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Hair

The 12 Best Blow Dryers for Natural Hair of 2023

 

With picks from Dyson, Pattern, and more

Finding the right blow dryer for your natural hair toolkit, as I like to call it, is essential no matter your hair texture or how you wear your curls. Hey, regardless of what you do with them, those curls are your signature and need their fair share of TLC. While some naturals prefer heatless styling, many of us don't mind stretching our hair—as long as our curls snap back without any heat damage.

Despite taking great pains to avoid it, inadvertently exposing our precious locks to excess or prolonged heat is easier than we think, and may come down to the tools we use. This means irons or dryers. And despite clever marketing, not all dryers are created equal, so we reached out to hairstylists to find out their faves.

We conducted hours of research to find the best blow dryers for natural hair on the market, evaluating top options based on their ability to stretch curly hair without wreaking havoc on natural textures. We also considered extra features, such as heat settings, speed, and styling. After considering dozens of products, we landed on these high-quality picks.

Best Overall
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

What We Like

• Intelligent heat control to prevent hair damage
• High-pressure, high-velocity air
• Balanced design

What We Don't Like

• Doesn't last long before a replacement is needed

The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is beloved by stylists everywhere, and it's easy to see why. It's designed to help protect hair from heat damage thanks to its digital motor and air multiplier technology that speeds up the drying process while increasing shine and preventing frizz.

"This dryer is genius," says Leigh Hardges of Chicago's Maxine Salon. "I have used a lot of hair dryers, and this one is quiet, lightweight, and fast." Angela Stevens, a celebrity hairstylist and Cantu partner, agrees. "I prefer the Dyson blow dryer," she tells Byrdie. "It's a bit pricey, but the heat is controlled on the dryer and that prevents heat damage."

Price at time of publish: $429

Features: Five styling attachments engineered for different hair types and three speed settings | Wireless: No

Best Budget
Andis 1875-Watt Tourmaline Ceramic Ionic Styling Hair Dryer

What We Like

• Preserves natural oils to seal in moisture
• Soft bristle attachment gives comfortable styling
• Easy to hold

What We Don't Like

• May shut off during use

I grew up using the Andis hair dryer. The 1875 watt dryer has three speeds and heat settings and comes with a 100% boar bristle brush, a fine-tooth attachment pick, and a wide-tooth attachment pick. The comb-like design makes it easy to straighten textured hair without applying too much tension to your roots.

Price at time of publish: $24

Features: Three heat settings with cool shot button, wide tooth and fine tooth combs, and even-heat ceramic technology | Wireless: No

I suggest starting with the wide-tooth attachment to prevent any unwanted breakage or snapping of your ends. 

Best for Frizz
ONE Styling EPIC Lite Pro Hair Dryer

What We Like

• Optimal styling control
• Replenishes moisture in hair shaft
• Minimizes heat damage

What We Don't Like

• Could have longer lasting performance

If you want your hair to look smoother, Hardges recommends this dryer because of its ionic technology. "There is a switch to turn on or off the ionic technology that aids in smoother hair," she says. The one-pound blow dryer also generates 1875 watts of power, which will help prevent heat damage, and there's an extra-long cord so you don't have to huddle up next to an outlet.

Price at time of publish: $90

Features: Variable speed and temperature controls | Wireless: No

Most Powerful
Turbo Power Twin Turbo 3200 Hair Dryer

What We Like

• Highly portable
• Nice airflow with powerful motor
• Easy-to-clean filter

What We Don't Like

• A little noisy

The Italian-made TwinTurbo is a powerful hair tool that can go up to 2100 watts, which Hardges says to keep in mind when considering this brand. "As soon as you turn this thing on, you can feel its power," she says. "This dryer delivers just as much heat as it does airpower, so you need to be able to work quickly."

Before making your investment, Hardges emphasizes paying attention to the product specifications and only selecting the 3200 model for at-home styling.

Price at time of publish: $130

Features: Four heat settings, two speeds, and removable stainless steel filter | Wireless: No

If you're an at-home hairstyling beginner, this dryer might not be the best pick for you.

Best for Coily Hair Textures
Revlon One-Step Paddle Dryer

What We Like

• Lightweight
• Included brush covers more surface area
• Wallet-friendly
• Flexible, tangle-free bristles

What We Don't Like

• Only emits air on the top bristles

This paddle brush hair dryer has made waves throughout the natural hair community. You can find thousands of YouTube reviews dedicated to this dryer—most of them positive. The 1,000-watt, 2-in-1 design smooths and dries hair. For those with coily hair textures, the flexible bristles help prevent tangling, and you'll get a smooth, frizz-free blowout with the help of the dryer's ionic conditioning feature. 

Price at time of publish: $40

Features: Two heat settings and a paddle brush for faster styling | Wireless: No

Best Drugstore
Conair InfinitiPro Hair Dryer

What We Like

• Dries hair up to 50 percent faster
• Reduces frizz by 75 percent
• Wallet-friendly
• Removable filter prevents lint buildup

What We Don't Like

• Could be more durable

The Conair InfinitiPro comes highly recommended by a range of hair types in the curly community. The budget-friendly dryer's AC motor can dry hair up 50% faster with the ionic technology, leaving your curls with 75% less frizz.

Price at time of publish: $40

Features: Three heat/two speed custom dryer settings and rocker switches | Wireless: No

Best for Wavy Hair
Hot Tools 24K Gold One-Step Blowout and Volumizer

What We Like

• Gold barrel surface distributes hair evenly
• Has a silk glide for smoothness
• Refreshes second-day styles

What We Don't Like

• Could be more heat protective

For naturals with heat-trained or wavy hair, this styling tool comes highly recommended. The 24K Gold Technology applies even heat distribution to your curls while the flexible charcoal-infused, boar bristles glide through the hair without tugging. It's essentially designed to be a one-stop straightening shop, perfect for busy bees. Oh, and the eight-foot cord gives you the range you need to straighten, bump, or curl your ends with ease.

Price at time of publish: $80

Features: ALCI safety plug and cool tip | Wireless: No

Best for Fine Hair
Trademark Beauty Easy Blo One Step Dryer & Volumizer

What We Like

• 4-in-1 straightener, dryer, curler, volumizer
• Gently curved sides smooth the hair
• Tangle-free combination bristles

What We Don't Like

• May be a bit awkward to use

"Air drying straightening brushes are definitely to be considered for some curlistas," says Hardges. "The small, short bristles grab and smooth the curls while the long flexible bristles keep the hair detangled." This lightweight dryer she says is easy to use and packs a punch. "Don't let the baby pink color fool you," she warns. "It does get hot." However, the one-step dryer has a ceramic coating to help protect your hair and prevent damage from over-styling.

Price at time of publish: $50

Features: Combination bristles and three rotating temperature control settings | Wireless: No

Best Diffuser
DevaCurl DevaDryer and DevaFuser For All Curl Kind

What We Like

• 360-degree airflow
• Uniquely shaped diffuser gently lifts curls
• Creates volume, eliminates frizz

What We Don't Like

• May take longer time to dry

Designed with curly hair types in mind, this 1600-watt dryer has an AC motor, ionic technology, three temperature settings, and two-speed settings. The dryer also comes with a hand-shaped diffuser with a 360-degree airflow that dries curls, sans the frizz, and adds volume.  

Price at time of publish: $180

Features: Hand-shaped diffuser and three temperature settings | Wireless: No

Best for Thick Hair
PATTERN Blow Dryer

What We Like

• Dries hair quickly
• Comes with four separate attachments for styling
• Works for all curl types

What We Don't Like

• Has a short cord

This hair dryer from Tracee Ellis Ross's hair brand was designed specifically for those with tighter hair textures, i.e. curly and coily types. Made with an AC motor to cut drying time with a high-powered airflow, it's able to smooth the hair cuticle for a sleek blowout that's frizz-free. We love that it comes with four attachments for different styles, including a diffuser, wide tooth comb, brush, and nozzle attachments.

Price at time of publish: $189

Features: Four attachments, three heat settings, two speed settings, removable filter | Wireless: No

Best for Travel
Drybar Baby Buttercup Blow Dryer

What We Like

• Creates targeted airflow
• Easy to store due to collapsible handle
• Uniform heat distribution

What We Don't Like

• May feel a bit heavy to some

Finding a blow dryer that can fit into your carry-on without taking up too much space can be challenging. However, Drybar has an option available that is portable and stylish. "What's better than a cheery yellow hair dryer?" asks Hardges. "The concentrator nozzle on this baby is designed to blow the water off the hair and onto the floor. [This] minimizes drying time and heat damage."

Aside from the yellow hue and its ability to help prevent heat damage, Hardges particularly likes this dryer's portability. "Cop the travel size instead of the original," Hardges says. "It's the same price, same wattage, [and comes] with a travel bag."

Price at time of publish: $139

Features: Concentrator nozzle and collapsible handle | Wireless: No

Best for Stretching
RevAir Reverse-Air Dryer

What We Like

• Cuts drying time
• Low heat to minimize damage
• Smoothing without pulling the hair

What We Don't Like

• Large and bulky

You've probably seen this innovative hair dryer on your TikTok for you page or reviewed by your favorite natural hair YouTuber, and it's making waves for good reason. It promises to minimize damage with a patented technology that reverse-dries hair, which completely stretches out the tightest textures to create a smooth finish. It's a good choice if you need to stretch your curls for a protective style, or if you frequently blow-dry your hair and want to keep it healthy.

Price at time of publish: $399

Features: Detachable wand, three heat settings, seven tension settings | Wireless: No

Final Verdict

Our top pick in blow dryers for natural hair is the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer. It's specifically designed to minimize heat damage, focusing high-pressured air on sections of hair for a quick but flawless blowout. We also love the more affordable Andis 1875-Watt Tourmaline Ceramic Ionic Styling Hair Dryer, which comes with three comb attachments to easily stretch and straighten natural textures.

MEET THE EXPERT

Angela C. Stevens is an Emmy-award winning hairstylist and owner of Conscious Curls, a salon and hair company.

Leigh Hardges is a Chicago-based hairstylist with over 15 years of experience. She is a stylist at Maxine Salon.

 

What to Look for in a Natural Hair Dryer

Nozzle Size

First things first, Hardges says, is to "avoid short, wide nozzles. If you ever need to replace a diffuser or concentrator nozzle, universal ones won't fit." And if you’re dropping serious bucks for a good blow dryer, you don’t want to find yourself stuck with a broken nozzle and no options. Some of our favorites with a standard nozzle size are the Turbo Power Twin Turbo 3200 Hair Dryer and the Conair InfinitiPro Hair Dryer.

Cord Length

Hardges suggests avoiding short cords to make your dryer easier to maneuver as you style your hair. This should be a given, considering even tiny bathrooms can have an oddly-placed electrical outlet that could make it difficult to get a good spot in front of the mirror. Opt for a model with a longer cord.

Wattage

Avoid wattages over 1900, says Hardges. "The heat is very high, and most at-home stylists cannot move quickly enough to prevent heat damage.” Dial it back when choosing a blow dryer. 

FAQ

Is blow drying bad for natural hair?

Using too high heat over a long period of time can cause hair to lose its natural texture and ability to bounce back to its natural curls. That said, if you wish to blow dry your natural hair, there are a number of guidelines you can follow—from avoiding high heat to choosing the right tools—that can help keep your texture intact while blow-drying. 

Which hair dryer is best for blow drying?

Choosing the right blow dryer for your natural hair comes down to a few factors, including how much experience you have doing your hair, the wattage (never go above 1900 watts says hairstylist Leigh Hardges), your budget, and whether or not it comes with the correct nozzle and accessories for your needs. If you ask us, the absolute best dryer for natural hair types is the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer—which smooths frizz and protects the hair from heat damage for a sleek, smooth finish.

Does an expensive hair dryer make a difference?

While some brands (Dyson, we’re looking at you) offer the type of proprietary technology that could command a hefty price tag, that doesn’t mean you can’t get similar results from a cheaper model. It’s all about identifying the equipment that’ll keep your natural style in tip-top shape, and knowing how to use it.