AP Buyline’s content is created independently of The Associated Press newsroom. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about our policies and terms here.
A good hair day starts with a great hair dryer. While it can be tough to replicate a professional blowout at home, the best hair dryers can help you achieve smooth, sleek and salon-worthy locks. Whether you’re looking for something quiet and quick-drying, an affordable and foldable blow dryer for traveling or a high-tech hair dryer with all the bells, whistles and attachments, we’ve got it. Read on to shop the best hair dryer in every category, tested and recommended by professional stylists.
What to consider when buying hair dryers
Wattage
If you don’t want to spend a ton of time waiting for your hair to dry, or you just have really thick hair that takes forever, look for a blow dryer with high wattage. “The wattage determines the air power of the dryer, which can substantially cut blow drying time,” explains MariLynne Cosmillo, hair stylist and founder of hOURS Haircare. “For thin hair, a lower-wattage blow dryer (around 1,800 watts) will work. The thicker your hair is, the higher you’ll want to go to help cut dry time.”
Cord length
This is a factor many may not consider, but it can negatively impact your blowout experience, especially if you’re the type who likes to move around while you dry. “Salon-quality dryers will include an estimated nine-foot cord length. While you may not need this much reach, it depends on where you’re styling at home, and it’s worth checking when you purchase,” says Cosmillo. “Some low-quality dryers will have a very short cord and that will reduce your mobility at home.”
Heat settings
“The majority of dryers will come with three heat settings: high, medium and cool. These options are important,” notes Cosmillo. “High heat helps to thoroughly dry the hair in an efficient time. Medium heat is best for those with highly damaged or very porous hair, where gentle heat is required. Cool air is helpful to seal the shape of your style.”
Weight
Cosmillo finds the weight of the dryer is the most important consideration for certain people. “If you have a lot of hair, it can be a struggle to maintain stamina if the dryer is heavy — it gets exhausting, quickly.” If you’re shopping in person, she recommends holding the dryer to see if it feels comfortable. “If you’re ordering online, be sure to keep all of the box parts and only purchase if it has a good return policy.”
Attachments
Look for hair dryers that come with the attachments you want (or need), like a diffuser for curly or wavy hair and a concentrator to help direct the airflow as you style.
Our top picks for the best hair dryers
Best hair dryer for multiple uses: T3 Aireluxe
T3 Aireluxe Professional Hair Dryer
The T3 AireLuxe is Los Angeles-based hairstylist Rubyna Kim’s absolute favorite hair dryer. “It’s lightweight, gentle on the hair and has the perfect temperature settings,” she says. In fact, it has an impressive 15 digital heat and speed combinations total, for maximum flexibility and customization. “It gives you the ultimate shiny, sleek blowout if you use it with a round brush,” Kim adds. The dryer comes with both a detangling and round brush to help you achieve the perfect at-home blowout, too.
Kim also loves the Aireluxe for curly hair, noting that it works as a great diffuser. “The thick nozzle makes it easy and perfect for achieving any style, and it’s very affordable compared to the other high-quality hair dryers out there,” she says. Other standout features are the volume boost switch and RapidAire IQ Technology, which helps dry hair twice as fast and retains up to 60% more of your hair’s natural moisture.
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Five.
- Speed settings: Three.
- Wattage: 1,875.
- Attachments: Drying concentrator, styling concentrator.
- Weight: 17.1 ounces.
- Cord length: 9 feet.
- Cool shot button: Yes.
- Price on publish: $199.99.
What we like:
- Dries hair twice as fast while retaining moisture.
- Includes brushes for the perfect blowout.
- Lightweight.
- 15 temperature and speed combos.
- Well-priced for the features.
What we don’t like:
- Some reviewers don’t love the location of the cool shot button, as it can be easy to accidentally hit.
The AP Buyline takeaway:
This luxe, lightweight blow dryer dries locks twice as fast, while locking in moisture for a salon-worthy blowout.
Get it here: T3 Aireluxe
Best splurge hair dryer: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
The TikTok-famous hair dryer with a cult following lives up to the hype. “It’s quiet, dries fast and the design is sleek,” says Kim. “Its heat control technology provides fast drying power with minimal damage. It comes with many different attachments for all hair types and textures, too.” The magnetic attachments pop on and off with ease and include some rather unique ones, like a flyaway attachment to help hide flyaways beneath long locks, a gentle air attachment for fine hair and sensitive scalps, and a wide-tooth comb to help style textured and curly strands.
“Before this hair dryer it took me 60-75 minutes to dry my hair fully,” writes one verified Amazon reviewer. “With the Dyson, it takes 25-30 minutes and although blow drying your hair can never be enjoyable, this is about as close as you can get. The heat and speed settings are perfect.”
Specifications:
- Heat Settings: Four.
- Speed Settings: Three.
- Wattage: 1,380.
- Attachments: Flyaway attachment, styling concentrator, diffuser, gentle air attachment, wide-tooth comb.
- Weight: 28.8 ounces.
- Cord length: 9 feet.
- Cool shot button: Yes.
- Price on publish: $429.
What we like:
- Superfast drying time.
- Intelligent heat control minimizes hair damage.
- Suitable for all hair textures and types.
- Lots of attachments for the perfect blowout.
What we don’t like:
- It’s expensive.
- It’s heavy.
The AP Buyline takeaway:
Ultra-fast drying without the damage and with extra attachments for an impeccable blowout, the Dyson is absolutely worth the splurge.
Get it here: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Best value hair dryer: Elchim Classic 2001 High Pressure Hair Dryer
Elchim Classic 2001 High Pressure Hair Dryer
At just over $100, this highly-rated hair dryer offers incredible value. “I’ve recommended this for home use for over 15 years,” says Cosmillo. “It has just the right amount of power for a self-blowout, lasts a long time and is a medium-weight blow dryer. A lot of professionals use this, too.”
With more than 1,700 five-star reviews, you really can’t go wrong. “This is a fantastic blow dryer at its price range,” writes one reviewer. Another adds, “This is a powerful hairdryer for this particular price point. It is not as powerful or fast drying as the Dyson, but it is also less than half the price.” Hundreds of dollars less, in fact!
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Five.
- Speed settings: Two.
- Wattage: 1,875.
- Attachments: Concentrator.
- Weight: 18 ounces.
- Cord length: 9 feet.
- Cool shot button: No.
- Price on publish: $110
What we like:
- High wattage for quicker dry times.
- Long lasting and durable.
- Used and trusted by many professional hair stylists.
What we don’t like:
- Not great for fine hair.
- Diffuser sold separately.
The AP Buyline takeaway:
If you have thick hair, you’ll love the price and power of this durable, long-lasting hair dryer.
Get it here: Elchim Classic 2001 High Pressure Hair Dryer
Best professional hair dryer: Parlux 3800 Eco-Friendly Dryer
Parlux 3800 Eco-Friendly Dryer
According to Cosmillo, the Parlux 3800 is a classic and popular choice with stylists. “It has everything a stylist needs for a quality blowout: 2,100 watts, lots of heat, two concentrator nozzles, a long cord, ionic and ceramic technology and it weighs around one pound,” she says. It’s also really quiet thanks to a built-in silencer, which is great for a mom like me whose kids are constantly asking questions as I try to get ready.
“This blow dryer is the bomb. It magically dries your hair in less time and less frizzing while at the same time making less noise,” raves one happy reviewer, who has had hers for more than eight years and reports that it’s still going strong.
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Four.
- Speed settings: Two.
- Wattage: 2,100.
- Attachments: Two concentrator nozzles.
- Weight: 17.64 ounces.
- Cord length: 9.8 feet.
- Cool shot button: Yes.
- Price on publish: $229.99.
What we like:
- High wattage cuts drying time drastically.
- Durable and long-lasting.
- Combines ionic and ceramic technology.
- Built-in silencer to reduce noise.
- Eco-friendly.
What we don’t like:
- Doesn’t come with a diffuser.
The AP Buyline takeaway:
This lightweight, eco-friendly hair dryer is super powerful while also being quite quiet, for a more pleasant blow dry experience.
Get it here: Parlux 3800 Eco-Friendly Dryer
Best quiet hair dryer: Chi Lava Pro Hair Dryer
Chi Lava Pro Hair Dryer
"Every time I use this dryer at my salon, my clients cannot get over how quiet it is,” says Bradley Tuggle, a CHI Haircare ambassador. “Not only does it make less noise, it also weighs less than one pound. But what truly makes this dryer different is that the ceramic is infused with lava minerals so you can dry your hair at a lower temperature [which means less damage]."
Other stylists agree: “I'm a hairstylist with sound sensitivity. I have been loving this hair dryer for almost six months now,” writes one customer, who also notes that “the lowest airflow speed is too high-pitched, so a medium or strong speed is best.” This hair dryer has a few other standout features, including an extra long cord (11 feet) so you can move around as you dry and an automatic self-cleaning function, which is awesome.
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Four.
- Speed settings: Three.
- Wattage: 1,200.
- Attachments: Diffuser, precision concentrator and smoothing nozzle.
- Weight: Less than a pound.
- Cord length: 11 feet.
- Cool shot button: Yes.
- Price on publish: $337.49.
What we like:
- Very quiet.
- Infused with lava minerals for a faster blow-dry even at lower temps.
- Automatic self-cleaning.
- Extra long cord.
What we don’t like:
- It’s expensive.
The AP Buyline takeaway:
If you want to chat while you blow dry, or you’re just super sensitive to sound, the ultra-quiet Chi Lava Pro is worth the purchase.
Get it here: Chi Lava Pro Hair Dryer
Best hair dryer for travel: BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Travel Hair Dryer
BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Travel Hair Dryer
Frequent fliers will love the lightweight and extra affordable BaBylissPro, which features dual voltage so you can take it anywhere and everywhere, even overseas. It can easily fit in a carry-on bag without taking up precious space thanks to an ultra-compact design and ingenious foldable handle. “It’s powerful for such a tiny dryer, too,” says Kim.
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Two.
- Speed settings: Two.
- Wattage: 1,000.
- Attachments: Concentrator.
- Weight: 9.6 ounces.
- Cord length: 6 feet.
- Cool shot button: No.
- Price on publish: $34.99.
What we like:
- Dual voltage for international travel.
- Lightweight.
- Compact with a foldable handle.
- Affordable.
What we don’t like:
- No cool shot button.
- Some reviewers complain the concentrator attachment doesn’t stay on.
The AP Buyline takeaway:
This little hair dryer is small but mighty, featuring dual voltage and a foldable design perfect for traveling.
Get it here: BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Travel Hair Dryer
Best lightweight hair dryer: T3 Featherweight Stylemax
T3 Featherweight Stylemax Professional Hair Dryer In White
Blow drying your hair shouldn’t feel like an arm workout. The T3 Featherweight is a game changer when it comes to stamina, living up to its name at a mere 16.6 ounces, or just about a pound. “It’s super lightweight and quiet but very powerful,” says Kim. “The handle is the perfect size for comfortable gripping as well.” Perhaps the coolest part of this hair dryer is that it auto-customizes the speed and heat settings to your particular hair texture and goals, for a truly personalized blowout. It comes with four attachments to help rough dry, smooth, diffuse and volumize, too.
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Five.
- Speed settings: Three.
- Wattage: 1,875.
- Attachments: Drying concentrator, styling concentrator, T3 SoftTouch 3 diffuser, T3 smoothing comb.
- Weight: 16.6 ounces.
- Cord length: 9 feet.
- Cool shot button: Yes.
- Price on publish: $199.99.
What we like:
- Ultra lightweight.
- Fast drying time while retaining hair’s moisture.
- Auto customizes speed and heat to your hair texture.
- Four attachments to help achieve whatever style you’re after.
What we don’t like:
- Cool shot button is easy to accidentally press while drying.
The AP Buyline takeaway:
This lightweight hair dryer weighs about a pound and can be customized to your hair type for optimum results.
Get it here: T3 Featherweight Stylemax
Best hair dryer for thick hair: GHD Helios Professional Dryer
Helios 1875W Advanced Professional Hair Dryer, White
Everyone wants thick hair until they realize how long it takes to dry and style. GHD’s Helios Professional Dryer slashes drying time to save your arms and your sanity. “It’s lightweight, making it more comfortable to hold for longer drying sessions,” says Kim. “It’s a powerful dryer but also super gentle on the hair to create less damage and frizz.” It features a salon-strength motor with a concentrated 75-mile-per-hour airflow to dry thick hair in a flash.
“My hair is dyed and very thick,” writes one reviewer. “My old hair dryer was drying my hair out/causing split ends because it took so long to dry and the hot settings were too strong. I love how smooth and sleek this hair dryer makes my hair. It's quiet, lightweight and easy to use. I'm really happy I bought it.”
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Three.
- Speed settings: Two.
- Wattage: 1,875.
- Attachments: Concentrator.
- Weight: 1.7 pounds.
- Cord length: 9 feet.
- Cool shot button: Yes.
- Price on publish: $279.
What we like:
- Gets hair dried fast without damage.
- Salon-motor strength.
- Quiet.
What we don’t like:
- Only comes with a concentrator attachment.
The AP Buyline takeaway:
If you have thick hair, this powerful GHD dryer will help you dry locks faster for a smooth, sleek finish.
Get it here: GHD Helios Professional Dryer
Best hair dryer for fine hair: Sutra Beauty BD Infrared Blow Dryer
Sutra Beauty BD Infrared Blow Dryer
Celebrity hairstylist Davontaé Washington was recently introduced to this high-tech hair dryer from Sutra and is a big fan. “Its Healthy Heat FAR Infrared Technology stimulates the scalp, which in turn encourages new hair growth,” he says. “This is a really innovative feature considering the amount of time you can spend drying the root area for a blowout. Plus, it has all of the other features you want in a dryer, all while bringing shine and volume.”
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Three.
- Speed settings: Two.
- Wattage: Not listed.
- Attachments: Two concentrators.
- Weight: Not listed.
- Cord length: Not listed.
- Cool shot button: Yes.
- Price on publish: $114.75.
What we like:
- Healthy Heat FAR Infrared Technology stimulates the scalp to encourage new hair growth.
- Dries fine hair fast without damaging it.
- Safe for all hair types.
What we don’t like:
- No diffuser included for fine curly hair.
The AP Buyline takeaway:
This celebrity hair stylist-recommended hair dryer features Healthy Heat FAR Infrared Technology to stimulate hair growth and is extra gentle on fine hair.
Get it here: Sutra Beauty BD Infrared Blow Dryer
Best hair dryer for damaged hair: Zuvi Halo
Zuvi Halo
“Low heat is the best way to dry damaged, fragile hair,” says Kim, who likes the Zuvi because it dries hair with infrared light to limit heat exposure. “The highest heat settings don’t get that hot at all so it does take some time to fully dry the hair,” she explains, “but it’s worth the time if your hair is damaged.” This method of drying helps retain hair moisture while boosting shine, smoothness and color retention.
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Four combined.
- Speed settings: Four combined.
- Wattage: 680.
- Attachments: Diffuser, concentrator and gentle air attachment.
- Weight: 1.2 pounds.
- Cord length: 8.5 feet.
- Cool shot button: Yes.
- Price on publish: $264.
What we like:
- Uses infrared light to dry hair.
- Seals in moisture and boosts shine.
- Uses 60% less energy than traditional hair dryers.
What we don’t like:
- Can take a while to dry hair.
The AP Buyline takeaway:
This cutting-edge dryer uses infrared light to dry the surface of hair, locking in moisture to help prevent heat damage.
Get it here: Zuvi Halo
How we selected the best hair dryers
To select the best hair dryers, we picked the brains of professional hair stylists to see which dryers they personally use and recommend in each category. We also looked at reviews, read up on features, and took into account factors like wattage, performance, dry time, weight, cord length and attachments. All of the hair dryers included on this list are from reputable beauty brands.
How to blow-dry your hair
Find a well-ventilated area
Turns out, where you blow-dry your hair matters. Cosmillo recommends making sure you’re in a well-ventilated area to minimize humidity that will work against your style. “Open the bathroom door, a window, or style in your bedroom for the best airflow,” she suggests.
Apply your product(s)
Whether you’re looking for sleek and shiny locks or to add a bit of volume, apply your chosen products to damp hair before drying. A heat protectant spray is always a good idea to help protect against frizz and damage.
Rough-dry your hair evenly
You want to do this just to the point where your hair starts to show its natural texture, advises Cosmillo. “If you have an area that’s really difficult to control, like bangs or a tough cowlick, don’t over-dry them. Instead, be sure to style those areas first while they’re damp for the most control.”
Section it
“Sectioning is the most important step in any blowout,” says Cosmillo. “Be sure to neatly clip away any hair you’re not working on.” She suggests working in horizontal rows from ear to ear, so you can tie up the hair above the row you’re working on. “This will let you work more efficiently and get each row neatly finished before moving on.”
Add heat
“Heat each section starting at the root, moving to the middle, then the ends, shaping them with your brush along the way,” instructs Cosmillo. “Roll your ends several times to make them shine.”
Cool it
After each section, Cosmillo says to switch your dryer to the “cool” setting and go through it one more time. “Cooling down the section not only closes the cuticle to lock in your style and add shine, but it also allows you to check for dampness. If your roots or anywhere in the section feel cold to the touch, it’s still damp and that will compromise your style. Switch to warm air and go over the section again until fully dry.”
Set it
Use your go-to spray, be it a flexible hairspray for more bounce and shine or a shiny texture spray to add the finishing touches, advises Cosmillo. All done!
What is the difference between a ceramic and an ionic hair dryer?
According to Cosmillo, ceramic emits a gentle infrared heat to quickly, evenly and effectively dry the hair without damage. “Ionic dryers use ions to break down water molecules to help dry the hair more quickly.”
Which nozzles should you use with a hair dryer?
“The hair dryer should come with the nozzle you need, whether that’s a diffuser to create bouncy curls or a concentrator nozzle to direct the air in a downward direction, to seal the cuticle and prevent your hair from frizzing,” says Cosmillo. Some high-tech hair dryers will even come with a wide-tooth comb, flyaway attachment and smoothers.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is a good wattage for a hair dryer?
It depends on the thickness of your hair and hair type. “A salon-quality dryer needs at least 1,800 watts,” notes Cosmillo. “For more power, look for at least 1,875. If you prefer a strong dryer and feel confident using one, 2,000 watts will make a big impact.”
What hair dryer do hairdressers recommend?
Cosmillo recommends one that’s light enough for you to maneuver to get through your whole blowout. “You can’t go wrong with ceramic — it’s the most ideal and high quality,” she says. It’s also well-suited for all hair types.
What hair dryer is least damaging to hair?
In our research, we discovered hair dryers that use infrared light technology to dry hair are the least damaging. They help lock in moisture while increasing smoothness and shine.
Related article: Best dry shampoos: 10 dry shampoos for every kind of hair
AP Buyline’s content is created independently of The Associated Press newsroom. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about our policies and terms here.