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The highest quality brands for all hair types, from fine and thin to curly, frizzy, damaged and more. Custom Blow Dryer
The number one essential for getting a professional-level blowouts at home? A high-quality hair dryer. And all models are not created equal. For the best results, "you need the maximum amount of power with the best type of airflow to protect the hair, combined with the lightest weight possible," explains Michelle Cleveland, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon in Toms River, New Jersey.
It's tricky to know where to start, with so many models on the market and seemingly endless factors to consider, from your hair type and concerns to each blow dryer's technology and your desired features. Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts rigorously test hair dryers in our Lab on human hair samples and consumer testers to assess their attributes and performance.
In the most recent test of hair dryers, GH Beauty Lab analysts evaluated 41 products in the Lab and at home for ease of use, performance, drying time, whether they cause hair damage and more. Thousands of data points were then tallied to compile this list of the best hair dryers you can buy for every hair type, from thin and fine to curly, frizzy and more.
Whether you're looking for a blow dryer you can use every day at home, an affordable pick or a travel hair dryer, here is everything you need to know about shopping for the best hair dryer for your needs, based on GH Beauty Lab testing and expert insights.
A favorite of professional hairstylists, this one-of-a-kind Dyson design (the motor is in the handle!) dried hair faster than any model in the history of GH Beauty Lab hair dryer testing. In Lab evaluations, it dried an eight-inch hair sample in only 54 seconds and had strong airflow. The tool also features a generous cord length, though it doesn't come with a tie, and evaluators found the controls are not easy to reach.
The hair dryer includes a rare five attachments 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. Consumer testers, including a range of hair types (from straight to curly) and lengths (very long, long, shoulder length and short), also evaluated the product and loved how sleek it looked. One raved, "On the most humid of days, it got hair smoother, and in less time, than any hair dryer I've used." Another echoed: "The air pressure was great and I do feel like it dried my hair faster than normal."
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Why the Dyson Supersonic Dryer Is Actually Worth It
This compact model from Hot Tools earned near-perfect scores for drying speed in our testing and ranked high for strong airflow. Testers loved its smaller, easy-to-store size and that it left their hair less frizzy. They gave it top marks for its easy-to-reach controls and comfortable shape, and both Lab assessments and consumers found it to be quiet.
The tool has an ample cord length, though it doesn't come with a tie. The included concentrator attachment was also wobbly, users found. "The hair dryer dried my hair with less frizz and more shine to it," a tester reported. "It was super easy to use and small, so it could be stored pretty much anywhere." Another remarked: "It took a lot less time to dry my hair than usual."
GH Beauty Lab testers found this lightweight Olivia Garden blow dryer dried hair quickly, thanks to its robust airflow and temperature yet didn't feel hot on the scalp, making it ideal for those with fine or thin strands. It was easy to hold and operate and received a perfect score for maneuvering attachments, plus it offers a generously long cord.
A caveat: The dryer was a bit loud, confirmed by the Quiet Mark noise measurement test, receiving 1 out of 3 stars. "I like the size and weight and it has quite powerful airflow," one of our expert evaluators noted. "It looks and feels well-made."
Power-packed yet gentler than other models, Bio Ionic’s hairdryer was mild on both hair and scalp in GH Beauty Lab testing, key for damaged or fragile fine hair. It had the lowest air temperature at the highest of three settings, yet still dried hair samples quickly. Expert evaluators found it comfortable to hold and that the attachments were easy to put on and take off. They also gave it points for the strategically located control buttons and easy-to-use cool shot button.
Though it was loud in sound testing and is the priciest of the most recent test winners, it comes with a 10-year motor-life warranty and a storage bag. That said, it doesn't come with a diffuser, so it may not be the best pick for curly-haired folks. An expert called this pick “sleek-looking," and liked its "balanced weight and size that’s not too heavy or big and feels powerful." Two others commented: "I like that it has three temperatures," and, "it worked really well."
In GH Beauty Lab testing, Cricket’s hair dryer model emitted high heat and had powerful airflow to quickly dry even dense or coarse hair. At 150°F, it had the highest air temperature of the top dryers, making it a good option for thick hair, although it may get too hot for fragile, fine or damaged hair types (a user reported that at the highest heat setting, it can get overly hot and the cool air didn't activate as fast).
The tool ranked high for being comfortable to hold and had easy to use attachments and buttons. It also has an ample cord length with an attached Velcro tie. “Cute and compact, yet powerful and well made, it's also light and nice to hold” one expert evaluator raved. “I like pretty much everything about it," another said, but it does lack a diffuser.
With a dial that lets you customize the heat level, InStyler's ionic hair dryer was a winner in GH Beauty Lab testing for delivering strong airflow. The powerful airflow translated to fast drying speed, and it came out on top for being comfortable to grip and having easy-to-navigate buttons.
The tool was also lightweight and the attachments are simple to put on and take off, though sound evaluations found it to be noisy. Two experts noted they “loved” this model. It is “lightweight but powerful, easy to hold and use," one noted. "Gives a great, strong airflow but not overpowering," another said.
This easy-to-handle dryer from Bio Ionic was the least noisy of the GH Beauty Lab's top performers, according to sound level measurements. Testers loved the "powerful dryer in a small package" and raved about how easy it was to hold. Despite its strong airflow, the tool is also very light, though it didn't dry hair as quickly as other models tested. "Comfortable, quiet and not too hot," a user commented.
Paul Mitchell has a track record of implementing new technologies in their tools, and the Neuro Dry is no exception. The dryer features a digital LED display for heat and power settings and has a “clean filter” indicator light, plus comes with a diffuser included, key for drying curly and natural hair textures, plus, in GH Beauty Lab testing, it received a top drying rate score due to its airflow and high heat settings.
Testers also gave it high marks for minimizing frizz, with one noting it “added fullness" and another that "it seemed to dry my hair quickly." Though testers and experts found it easy to operate and liked the controls, some found it uncomfortable to hold. It was also one of the heaviest hair dryers evaluated.
RELATED: The Best Hair Dryers for All Curly Hair Type
The winner of the GH Beauty Lab's travel hair dryer test, Drybar’s top-of-the-line dual voltage model delivers fast-drying power in a portable package. It scored perfectly in Lab evaluations for having easy-to-use controls, dried hair samples quickly and had strong airflow.
The tool was also easiest to maneuver and comfortable to hold, though it was heavier than other models and more effort was required for proper placement and removal of the attachment. "Wow, this is powerful," an expert evaluator marveled. "It's the right size and doesn't look like a travel dryer until you fold the handle — I like that it could do double duty for home and away."
A unique superslim design that was effortless to maneuver and top-notch performance made this FHI hair dryer a GH Beauty Award winner. The cutting-edge model had the strong airflow and dried hair fast in GH Beauty Lab instrumental testing despite its compact size. Lab pros found it lightweight and "very comfortable to hold with easy-to-reach controls." Though it was slightly more noisy than others tested, it can also double as a travel hair dryer due to its smaller build.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab has been testing hair tools, including hair dryers — plus hair dryer brushes and travel hair dryers — for over a decade. In the GH Beauty Lab's most recent test, our scientists evaluated 41 hair dryers over eight weeks (for a total of 320 hands-on testing hours), recording 2,244 data points to determine the winning models.
In the Lab, scientists evaluate hair dryers across price points and power ratings (ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 watts) by measuring drying speed on standardized human hair samples (left), airflow force (above), weight, air and surface temperature and cord length.
In addition, hair dryers are assessed for their ease of use, including comfort of hold, ease of putting on and removing attachments, location and ease of controls and buttons, and any potential irritation or damage to scalp, skin or hair. Finally, each hair dryer's noise emission level is determined via the third-party certifier Quiet Mark, which issues a star rating based on recorded sound level tests.
When purchasing a top quality hair dryer, there are several factors to consider, GH Beauty Lab scientists say:
✔️ Adjustable heat and speed settings, which allow you to customize the level of heat and power the hair dryer emits according to your hair type and preferences.
✔️ Attachments, which really make a difference on various hair textures since they affect the airflow of a hair dryer. These are the two you'll most commonly find included with your hair dryer or sold separately:
✔️ Cool shot button. Each of the top-tested hair dryers in the GH Beauty Lab's most recent test has a cold-shot button, which can help to close the hair's cuticle and lock in the style, preventing frizz once you're finished drying.
✔️ Wattage. A hair dryer's wattage determines its power: The Beauty Lab recommends a range of between 1,500 and 2,000 watts for best results on any hair type (1,875 watts is the most common hair dryer wattage).
✔️ Design attributes. In GH Beauty Lab testing, we take into account each hair dryer's weight, the length of its cord and its noise level, which can affect ease of use.
✔️ Safety certification. Look for safety verification emblems such as those from ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories), UL (Underwriters' Laboratories) or TUV or SUD (both part of the Technical Inspection Association) on the hair dryer's packaging. "These certifications are essential to ensure that the tools are tested for safety and found to meet safety requirements," Wizemann explains.
Ionic, yes; ceramic, not necessarily. "Ionization technology has visible benefits," Wizemann explains. "It is easy to see benefits when you have ionized technology switched on and off. Static builds up when you blast air without an ionizer and with it, the hair is more aligned and appears shinier." Shop for an ionic hair dryer if you have curly hair that is prone to frizz and flyaways.
Many hair dryers also tout special technologies like ceramic/ceramic-tourmaline or far-infrared radiation on product packaging, but these aren't necessary for an effective, quality tool, GH Beauty Lab testing has found. While there is general research on these technologies, little data is available on their benefits in the context of hair dryer design.
When it comes to choosing the best hair dryer for your specific texture or length, it's more about finding a tool with settings you can customize to you. Follow these general guidelines of what to seek out for certain hair types:
✔️ Curly hair (from 3a to 4c curl types): Look for an ionic hair dryer that comes with lots of attachments. "A diffuser is a must for all curly and kinky hair types who wish to embrace their natural texture and a narrow nozzle attachment if they want to smooth it," Wizemann says.
✔️ Thin hair: In general, look for a hair dryer with low heat settings since higher temps can damage fragile strands. "High temperature is unnecessary for quickly drying thin and flat hair unless it is being styled in a specific way where higher heat is needed to shape it," Wizemann advises.
✔️ Thick or long hair: Look for a dryer with higher voltage for maximum power. "Usually, a higher voltage hair dryer will exhibit a more robust flow and temperature on higher settings," Wizemann says, perfect "for styling thicker, denser and longer hair that needs higher heat and airflow.
✔️ Hair extensions: You don't need a special dryer for synthetic and real hair extensions: Standard hair dryers are generally good for all hair types, says Cleveland.
If you want to mimic a salon-like blowout at home, it helps to know what type of hair dryer professional hairstylists use and what they look for when shopping for one. To hit Cleveland's specs for a top-performing hair dryer (high power, great airflow and light, easy-to-maneuver weight) our top pick for a professional hair dryer is the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, but per Cleveland's advice, any of the dryers above are suitable for professional use — look for the one with the features and attachments that best suit your hair type and needs.
Here, tricks for getting a bouncy, lush DIY blowout from celebrity hairstylist Harry Josh, creator of Harry Josh Pro Tools:
✔️ Apply your product. Work your leave-in hair styling product(s) of choice through damp hair from roots to ends with fingers, then comb through to distribute evenly.
✔️ Section and start. Clip hair into four equal parts and dry one at a time. Using your dryer’s nozzle attachment to concentrate airflow, blast roots while lifting strands with fingers to boost body.
✔️ Grab a hairbrush. Wrap a 1-inch-thick piece of hair around the brush, running the nozzle down the hair shaft as you brush through, pulling taut. Continue until all hair in the section is completely dry; repeat with the remaining sections until finished.
GH Beauty Director April Franzino has over 15 years of experience researching, writing and editing haircare content, utilizing the expertise of the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists and top industry professionals including hairstylists, hair colorists and trichologists. For this story, she worked with GH Beauty Lab scientists to report in-depth on hair dryer test results, technical information, shopping advice and more. She also interviewed professional hairstylists for their commentary on hair dryer best practices.
GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann leads testing of all types of hairstyling tools, including hair dryers, and provided expert insight into the technology behind the products and the latest innovations in the category for this article. She conducted the GH Beauty Lab's last two hair dryer tests and is constantly evaluating new hair dryer launches as they hit the market.
April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.
Sabina (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
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