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The 12 best hair dryers of 2023, tested and recommended by experts

 

If you've ever felt like it's impossible to get a salon-worthy blow dry home, it might be because of the hair dryer you're using. The best hair dryers aren't necessarily the most expensive, but cheapest offerings likely lack the necessary technology to not only give you a good result, but protect your strands from heat damage. It can also be difficult to know what's best for your hair type when it comes to factors like heat and speed settings, wattage, and attachments.

"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 a variety of hair types and preferences.

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, artstic 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 budget: Trademark Beauty Speedy Blo Hair Dryer

Heat settings: 3
Speed settings: 2
Power: 1,875 watts
Weight: 2.1 pounds
Attachments: 2 concentrators, 1 diffuser
Ceramic or ionic: Ionic

Pros: Extra-long cord, lightweight

Cons: No retractable cord

Our experts agree that hair dryers are a beauty tool worth investing in. "Anything below $50 is probably not going to be a quality that you want," says Jessica Gray, hairstylist in Troy, New York. "In lower quality hair dryers the power won't be as strong but more importantly it may not be great at regulating its own heating element [resulting in] damaging your ends and even burning your scalp." 

However, you don't have to spend hundreds to get a good result. Leigh Hardges, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, says Trademark Beauty's Speedy Blo is her preferred hair dryer for at home, noting that its strong but lightweight. With its variety of settings, powerful wattage, and multiple attachments, it's pretty much the best you can get for $64.

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

The Pattern blow dryer is one of the best hair dryers "for the natural gals that don't need super straight hair", celebrity hair stylist 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 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 is also able to dry larger sections so that you can condense the amount of time drying."

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 multistyler now features re-engineered technology that comes 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."

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 concentrator nozzle

This professional level hair dryer delvers 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 travel: CHI Tech Travel Ceramic Hair Dryer

Heat settings: 2
Speed settings: 2
Power: 1,400 watts
Weight: 1 lb
Attachments: Concentrator nozzle
Ceramic or ionic: Ceramic

Pros: Dual voltage, powerful, foldable

Cons: Only one attachment

According to Adrien Coelho, owner of Très Confidentiel Salon in Paris, France, a good travel hair dryer should be small yet powerful with multiple heat and speed settings and ideally, dual voltage so that it can be used anywhere in the world. Coelho calls out the Remington D2400 dryer, but it's not available in the U.S. This pick from CHI is a pretty spot-on match for the Remington, right down to its foldable handle and 1400 wattage.

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 damaged hair: Conair Pro Style Bonnet 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 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 that I do in the salon at home," says Brown. "Ergonomics and accessibility plays a huge role in that success. A fave dryer is the T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer that supports just that. At 16.6 ounces in weight, this dryer is both lightweight and ergonomic for all body types."

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 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 that I do in the salon at home," says Brown. "Ergonomics and accessibility plays a huge role in that success. A fave dryer is the T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer that supports just that. At 16.6 ounces in weight, this dryer is both lightweight and ergonomic for all body types."

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 2,000 watt pick from BabylissPro 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.

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.

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 both your hair and your 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 then break down positive ions, which produce 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 air flow 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 be beneficial for fine or damaged hair.
• Brush: This attachment is helpful for achieving smooth and shiny blowouts.
• Comb: Similar to the brush attachment, the comb can help shape the hair as well as detangle.
• Pik: This attachment, which looks like a comb with longer teeth, helps smooth and straighten curly textures while giving volume at 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