The graph above shows global hair dryer revenue for the period 2018 to 2026

BEST VALUE HAIR DRYER: REMINGTON

Pro Hair Dryer with Thermaluxe Advanced Thermal Technology

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Pros:

• Dries hair quickly
• Comes with two attachments
• Good air flow

Cons:

• Some testers said it was heavy

The Remington is a pocket friendly workhorse. You will love the air pressure and fast performance. A section of reviewers found it bulky and noisy. The manufacturer strikes the perfect balance between affordability and availability of extras, including in the package both concentrator and diffuser attachments. “It dried hair quickly without getting unbearably hot,” a reviewer reported. “There was no frizziness in my hair after using this dryer,” another said.

BEST HAIR DRYER FOR FRIZZY HAIR: HOT TOOLS

Professional Turbo Ionic DC Blue Hair Dryer

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Pros:

• Compact size
• Minimizes frizz

Cons:

• Diffuser sold separately

The Hot Tools is compact, dries hair fast and has a strong airflow. Reviewers praised its small size as well as the fact that it left their hair less frizzy. You will love its easy-to-reach controls, its comfortable shape, and the fact that it is quiet. “The hair dryer did a perfect job on my hair with less frizz and more shine to it,” a reviewer said. “I dried my hair in almost half the time,” another noted.

BEST COMPACT HAIR DRYER FOR BANGS: HARRY JOSH PRO TOOLS

Ultra Light Pro Dryer

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Pros:

• Smaller size makes it easier to target sections of hair
• Powerful airflow

Cons:

• Diffuser sold separately

This Harry Josh comes in a lightweight, compact design that makes it perfect for drying bangs. The original Harry Josh Pro Tools 2000 hair dryer was much loved by reviewers and although some found it too heavy, they appreciated how much power it packed. It’s almost everyone’s favorite. “It is very light weight, it is fast and has wonderful high heat settings,” a reviewer reported.

BEST PROFESSIONAL HAIR DRYER: DYSON

Supersonic Hair Dryer

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Pros:

• Fastest drying
• Five magnetic attachments included

Cons:

• Pricey

Professional hairstylists swear by this Dyson which is fitted with a unique motor-in-the-handle design. It discharges a super strong airflow and dries hair faster than the any other unit available in the market. Its been reported to dry samples of hair in under a minute. The manufacturer packs for you a whole set of five attachments in the box when you buy this unit, to customize to your hair type and needs, including two concentrators, a diffuser, an attachment for smoothing flyaways and a gentle air attachment, all of which are magnetic for simple usage.

reviewers could not get enough of how sleek it looked and one commented, “This Dyson got my hair smoother, and in less time, than any hair dryer I’ve used.” Another said: “The air pressure was great and I do feel like it dried my hair unusually fast.”

BEST HAIR DRYER BRUSH: AMIKA

Hair Blow Dryer Brush

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Pros:

• Creates major volume
• Gentle heat
• Quiet

Cons:

• No cool setting

The Amika is easy to hold and does a wonderful job at creating volume. It is the quietest dryer in its class and discharges the gentlest heat while working well on all hair types. It is an impressive tool that delivers the perfect blowout, gives hair volume, is not  loud, has an ideal weight and does not burn hair or skin when on the highest level of heat. This Amika is simply versatile: “Has a wonderful way of creating curls, giving a bouncy look” and “my hair received volume at the roots and a straight blowout,” two testers commented.

BEST HAIR DRYER FOR DAMAGED OR FINE HAIR: BIO IONIC

GrapheneMX Brushless Professional Hair Dryer

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Pros:

• Low air temperature yet fast drying
• Gentle on thin or fragile hair

Cons:

• Noisy

The Bio Ionic gives you power while at the same time maintaining gentleness. You will find it is mild on both hair and scalp, an important attribute when you are dealing with damaged or fine hair. When compared to other models, the Ionic has the lowest air temperature at the highest of the three settings, yet still dries hair samples fast enough. Reviewers have rated it as loud and does not come cheap, you will still love the 10-year motor-life warranty that comes bundled with it. “I enjoyed the sleekness and weight. It is not heavy or big but has a powerful kick,” said a reviewer.

BEST HAIR DRYER FOR CURLY HAIR: PAUL MITCHELL

Neuro Tourmaline Hair Dryer

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Pros:

• Digital LED display for heat and power settings
• Includes diffuser for curly hair
• Minimizes frizz

Cons:

• May be heavy and uncomfortable to hold

Paul Mitchell is a leader in cutting edge dryer technology, the Neuro Dry is no exception. This dryer is fitted with a digital LED display for heat and power settings and has a “clean filter” indicator light; as well as a diffuser which is important for drying curly and natural hair textures. Reviewers consistently score this unit highly due to its airflow and high heat settings. The Paul Mitchell also receives high marks for minimizing frizz, with a reviewers noting it “it gave my hair fullness” and another that “this dryer worked on my hair from wet to dry really fast.” While most reviewers found it easy to operate and liked the controls, they found it unwieldy likely due to its weight. 

BEST HAIR DRYER FOR THICK HAIR: CRICKET

Ultra Smooth Professional Hair Dryer

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Pros:

• High heat to dry thicker hair
• Easy to hold and use
• Dries hair fast

Cons:

• Diffuser not included
• May get overly hot at the highest heat setting

Cricket’s hair dryer model attains high temperatures of 150°F, the highest among the top dryers, making it ideal for thick hair. You will find this unit comfortable to hold, and it comes with easy-to-use attachments and buttons. “I find it cute and compact while remaining powerful and well made; it’s also light and nice to hold,” a reviewer raved. “I like it just the way it is,” another said.

BEST TRAVEL HAIR DRYER: DRYBAR

Baby Buttercup Blow Dryer

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Pros:

• Powerful enough to be used as a primary hair dryer
• Foldable handle for storage and portability
• Includes travel bag

Cons:

• Heavy for a travel hair dryer

When it comes to travel dryers, the Drybar is the best of the best. This unit features a top-of-the-line dual voltage model that delivers fast-drying power in a portable package. You will get hooked on its easy-to-use controls, and strong airflow. The Drybar has received rave reviews for being the easiest to maneuver and comfortable to hold. “I love the power!” a reviewer marveled. “It fits well in my hands and no one would think it’s a travel dryer.”

BEST IONIC HAIR DRYER: INSTYLER

Turbo Max Ionic Hair Dryer

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Pros:

• Strong airflow
• Dries hair quickly
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Loud sound

The InStyler is great at delivering strong airflow that translates to fast drying time. It is fitted with a dial that lets you customize the heat level and is a winner for being comfortable. Reviewers have spoken well about the easy-to-navigate buttons on this dryer. This appliance is lightweight and features attachments that are simple to put on and take off. You may find it to be noisy. One reviewer said it is “light on the hands as well as powerful, I found it easy to hold and use,” one noted. “The unit is great, with a strong airflow but not overpowering,” another said.

BEST LIGHTWEIGHT HAIR DRYER: OLIVIA GARDEN

Ceramic + Ion Professional Hair Dryer

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Pros:

• Dries hair quickly
• Doesn’t feel hot on the scalp
• Lighter than most other dryers

Cons:

• A bit loud

The Olivia Garden is so light you will not be bothered about arm fatigue when drying with this convenient blow dryer. This appliance dries hair quickly because of its steady airflow and temperature, and surprisingly does not scald your scalp. Customers praise this appliance for being easy to handle and operate. The attachments for this Olivia are easy to maneuver, plus it offers a long cord that will come in handy during those hair-drying sessions. Reviewers have complained that it does get loud. “I give it five stars for size and weight, and it has quite a powerful airflow,” one reviewer noted.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Will a cold hair dryer damage my hair?

Blow drying of any type, whether cold or hot will damage your hair.

Heat will however damage your hair more than cold would. In other words, cold drying your hair will be less destructive.

The safest way to blow dry with a hair dryer is to allow your hair to dry naturally up to 70%, then use dry heat thereafter to completely dry your hair. 

Q: Do hair dryers have radiation?

All appliances emit one kind of radiation or another. The radiation emitted by a hair dryer is thermal radiation, also known as heat. This comes with visible light from the heating coils, which is also radiation. A dryer does not emit any kind of alpha, beta or gamma rays, which are the forms of radiation considered unsafe.

Q: Do hair dryers kill lice?

The short answer is No: blow-drying your hair will not kill lice. Only a delousing treatment will get rid of lice.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, when shopping for a quality hair dryer, there are several factors to consider, among them: Adjustable heat and speed settings, attachments, diffusers, concentrators, cool shot buttons, wattage, design attributes, and safety certification. Look for marks such as ETL, SUD, and TUV on the hair dryer’s packaging, which are important indicators of regulatory safety tests.