Choosing a hair dryer is much easier these days, thanks to a general increase in awareness of how to style and care for various hair types. So picking the right blow dryer for you first involves getting to know your specific hair type. If you have fine hair, the best hair dryer for you is one that offers a range of gentler heat settings to avoid burning your hair. For curly girls, the best hair dryer is one that comes with a diffuser to get definition on those gorgeous curls. Many of today's best blow dryers have built-in temperature awareness to better protect your hair during heat styling.
Conair InfinitiPro hair dryer (opens in new tab)
Good for all hair types
The InfinitiPro hair dryer comes with a diffuser with a unique multi-chamber design. It enhances curls so that they have plenty of shine, volume, and - most importantly - minimal frizz. This Conair hair dryer also comes with a concentrator attachment for smooth hairstyles.
Pros:
- Comes with a diffuser
- Great definition for curls
- Quick drying time
Cons:
- Quite bulky
This hair dryer has three heat and two speed settings for custom heat and airflow control. A cold-shot button locks in curls, waves, and style, while the powerful AC motor delivers plenty of steady airflow. There is also ceramic technology with uniform infrared heat to enable faster drying with less damage. This dryer is a bit top heavy, so your hands and wrists will get a decent workout.
Revlon One-Step hair and volumizer brush (opens in new tab)
For the best good hair day
The Revlon One-Step gives your hair gorgeous volume and excellent shine while keeping it neatly detangled with nylon pins and tufted bristles. The brush can also go closer to the scalp than a traditional hairdryer to really ensure you get plenty of lift at the root. Plus, the tip stays cool to make it easier to hold as you style.
Pros:
- Dries while creating volume
- Lightweight design
- Minimizes heat damage
Cons:
- Takes practice to use well
The lightweight oval brush head can’t be removed, but there’s still plenty of flexibility with three heat and speed settings, plus a cold option too. With its advanced ionic technology, Revlon produces less frizz for a sleeker finish, and because the hair has less time in contact with heat this also means less heat damage.
Remington D3190 hair dryer (opens in new tab)
Hot-shot dryer with attachments
The Remington D3190 comes with profession-standard features, including a concentrator nozzle, plus three heat and two-speed settings. The diffuser on this hair dryer is perfect for hair of all lengths, with a nice wide area to rest the hair on and longer ‘fingers’ to keep your hair in place while drying.
Pros:
- Dries hair fast
- Good spread of attachments
- Great overall value
Cons:
- Chunky design
The dryer’s Advanced Coating Technology ensures damage protection for your hair too, while the cool shot helps you cute style stay in place. Overall you get a lot of great, professional features at a decent cost. The overall design, however, is a little big and awkward to get use to.
BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium travel dryer (opens in new tab)
For bouncy, on-the-go blow-dries
This Babyliss travel hair dryer has your hair-styling needs covered wherever you go, with the dual voltage making it suitable for worldwide use. With a clever folding handle, this lightweight compact dryer won’t take up much room in your luggage.
Pros:
- Very lightweight
- Foldaway handle
- Heat protection technology
Cons:
- Only has basic features
The dryer’s Advanced Coating Technology ensures damage protection for your hair too, while the cool shot helps your cute style stay in place. Overall you get a lot of great, professional features at a decent cost. The overall design, however, is a little big and awkward to get used to, especially with some of the attachments.
What features should a good hair dryer have?
Most of the hair dryers we have tested are designed with multiple heat and air speed settings, along with the following accessories and features. The accessories to look for when choosing the best hair dryer for you include:
Concentrators direct air to a focused section of your hair to provide faster drying times and help with straightening.
Diffusers are used to distribute airflow and can reduce frizz and define curl. Cool shot buttons provide a blast of unheated air to help seal the hair cuticle and set your style.
Some hair dryers come with extra accessories like straightening combs, quick-dry nozzles, and sectioning clips. Other things to look for include removable end caps and air filters for easy cleaning, longer cords for more mobility, and a good weight balance for comfortable handling. We also recommend considering the placement of control switches and buttons and getting a feel for your preferred grip type.
Does the hair dryer's power matter?
A hair dryer’s power is determined by its wattage. We tested blowers ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 watts. Experts recommend choosing a device with 1,800 watts or more for the best results, especially if you have thick hair. Salon models often have 3,600-watt models.
This higher power comes with a much higher price tag, but it can cut drying time in half. This is important because less exposure to heat results in less damage to your hair. Also, higher-wattage dryers tend to last longer.
Why trust us?
At TopTenReviews we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.
We have been reviewing hair dryers for over eight years, and over that time have consulted experts and developed a thorough methodology for testing and evaluating hair dryers. In our most recent testing, we identified the best blowers and evaluated our top selections in our lab spending more than 40 hours of testing.
