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Getting the perfect blowout requires the right hair dryer. However, picking one that finds a balance between quality and price can feel daunting. Celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager says, "It’s vital to consider a range of features and settings. Start by looking for dryers that push ionic, ceramic, or tourmaline air, since these air functions smooth hair and add shine. A dryer that has a high ion discharge is my personal favorite, because it tackles curly, thick, and fine hair with consistent results."
Our Top Picks:
- 1
Best Ionic
GHD Helios 1875w Advanced Professional Hair Dryer
$279 at Amazon$279 at AmazonRead more
- 2
Highly Rated on Amazon
Conair Full-Size Pro Hair Dryer with Ionic Conditioning
$26 at Amazon$26 at AmazonRead more
- 3
Best for Damaged Hair
Bio Ionic Smart-X High Efficiency Hair Dryer + Diffuser
$329 at Sephora$329 at SephoraRead more
- 4
Best Hair Dryer Overall
Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer
$430 at Dyson$430 at DysonRead more
- 5
Best Quiet Dryer
Hot Tools Pro Artist QuietAir Power Dryer
$120 at Ulta Beauty$120 at Ulta BeautyRead more
Show more
Beyond type of airflow, look for power or velocity of speed, says Brager, noting this is especially important for thick, curly, or coarse hair and will help keep dry time at a minimum. Also consider heat settings, since the highest setting isn’t always the best setting. Three or more is ideal, says Brager. "Oftentimes people—particularly those with color-treated hair—overheat the hair, causing it to snap or giving you split ends." Ahead, we gathered top-rated hair dryers that are worth the price tag.
1Best Ionic
GHD Helios 1875w Advanced Professional Hair Dryer
1Best Ionic
GHD Helios 1875w Advanced Professional Hair Dryer
$279 at Amazon$205 at Walmart$279 at DermstoreCredit: GHD
Achieving professional results at home is easy with this blow-dryer. It’s lightweight, not noisy, and has a powerful airflow so you can dry your hair fast. It also has a brushless motor that not only makes it a better, stronger dryer but also increases its usable life span.
2Highly Rated on Amazon
Conair Full-Size Pro Hair Dryer with Ionic Conditioning
2Highly Rated on Amazon
Conair Full-Size Pro Hair Dryer with Ionic Conditioning
$26 at Amazon$38 at WalmartCredit: Conair
Ionic conditioning means this hair dryer outputs natural ions that help fight frizz and increase shine. It has thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon because it’s powerful, affordable, and lightweight.
3Best for Damaged Hair
Bio Ionic Smart-X High Efficiency Hair Dryer + Diffuser
3Best for Damaged Hair
Bio Ionic Smart-X High Efficiency Hair Dryer + Diffuser
$329 at Sephora$249 at WalmartCredit: Bio Ionic
If you have dry, damaged, or color-treated hair, you’ll love the way this dryer works. Bio Ionic emits a proprietary mixture of volcanic rock and minerals that allows water molecules to penetrate into the strands, resulting in softer, smoother, and shinier hair.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below4Best Hair Dryer Overall
Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer
4Best Hair Dryer Overall
Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer
$430 at Dyson$430 at Nordstrom$430 at Bloomingdale’sCredit: Dyson
Just about every hairstylist we spoke to said, though undoubtedly pricey, the Dyson is unmatched. It’s quiet, fast-drying, and comes with five attachments specifically engineered for different hair types. "This dryer is also a lot smaller and less bulky than the typical hairdryer that we’re used to seeing, making it great for travel," says Edward Tricomi, master stylist and co-owner of Warren Tricomi salons.
5Best Quiet Dryer
Hot Tools Pro Artist QuietAir Power Dryer
5Best Quiet Dryer
Hot Tools Pro Artist QuietAir Power Dryer
$120 at Ulta BeautyCredit: Hot Tools
Fun fact: This hair dryer is 30 percent more quiet than most hair dryers and offers the same beautiful results. There are six heat and speed for styling versatility, and it has a cool-shot button to set your hair in place.
6Best All-in-One
Shark Beauty FlexStyle™ Hair Blow Dryer & Multi-Styler
6Best All-in-One
Shark Beauty FlexStyle™ Hair Blow Dryer & Multi-Styler
$299 at SephoraCredit: Shark Beauty
It’s a blow-dryer, hair curler, and diffuser in one. It’s also incredibly lightweight, and its sleek style makes it easy to navigate. You can give yourself a bouncy or sleek blowout with the round brush or concentrator nozzle. You could also define your natural curls with the diffuser or create a beautiful curly or wavy style with the auto-wrap curlers.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below7Best for Natural Hair
Pattern The Blow Dryer
7Best for Natural Hair
Pattern The Blow Dryer
$189 at Ulta BeautyCredit: Pattern
This blow-dryer and four attachment heads (diffuser, concentrator nozzle, wide-tooth comb, and brush) are made to shape, stretch, smooth, and define natural hair types. Oprah Daily’s senior producer, J’nelle Agee says, "The wide-tooth comb attachment is genius and glided through my hair so much easier than the one I usually use." Read her full review here.
8Best High-Tech
T3 Featherweight StyleMax Professional Hair Dryer
8Best High-Tech
T3 Featherweight StyleMax Professional Hair Dryer
$200 at Dermstore$200 at Nordstrom$200 at Bloomingdale’sCredit: T3
Dry, smooth, diffuse, or volumize with this hair dryer that’s all about minimizing heat damage. It allows you to input your hair texture, then it auto-customizes heat and airflow to suit your styling goals and help prevent overworked, dry hair.
9Best Drying Time
Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer 2000
9Best Drying Time
Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer 2000
$249 at DermstoreCredit: Harry Josh
A hair dryer that cuts drying time in half thanks to its strong motor that lasts 2,000 hours. There are eight heat, speed, and ion settings. In case you don’t know, the ionic function generator switch releases ions to help promote softer and smoother hair.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below10Best Travel-Friendly
Revlon Airflow Control Hair Dryer
10Best Travel-Friendly
Revlon Airflow Control Hair Dryer
$50 at Ulta BeautyCredit: Revlon
Never worry about losing the concentrator nozzle ever again—it’s built into this hair dryer and rotates vertically and horizontally. It also comes with a diffuser. If you’re always on-the-go, you’ll appreciate how compact it is, making it easy for traveling. Let’s just say, it’s a small but mighty tool.
11Best for All Curl Types
Curlsmith Hair Defrizzion Dryer & XXL Diffuser
11Best for All Curl Types
Curlsmith Hair Defrizzion Dryer & XXL Diffuser
$189 at Sephora$189 at Ulta Beauty$189 at Saks Fifth AvenueCredit: Curlsmith
The large diffuser makes drying all curl types, from waves to coils, quick and easy. The airflow is even and gentle so it helps define curls and minimize frizz.
12Best Hair Dryer with Diffuser
DevaCurl DevaDryer & DevaFuser
12Best Hair Dryer with Diffuser
DevaCurl DevaDryer & DevaFuser
Now 50% Off$90 at Ulta Beauty$23 at Walmart$28 at NordstromCredit: DevaCurl
From the salon that’s perfected the way to style any curls, this tool combines a dryer and diffuser to fight pesky frizz while giving your hair more bounce and body.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below13Best for All Hair Types
Drybar Baby Buttercup Blow Dryer
13Best for All Hair Types
Drybar Baby Buttercup Blow Dryer
$139 at Sephora$139 at Nordstrom$139 at Ulta BeautyCredit: Drybar
Perfect your home blowout with Drybar’s hair dryer that’s meant for all hair types, from straight to tightly coiled. It also has a foldable handle, making it perfect for travel.
14Best Infrared
NuMe Bold Hair Dryer
14Best Infrared
NuMe Bold Hair Dryer
Now 16% Off$83 at numeusa.comCredit: Nume
By using infrared heat and negative ion technology, this dryer works toward a fast dry while maintaining shine and lessening the chance of heat damage.
