Brand Blow Dryer is Best
When it comes to choosing a hair dryer, there are many factors to consider. The type of hair you have, the heat settings and attachments it needs and how comfortable the dryer feels in your hand all play a role in its performance and long-term durability. It is also important to remember that while any hot styling tool will damage your strands to some degree, you can minimize damage by using the right techniques and always applying a heat protectant before blow-drying.
Maggie Nichols, senior editor of GH Beauty and the expert who heads up our expert testing, has had wavy to straight hair and everything in between for over two decades. She’s styled hair for brides in a variety of climates and has worked with a wide range of different textures, so she knows how a best blow dryer can help you achieve your ideal look.
A high-quality hair dryer is an investment, so it’s important to choose one that’s designed for your specific hair texture and will hold up to repeated use. Our expert testers looked for a combination of high-performance features, such as a powerful airflow, a range of speed and temperature settings, attachment options and quiet operation. We also considered the weight of the hair dryer and how comfortable it felt in the hand. And because you’ll be using it regularly, we made sure the drying time is fast and the noise level is low.
Which Brand Blow Dryer is Best?
Our top pick for a hair dryer that does it all is the Paul Mitchell Neuro Dry, which our experts rated the best overall because it has an easy-to-navigate digital LED display for power and heat settings and a built-in “clean filter” indicator light. It also has a diffuser, which is essential for curls and natural kinks, and it earned a high score in our Beauty Lab drying rate tests. It’s lightweight and quiet, so it’s comfortable to hold for long periods of time, even during the most intensive blow-outs.
Another expert favorite is the IQ Perfetto hair dryer, which is lightweight and easy to grip, and it got the best score in Beauty Lab testing for its strong airflow, which translated to a fast drying speed. It’s also a great choice for those with fine hair because it helps keep the strands from frizzing.
The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Hair Dryer was a close second in our Beauty Lab testing and earned the best rating for its volume-boosting function and high heat settings. However, it’s not the best option for curly or textured hair because its higher temperatures often result in a less-than-sleek finish.
The Dyson Supersonic is expensive, but it’s a fantastic dryer for all types of hair and has a number of settings and attachments that can accommodate all your styling needs. It’s also much quieter than the average hair dryer and it has a cool shot button to set your hair after you style it. Plus, it has a slick design that’s fun to look at.
