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There’s nothing like the look of the perfect blowout, but weekly trips to the salon are just not in my budget. The first step to any DIY blowout is having a hair dryer fit for the task—but with thousands of models to choose from, narrowing down the best option for you and your hair type is no easy feat. The days of simply blowing hot air are long gone—between ionic technology to reduce frizz and powerful motors to cut down on dry time, it’s easy to hit a wall of decision fatigue. So I spoke to a hair stylist with over 16 years of experience and combed through hundreds of reviews to make that choice a little bit easier for you.
With a volumizing round brush included in the box, this dryer is your first step to a bargain blowout. Conair is a trusted brand in hair, and for about $55, you can own a tool that’s targeted to your do’s volume and shine. Promising 75 percent less frizz thanks to the ionic technology, this option offers you six total heat and speed settings to style your hair on your own terms, all for a reasonable price.
Read the full review: Conair InfinitiPRO Hair Dryer Review: This Powerful Dryer Really Does Dry Your Hair Faster
This ceramic-coated hair dryer could be yours for a little over $25—and I consider that a steal. It uses tourmaline technology to reduce frizz, plus the triple ceramic coating helps to reduce heat damage. Complete with a cold-shot button, two attachments, and sectioning clips to aid styling, you’d be hard pressed to find a decent dryer for less.
Specifically engineered for wavy and curly hair, this dryer promotes definition without the frizz. This Curlsmith model comes with an 8-inch diffuser to reduce styling time and evenly dry your coils—plus its long prongs help to dry your roots faster. Additionally, it’s built with a hands-free stand on the back, so you can give your muscles a break while the machine does all the work.
With thick hair, you’ve got even more locks to protect, and this dryer’s iconic and ceramic technologies are designed for just that. Additionally, the negative ions minimize frizz by reducing static electricity, so you don’t need to worry about your mane getting out of hand.
If you’ve ever been to one of DryBar’s 150+ locations for a blowout, you’ve seen these cheery yellow (yet powerful) blow dryers. The Buttercup was designed for the pros (specifically to withstand constant use), which is what makes it such a great fit for anyone with frizzy hair. The powerful 1875 watt motor dries your hair 20% faster than the average hair dryer, the ionic technology conditions, and the wave heater evenly distributes heat so you don’t end up with damp spots. Together, these features handily defeat the main causes of frizz—not fully drying your hair, and breakage.
Read the full review: Drybar Buttercup Review: Testing Out Drybar’s Best-Selling Hair Dryer
Designed for optimally smooth styling, this T3 model combines ionic technology with a quiet design to ensure a hassle-free drying experience. According to a customer study, 93 percent of women said the product left their hair “looking shiny and healthy.” And since it includes two concentrators—a wide one for drying and a narrow one for styling—you can style even thin hair exactly how you want it.
Read the full review: T3 Featherweight 3i Review: Get a Salon-Grade Blow Dry in Under 10 Minutes
There’s no need to splurge on a dryer for one-off trips, and Conair strikes again with a model designed to be a compact, lightweight travel buddy. The handle folds in, making it easier to fit in your carry-on bag. Even though the voltage is versatile for international travels, the tiny model still offers 1875 watts of power to dry your hair quickly.
Between the compact size and dual voltage, this tiny dryer is made for hassle-free travel.
Known for its household appliances (like vacuum cleaners and air purifiers), Dyson expanded into the hair tools space several years ago and quickly became a must-have for beauty enthusiasts, editors, and influencers everywhere. I personally tested this blowdryer and love it for frizz-free hair that dries at about half the speed it does with any other dryer—plus with much less damage. And while it’s absolutely a splurge at $429, this is a heat tool you’ll have for years and years to come. Plus, if you’re someone who pays for regular blowouts, this blowdryer will earn its keep within a few weeks as it’ll replace professional appointments. It comes with four attachments for all hair types and textures—a flyaway attachment, styling concentrator, diffuser, gentle air attachment and wide-tooth comb. The new flyaway attachment harnesses the Coanda effect—a phenomenon first engineered for styling with Dyson’s Airwrap styler. This attachment lifts and attracts longer hairs to the front and pushes all flyaways through the hair and blends it in with the rest of your hair so it’s out of sight. I’m blown away (ha) at how subpar other blow dryers are in terms of speed and lack of damage when I use pretty much anything other than this one.
Read the full review: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer Review: Shiny and Healthy Hair, Super Fast
If you’re willing to drop a significant amount on your initial purchase, the Dyson Supersonic blow dryer pays off with regard to professional blowout appointments rendered unnecessary, plus the speed and less damage make it the best tool on the market for quick, smooth, healthy hairstyling at home.
This is a superior professional blow drying experience. T3 AireLuxe launched two years ago and features a custom-engineered fan for wider airflow to significantly reduce dry time. (Their lightweight hair dryer also made our list.) It’s also ion-infused to help hair retain 60% more of its natural moisture. A smart microchip digitally controls 15 heat and speed combinations. Shopping tip: T3 also made our lists for the best flat irons, best gifts for moms, and best gifts for women.
Read the full review: T3 Aireluxe Professional Hair Dryer Review: Does It Actually Cut Dry Time in Half?
I love a blowout but have yet to master a round brush, so brush dryers that cut the work in half are my saving grace. Revlon’s updated model uses ceramic and tourmaline tech to reduce heat damage and leave your hair looking smooth and styled. You can leave your hair as silky and straight as some of the best flat irons would or you can flip and twirl your locks for a wavy look.
Read the full review: Revlon One-Step Volumizer PLUS 2.0 Review: This My #1 Hair Tool
From how much to spend to advanced negative-ion tech, there are several factors to consider before making your purchase.
A California-based hair stylist with over 16 years of experience, Tessa Navarro—also known as @painted.by.tessa on Instagram—says to always consider the quality of your purchase, even if that’s “usually the higher price point.” A high-quality dryer will last longer and be healthier on your locks in the long run. “Your hair will thank you later,” Navarro says.
The second I see a word that reminds me of science class, I want to run away from it, but both ionic and tourmaline (a gemstone) technologies work to cut down on frizz. They make use of negative ions to reduce static electricity or seal the cuticle, respectively, to leave your hair smooth and styled. Though when considering a product that boasts tourmaline benefits, it’s best to opt for a model made with the actual technology rather than just coated in the material.
Versatility is the name of the game, and Navarro says you should opt for a dryer that gives you options. “Look for one that will allow you to control the heat and air flow, to prevent damage, and cut down on dry time,” she explains. Different dryers approach their settings in different ways, but you at least want to be able to make sure you can turn down the temperature. Navarro adds, “It doesn’t always need to be on the highest heat, they make lower heats on them for a reason.”
Dryers made with ceramic boast several benefits. The coating heats up quickly, leading to a faster dry. It also produces infrared heat that preserves your hair’s moisture, which is great for minimizing damage in the long run.
Navarro says to never buy a dryer without a cool-shot feature, or else “you will regret it in the long run.” She adds, “It’s the most important button on the blow dryer, in my opinion.” It helps keep the hair healthy, reduce frizz, and add shine.
With years of experience styling models and actors for professional shoots, Navarro laid out a series of qualities to look for when buying a dryer—such as versatile heat settings and a cool-shot button—so I kept those features in mind while conducting my search. I combed through Amazon reviews, as well as testimonials on trusted beauty sites like Ulta and Sephora, and prioritized models that offered decreased dry times, reduced heat damage, and anti-frizz technology, considering the needs for each hair type. I additionally factored in the price and array of attachments when evaluating the dryer’s relative value.
Even though there’s technology that’s beneficial across the board—Navarro says “a ceramic hair dryer is great for nearly all hair types”—she specifically flagged that people with curly hair should be extra cautious of heat damage. “Be mindful not to use extreme heat when blow drying curly hair or there is a chance you can destroy your curl pattern,” she says. “If you’re looking to rock your curls, make sure you grab a hair dryer that comes with a diffuser attachment, place the setting on low speed to reduce frizz and keep the curls happy.”
Additionally, Navarro specifically recommends ionic technology for individuals with thick or curly hair to reduce frizz and keep your locks looking polished.
As the adage goes: You get what you pay for. That said, hair dryers can sell between about $20 and $500, so it can be difficult to narrow down exactly what price range ensures a solid model.
“$150 to $250 will usually get you one that you will be pretty happy with and that should last you quite a long time,” Navarro says. “If you’re looking for something more cost efficient, don’t hesitate to check and see if the brand you’re set on has a smaller travel-size option, that way you can save some coins!”
Navarro said the Dyson Supersonic professional hair dryer is her go-to when she needs a quick blowout, and considering it processes 13 liters of air every second, there’s no question as to why. “I can trust every time I use it to cut down my dry time, while keeping your hair protected with the intelligent heat control,” Navarro says. “It’s so powerful that I use it as a fan on set to blow the models’ hair to get that perfect shot!”
The cool-shot button is the key to setting your style. Dry your hair with your chosen heat setting, then, Navarro says, “Once the hair is dry, you would use it to close the cuticle of the hair to reduce frizz, add shine, and if you are using a round brush, it will hold and lock in your style.”
Although many technologies work to reduce heat damage during the drying process, Navarro still recommends you “do yourself a favor” and always use a heat protectant. (She prefers the Iles Finishing Serum). She adds, “If you aren’t protecting your hair, you will create thermal damage, and it's usually a gradual type of damage, and by the time it's really noticeable, it will be harder for you to repair.”
When looking for a hair dryer, it’s important to consider your price range and hair type. Before deciding the value of a potential purchase, make sure the model is worth investing in—technology that reduces heat damage, cuts down on drying time and leaves your hair frizz-free are all pros to look out for.
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