold shot button.
BabylissPRO BNT5548 Nano Titanium Hair Dryer
The BabylissPRO Nano has a powerful 2000-watt long-life motor that comes with six different speed and heat combinations. The dryer's narrow barrel provides maximum air pressure for faster drying times. The micro-concentrator nozzle directs the heat to small sections of the hair, which also helps to speed up the drying process.
In addition to being one of the most ergonomically designed hair dryers, it's also one of the lightest with a weight of under 2 pounds, making it effortless to use for long periods of time. The far-infrared heat generated by the dryer provides extra gentle air that protects the hair from heat damage.
Best Value: Trezoro B495 Ionic Hair Dryer
Of all the hair dryers that we looked at, the Trezoro B495 seemed to strike the best balance between price and performance. This dryer has been shown to help reduce the damage that can be caused by everyday brushing. This advanced hair dryer pulls moisture from the air and gently infuses the moisture particles into the hair. Additionally, this powerful blow dryer has a replaceable filter and comes with two concentrator nozzles that focuses the airflow directly for precise styling
This dryer also offers two speeds and three different temperature settings. The settings are hot, warm and cool and work with different hair types. A cool-shot button also allows users to set in their hair style after their hair is dry.
4Rusk Engineering W8less Professional Hair Dryer
The Rusk Engineering W8less is used in salons all around the world and is highly recommended by virtually all hair professionals. Weighing about a pound, this is one of the lightest hair dryers on the market, making it great for people who like to take their time when drying their hair, as well as for those who like to take their dryer with them when travelling.
This dryer is infused with ceramic and tourmaline, which enables a person’s hair to endure a higher level of heat for longer periods of time without damage. In addition, it uses far-infrared heat to help reduce drying times as it dries the hair from the inside out, as well as reducing fly-aways and frizz. This blow dryer comes with seven heat and speed settings and a cool shot button.
5Best Budget Model: Revlon RVDR5264 Infrared Hair Dryer
The Revlon RVDR5264 is a good choice if you're looking for a decent hair dryer that won't damage your hair OR budget. This sleek, ergonomic hair dryer is lightweight, yet offers an 1875-watt DC motor, making it easy to dry your hair quickly.
Additionally, this affordable blow dryer features a ceramic tourmaline air outlet grill and incorporates infrared heat technology, which helps to protect your hair from damage. In addition, this home hair dryer comes with two speed and two heat settings, as well as a cool shot button to lock in style. You'll also like the fact that it comes with a smoothing concentrator attachment, a volumizer diffuser attachment and three sectioning clips.
Hair Dryer Buying Guide
When it comes to wet hair, it is certainly easier to dry it using a hair dryer, especially for women and men with longer, thicker hair. Choosing a quality hair dryer is very important as it will help save both time when you are drying your hair, and money if it is energy-efficient. A good hair dryer also helps to keep your hair manageable and undamaged. Since there are so many makes and models of hair dryers to choose from, breaking down the different features of each can help you decide the model that is best for you and your hair type.
Types of Hair Dryers
There are a few different types of hair dryers that one can choose from when looking for a quality product:
- Professional Models: These are used by stylists in their salons.
- Conventional Models: Standard models used in the home.
- Travel Models: Smaller dryers that are lightweight and compact for travel.
Power
Power is an important part of choosing hair dryer, as the Watts used will determine how much force and heat comes from the unit. Professional hair dryers tend to have the highest power, usually between 1900 and 2400 Watts. Conventional models used in the home are generally between 1200 and 1800 Watts, and compact models typically stay at 1200 Watts and below. While having a professional hair dryer with a high Wattage may seem like the best way to go, these models are the most expensive. They can also be more damaging to the hair because of the higher temperature of the airflow. If you do use these types of dryers, a diffuser will help evenly distribute the heat, causing less damage.
Ease
When picking a hair dryer, usability is also a feature that one should take into account. The weight of the dryer is important, as well as the cord length. If you have an electrical outlet that is further away from the mirror and you need to watch as you blow your hair dry, you may want to choose a dryer with a longer cord. Some dryers also come with attachments that will help you style your hair in certain ways, such as curly or straight. These are good features if you wish to bypass the use of a straight iron or curling iron in your beauty routine.
Cost
While cost is always a factor that many people must consider, purchasing a quality hair dryer means spending a bit more. Even professionals agree that to keep the hair healthy one must use a more expensive product. A better dryer also dries the hair faster and easier, which is perfect for busy mornings and also for the arm! Choosing a higher priced hair dryer will pay off in the long run when you don’t have to replace it every two years or so because it breaks. Plus, many high-end models come with a warranty, which is something you won’t get with a $20 model found in a wholesale store.
Additional Features
Ceramic & Tourmaline
Ceramic hair dryers help to dry the hair faster and will protect against heat damage by the use of infrared heat. Tourmaline dryers use a stone that boosts negative ion productions while emitting infrared heat, making the dryer gentler on the hair. Using a tourmaline dryer also enables the user to dry their hair for longer with less risk of damage. These two features are great for:
- Eliminating frizz
- All hair types
- Keratin-treated hair
- Heat damaged hair
Ionic Technology
Ionic technology hair dryers also generate negative ions which help to lock moisture in and will create smoother hair. These dryers also decrease drying time and are great for:
- Frizzy hair
- Dry hair
- Damaged hair
- Thick hair
Dual Voltage
Buying a hair dryer that has a dual voltage option is perfect for those who wish to take their dryer overseas without worrying about having the right converter.
Different Heat Settings
When blow drying your hair, the heat level you use should always be adjusted to the condition of your hair and the texture. High heat does help for those who have thick or coarse hair, but it also removes moisture easily. Always keep the dryer moving to different spots and do not focus on one spot for more than a few seconds at a time.
The lower settings are best for men and women with thinner hair that may be more fragile. The cool settings on hair dryers help to seal the hair cuticle. This works best when your hair is close to being dry as it will help prevent overheating. The cool shot setting is also great for those who wish to lock in curls, especially if you have curlers in your hair while using it.
Hair Dryer Attachments
Diffusers
The use of a diffuser on a hair dryer is an added benefit for anyone. A diffuser will distribute the heat more evenly around instead of it being concentrated on just one area of the head. Those who have a light wave in their hair will find that a diffuser helps to add bounce and body and will help keep natural curls intact. A diffuser should be used at a lower heat setting so it releases a gentle and indirect stream of air that will not be too overpowering.
Concentrator Nozzle
A concentrator nozzle helps to keep hair from getting frizzy. It’s especially helpful when the goal is to straighten the hair without a flat iron.Sealants and Sprays
Even if you only blow dry your hair a couple of times a week, always use a protectant serum or spray to help keep damage to your hair at bay. These products help keep moisture in the hair and can aid in protecting against damage done by too much blow drying, or by the use of curling or flat irons.