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Our health and beauty experts evaluated over 60 models before purchasing 15 of the best hair dryers to test side-by-side. We designed a test plan with a professional stylist, measuring important characteristics like temperature output, airspeed, and styling versatility. We used each of these blow dryers in our homes for an extensive testing period to dry our hair straight, with curls and waves, and as fast as possible. Whether you're looking for something to tame flyaways, a hair dryer that actually works on textured hair, or a model you can travel the world with, our comprehensive testing will help you find the best hair dryer for all of your styling needs.
2 different size concentrator nozzles, round nozzle
Maximum Measured Temperature
125°F
Though not as flashy as some others, the Sam Villa Light Professional Ionic is an excellent hair dryer that we'd recommend to just about anyone. Its two concentrator nozzles do an excellent job pushing air at above-average speeds exactly where you want it to go. The Sam Villa uses lower temperatures for just as effective styling, thereby saving your hair from the ravages of too much heat. Both attachments stayed in place and never fell off during our testing. This dryer is compact compared to many other full-sized dryers, so it's easier to wield as you style and dry your hair — and easier to justify bringing along when you travel. Its rounded cord is long without being bulky, and the handle's matte texture and ergonomic shape make it comfortable and easy to hold.
That matte finish shows fingerprints and scuffs more easily than glossy dryers. And while the rocker controls are in a convenient place with just the right amount of resistance, their colors are childish, and their indented Roman numerals aren't super easy to read. If you have exceptionally thick or curly hair and want to create your style with a low-powered diffuser dryer, the Sam Villa might not be quite what you need. The exorbitantly expensive Dyson Supersonic fills that niche better, but you'll pay for it. However, if you need high, concentrated power in a pleasant-to-use package, the Sam Villa is our number one recommendation.
With the concentrator nozzle, variable temperature, and speeds, the Sam Villa is great for styling straight hair.
If you're down to drop some cash on one of the best hair dryers out there, the Dyson Supersonic is our top recommendation, especially if you have textured hair. This unconventional-looking dryer is the only model we tested with the versatility to style nearly all hair types, thanks to all the included attachments. It has five magnetic attachments (no duplicates, like most other models), three speeds, and four temperature settings. Though it took some testing to figure out the best settings, it's the only one we could consistently get to style hair in waves and curls. Even straight-haired users have lots to get excited about, as the odd-looking flyaway attachment worked wonders at taming our locks all day, with no touch-ups required. Understated controls are easy to operate without getting in the way during use. By moving the air intake to the bottom of the handle, the balance of this dryer is much more in hand than any other model we tested.
The Dyson Supersonic is unlike any other dryer we've ever used, and there was a learning curve to figuring out what settings worked for different hair types. The Dyson is versatile enough for any thickness and texture of hair — and sometimes, we overdried our hair while trying to find that perfect combination of heat and speed. But if you're willing to experiment, this model is the only one we tested that styles non-straight hair well. Of course, all those styling options and that unique design comes with a very high price tag. We're also not in love with the excessively thick cord (with no cord-wrangling strap) and its chunky electric box dangling in the middle of the wire about 18 inches above the plug. It's no peach to stuff into a suitcase, but the styling versatility of the Dyson is more than enough to convince us to bring it along on all but the most minimalist of trips. The Shark SpeedStyle was a close, significantly less expensive runner-up to the Dyson. We scored it slightly lower, the main reason being that users need to choose between a diffuser and a concentrator rather than getting all the attachments in one bundle, as with the Dyson.
We love all the magnetic attachments on the Dyson and found it to be super versatile for drying different styles and textures of hair.
If you're looking for a hair dryer that styles and dries without spending a small fortune, the Trezoro Professional Ionic is a solid bet. This lightweight styling tool is easier to wield with a brush in hand than others. It offers a solid range of temperatures, and its two concentrator nozzles make a good pair for drying large areas of hair and styling small sections. Though its two speeds are on the lower end of the spectrum, we didn't find that to hamper this model's drying ability in any way, thanks to the effective concentrator attachments. The matte finish and bumped handle aren't quite as ergonomic as others, but they still offer a good handhold and a secure way to wrap the cord before putting it back in your drawer.
It's not without a few shortcomings, though. The Trezoro is fairly lightweight, but still rather bulky and not something we're excited to travel with. With “ionic” in the name, we expected better results when taming frizz, but this dryer was just average. And though the end looks like it should be able to come off to give you access to clean the intake filter, we couldn't get it off. Any hair dryer that gets used regularly needs cleaning from time to time. The Trezoro isn't great for all hairstyles, but it's a straightforward model that performs well for a reasonable price and gets our recommendation for its good value. If you're hoping to spend even less, the Conair Infinitipro 1875W Salon Performance below will save you a few more bucks.
Getting our hair dry and styled with the Trezoro Professional Ionic and its concentrator nozzle.
If you're searching for a basic budget hair dryer that's a step above the cheapest options, we recommend looking at the Conair Infinitipro 1875W Salon Performance. This model has plenty of airflow, a convenient interface, an ergonomic grip, and a hanging loop for storage. It has three different temperature settings, a locking cool shot button, a flat concentrator, and a circular diffuser. Its twist-off filter allows for easy maintenance.
Compared to the premium products in our test, this model is very basic, and if you are prone to frizz, you should choose a different model. The cord is less than 6', which can be restrictive. We also noticed that the rocker switches could bite into your hands a bit at their extreme positions. Flaws aside, if you're in the market for an affordable blow dryer, the Conair Infinitipro 1875W Salon Performance will get the job done fast at a tiny fraction of the price of the high-end models. We tested some dryers that were even cheaper than this one, but none that we would recommend, as there's a steep drop-off in performance. Another close runner-up in this category was the Revlon 1875W Compact, it has reasonable results with an unbeatable price. Similar to the Conair, however, it's not recommended if you are particularly concerned about frizz or smoothing the hair.
This budget-friendly hair dryer has more than enough airflow to quickly get your hair dry.
2 different size concentrator nozzles, round nozzle
Maximum Measured Temperature
125°F
Are you sick of feeling like your hair is fried, no matter what heat setting you use? The Bio Ionic Graphene MX could answer your struggle. This gentle dryer is kind to hair on all settings. Its hottest temperature is on par with most models' “warm” setting. To make up for these lower temperatures, the Graphene boasts some of the highest speeds we tested. Its concentrator nozzles are rounded on their ends, allowing a more even spread of air while still reasonably concentrated — no tornado effect here. It's also shorter than most full-sized dryers, lightweight, and boasts a long cord. And though the looks of a hair dryer don't matter — or factor into our scoring — the deep glossy navy of this model earned "ooh"s from more than one of our testers.
If you've got thick hair that only dries with hot air, the Graphene MX probably won't be enough for you. And though we love the effectiveness of the rounded concentrators and circular nozzle, they're less effective at rigid styling and best employed to dry hair into its naturally loose texture (if “naturally loose” doesn't describe the texture of your hair, this may not be the dryer you're searching for). It's also one of the more expensive options we tested, so not something to purchase on a “maybe.” Instead, the Remington D3190 Damage Protection might be more up your alley. This model doesn't shine in its styling ability, but it'll have no problem getting your hair dry and keeping cash in your pocket. But if you've almost given up on hair dryers because they're all too harsh, the Bio Ionic Graphene MX may be your hair's new best friend.
The Bio Ionic Graphene MX is gentle and ideal for those with damaged hair.
Whether you're packing for a long journey or just looking for something small to stuff in the drawer of the guest bathroom, the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Travel is our favorite mini hair dryer. It folds in half to more easily slide into cramped quarters and is the only micro dryer we tested to come with any attachments — a small concentrator nozzle. For overseas travel, no matter where you call home, this pocket-sized hero lets you easily swap from 125V to 250V with just a twist of your nail file or the help of a small coin. Even stationed at home for several weeks, we enjoyed using the Nano Titanium Travel Dryer and never once got our hair caught in the back of this short dryer.
The BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Travel Dryer has fewer settings — just Low and High, to oscillate from a lower speed and lower heat to a higher speed and heat. It has no cool setting, and both the heat settings run hot. The cord is shorter than we'd like, although still significantly longer than other compact hair dryers we've tested. Despite its obvious limitations, this pint-sized product still offers solid styling and drying power in a very travel-friendly package and is our go-to choice for vacationing abroad. The BaBylissPro Nano Titanium is the full-size version of this hair dryer. It has a longer cord, more heat settings, and a greater airspeed.
The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Travel in action.
Credit: Chris McNamara
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We tested the best and most popular hair dryers available today.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
How We Test Hair Dryers
Over the past couple of years, we've tested nearly two dozen hair dryers. We combed the internet to find the most promising hair dryers to test side-by-side in this review. From professional models used in salons to budget-friendly options available at the local drugstore, we bought and tested a wide range of hair dryers.
While every hair dryer will dry your hair, we dove beyond the name to see how well they perform. Styling and drying ability were our top considerations — we tested these hair dryers on curly and wavy hair, straight hair, thick hair, and fine hair to see which ones could handle the diversity of hair types and desired hairstyles. We spent months styling and drying our hair with every model, gaining detailed insights into each dryer's strengths and shortcomings. We measured every aspect of them, including all temperature settings, speed settings, size, and the length of their cords. We even traveled with them to see how well they handled the journey — and how worthy they were of precious suitcase space.
We categorized our dozens of tests, measures, and assessments into the following four performance metrics:
Styling Ability (35% of overall score weighting)
Drying Ability (30% weighting)
Ease of Use (25% weighting)
Packability (10% weighting)
Our series of tests included measuring air speed, temperature, and cord length.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Why Trust GearLab
Maggie Nichols leads our expert testing team. Her background and multiple degrees involved designing and carrying out rigorous scientific testing. Her hair has continued to change texture over the past 20 years, constantly challenging her to find new and effective ways to coax it into doing what she wants. She has had hair as long as the small of her back and as short as a single inch and has used a hair dryer regularly for over two decades. From growing up styling her hair in muggy Midwestern summers to keeping it healthy in desert winters, there is no climate Maggie hasn't dried and styled her hair in.
Katie Brown is a professional bridal stylist and has been styling hair for nearly a decade. She has worked with clients of all hair types and textures and is constantly on the lookout for dryers to help eliminate frizz, thereby allowing the smoothest bridal styles. With back-to-back clients in the often hectic hours leading up to a wedding, it is important to find the right tools to get the job done, and Katie is no stranger to that. Together, Maggie and Katie combine their years of experience, whether it be casual or professional, to bring you this review of the best hair dryers on the market.
We tested every attachment repeatedly.
We tested these models side-by-side.
An arsenal of styling tools.
We dried and styled hair for months, measuring every aspect of these driers, from air speed and temperature to cord length and overall size.
How to Pick the Best Hair Dryer
With such a vast range of prices, it is important to consider your styling intentions and determine which features are necessary for you based on your hair type.
Consider Your Hair Type
Like many other products, you'll want to find a dryer that fits your hair needs. Regardless of your hair type, you'll likely want to reduce frizz, but if you have curly hair, blasting it with high heat won't do you any favors. While there are different methods of styling curly hair with a blow dryer, choosing a model with low-heat options and a diffuser is in your best interest. Those with damaged hair will also want to opt for an option with low-heat settings to prevent further damage. Thin hair can get away with a lower wattage model, while those with thicker hair will need more power. On the low side, you can expect a wattage of around 1800, whereas the higher power, professional-style models are upwards of 3000 watts. However, high-power options with varying airflow settings exist and will suit all hair types. High-power models can drastically decrease drying time, so if you're often in a rush in the mornings, opt for one of these. If you lie somewhere in the middle of all this, you'll have a bit more wiggle room with your choice, and you'll want to next consider the features you want.
The Shark has different attachments that make styling while drying easy.
We tested a wide variety of hair dryers to see which were the best.
Different hair dryers have a variety of features, strengths, and weaknesses. Choosing the right model for your hair type is important for nailing the finished look.
What Features Do I Need?
For the occasional user or guest room bathroom, you probably don't need to shell out a whole lot on a hair dryer. But if you're trying to cure damaged hair or use your dryer as a styling tool, choosing a model with the bells and whistles will be in your best interest. Those with attachments will help style your hair during the drying process — think professional salon. If your hair is curly, be sure to choose an option with a diffuser, while a concentrator nozzle is best for straight hairstyles. Some models have airflow settings, which can aid in the styling process and help eliminate frizz. All dryers in this review have at least two heat settings, which is helpful during styling, quick drying, or protecting hair from damage.
What is an Ionic Hair Dryer?
Ionic hair dryers emit negative ions, neutralizing the positive ions in hair. This process helps close the cuticle, thus locking in moisture and reducing frizz. Ionic hair dryers are certainly not needed to get the job done, but they can aid in a silky finished look.
The Shark SpeedStyle is among the ionic style hair dryers which help cut back on frizz.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Analysis and Test Results
Across our four testing metrics, we combined objective, measurable aspects of each model — like their airspeed and temperature output — with more subjective and experiential features — like how well they tame flyaways or set curls and waves. In what follows, we will break down our testing to highlight the best models in each area.
What's the Best Value?
There is a huge range of possible costs you might pay for a new hair dryer. And the several-hundred-dollar question is, “Are the more expensive models worth it?”. The simple answer is that it depends on what you're looking for. The best value model we tested is the Trezoro Professional Ionic. This dryer offers solid styling and drying performance without breaking the bank. If you're looking to do basic drying and maybe a little straight-styling, the Trezoro will get the job done for less than the premium models. If you're here to find out how to upgrade your hair dryer to something that cuts down frizz, styles straighter hair well, and is pleasant to use, the Sam Villa Light Professional Ionic is that dryer. It left our hair feeling silky and smooth and not at all fried and is a downright joy to use.
The Trezoro is an ionic hair dryer that won't break the bank.
The Sam Villa leaves the hair feeling silky smooth thanks to its adjustable airflow and temperature.
The Trezoro Professional Ionic and Sam Villa Light Professional Ionic are two of our favorite hair dryers. Both have ionic technology that left our hair feeling smooth.
For drying textured hair, the solution becomes a bit more spendy. Most models we tested don't do well drying curly or wavy hair. The only one that worked well for styling and drying without frying is the very expensive Dyson Supersonic. While this dryer may not be affordable for most of us, it's the only one we tested that has the range to manage textured hair. On the bright side, however, Shark Speedstyle is a less expensive model that performs similarly to the Dyson. If you have curly hair, you're going to want to make sure you buy the option that comes with the diffuser, but overall it's a great value for a high end product that performs nearly as well as the Dyson. On the other end of the value spectrum is the Revlon Compact. This is the type of dryer you'd find in a hotel room, but if basic is what you're after, it performs ok for very little money.
The inexpensive Revlon 1875W is great for casual users who don't care to style while drying.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Styling Ability
Testing every dryer's styling ability took a lot of time, extra hair washing, and plenty of trial and error. We first noted everything measurable, including the number and type of attachments, temperature range, and available options.
We checked for tips and tricks for using each model- those included in the box and recommended on their websites. And then we styled our hair with them over and over (and over) again. We tried every attachment the way it is intended to be used and gauged its effectiveness over multiple sessions. We styled our hair at the beginning of the day and noted how well it stayed by its end. We tried every logical combination of heat, speed, and attachments to create straight, wavy, curly, and natural hairstyles.
If you have suggestible hair that can be dried straight or wavy or textured hair that's not straight, the best tool we found for versatile styling is the Dyson Supersonic. No other hair dryer comes close to matching the Dyson regarding non-straight hair — and it wows us with its performance on straight hair too! With five attachments, this expensive product may seem like a gimmick, but every one of these pieces did exactly what Dyson advertises it to do. While there are many options for folks with mostly straight hair, the Dyson Supersonic is the only one that excels at styling textured hair.
The Dyson Supersonic is the only hair dryer we tested that can effectively style a wide variety of hair thicknesses and textures.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
If you mostly find yourself drying your hair straight, the Sam Villa produced silky smooth locks when dried with a brush. The Drybar Buttercup has an excellent range of temperatures and an exceptionally long barrel that works well together to let you achieve that “blowout look” at home.
The Bio Ionic Graphene MX combines lower temperatures with higher speeds that are a dream for fine-haired folks and those looking to protect their locks from heat damage without sacrificing style. The Trezoro Professional Ionic and BaBylissPro Nano Titanium have effective concentrator nozzles and wide ranges of temperature to help you style your hair — though both lack the same level of frizz-taming finesse found in the previously mentioned models. The Shark Speedstyle also performed well in the styling ability category. It includes several tools to create sleek, smooth hair while eliminating the risk of damage with its ionic technology.
The Shark includes various attachments to help style hair while it dries.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Drying Ability
Over the months we spent testing these hair dryers, we gauged their ability to dry our hair quickly and effectively into whatever style we were trying to accomplish. We measured air speed at every setting to understand the available range.
As part of our tests, we measured air speed, air temperature, cord length, and dryer length.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
We used them with attachments and without attachments. We considered how closely we could comfortably hold them to our heads to speed up the process. And we dried our hair repeatedly to better understand the speed at which each model consistently dries our hair.
The Sam Villa Light Professional Ionic has a decently high airspeed and an exceptionally narrow concentrator attachment that effectively points air exactly where you need it, resulting in a faster dry time, even at lower temperatures. The DryBar Buttercup and Dyson Supersonic are also quite fast, particularly at their higher settings, both in temperature and speed. However, we found both these models to lose out in their detailed styling when drying too fast, whereas the Sam Villa dries quickly while styling well. The Shark Speedstyle dries quickly and quietly as well, and the smoothing attachment is unique in its ability to prevent frizz while drying.
The Bio Ionic Graphene MX dries quicker than we expected for a model with pretty low temperatures. Its high speed and effectual concentrator nozzles more than make up for its lower heat settings. The BaBylissPro Nano Titanium also dries fairly quickly, though this is achieved through its use of higher temperatures, which often results in a frizzier outcome. Not far behind is the Trezoro, though it also produced less-than-sleek results when drying hair quickly, as it employs higher temperatures to achieve those quick results.
The CHI Pro Dryer and Conair Infinitipro 1875W Salon Performance both dried our hair with above-average expedience. The CHI does so through some of the highest temperatures of any model we tested, while the Infinitipro manages it by blowing fast-moving air in more directions with a very rounded concentrator. The Revlon Compact and Lightweight dries fine but does leave hair a bit frizzy.
The BaBylissPro Nano Titanium uses high heat to dry your hair quickly.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
To test ease of use, we measured important things like cord length. We used controls with wet and slippery hands to see how easy they are to manipulate. We considered attachments — how easily they can be swapped from one to another while the dryer is on and off and how well they stay on when bumped against your head during drying. We checked the weight and balance of each model and evaluated their handle textures and ergonomics. When possible, we removed and cleaned filters to assess the long-term maintenance of each hair dryer.
The Bio Ionic Graphene MX is super easy to operate and pleasant to use. Its rocker switches are lightly embedded into the handle without too much resistance when switching between modes. We had no trouble operating it with styling product on our hands, and we never accidentally switched the mode when we didn't intend to. It has one of the shorter barrels for a full-sized hair dryer and is very lightweight and easy to maneuver. The long cord and attachments that never got dislodged during use (unless we were trying to remove them!) also make this one of our favorite hair dryers to hold.
The Dyson Supersonic is the shortest full-sized hair dryer in our lineup, with its balance farther down in the handle, making it easy to aim and style at the same time. Its five magnetic attachments attach solidly and remove easily, and the dryer remembers your last-used setting, even after you've unplugged it. The Sam Villa is very similar in size, weight, and overall feel but has larger rockers and a too-small cool button that we like a little less.
The Shark Speedstyle is compact and lightweight with a matte finish and pleasant coloration. The attachments are a bit stiff to attach, but once on will not fall off. The cool button is a bit easy to accidentally push while styling, but otherwise we had no complaints about using this unit.
The Bio Ionic Graphene MX controls are exactly the right level of embedded into the handle to be perfectly accessible without getting bumped everytime we switch hands.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The DryBar Buttercup is pleasant to hold thanks to its matte finish and ergonomic handle. However, its barrel is extraordinarily long (even before its longer-than-average concentrators are attached), which means you'll have to hold it quite far away from your head. We got used to it after a time, but it's much easier to use on someone else's hair than our own. It has the longest cord of any we tested, which we appreciate. The BaBylissPro Nano Titanium and Trezoro Professional Ionic have similar feels, with decently long cords and rocker switches on their handles. Both are a bit easier to bump into a different setting while in use, though not unduly so. The BaByliss sometimes drops its attachment if bumped too hard, and the Trezoro can't be opened to clean the intake filter. The Revlon COmpact and Lightweight is easy to use due to its simplicity. It's small and lightweight, as the name suggests, but is limited in its ability to produce a high-quality result.
The Trezoro Ionic has a solid range of options for drying many thicknesses of hair on a budget.
Credit: Laura Casner
Packability
Though it is our lowest-weighted metric, we also considered the packability of every dryer we tested. Whether you're planning to take it overnight at a friend's house or on a multiweek international journey, we evaluated the feasibility of doing so.
We looked at how easy it is to wind up their cords and took note of which ones were dual-voltage (so you won't need a converter in places like Europe). We assessed their overall size and weight. And we considered which ones do a special enough job at styling and drying your hair to be worth the precious suitcase space they will inevitably take up.
In terms of sheer space, the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Travel and Conair 1600 Watt Compact Folding are roughly on par with each other. Both are much smaller than a standard hair dryer and can fold in half to more easily fit into awkwardly small spaces. Each has a similar twistable setting on its handle to easily switch between 125V and 250V input. We couldn't get either of them to move with just our fingernails, but both easily fit a small coin or a metal nail file. These scaled-down dryers give up many of the settings and long cords of their full-sized brethren, though both still have at least two settings.
The Conair Compact Folding is a great size for traveling but has some serious usability flaws.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Trying to stuff a full-sized hair dryer into a carry-on bag with limited capacity is a challenge. And since most hotels and vacation rentals have hair dryers you can use when you get there, it's often not worth the luggage space to bring your hair dryer along on vacation. The Sam Villa and Bio Ionic are both smaller and lighter than average, increasing their portability. However, neither has any voltage-switching abilities, meaning that if you're heading overseas, you'll likely need a bulky converter too. The Shark Speedstyle is small and easy to pack, although the cord is a bit bulky, its only downfall when it comes to packability. Ultimately, if you're willing to make space for a full-sized hair dryer in your bag, we're not going to try to talk you out of it — we've done it too.
Get ready more easily with your new favorite hair dryer.
Credit: Laura Casner
Conclusion
Choosing the right hair dryer can be tricky. Every single hair dryer we tested does precisely what it's made to do — dry your hair. But if you're picky like we are, we hope that our deep dive and intensive testing of these models helps you to find the perfect hair dryer for your styling, drying, and even traveling needs.
