The key to gorgeous, salon-level hair every day is a great hair dryer for easy blowouts at home. Lucky for you, we’ve got the full blow-by-blow on the best hair dryers!
But before we rank them what makes a great hair dryer?
You’ll want to consider a hair dryer with adjustable heat and speed settings, including a cool shot button which can help to close the hair’s cuticle and lock in the style, preventing frizz once you’re finished drying. You should also make sure the various attachments suit your hair: They really make a difference on varying textures since they affect the airflow of a hair dryer.
Diffusers are great for people with curly hair because they circulate air to the ends of hair while diffusing the airstream from the hair dryer to prevent frizz, which can help to define curls and even add volume.
Concentrators narrow the hair dryer’s airflow to blow air directly on the hair for smooth, sleek styles. They come in different sizes for varying purposes: Broad, extended concentrator nozzles are meant for larger surfaces and are “useful for thick and long hair as they help it dry faster,” says Sabina Wizemann, senior chemist at the Beauty Lab. Short, narrow concentrator nozzles provide curly and frizzy hair the opportunity for a sleek blowout, since their powerful flows are great for eliminating frizz.
Whether you’re going for everyday at-home use, the best travel hair dryer, or pro-level blow-outs every few days, you won’t be disappointed with our top picks.
Furthermore, the job of a hair dryer seems fairly straightforward: dry wet hair and maybe provide a little pomp and sass. Why is it then that so many people end up blaming and cursing at their dryer for the frizzy, unkempt results? This has a lot to do with the fact that hair dryers are significantly more complex than most people realize.
Your trusty old dryer just probably isn’t going to be able to give you the manicured rockstar result you are going for. Getting the right dryer plays a big role in both the health and styling of your hair, so we created a series of rankings aimed at helping people find the perfect dryer for their hair needs. Get ready to be blown away. Here are them:
Bio Ionic 10X – Los Angeles, California
Bio Ionic 10x Pro Ultralight Speed Dryer – Los Angeles, California
Drybar Buttercup Hair Dryer – Brentwood, California
Instyler BLU Turbo Ionic Dryer – Culver City, California
Instyler TURBO Ionic – Culver City, California
NuMe Signature Hair Dryer – Chatsworth, California
Paralux Alyon Air Ionizer – Los Angeles, California
Paralux Eco-Friendly 3800 Hair Dryer – Los Angeles, California
Paul Mitchell’s Neuro Dry – Beverly Hills, California
T3 Cura LUXE Hair Dryer – Venice, California
T3 Featherweight Luxe 2I Dryer – Venice, California