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The 10 best hair dryers of 2024, according to experts
- Best overall: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
- Best lightweight: T3 AireLuxe
- Best for thick hair: BabylissPro Nano Titanium Dryer
- Best for volume: GHD Air 1600W Professional Hair Dryer
- Best for fighting frizz: Dyson Airwrap
- Best for quickly drying: BabylissPro Rapido Dryer
- Best professional: Turbo Power Twin Turbo 3500 Ceramic And Ionic Hair Dryer
- Best for accessibility: T3 Featherweight StyleMax Hair Dryer
- Best for curly hair: Pattern Blow Dryer
- Best for damaged hair: Conair Pro Style Bonnet Hair Dryer
- What to look for in a hair dryer
- Best hair dryer FAQs
- Our experts
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There are many hair dryers on the market that get the job done, but achieving 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.
Our absolute favorite hair dryer is the Dyson Supersonic, which checks all these boxes and then some with its Air Multiplier technology that dries hair faster and limits heat damage. For a quick drying option, look to the BabylissPro Rapido Dryer, which is similarly lightweight yet powerful.
"We recommend selecting dryers with long-lasting motors and designated heat distribution systems to prevent overheating the hair during drying," says Sergio Bove, Vice President of U.S. Sales for Swiss hair dryer manufacturer Valera. "We also favor an ergonomic design with a lightweight construction for long-term drying sessions and to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome and elbow pressure difficulties."
Ahead, we spoke to eleven hair professionals to find the best hair dryers for various hair types and preferences.
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Our top 3 picks for the best hair dryers
It may be pricey, but if you're looking for a high-tech hair dryer that actually lives up to the hype, the Dyson Super Sonic may be for you.
We love the T3 AirLuxe blow dryer and named it one of our best blow dryer picks of 2023. It’s great for quick-drying and will last you a long time.
A trusted alternative with an affordable price tag and thousands of positive reviews.
Pros: Fast-drying, reduces frizz, adds shine, sleek design, comes with 5 attachments
Cons: Price
The Dyson Supersonic is on the lower end of the wattage spectrum, But it came highly recommended as one of the best hair dryers by the most of the experts we spoke to. The main features that were called out were its ability to fight frizz, its sleek, lightweight design, and fast drying time.
"The Dyson Supersonic is a go-to for fighting frizz," says Nick Stenson, artistic director of haircare company Matrix. "The technology that Dyson has created gives it a strong, controlled airflow that dries hair quickly with minimal frizz. And it includes 5 attachments, my favorite being the Flyaway attachment to give those sleek looks."
The obvious downside is the high price tag, but don't worry — there are plenty of more affordable picks below.
Pros: Lightweight, 5 heat settings, comes with a paddle brush and round brush
Cons: Price, does not come with diffuser
This lightweight, ergonomic option features digitally controlled settings and T3 technology, which reduces drying time. "T3 technology allows for the dryer to monitor heat so that it is not over exposing the hair," says Stenson. "It can also dry larger sections so that you can condense the drying time."
Pros: Fast-drying, lightweight, 6 speed and heat settings
Cons: Only comes with concentrator nozzle attachment
When it comes to the best hair dryers for thick hair, a higher wattage (aka, stronger airflow) is necessary in order to dry hair efficiently. "When searching for a blow dryer for thick hair, you want to look for a dryer in the 2000 [wattage] range," says Matrix Artistic Director Nick Stenson.
This dryer from BabylissPro boasts 2,000 watts and features a whopping 6 heat and speed settings.
Pros: Ergonomic design, 9-foot cord
Cons: Only comes with a concentrator nozzle
This professional-level hair dryer delivers high-pressure air flow for a quick and effective blow dry. "The GHD Air is powerful and can truly be an ace in the pocket to anyone with long and/or thick hair," says Brown. "This dryer gives maximum force, minimum frizz, and a smooth finish."
This tool has gone viral for good reason. The popular Dyson multi-styler now features re-engineered technology with 6 different attachments, including one of the best hair dryers for fighting frizz, the Coanda smoothing dryer. The hair dryer attachment features two modes: Drying mode, which can be used on any hair type to pre-dry hair or set finished styles, and Smoothing mode, which can be used to smooth flyaways and works best on naturally straight or wavy hair or straightened hair of any type.
"At home, I use the Dyson Airwrap," says Shelly Aguirre, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. "It does seem to keep the hair healthy, and it's pretty quick. I also like all of the attachments. I can make my hair straight or add some loose curls or just some body depending on what look I'd like to achieve."
Read our full Dyson Airwrap review.
Pros: Fast-drying, lightweight, 6 speed and heat settings
Cons: Price, doesn't come with diffuser
This lightweight pick from BabylissPro is among the best hair dryers for longevity — it promises 10,000 hours of high-speed drying. "A great option is the Babyliss Pro Rapido Dryer [which is a] 2000-watt dryer with great attachment options," says Stenson.
Pros: Fast drying time, 4 heat settings
Cons: Price
Because of their power and longevity, Twin Turbo offers some of the best hair dryers for professionals. Multiple experts pointed to the 3500 model as their favorite tool for long salon days. "This dryer's worth every dollar, especially for professionals like me who use a dryer for 10 hours every day," says Piet Sinthuchai, hairstylist and creative director of Vartali Salon in New York City. "The compact design makes it so easy to handle in different ways, plus the cold button is my favorite."
Holdsworth notes that she wouldn't recommend this for the average consumer as it's incredibly powerful and could be misused, leading to damage.
Pros: Lightweight, comes with 4 attachments, 9-foot cord
Cons: Price
You don't need bulky, cumbersome tools to achieve a quality blow-dry at home. This lightweight dryer from T3 is just over one pound and features an easy-to-hold design and a 9-foot cord for easy styling.
"As a pro, it's highly important for my guests to feel able to achieve anything I do in the salon at home," says Brown. "Ergonomics and accessibility play a huge role in that success. A favorite dryer is the T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer, which supports just that. At 16.6 ounces, this dryer is lightweight and ergonomic for all body types."
Pros: Specifically designed for curly and coily hair types, comes with 4 attachments, aesthetically pleasing design, lightweight
Cons: Price
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.
Created by actress Tracee Ellis Ross, Pattern's entire line is tailored to textured hair. The lightweight yet powerful dryer comes with four attachments to help create a variety of curly styles — plus, its chic terracotta design will look stunning in any bathroom.
Pros: Multiple airflow settings, folds easily for compact storage, adjustable height for easy use
Cons: No additional attachments
If you have damaged hair, this bonnet-style hair dryer is for you. With just two heat and airflow settings, this dryer offers a gentle dry that leaves hair shiny and salon-quality. One of the biggest pros about this hair dryer is the extra-large hood that allows room for a full set of large rollers if you're looking for a faster, even dry when executing a voluminous blowout at home.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected].
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