We can bet that almost everyone reading this has a hair dryer in their home. It's a pretty important item, regardless of whether you're a beauty enthusiast or not (we see you 7-in-1 product users), and especially if you live in a place that gets cold and you don't want to step outside with wet hair.
Although it may look like it, not all hair dryers are created equal. Spoiler: the tiny travel hair dryer that you think is supernifty because it folds up and only cost you £10 probably isn't doing much to control your frizz. Unlike some beauty products where price doesn't always equal quality (like, mascara for example [1]), when it comes to hair dryers, it usually does. Even so, that doesn't always mean you need to spend hundreds of pounds to get the best — you just need to know what you're looking for.
Because there are so many blow dryers out there, and since a good one that doesn't burn your hair can be an investment item (looking at you Dyson Supersonic [2]), it can also be difficult to know what's worth the money. When the time finally comes to upgrade to a newer hair dryer, there are a few things we consider to be nonnegotiable: it has more than one temperature setting, it has a minimum wattage of 1800 (to ensure it has enough powder to dry your hair quickly), it's not too heavy or bulky, it's contains ceramic or has an ionic setting to tame frizz, and it comes with attachments that can help make styling easier — such as a nozzle or a diffuser.
To help you get the best hair dryer that's specific to your needs, we not only asked top professional hairstylists to share their favourites with us but also polled our editors on the blow dryers they can't live without. Read on to see which ten came out on top.
T3 Featherweight 2 Hair Dryer
The T3 Featherweight 2 Hair Dryer [4] (£66) uses both ionic and ceramic technology for superfast drying time that evenly distributes heat to avoid as much heat damage as possible. As the name suggests, it's lightweight, so it won't hurt your arms too much if you have a lot of hair to dry or style.
Babyliss Hydro-Fusion Hair Dryer
The Babyliss Hydro-Fusion Hair Dryer [5] (£60) was made to be used on fine hair — whether straight, wavy, or curly (it comes with diffuser). But it's not just the tool's two speeds, three temperature settings, and slim nozzle that make it good for those with finer hair. It's the fact the brand has figured out a way to keep hair moisturised whilst you're drying it.
How the heck does this hydrate you hair whilst blasting it with really hot air? The brand engineered the dryer with something it calls "Advanced Plasma Technology", a system that combines positive and negative ions to keep hair moisturised while smoothing the hair to fight frizz. "The technology helps smooth and target flyaway hair whilst you style, plus helps to close the cuticle faster to lock in natural moisture and hydrate," said hairstylist Syd Hayes, who is an ambassador for the brand (and whose A-list clients include models Lila Moss, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Bieber).
"I love the new Hydro Fusion range mainly because both the dryer and the air styler are both extremely light weight which means styling is easier. They are also easy to use and even the sound of the motor is quiet and extremely powerful which makes the styling experience more enjoyable," Hayes continued. "I've really noticed the positive impact of the technology on thicker and frizzy textures too, which hugely benefit from using the precision of the nozzle or air flow through the diffuser."
GHD Air Dryer
When I quizzed the POPSUGAR editors on their favourite hair dryers, GHD Air Dryer [6] (£99) came out on top. And it's not just editors that love it, it's also a favourite of London-based hairstylist and salon owner Charlotte Mensah [7]. "It delivers high pressure air flow for superfast drying. The advanced ionic technology reduces frizz and flyways, to give a smooth salon-style finish in half the time. It's supereasy to use and has different heat settings," she explains.
Dyson Hair Dryer
Another that came top of the list for both editors and stylists is the (still) incredibly buzzy (and expensive) Dyson Hair Dryer [8] (£299). Hairdresser Lorraine Dublin [9] — who has worked with the likes of Serena Williams, Thandie Newton, and Gabrielle Union [10] — says that the Dyson is the best she's found. "It's quiet, light, and compact (which means it's easy to travel with), and I love that the attachments are magnetic, making it easier to use." She told POPSUGAR that she's excited to try out the new Wide Tooth Comb Attachment [11] (£30), which is specifically designed for natural curly and coily hair.
BaByliss Pro Italia Brava Hair Dryer
Sam Burnett [12], creative director and owner of Hare and Bone Salon, swears by BaByliss Pro Italia Brava Hair Dryer [13] (£90) because "it's great for drying and styling due to its lightweight design, strong air pressure, and controlled heat distribution," making it a great option for both in-salon users (like Burnett), or at-home users (like the rest of us nonprofessionals). But what he really likes about this one the most is that it doesn't overheat.
Mark Hill Salon Professional Hair Dryer
If you're not really sure what you need and don't want to spend a ton of money, the Mark Hill Salon Professional Hair Dryer [14] (£30, originally £60) is a great place to start. It has five different temperature settings and five speed settings, so you can get the best power for your hair type and desired result. This set also comes with a nozzle, diffuser, and heat protector spray.
Lanaiblo White Hair Dryer
The Lanaiblo White Hair Dryer [15] (£115) is one of my personal favourites. I actually rarely blow-dry my hair, so I like hair dryers that are powerful enough to get the job done quickly. Thanks to the 2400W on this one, it does exactly that. I use it on its highest heat on the medium speed setting to ensure that my hair dries fast without getting really frizzy. It gives my hair a nice shine and doesn't overheat. Oh, and it can be personalised, which some people might say (some people being me) that having your name on it makes drying your hair a much less tedious task.
Parlux 3800 Hair Dryer
Parlux 3800 Hair Dryer [16] (£83) is POPSUGAR's assistant editors Angela Law's favourite, so much so that she's had it for 10 years. "It's as good as the day I bought it," she says. "I never feel like it damages my hair, because I've never had frazzled ends after using it (it's supersmoothing), and my hair is far less frizzy than when I use any other dryer."
Cloud Nine The Alchemy Collection Airshot Gift Set
Cloud Nine The Alchemy Collection Airshot Gift Set [17] (£119) is a high-quality all-rounder. It promises and delivers in drying the hair quickly (thanks to 2000W) without having to worry about static, frizzy, or flyaway hairs.
Electric WT-1 Harrier Hairdryer
Although the Electric WT-1 Harrier Hairdryer [18] (£99.50) was created for professionals in mind, those well-acquainted with at-home blow dries are going to love it. It has three heat settings and two speed settings for total control over power and desired finish. Plus, it has an automatic shut-off feature to prevent the dryer from overheating, causing unnecessary damage.