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Most hairsbreadth dryers suck. No judgment, but the champion hairsbreadth dryer shouldn't permission you with frizz, static, oregon a singed scalp; it mightiness beryllium clip for an upgrade. The occupation is that uncovering the close 1 for your hairsbreadth is simply a nightmare. There are tons of options, ranging from inexpensive drugstore models that hardly past a twelvemonth to astute dryers that outgo arsenic overmuch arsenic a month’s rent. And somehow, the mediate ground, which is the saccharine spot of affordability and performance, feels intolerable to find.
I’ve owned my just stock of duds: dryers that committedness salon-worthy blowouts but underdeliver, models that dependable similar pitchy engines, and others that permission my wavy hairsbreadth feeling crispy. But I’ve besides recovered immoderate existent standouts—dryers that enactment fast, support vigor harm to a minimum, and marque hairsbreadth styling casual for the mean civilian.
I enactment the latest and top to the test, and these are the ones worthy your money. Be definite to work our different hairsbreadth attraction guides, including the Best Hair Straighteners, Best Curling Irons, and Best Blow-Dry Brushes.
Updated August 2025: We've overhauled this guide, added adjuvant hair-care accusation and a merchandise examination chart, and updated prices and links.
- Concentrator nozzle: This attachment narrows airflow for precise styling, making it perfect for straightening oregon sleek blowouts. It's besides utile erstwhile sectioning hair, moving with a circular brush, oregon drying bangs. For champion results, adust hairsbreadth partially earlier utilizing to minimize the hazard of vigor damage.
- Diffuser: A diffuser disperses airflow to heighten earthy texture without disrupting curl patterns oregon causing frizz. While it's astir effectual for curls, it tin assistance tame frizz-prone hairsbreadth of immoderate type.
- Cool changeable button: Many dryers diagnostic a chill changeable fastener that blasts acold aerial to acceptable your benignant and creaseless immoderate flyaways. It's a tiny interaction that makes a large quality successful the longevity and decorativeness of your hairstyle.
- Ionic hairsbreadth dryers: Ionic dryers merchandise antagonistic ions that interruption down h2o droplets, speeding up evaporation and drying time. This besides helps power frizz and boost shine. But arsenic Abra McField, laminitis of Abra Kadabra Hair and Healing, notes, if you person good hairsbreadth and privation much volume, you whitethorn not similar ionic dryers.
- Tourmaline: This gemstone is utilized successful immoderate hairsbreadth tools to emit antagonistic ions and infrared heat, arsenic seen successful models similar the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus. The infrared vigor is simply a fashionable prime for radical buying for accelerated but gentle-ish dryers.
- Ceramic: Ceramic hairsbreadth dryers are designed to evenly administer vigor and forestall blistery spots. These tools are often seen arsenic gentler options.
- Motor type: There are 3 main types of motors successful hairsbreadth dryers: AC (alternating current), DC (direct current), and brushless. AC motors are much almighty and past longer, portion DC motors are quieter and lighter. Brushless motors are newer and much expensive, but they besides connection semipermanent reliability and vigor efficiency.
Best Overall
Photograph: Amazon
Dyson
Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer
The Dyson Supersonic Nural is 1 of the champion hairsbreadth dryers connected the market, but it’s besides 1 of the priciest. It has 3 velocity settings, 3 vigor settings, and Dyson’s signature Air Multiplier technology, which triples airflow for speedy drying without sacrificing hairsbreadth health.
Best of all, the dryer is packed with utile intelligent features I didn’t cognize I needed successful a dryer until I utilized it. The Scalp Protect Mode features a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor and infrared beam to observe erstwhile the dryer is excessively adjacent to your scalp, automatically dropping the somesthesia to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. There’s a Pause Detect feature, designed with a motion-sensing accelerometer that knows erstwhile you acceptable the dryer down, reducing airflow and noise. It besides features Attachment Learning—a archetypal for Dyson—using magnetic IDs to admit which of the 5 attachments you’re using; it past tweaks the settings for optimal performance. Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano peculiarly loves the reengineered diffuser, which present has a removable prong strategy to make a vortex of aerial astir curls, speeding up drying without sacrificing definition. The Supersonic Nural is besides disposable successful galore colorways. If you’re aft a splurge, this one’s a no-brainer.
Specs Weight 1.8 pounds Wattage 1,600 watts Material Nylon casing, reinforced with fiberglass Number of Settings 4 heat; 3 speed Attachments Wave + curl diffuser, styling concentrator, gentle aerial attachment, wide bony comb, flyaway attachment Cord Length 8.6 feet Cool Shot Button Yes Warranty 2 years WIRED
- Scalp support mode
- Five magnetic attachments that auto-adjust to your preferred settings
- Automatically powers disconnected erstwhile you acceptable it down
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- More costly than its competitors
- Takes up a batch of retention space
Best Affordable
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Photograph: Amazon
Conair
InfinitiPRO by Conair SmoothWrap Hair Dryer
I utilized the InfinitiPro by Conair SmoothWrap dryer for 2 years earlier upgrading to the AirLight Pro. It’s the champion fund dryer I’ve owned. In assemblage and grad school, I burned done much inexpensive Amazon bestsellers than I’d similar to admit—most hardly lasted a twelvemonth earlier fizzling out. But my Conair hairsbreadth dryer is inactive kicking.
It won’t revolutionize your routine, but it’s lightweight, reliable, and gets the occupation done. The high-torque DC centrifugal is powerful, and the 3 vigor and 2 velocity settings are conscionable capable control. There’s besides a removable filter to assistance widen its lifespan. If you request an affordable workhorse—or conscionable thing to rough-dry earlier hairsbreadth styling—this is simply a decent dryer that won’t fto you down.
Side Note: Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano has tested the InfinitiPro by Conair Hair Dryer for $40, which is different affordable pick. According to her, its lowest mounting worked large connected her frizz-prone curls.
Specs Weight 2.12 pounds Wattage 1,875 watts Number of Settings 3 heat; 2 speed Attachments Diffuser and concentrator Cord Length 6 feet Cool Shot Button Yes Warranty 2 years WIRED
- Usually connected merchantability for nether $50
- No learning curve
- Removable filter for casual cleaning
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- Short cord
- Noisy
- Fewer attachments than higher-end models
Best for Fast Drying
Photograph: Dyson
Dyson
Supersonic r Hair Dryer
The Supersonic r is Dyson's astir important plan since the archetypal debuted successful 2016. At conscionable 0.7 pound, it's 30 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than its predecessors. The curved plan besides improves value organisation and reduces strain during prolonged styling sessions.
It comes with 5 RFID-enabled attachments that auto-adjust airflow and vigor settings to your past presets. This not lone speeds up styling but eliminates fiddling with settings mid-session. At $570, it's someway much costly than the Nural and lacks the Scalp Protect mode we adore from the former, but if you privation the astir precise, fastest drying acquisition available, the Supersonic r stands astatine the apical of the market.
Specs Weight 0.7 pound Wattage 1,700 watts Number of Settings 4 vigor (including chill shot); 3 speed Attachments Diffuser, pro concentrator, almighty aerial attachment, wide-tooth comb, flyaway attachment Cord Length 6 feet Cool Shot Button Yes Warranty 2 years WIRED
- High power, tiny package. Ergonomic design
- Weighs nether 1 pound
- Five Dyson-quality attachments
- Decent sound level astatine 75 decibels
TIRED
- Pricier than its competitors
- No Scalp Protect mode
- Not dual voltage
- No retention case
Best for Frizz
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Photograph: Sephora
Shark
SpeedStyle Pro Flex Hair Dryer System
If you've been eyeing the Dyson Airwrap but are not truthful keen connected the terms tag, fto maine constituent you toward the Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex, which is an fantabulous and much affordable dupe. Unlike the Airwrap, it’s a hairsbreadth dryer and styling instrumentality with 4 versatile attachments: a styling concentrator, a quick-smooth brush, a frizz-fighter tool, and a defrizz accelerated diffuser.
Shark claims it’s dermatologist-approved for scalp extortion owed to the Scalp Shield feature, which automatically adjusts the vigor to support delicate skin. The somesthesia regularisation strategy measures vigor 1,000 times per 2nd to guarantee it ne'er exceeds 230 degrees Fahrenheit. Paired with its high-velocity airflow (0–100 mph successful nether a second), the Shark SpeedStyle makes for a speedy and gentle drying acquisition for each hairsbreadth types. It’s besides practical, with a folding grip that makes it casual to stash successful a drawer oregon container for travel.
The 1 downside is that Shark Beauty doesn’t see a retention bag, but the marque sells a soft neoprene 1 for $42 if you’re consenting to walk extra.
Specs Weight 1.57 pounds Wattage 1,750 watts Number of Settings 3 heat; 3 airflow settings Attachments QuickSmooth brush, DefrizzFast diffuser, FrizzFighter finishing tool, styling concentrator Cord Length 8 feet Cool Shot Button Yes Warranty 2 years WIRED
- Scalp Shield feature.
- Weighs nether 2 pounds.
- Four frizz-fighting attachments.
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- Doesn't see retention case.
- Noisy.
Best for Professionals
Photograph: Ulta Beauty
L’Oreal Professionnel
AirLight Pro
The L’Oréal Professionnel AirLight Pro is the fastest hairsbreadth dryer I’ve tested that doesn’t trust connected scorching vigor to get the champion results. Instead, it uses near-infrared light, almighty airflow, and controlled vigor to adust the hairsbreadth portion retaining its moisture. L’Oréal claims this keeps hairsbreadth 33 percent much hydrated and 59 percent smoother than accepted dryers. I person benignant 2A hairsbreadth and I get a frizz-free blowout successful astir 10 minutes.
It’s lone $45 much than the Dyson Supersonic hairsbreadth dryer ($430) and cheaper than the Nural ($500)—but it’s besides quieter, faster, and much customizable, with settings that enactment for each hairsbreadth types. The 11.5-foot cord outstretches any Dyson, Shark Speedstyle, and GHD Helios Professional.
The AirLight Pro is besides built to last. L’Oréal Professionnel rates it for a 10-year lifespan of nonrecreational use, assuming 2 hours of regular use, 5 days a week. It’s repairable and features a filter-cleaning alert and auto-shutoff function, truthful you’ll cognize erstwhile it needs to beryllium cleaned. Bonus: It consumes 31 percent little vigor than a modular dryer, which is large for the satellite and your energy bill.
Specs Weight 1.7 pounds Wattage 1,875 watts Number of Settings Access 3 vigor and 3 airflow settings connected the handle. With the app, set successful increments of 5 percent for airflow and 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Attachments Diffuser and concentrator Cord Length 11.5 feet Cool Shot Button Yes Warranty 2 years WIRED
- Ultra-fast drying
- Magnetic attachments
- Suitable for each hairsbreadth types
- Better for hairsbreadth and the planet
- Long cord length
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- App features are basal (as of yet)
- Fewer attachments than its competitors
Best for Curly Hair
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
The Pattern Blow Dryer comes from a institution owned by Tracee Ellis Ross, and the full absorption is each astir curls, curls, curls. There are a fewer curl-specific features that marque this dryer truthful darn great. Even astatine its highest setting, it doesn’t get rather arsenic blistery arsenic different dryers, which helps forestall harm (something each curly-haired radical should strive for). The 4 included attachments—a diffuser, a wide-tooth comb, a brush, and a concentrator nozzle—can beryllium locked successful spot either vertically oregon horizontally, which makes it casual to people antithetic areas of your hairsbreadth for circumstantial styling needs. As 1 example, I similar to usage the concentrator nozzle to people my roots without messing with my curls astatine my mid-lengths and ends.
The buttons are foolproof—choose from 3 vigor levels, 2 airflow levels, ions connected oregon off, and a acold changeable button. And finally, I emotion the diffuser, arsenic mentioned successful our usher to the Best Diffusers for Curly Hair. All successful all, this dryer is casual to usage and gentle connected your mane, and it’s casual capable to clasp that your biceps won’t springiness retired if you’re spending a agelong clip getting your hairstyle conscionable right. —Louryn Strampe
Specs Weight 1.12 pounds Wattage 1,875 watts Number of Settings 2 heat; 3 speed Attachments Brush, wide bony comb, concentrator nozzle, diffuser Cord Length 7 feet Cool Shot Button Yes Warranty 2 years WIRED
- Curl-conscious
- Four attachments
- Weighs nether 1.5 pounds
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- Short cord
Best for Thick Hair
Photograph: RevAir
The RevAir has legitimately changed my life. It's the lone happening to dramatically chopped down connected drying and styling clip (and damage) erstwhile I privation to deterioration my curls straight. I've been obsessed with the RevAir since trying it successful 2021, and the 2022 version is smaller and lighter than the original, but it's much costly and inactive a ample instrumentality you'll request to store.
After sectioning your damp hair, you provender each portion into the wand, similar a vacuum, and the instrumentality dries and straightens successful 1 step. Tiny openings astatine the extremity of the wand nonstop aerial retired to adust your scalp, portion the remainder of your hairsbreadth is dried with aerial going down, truthful you don't get frizzy. Crazy, I know, but it works. Wet curls went in, and adust consecutive hairsbreadth came retired successful astir 30 seconds. I inactive had to usage a flat iron to creaseless my hairsbreadth afterwards, but I utilized the RevAir connected a person whose curls are softer, finer, and she didn't person to usage a hairsbreadth straightener astatine all. If I could splurge connected 1 merchandise for the remainder of my life, it would beryllium this. —Medea Giordano
Specs Weight 8 pounds Wattage 800 watts Number of Settings 2 heat; 7 hostility settings Attachments N/A Cord Length 6.5 feet. Hose length is 5.5 feet. Cool Shot Button Yes Warranty 1 year WIRED
- Works connected extensions, twist outs, braids, locs, and wigs
- Gentle capable for kids
- No brushwood required
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- Short cord
- Quite ample and heavy
- Not large for frizz
Compare Top 7 Hair Dryers
More Hair Dryers to Consider
Photograph: Amazon; Getty Images
Hot Tools Pro Artist Quietair for $135: The Hot Tools Pro Artist Quietair is certified by Quiet Mark, an autarkic enactment that assesses however overmuch sound contamination household products produce. While the terms is technically $120, it's astir ever discounted to astir $60 connected Amazon, truthful you don't person to splurge. The simplification of dependable isn't a simplification of capability. The high-speed mounting volition stroke the dryer close disconnected your antagonistic if you acceptable it down. It has 3 vigor settings and 2 velocity settings, positive a chill changeable button.
Hairitage Comin' Hot Dryer for $40: Hairitage’s Comin’ successful Hot Hair Dryer is compact astatine 1.6 pounds and costs conscionable $40. The basics are covered: 2 speeds, 3 vigor settings, and a chill changeable button. It lone comes with an aerial concentrator nozzle, but you tin acquisition a separate diffuser for curls and a comb attachment. The add-ons are often retired of stock, though, sometimes for months astatine a time.
Panasonic Nanoe Hair Dryer for $135: This dryer comes with a concentrator nozzle and diffuser attachment successful summation to its removable oscillating caput that mimics the back-and-forth question you marque with your hand. There are 3 vigor settings and 2 velocity settings, which is the minimum standard. Panasonic besides claims the dryer uses electrostatic daze to disperse h2o molecules into tinier nano-sized particles, which mightiness trim hairsbreadth damage. Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano tested the compact mentation for $100, which she says makes for a large question hairsbreadth dryer.
Gama iQ2 Perfetto for $330: The iQ2 includes an auto-clean relation to automatically crook disconnected should it overheat (it did not bash this successful testing, thankfully). There's a mounting fastener truthful you tin adust your hairsbreadth without accidentally changing the velocity oregon heat. Plus, it comes with a silicone thermal mat that puts the dryer into standby mode erstwhile you spot it down, turning it backmost connected erstwhile you prime it up. This is adjuvant if you're sectioning disconnected strands and often person to enactment the dryer down. But it's expensive, and the microperforated magnetic mesh filter screen tends to autumn off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an Ionic Hair Dryer Better Than a Ceramic One?
Ionic hairsbreadth dryers merchandise ions that interruption down h2o molecules, which expedites drying clip and reduces frizz. They're suitable for each hairsbreadth types, but they're particularly amended for heavy and/or curly hair. Ceramic dryers are meant to administer vigor evenly, which is expected to trim vigor damage. Again, suitable for each hairsbreadth types, but particularly those with good hair.
What Features Should I Look for successful a High-Quality Hair Dryer?
Wattage: The powerfulness of a dryer is chiefly dictated by its wattage, typically ranging from 800 to 2,000 watts. Higher wattage means faster drying times and much heat, but it tin besides mean a heavier dryer and higher vigor consumption.
Weight: A lightweight dryer tin marque a large difference, particularly if you're styling your hairsbreadth daily. It reduces manus strain and provides amended maneuverability, making the drying process much comfortable.
Heat and velocity settings: These settings find some the somesthesia and airflow of your dryer. More adjustable options let you to personalize your acquisition and workout greater power implicit your hair. I find a chill changeable fastener oregon mounting a indispensable for locking successful my hairdo due to the fact that I seldom usage hairspray.
Attachments: Choose 1 that comes with utile attachments, specified arsenic concentrator nozzles oregon diffusers, depending connected your hairsbreadth benignant and texture.
How to Fix Heat-Damaged Hair?
Disclaimer: You whitethorn request to talk to a hairstylist, particularly if your hairsbreadth was chemically treated.
A hair disguise oregon deep-conditioning treatment whitethorn beryllium the archetypal measurement to reconstruct your hair's earthy proteins and seal successful moisture. Your hairstylist whitethorn besides urge a haircut to trim the breached ends.
Finally, protect your hairsbreadth from further damage. Use a vigor protectant spray earlier blow-drying. The Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer is our favorite, but we besides emotion the R+Co Hot Spell Thermotech Blow Out Balm for curly oregon heavy hair. For much recommendations, cheque retired our usher to the Best Heat Protectant Sprays. Get a prime hairsbreadth towel to debar frizz and breakage. A regular assemblage towel is excessively unsmooth connected hair, particularly fragile curls. A plain aged fabric T-shirt works large for drying, and you apt person 1 successful your closet that you nary longer wear. You'll find circumstantial hairsbreadth towels anyplace you store for hairsbreadth products, but erstwhile WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano recommends TO112's Bamboo Wrap ($39).
We trial connected a assortment of hairsbreadth types, lengths, and textures. This includes but isn't constricted to fine, straight, thick, curly, and color-treated hair. Our testers unrecorded successful antithetic climates—sticky cities similar New York, somesthesia swings successful Chicago, bedewed conditions successful Portland—so we're besides capable to measure however these hairsbreadth dryers grip frizz, static, and shine.
We measure weight, cord length, and dual-voltage compatibility for predominant travelers. Each exemplary is timed connected freshly washed hair, evaluated for drying time, vigor output, and airflow strength. We besides trial attachments and accessories for easiness of use, durability, and styling results.
Lastly, we behaviour semipermanent testing, utilizing each dryer for months to cheque for centrifugal wear, filter maintenance, and immoderate wide show loss.
What Are We Testing Next?
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