11 Best Hair Dryers in 2024, Reviewed by Allure Editors

This is a particularly good hair dryer for those who want something that doesn't sound like a jet engine taking off in your bathroom. According to Dyson, the Supersonic measures 79 decibels on average and emits less noise than the average hair dryer.

Tester Feedback: Commerce editor Sarah Han has mostly straight hair—though there is a loose wave pattern starting from the midway point—that's fine but dense. After testing the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer over and over again, she notes that many hair-care products enter and leave her bathroom, but the Dyson is here to stay. Han says that it's lightweight and quieter than most she has tried. "It's pretty to look at too, not an eyesore, and more importantly, dries my hair the fastest," Han shares.

Tester Feedback: "It goes without saying that using a Dyson Supersonic is a total treat, but I'll say it anyway," contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman enthuses. "It's the be-all-end-all of hair dryers—compact, hearty, and salon vibes. Still, sometimes, I like to go in with my T3 Airebrush to feather my face frame after the Dyson-ing is all done." Blackman starts with a rough-dry before going in with the concentrator or pairing the tool with a paddle or round brush.

• Best For: Everyone, but especially those with damaged hair
• Weight: 1.81 lbs (including cable and plug)
• Wattage: 1600W
• Noise Level: 77 dB
• Attachments: 5 (diffuser, wide-tooth comb, gentle air attachment, styling concentrator, flyaway attachment)

Best Hair Dryer for Styling: Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Hair Dryer

Why It's Worth It: The Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Hair Dryer is not only compact and sleek, but it also delivers polished styles ultra-fast, thanks to its versatile accessories. The Turbo Concentrator is a typical nozzle for precise airflow to the roots; the QuickSmooth Brush will give you volume and bouncy ends; and the RapidGloss Finisher smooths flyaways for the perfect finishing touch. (You can buy more attachments separately, including a diffuser attachment and a wide-tooth comb.) This is another good option if you're looking to limit heat damage, as the tool measures its temperature 1,000 times a second, ensuring it never exceeds 230°F.

Unlike Dyson products, which rarely go on sale, our shopping team often catches Shark products at a discount. Keep tabs on the SpeedStyle, especially around big shopping moments, and you may be able to snag it at a budget-friendly price.

Tester Feedback: Shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis dreads drying her long, heavy hair. "The texture of my hair is wavy, and because I don't get haircuts, it's pretty dead," she says, adding that total blow-dry time can take over an hour. But then, things took a turn. "When I first tried the Shark I was taken aback by two things: how light it was and how quickly it got my hair dry," she explains. "I rough-dried it first with just the dryer and then popped on the QuickSmooth Brush attachment, getting it from sopping wet to silky smooth in roughly 20 minutes—a record in my book."

• Best For: Straight to wavy hair
• Weight: 1.66 lbs
• Wattage: 1700W
• Noise Level: Low noise
• Attachments: 3 (RapidGloss Finisher, QuickSmooth Brush, Turbo Concentrator)

Best Budget Hair Dryer: InfinitiPro by Conair SmoothWrap Hair Dryer

Why It's Worth It: Designed with dual ion therapy, the InfinitiPro by Conair SmoothWrap Hair Dryer emits both positive and negative ions. You're probably wondering: What does that mean? Well, positive ions help with frizz, while negative ions build volume, so you're getting the best of both worlds here. The tool is also built with ceramic coils, ensuring minimal heat damage. This dryer has six heat and speed settings, so for only $53, you’re getting plenty of blow for your buck.

Tester Feedback: Commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann used the blow-dryer on her curls, and it passed the anti-frizz test. Hoffmann has 2C/3A low porosity hair with particularly dry ends. Not to mention, at the time of testing, her hair was dyed a copper hue, so it was more parched than usual. "I'm still semi-new to diffusing, so I love how user-friendly and easy to maneuver this uber-affordable blow dryer is," she says of her experience.

• Best For: People who don't need an investment piece
• Weight: 1.3 lbs
• Wattage: 1875W
• Noise Level: Low noise
• Attachments: 2 (diffuser, air concentrator)

Most Powerful Airflow: GHD Helios Professional Hair-Dryer

Why It's Worth It: GHD's Helios Professional Hair Dryer stands out among its peers for its beautifully designed exterior. (Hey, if it's sitting on your counter, you should treat it as an art piece, right?) But that's not all: This 2020 Best of Beauty Award winner is incredibly powerful—reaching airflow speeds of 75 miles per hour—and comes with a slim nozzle that allows precise drying and control. It also features an extra-long 9.5-foot cord and promises to give your hair 30% more shine than if you air-dry it. You only get one styling nozzle included in your purchase, but you can buy additional attachments—like a wide nozzle designed for long, thick hair—from ghdhair.com.

Tester Feedback: Commerce writer Jennifer Hussein, whose hair type is a thick-strand 2A, stands by this Best of Beauty-winning blow-dryer that she says "lives up to its hype, all thanks to its gentle yet effective heat and speed settings that dry even my ultra-thick, frizzy strands in less than 10 minutes."

• Best For: Those seeking quiet styling without sacrificing air power
• Weight: 1.72 lbs
• Wattage: 1875W
• Noise Level: 89 dB
• Attachments: 1 (air concentrator)

Honorable Mentions:

Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete

Why It's Worth It: We know the Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler isn't a traditional hair dryer, but we found its performance so compelling we needed to give it an honorable mention. The Airwrap harnesses a scientific phenomenon called the Coandă effect, wherein high-velocity air inside round objects creates a powerful vortex (think jet engines) to dry hair. You can thank Sir James Dyson, the CEO and engineer behind the eponymous brand, for producing your favorite space-age vacuum, fan, hair dryer, and, now, styling tool. While you're at it, hit the cool shot button to lock in any style your heart desires.

Tester Feedback: Initially, editor-in-chief Jessica Cruel hesitated to try the iconic Airwrap since it doesn't come with a comb attachment. Still, she was pleasantly surprised to see the results of styling her 4B hair with the firm smoothing and round volumizing brushes. "I used the firm brush in the Airwrap collection to stretch my hair before doing a DIY trim, and I was surprised at how easy the process was," she shares. "The attachment never went flying like with previous combs I've used, and I didn't have to become a contortionist like when I use a separate brush to straighten."

• Best For: All hair types and textures
• Weight: 1.5 lbs
• Wattage: 1300W
• Noise Level: 78 dB
• Attachments: 6 ( 1.2" long barrel, new coanda smoothing dryer, soft smoothing brush, firm smoothing brush, round volumizing brush)

Best Blow-Dryer Brush: Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer

Why It's Worth It: Who has time to dry and style long hair in the morning? Revlon's best-selling Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer, which is an Allure Best of Beauty Award and 2023 Readers' Choice Award winner, can do both at once. Its oval-shaped barrel and innovative airflow vents allow this blow dryer brush to simultaneously detangle, dry, and smooth hair. The tool quickly lifts wet hair to create glossy bombshell curls, and it has both nylon and boar bristles to detangle and style. In other words? It's fabulous for beginner- and budget-friendly hair styling.

Tester Feedback: Allure contributor Symphony Barnes says this blow-dryer ended her search for an easy-gliding experience since she was able to "simply use the One-Step as I would a big heated straightening brush."

• Best For: People who want lift and bounce
• Weight: 1.57 lbs
• Wattage: 1100W
• Noise Level: 90 dB
• Attachments: None

More hair dryers to shop:

Best Hair Dryer for Frizz: BondiBoost Sonic Hair Dryer

According to testers, this 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner nabbed the top spot for its ability to deliver salon-worthy smoothness and shine. It's also lightweight, quiet, and has a cool-shot button, making it a dryer that checks all our boxes.

The More You Know: This hair dryer isn't compatible with a travel converter, so if you're looking for a tool to take abroad, this isn't your best bet.

• Best For: People prone to frizz and flyaways
• Weight: 0.77 lbs
• Wattage: 1875W
• Noise Level: Low noise
• Attachments: 2 (diffuser, concentrator)

Best Hair Dryer for Curls: Pattern Beauty The Blow Dryer

Curly hair tends to be drier and more susceptible to damage from frequent heat styling. Because of this, Pattern Beauty founder and actress Tracee Ellis Ross sought to create a hot tool that wouldn't compromise vulnerable textured hair. The Pattern Beauty Blow Dryer comes with four unique, curl-friendly attachments that will help you shape, stretch, smooth, and define your coils—all without pulling, tugging, or otherwise disturbing them.

The More You Know: Yes, you can use this dryer if you have straight hair, but remember that these attachments were made with curls in mind. So if you're a pin-straight girlie, there are more apt options on this list.

• Best For: People blowing out curly and coily hair
• Weight: 1.2 lbs
• Wattage: 1875W
• Noise Level: Mid-level
• Attachments: 4 (diffuser, brush, comb, air concentrator)

Best Travel Hair Dryer: T3 Afar

The T3 Afar Travel Hair Dryer is a nifty little blow-dryer that's much more than just an easy fit into your carry-on bag. It's one of our most highly recommended products for its luxurious design and multiple heat and speed settings. "The T3 Afar is by far my favorite dryer for travels," says New York City-based hairstylist and colorist Paul Labrecque.

The More You Know: Some users wish the airflow was a little stronger—something to keep in mind if you love bluster-level blowing as you dry.

• Best For: Frequent travelers
• Weight: 0.76 lbs
• Wattage: 1500W
• Noise Level: 80.8 dB
• Attachments: 1 (air concentrator)

Best Lower-Heat Hair Dryer: BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Dryer

Why It's Worth It: The 2,000-watt-powered BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Dryer is an ionic hair dryer that smooths hair while reducing styling time. The featured nano titanium heat technology disperses a lower, controlled heat temperature to dry hair without frying it. This blow-dryer also features six speeds and heat settings, so hair looks sleek and shiny without frizz, breakage, or flyaways.

The More You Know: It's not dual-voltage, so you'll have to stick with the hotel hair dryer if you're traveling abroad.

• Best For: Those seeking customizability
• Weight: 2.3 lbs
• Wattage: 2000W
• Noise Level: 75.2 dB to 80.6 dB
• Attachments: 1 (air concentrator)

Best Lightweight Hair Dryer: Harry Josh Pro Tools Ultra Light Pro Dryer

Why It's Worth It: The Harry Josh Pro Tools Ultra Light Pro Dryer is faster than its predecessors, drying your hair at air speeds up to 94 miles per hour. The motor inside is also quieter, which is a huge plus if you're sensitive to noise or just like listening to music or watching TV as you blow-dry your hair.

The More You Know: Harry Josh Pro Tools doesn't offer a diffuser, so if you have wavy or curly hair, you'll want to skip this one.

• Best For: People with long or thick hair
• Weight: Less than 1 lb
• Wattage: 2000W
• Noise Level: Quiet
• Attachments: 2 (narrow nozzle concentrator, wide nozzle concentrator)

Frequently Asked Questions

A blow-dryer is among the most versatile hair tools that can yield a wide array of styling results. Whether you blow-dry daily, once a week, or once a month, a high-quality tool can take your hair to new heights. But before you purchase your brand-new hair dryer, Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist and Virtue's creative director Adir Abergel recommends selecting a device that explicitly serves your hair type. "When blow-drying curly hair, use an ionic dryer," he previously told Allure. "If you have finer hair that needs more volume, use a traditional blow-dryer, not ionic." If you're unsure or stuck sharing a dryer with a roommate or partner, here's the good news: Some options feature nonionic and ionic technology so you can swiftly toggle between the two.

When shopping for a new dryer, keep an eye out for attachments. Many hair dryers come with (or are compatible with) attachments that allow you to tailor your blow-out experience to your needs. Abergel noted that, for example, using a concentrator nozzle that precisely hits hard-to-reach areas is key to achieving salon-level results. "It concentrates the air and aids in directing the airflow exactly where you want it to go," Abergel previously explained. This concentrated airflow also helps the cuticle of the hair lay flat so that it will be shinier and less frizzy, according to Los Angeles-based hairstylist Kiki Heitkotter. Finish with a cold shot of air for extra shine, too.

To minimize heat damage, look for tools that feature multiple temperature settings because high heat isn't always necessary—especially for fine hair types. If you have the time, low heat is best for stymieing damage caused by heated hair tools, and don't forget to prep with a heat-protectant. You might already be using one, though, as many leave-in products include protective ingredients. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King previously told Allure readers to look for heat-protecting products whose formulas feature ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil and VP/DMAPA acrylates copolymer. Familiar additives like aloe and argan oil help, too, sealing the hair cuticle for extra defense.

• Adir Abergel, Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist and Virtue creative director
• Kiki Heitkotter, Los Angeles-based hairstylist
• Ginger King, New Jersey-based cosmetic chemist
• Paul Labrecque, New York City-based hairstylist and colorist

We always enlist a range of testers for any review, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. When reviewing tools, we also take into account testers’ experience levels. For instance, an innovative new blow-dryer may feature industry-leading technology, but if the only people who find it intuitive to use are professional hairstylists, we have to consider this when determining whether it is worthy of a recommendation.

For our review of the best hair dryers, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and experts you interviewed for the piece—who all have different hair concerns and types, desired outcome (i.e., want shinier hair), and whether one product was tested across multiple hair types (i.e., straight, wavy, and curly hair). Testers considered performance across three primary categories: efficacy, safety and ease of use, value. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser hair dryer worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Find more Allure editor-approved picks for hair:

• These Creams Are the Way to Pillowy-Soft, Defined Curls
• 17 Best Detangler Sprays for Knot-Free Hair
• 15 Best Air-Dry Creams to Perfect Your Heatless Styles
• Every Allure Editor Has A Boar-Bristle Brush — Here's Why You Need One, Too

Done reading? Now, watch beauty mogul Huda Kattan nail her everyday glam routine.

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