Byrdie / Lecia Landis Everyone needs a good blow dryer, whether you reach for it every day or just when you want a smooth blowout. While you might think a hair dryer is a hair dryer, you’d be surprised. From tourmaline ceramic and ionic technology to high-tech air jets and diffusers promising bouncy natural curls, the modern market offers tons of options. When shopping around, hairstylist Sky Kim says to “make sure you check for the heat and speed settings, as well as what kind of technology is used to maximize volume and eliminate frizz.” To help you narrow down the choices, we tried upwards of 30 blow dryers in the Lab, our Manhattan testing facility, and at home. We considered each hair dryer’s features, like how many speed and heat settings there are, whether or not it has a cold shot, and which attachments it comes with. We also looked into how long each option’s power chord is and if the grip is cumbersome to hoist over your head for a long period of time. After compiling insights and giving each hair dryer a ranking between 1 and 5 5 being the best, we created this curated list of the best hair dryers money can buy. Testing In Progress We are currently testing out the recently released Dyson AirStrait, the buzzy new launch that dries and straightens wet hair. Our honest insights are coming soon! Dyson Our Ratings Ease of Use Features Drying Performance Overall Look Value What We Like Dries hair quickly Sleek and sturdy Magnetic attachments What We Don't Like The air filter is located on the handle This may or may not come as a surprise, but if you’re open to splurging on a blow dryer, the Dyson Supersonic is where it’s at. After trying it out on several different hair types and textures, we can confirm it’s just as good as everyone says it is. Admittedly, getting the hang of it can take a few tries especially when it comes to finding the air filter, which is tucked away in the handle, but it dries hair remarkably fast and offers a smooth blowout in under five minutes. Plus, pros recommend it for at-home use. The compact and sturdy hair dryer comes with a whopping five magnetic attachments, including a flyaway nozzle, a concentrator, a diffuser, a gentle air attachment, and a wide-tooth comb. It also flaunts seven heat and speed settings, plus a cold-shot button for sealing in your look. Price at time of publish $430 Features 3 Intelligent heat control settings, 3-speed settings Attachments 5 including diffuser, flyaway attachment, concentrator nozzle, wide-tooth comb, gentle air attachment Cold Shot Yes Wireless No Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Amazon Our Ratings Ease of Use 4/5 Features 4/5 Drying Performance Overall Look 5/5 Value 5/5 What We Like Sturdy and compact Dries hair quickly What We Don't Like Doesn’t get as hot as we would like Interested in something more budget-friendly? We highly recommend Conair’s InfinitiPRO SmoothWrap. Between the sturdy, compact shape, the long cord, and the velcro securing strap, there’s a lot to love about the design. Plus, it’s got two speeds, three heat settings, and a cold-shot button and comes with a concentrator attachment and a diffuser. When we asked the pros about this option, hairstylist Geneva Clark said she especially likes the weight of this tool. “I could comfortably juggle this one—the weight of this hair dryer is probably my favorite thing about it.” We noticed hair felt dry in under five minutes, and the concentrator nozzle especially helped minimize frizz and speed things along. Though this isn’t the cheapest hair dryer you’ll find at the drugstore, we think the price is on-point for the quality features and performance. Price at time of publish $50 Features Dual ion therapy, 6 heat/speed settings, Removable filter Attachments Diffuser and concentrator nozzle Cold Shot Yes Wireless No Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Gamaiqdryer Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Features 5/5 Drying Performance 5/5 Overall Look Value What We Like Lightning-fast speed Star nozzle feature distributes heat more evenly What We Don't Like Very loud A favorite among pro stylists, the IQ Perfetto is great for a few reasons. The first It offers a smooth, sleek, and polished finish while being lightweight and easy to hold. The airflow is powerful, thanks to the Venturi Effect—a specially designed air outlet that multiplies air flow without using too much extra energy—but doesn’t feel any stronger than a kiss of wind on a warm summer night. In other words, you can feel it working on your hair and scalp, but you won’t feel any discomfort. And, because the dryer features a star nozzle, the air distributes evenly throughout all the hair, cutting down on drying time and mitigating any potential damage. After use, our hair looked immaculate and honestly looked like we just stepped out of a salon chair. Each strand was well-defined, bouncy, and moisturized something that often doesn’t happen after blow drying. The price is a bit steep, and it can get a little loud, but with so many innovative features it even boasts a self-cleaning option!, we say it’s worth it. Price at time of publish $450 Features Powerful motor, 6 heat/speed settings, Removable filter Attachments 2 concentrator nozzles and a diffuser Cold Shot Yes Wireless No T3 Micro What We Like Comfortable grip Even, pressurized airflow What We Don’t Like Cord is short and can tangle easily Many of the hair dryers on the market right now rely on ionic technology, which means they blast out negative ions to help hair dry faster. These negative ions counteract the positive ions found in wet hair and help dry it without as much damage as a normal hair dryer. The T3 Aireluxe Hairdryer relies on a unique ionic generator that infuses the air with 10 million negative ions per second, canceling frizz and smoothing out the hair cuticle. To take things up a notch, the tool also features a smart microchip that monitors the heat and airstream, drying large sections of hair quickly while minimizing heat exposure and, therefore, preventing damage. The only thing we don’t particularly love about this one is its cord. This likely isn’t an issue for at-home or personal use, but more for someone looking to use this option for clients or other people, as the cord can get tangled on a person sitting in front of you. Price at time of publish $200 Features Ion generator, 8 heat/speed settings Attachments Wide and narrow concentrator nozzles Cold Shot Yes Wireless No Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Zuvi Life Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Features 4/5 Drying Performance 5/5 Overall Look 5/5 Value 3/5 What We Like Patented LightCare technology to dry the surface of hair Great button placement What We Don’t Like Won’t work as well on curly or frizz-prone hair Similar to the Dyson in many ways, the Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer is a great pick for those looking to avoid too much heat damage. The tool itself is really high-tech and dries hair with infrared-light energy the brand’s patented LightCare technology instead of high heat. But how does it work? Well, it’s modeled after the natural evaporation you’d find outside on a sunny day and dries water on the surface of the hair, which actually limits the amount of heat exposure and, thus, damage. What’s more, the button placement on this tool is ideal. “I often move between different settings when doing hair, and this tool has a top-notch button placement,” Clark explains. “The buttons are a good size and are placed exactly where my thumb rests.” The only caveat is that it doesn’t work as well on curly, coily, or frizz-prone hair. Price at time of publish $350 Features Ion generator, 8 heat/speed settings Attachments Concentrator, Diffuser, Gentle air attachment Cold Shot Yes Wireless No Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Shark Our Ratings Ease of Use Features Drying Performance Overall Look 5/5 Value What We Like Powerful Seals hair cuticle effectively What We Don’t Like Higher settings can be too much The Shark FlexStyle Air Drying and Styling System has garnered quite a bit of attention lately due to the fact that it’s pretty much identical to the Dyson AirWrap, but prior to its inception, the brand created the HyperAir Hair Dryer. The hair dryer is underrated, in our opinion—performing similarly to other high-end tools on the market, just at a lower price point. The multi-functional hair dryer dries hair super fast and is pretty powerful, even at the lowest of the three settings. Our expert stylist Clark said the airflow is so powerful you probably wouldn’t need to go higher than the second option. We also really like the fact that it blow dries the hair efficiently without compromising the overall health or hair. It imparts a natural shine, seals the cuticle well with the cool-shot button, and helps achieve a silky, frizz-free finish—what more could you ask for? Price at time of publish $230 Features Vortex shape for controlled air flow, 6 heat/speed settings Attachments Concentrator, Styling brush attachment Cold Shot Yes Wireless No Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Byrdie / Tamara Staples Final Verdict Our top choice is the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, a powerful, state-of-the-art blow dryer that delivers salon-level results. It comes with five magnetic attachments for styling made easy. However, if you’re on a budget, we recommend the compact and sturdy Conair InfinitiPRO SmoothWrap Hair Dryer, which dries hair notably fast and minimizes frizz. Meet the Expert Sky Kim is a New York-based hairstylist with over a decade of professional experience. She is also a member of Byrdie's Beauty & Wellness Review Board. Geneva Clark is a professional hairstylist with over 12 years of experience. She currently works at the Amoy Couture Hair Salon located in Manhattan, where she specializes in hair care, blow drying, braiding, silk press, and extensions/weave installation. How We Tested We spent days researching today's best hair dryers, compiling expert recommendations, and combing through user reviews before narrowing it down to 32 models to try out first-hand. Each option was evaluated by our testers, who tried them out on their hair, which ranged from short, long, thick, thin, straight, and curly. We considered how they felt in our hands, how quickly they dried our hair, how they held up with a drop test, whether the finished results were up to par, and if the price seemed reasonable. The blow dryers were then rated on a scale from one to five for ease of use, features, drying performance, look, durability, and overall value. Those with the highest scores were ultimately chosen for this roundup. All tests took place in The Lab, our in-house product testing facility in Manhattan, and at home. Hair Dryer Test January Byrdie What to Look For in Hair Dryers Weight There’s nothing more frustrating than having to take breaks from blowing out your hair because your dryer is testing your arm muscles. A typical hair dryer weighs a couple of pounds, so be cautious about purchasing a dryer that has a substantially higher weight listed. We like the IQ2 Perfetto Hair Dryer by Gama Professional, which is a super lightweight hair dryer that weighs about ounces. Heat & Speed Settings There are hair dryers that come with up to five heat settings—like the T3 Aireluxe Hair Dryer—and others with only two. If you prefer warm versus hot air or even cool air, pay close attention to the dryer’s features. Of course, lower-temperature air will cause less damage. Hair dryers can come with a diverse set of speed settings designed to cut down on drying time. The Shark HyperAir Hair Dryer, for example, is very powerful and has three settings, which can be increased or decreased manually to low, medium, and high, based on your preference. Technology People swear by different hair-drying technologies. There are dryers with ionic technology like the T3 Aireluxe Hair Dryer, infrared technology like the Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer, and the list goes on. Be sure to check out which type of technology your hair dryer uses before purchasing so you know what to expect. FAQ How do you use a hair dryer? Ultimately, how you dry your hair depends on personal preference and your hair type. There isn’t necessarily a right way. After showering, begin by gently drying your hair with a towel. Bonus points if you let it air dry a bit. Apply your favorite hair products and a heat protectant. From there, you’ll want to separate your hair into sections and tailor the rest of your routine to your hair type. What type of hair dryer is safest for hair? Drying your hair with a hair dryer will inevitably cause damage. However, hair dryers that use ionic, ceramic, or tourmaline technology with multiple heat settings are safest. How often should you blow dry your hair? There isn’t necessarily a hard and fast rule about how often you should dry your hair with a blow dryer each week. It’s dependent on a number of factors, like how often you wash your hair, your hair type, the length of time it takes to dry your hair, and how much damage you’re willing to take. Generally, it’s best not to use a hair dryer after every shower you take. What hair dryer cord length is best? Cord length is important to maximize your comfort while styling, given that blow-drying your hair can take a while. While you can use an extension cord, it’s best to get a hair dryer with a long cord so you don’t accidentally unplug your tool while in use. Why Trust Byrdie Caitlyn Martyn is a commerce writer on staff at Byrdie, where she covers topics spanning hair care, makeup, skincare, fashion, health, and wellness. She is an experienced product tester and enjoys sharing which products are worth it. For this story, she compiled expert insight and commentary from testers to craft thorough, trustworthy product recommendations. She’s tried several blow dryers on this list, including dryers from brands like Dyson and Zuvi. Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce beauty writer, copy editor, and product tester. For this story, she compiled expert insight and commentary from testers to craft thorough, trustworthy product recommendations. She's tried blow dryers and other hot hair tools from several of the brands on this list, including Hot Tools, Conair, GHD, T3, BaBylissPRO, Amika, InStyler, and Chi. Theresa has been covering haircare, makeup, and lifestyle products at Byrdie since 2020. You can read more of her stories on Travel + Leisure and People. Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy. Malkani RH, Shirolikar SM, Karmakar S, Setia MS. Hair Styling Procedures and Hair Morphology A Clinico-Microscopic Comparison Study. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2020;114551-558. Published 2020 Jul 13. doi