Friday, May 3, 2024

11 Best Hair Dryers of 2024, Tested by Experts

hair dryers

We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet. We always enlist a range of testers for any review, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. When reviewing tools, we also take into account testers’ experience levels. According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough hair dryers from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage.

ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer

You might already be using one, though, as many leave-in products include protective ingredients. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King previously told Allure readers to look for heat-protecting products whose formulas feature ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil and VP/DMAPA acrylates copolymer. Familiar additives like aloe and argan oil help, too, sealing the hair cuticle for extra defense. The high speed with low heat dried our hair fast — in four and a half minutes to be exact, without any attachments. After drying, we used the concentrator, which smoothed out our hair nicely and reduced the look of frizz. Despite loving the blow dryer's sturdy, compact body and easy-to-use attachments, we were less impressed with the cool setting — it more so felt like we were out on a windy day.

Best budget: Trademark Beauty Speedy Blo 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. As one of the best hair dryers for curly hair, The Pattern blow dryer is made "for the natural gals that don't need super straight hair," celebrity hairstylist and founder of NTRL by Sabs Sabrina Rowe Holdsworth. Because of their power and longevity, Twin Turbo offers some of the best hair dryers for professionals.

How we tested these hair dryers

22 best hair dryers – ghd, Dyson, BaByliss and more - Good Housekeeping uk

22 best hair dryers – ghd, Dyson, BaByliss and more.

Posted: Thu, 11 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

While this hair dryer works with all hair types, those with thick hair will especially love the blend of power and performance that this option provides. Weighing less than a pound, this travel blow dryer is a favorite of Schneider’s when she wants to dry her 2b/2c, sometimes 3a, curly hair straight. It’s also easy to store because it comes with a dust bag, can fold in half, takes up less space than traditional dryers and has a detachable nozzle, says Schneider. If you plan on fitting this in your luggage, the dryer also has dual voltage for overseas travel, according to the brand. Paul Mitchell has a reputation for implementing new technologies in their tools and the Neuro Dry is no exception.

We found the position of the speed and heat buttons on the back of the dryer’s head less than ideal, and the cool-shot button is in an awkward spot at the very top of the handle. If you don’t change speeds and temperature a lot, though, the button locations might be a bonus, as they are hard to hit accidentally. Meanwhile, the cord has a small power bar near the plug, which itself is bulky. You get a styling concentrator, a flyaway attachment, and a wide-toothed comb, plus a “gentle” air attachment and a diffuser.

Design, Technology, and Features

Choosing the best hair dryer for you will not only be down to your hair type, but also understanding all the features and extras each model comes with. To make things easier, we’ve broken down the buzz words to look out for. If you have thick hair, this powerful GHD dryer will help you dry locks faster for a smooth, sleek finish. Ultra-fast drying without the damage and with extra attachments for an impeccable blowout, the Dyson is absolutely worth the splurge. You don’t have to buy the most expensive model to get great results, but you don’t want to buy a cheap one, either.

The 14 Best Hair Dryers for Every Hair Type and Texture

We also think about different hair types and lengths, considering which options are best for different users. Getting a salon-quality blow dry at home can feel impossible when your hair dryer doesn't match those of a professional caliber. Finding the best hair dryer first requires considering what's best for your hair type regarding heat, speed settings, and styling attachments. In addition to being incredibly lightweight, the blow dryer has some pretty unique settings.

The diffuser it ships with has extendable prongs that ensure the roots, as well as the ends of curly hair, can be dried evenly, reducing the risk of heat damage, which is why it's our pick for those with curly hair. Even better, the hair dryer will automatically adjust the temperature and air flow settings when you connect the diffuser and other attachments it comes with, so ensure they're at the optimum. To minimize heat damage, look for tools that feature multiple temperature settings because high heat isn't always necessary—especially for fine hair types. If you have the time, low heat is best for stymieing damage caused by heated hair tools, and don't forget to prep with a heat-protectant.

Best Hair Dryer for Curly Hair

I wish the concentrator nozzles snapped on and off a little more easily. I prefer when attachments slide over the nozzle of the hair dryer rather than fastening into it; it can be difficult to remove or exchange them when they’re hot. The Dyson, with its magnetic attachments, definitely has an advantage here, but in my book it’s not worth spending an extra $200 for that, especially if you don’t blow dry your hair every single day.

hair dryers

With a high-speed motor for quick drying, paired with ionic technology to banish static and frizz, it gives hair a super sleek finish in minutes. Higher wattage means stronger airflow and therefore a faster dry time. However, higher wattage hair dryers tend to be heavier and harder to control. Fan speed, however, is more elusive, and it’s what “is going to make or break your drying time,” says Querisma. Most models aside from Dyson’s or Laifen’s (a pro brand like Parlux), which clock in at 110,000 rpms (rotations per minute) don’t tell you the fan speed, but you can feel how forcefully they propel the air. That helps literally blow moisture off the surface of your hair instead of heating and evaporating it.

All our testers said it styled hair effectively and quickly, with one praising how its multitasking benefits for a busy lifestyle. Ionic technology creates negative ions that break up water molecules in your hair, smoothing it and preventing flyaways. I’m a veteran lifestyle journalist who’s been covering hair tools, among other topics, for over a decade for outlets like Elle, O, The Oprah Magazine and Martha Stewart Living. I’ve had my hair every color and length, and I’ve gotten spiral perms twice (including once when I had baby bangs). “Switches are my personal favorite for ease and speed when changing settings,” she says.

Hair dryer options are seemingly endless with features that seem more fussy than functional. And because any hot styling tool like a hair dryer will damage hair to some degree, it's also crucial to protect strands from the effects of heat. Before blow-drying, "always prep hair with a leave-in styling product that provides heat protection," Alvarez suggests. Testers also gave it high marks for minimizing frizz, a top concern for curly hair.

hair dryers

One tester, who usually requires two back-to-back appointments with a professional stylist at Drybar, now achieves similar drying and smoothing results with the RevAir in as little as 20 minutes. The RevAir has an exceptionally large footprint compared with most dryers. The entire corded machine weighs about 8 pounds and is the size of a toaster. The hose-attached handheld wand alone weighs more than our heavier dryer picks (around 2 pounds), but we found that this is not terribly problematic because very little motion is required to use it.

The ionic tool also boasted another pleasant surprise — we didn't need to use a straightener as usual on our wavy hair to smooth out any remaining baby hairs. With the Nanoe, we were able to create a smooth look with a slight wave at the bottom, without the need for any follow-up tools. We love a good multitasking product, and the Shark HyperAir Hair Dryer is certainly no exception to the rule; it’s an ideal choice for those seeking the best dryer-brush combo. Our fine, dense and wavy hair benefited from a 30-minute blowout, which left it smooth, without any noticeable flyaways. Power-packed yet gentler than other models, Bio Ionic’s hairdryer was mild on both hair and scalp in GH Beauty Lab testing, key for damaged or fragile fine hair. It had the lowest air temperature at the highest of three settings, yet still dried hair samples quickly.

Scope out our travel-sized hair dryer recommendation, the SRI Dry Q, to learn more about our pick for the perfect journey-ready dryer. This hair dryer is definitely a splurge — but we swear it's worth it. Our hair looked great when we finished plopping with the hand attachment. We had a few flyaways, but it was nothing compared to how it usually looks. All that said, the quality of the blowout rendered by the INFINITIPRO makes it the top choice on our list for those looking to bust frizz, whether in a straight blowout or a curly ‘do. It comes with a concentrator and a diffuser, too, making the process even easier.

This inexpensive choice does not skimp on value either with a removable filter that will keep the performance high despite how frequently we use it. The attachments it came with — a diffuser and concentrator — were easy to snap on and off, and they remained firmly in place from start to finish. We were thoroughly impressed by the blowout produced by the INFINITIPRO SmoothWrap Hair Dryer, transforming our fine, wavy hair into a dreamy blowout in a matter of just 18 minutes flat.

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