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We tried options for curly, damaged, and fine hair. steam iron hair straightener
Now that temperatures and humidity are dropping, most hair can finally hold a blowout. Although hair dryers may seem like a straightforward beauty tool at first, there’s a lot to consider while choosing the best version for your specific hair type and styling needs. The right heat and speed settings, wattage, and attachments (not to mention details like cord length and device weight) can take your blowout from so-so to so stunning.
Before you get overwhelmed and throw in the towel, know that there are technically no wrong options here—some tools are better for your hair texture than others. Following guidance from four industry pros, we tested over 30 hair dryers’ features, ease of use, overall drying performances, and blowout results. After evaluating these devices at least twice a week for four weeks, we found 13 that gave us the best results. Just remember to prep your hair with a heat-protectant spray and maybe even spritz on a bit of hair perfume for something extra.
Higher wattage means faster drying but more potential for damage. Fine, thin, or damaged hair requires a lower wattage (1500) than thick or curly hair (1800+). Ionic or ceramic dryers help reduce frizz and heat damage. Budget hair dryers can perform similarly to high-end options—so long as they have the features (e.g. heat settings) and attachments (like a diffuser) you're looking for.
After researching the top-rated hair dryers, we took the most popular options and tested each one in our New York City lab and our homes. Each InStyle editor took home a hair dryer for four weeks to test as part of their overall routine. We evaluated the hair dryer’s features, design, drying performance, value, and ease of use. We considered other vital details, too, including each dryer’s weight, cord length, button placement, noise level, and accompanying attachments. Once we collected the data, we selected the 13 best hair dryers and wrote about our experiences using them in this article.
Who It’s For: The person who wants an easy-to-handle blow-dryer that offers various modes and heat settings. Beginners will appreciate how easy it is to navigate between the tool’s different settings.
Heat Settings: 4 | Speed Settings: 3 | Wattage: 2,000 W | Attachments: Diffuser
Caitlyn, tester with wavy hair: “This is the only dryer I liked all day! It effectively dried my hair and smoothed it out, even on a super humid NYC day. For me, that's huge, especially since I have unruly wavy hair that gets frizzy in the summer.”
Why We Love It: The InfinitiPro SmoothWrap Hair Dryer impressed us, transforming our tester’s fine, wavy hair into a dreamy blowout in a matter of just 18 minutes. It wasn’t heavy or bulky, and even though the tester’s hair tends to get frizzy, this tool tamed down flyaways while giving strands much-needed volume. After every blowout, she said her hair looked smooth, straight, and healthy. This budget-friendly choice is also a good value, as its removable filter keeps the dryer’s performance up to par over time. Its attachments, which include a diffuser and concentrator, were easy to snap on and off, and they remained firmly in place from start to finish.
Who It’s For: At just under $60, this affordable option works wonders on wavy and thin hair, adding bounce and never burning it. The buttons’ placement is more suitable for right-handed people, so lefties may find toggling back and forth straining on their hands.
Heat Settings: 3 | Speed Settings: 2 | Wattage: 1,875 W | Attachments: Concentrator nozzle
Rose, tester with fine, wavy hair: “My hair looks amazing and has lots of volume and shine. It even has less frizz and more volume and body.”
Why We Love It: Albeit an investment, the Dyson SuperSonic Hair Dryer has five attachments and thus makes for a good value. With a strong, even airflow, it took between 15 and 30 minutes to thoroughly dry our testers' hair, resulting in a flippy, bouncy look. As for the feel, the blow-dryer has a long, narrow handle with a cool-shot button and a power toggle directly on its stem. The three speed settings were all the testers needed to get soft, sleek, and healthy-looking hair. Plus, this dryer felt sturdy yet lightweight enough that their arms didn’t tire while they blew out their hair.
Who It’s For: This splurge pick is for the person who’s tried a bunch of hair dryers in the past and found that they’ve all fallen a bit short in delivering desired results. In that case, it’s time to invest in this high-quality, impeccably engineered hair dryer.
Heat Settings: 4 | Speed Settings: 3 | Wattage: 1,600 W | Attachments: Flyaway attachment, styling concentrator, diffuser, gentle air attachment, and wide-tooth comb
Phoebe, tester with fine, straight hair: “I love my hair after using this tool! It's flippy and bouncy and so full of volume. I have pretty flat hair, so I'm impressed it looks this full. My hair moves nicely now, too. I've never been able to achieve this look myself.”
Why We Love It: Although first impressions aren’t everything, this T3 hair dryer’s sleek design piqued our interest. One of our testers has thin hair (and not a lot of it), so she needed a hair dryer that’s strong enough to whip up a serious amount of volume, and this little guy did exactly that. She used the highest airflow setting to get the necessary power to boost her fine hair but kept the heat setting between two and three (although she did try out the hottest setting, and it was, indeed, quite hot). Within 10 minutes, her hair was dry, smooth, and fluffy in the best way possible—even when she used the low heat setting.
Who It’s For: Those with fine hair. This gentle blow-dryer doesn’t fry fragile strands and adds impressive volume to hair. People with thicker hair may like this tool, too, but will need additional products to control frizz and flyaways, according to another tester.
Heat Settings: 5 | Speed Settings: 3 | Wattage: 1,875 W | Attachments: Diffuser and comb attachment sold separately
Elena, tester with thin, long 1A hair: “It's very important I dry my roots after washing my hair. My bonded extensions require it. With this product, they were totally dry within 10 minutes max on the second lowest setting, and my hair looked smooth but fluffy. I loved it."
Why We Love It: Fine hair can be finicky. It's tricky to style, and applying too much heat can damage thin strands. It typically dries more quickly than thicker hair, but some blow-dryers can make thin hair look matted down and flat. This hair dryer, however, does not. In fact, it dries thin hair and gives it one heck of a boost thanks to its 1,600-watt power and easy-to-use concentrator attachment. It leaves hair smooth with tons of volume.
Who It’s For: This device is effective (yet still gentle) on fine hair. We never felt like we were burning sensitive strands, and this tool got the job done very quickly. Its compact size makes it ideal for travelers as well.
Heat Settings: 3 | Speed Settings: 2 | Wattage: 1,600 W | Attachments: Concentrator
Riyana, tester with thick, wavy hair: “My hair looks really nice! It’s smooth, shiny, and really bouncy. Certainly more glamourous and put together than my usual style.”
Why We Love It: The Gama Italy IQ3 Perfetto hair dryer is just about, well, perfetto. With the ability to dry hair more quickly than most of its competitors, the IQ2 has an intelligent design, automatically going on standby when you place it on its smart pad. It's complete with microfilters, a temperature sensor, and an auto-cleaning function. One tester, who has loose curls, said this blow-dryer gave her smooth hair with a nice shine—no frizz or flyaways in sight. Her hair felt soft to the touch (rather than crunchy, which sometimes happens to curly hair after a blowout). Its airflow felt gentle and was never too hot on her scalp.
Who It’s For: Weighing in at only 0.65 pounds, this powerful yet lightweight device works magic on all hair types, including extra curly hair. It’s a high-grade tool that we feel confident would be beloved by beginners and pros alike.
Heat Settings: 3 | Speed Settings: 3 | Wattage: 1,500 W | Attachments: Diffuser, two concentrator nozzles, one Venturi nozzle
Erickka, tester with type 2B hair: “The air comes out quite evenly. The professional styling nozzles are great for covering the length of hair while using a round brush, as I tend to do. Using the deep diffuser on a lower heat and wind speed setting gave lovely, shiny curls from root to tip.”
Why We Love It: This hair dryer may not have all the bells and whistles that come with fancier options on this list, but it gets the job done beautifully. It was one of the most powerful devices we tested—it dried our testers' straight hair in under 20 minutes. Although there are only three heat settings, we detected a noticeable difference between each one, and overall, this dryer delivered a traditional, full-bodied, and bouncy blowout.
Who It’s For: Although it's powerful enough for several hair types, those with thin, straight hair who are looking for volume will really love the result this hair dryer delivers.
Heat Settings: 3 | Speed Settings: 3 | Wattage: 1,900 W | Attachments: Concentrator nozzle
Stacey, tester with fine, thin, and straight hair: “My hair looks incredible. I look like I'm about to be promoted to CEO. This hair dryer allowed my normally flat, lifeless hair to come to life.”
Why We Love It: This hair dryer dried one lab tester’s long, straight hair in roughly 25 minutes. Other testers noted that the highest heat setting gets quite hot (a bonus for thick hair) and adds some serious oomph to roots, while the low setting provides just enough airflow to style hair effectively. Switching between settings while using the blow-dryer can be tricky, but it creates such a shiny and smooth finish that’s worth this little thumb dance.
Who It’s For: This dryer’s combination of high heat, airflow, and a cool shot feature makes it a weapon for thick hair. You no longer have to sit through an hour-long styling session just to get hair to look silky smooth.
Heat Settings: 3 | Speed Settings: 2 | Wattage: 2,000 W | Attachments: Concentrator
Michelle, tester with thick, long, and wavy hair: “This dried my hair shockingly fast! My hair was dry in under 10 minutes. I think this product is worth it for someone with thick hair needing a powerful tool to dry their hair in a timely fashion."
Why We Love It: The Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer uses infrared light to dry water on the hair’s surface, leading to less damage to the strands. It gave our tester with long, thick, and curly hair a blowout that left her locks looking smooth, straight, and less frizzy than her usual blowout. Instead of having separate heat and speed settings, this Zuvi hair dryer has four modes: care, fast, soft, and style. The "care" option was ideal for drying hair without inflicting long-term damage. Plus, this tool is compact enough to store or take on trips.
Who It’s For: Designed as a gentle solution to drying hair, the Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer is our top choice for damaged tresses needing some TLC.
Heat Settings: 4 | Speed Settings: 4 | Wattage: 680 W | Attachments: Diffuser, concentrator, gentle air attachment
Dana Rose, tester with long, thick, and curly hair: “The airflow is pretty fast and powerful, but it’s controlled in what feels like a small cone vacuum.”
Why We Love It: Adorned with rose-gold accents and arriving in a compact package, the SRI DryQ is small enough to store, thanks to a twist and fold feature, yet pretty enough to leave out on a bathroom counter. It's also one of the quietest dryers we tried and one of the most comfortable to hold. Another bonus: The magnetic attachments seamlessly attached and detached, and the slimmer nozzle, in particular, offered a concentrated airflow that made blow-drying hair straight a breeze.
Who It’s For: If you’re looking for a travel-friendly styling tool that’s chic and powerful enough to dry your tresses super quickly without frying them, consider this one. Our testers, whose hair types vary from straight to curly, even coily, were thoroughly impressed by the SRI DryQ and its powerful motor, as it cut down the time it took to dry their hair post-shower.
Heat Settings: 4 | Speed Settings: 3 | Wattage: 1300 W | Attachments: One diffuser, two nozzles
Amy, tester with fine and flat hair: “After using this hair dryer, my hair looked less frizzy. Although there was a decent amount of heat being applied to my hair, it didn’t feel dry or crispy afterward.”
Why We Love It: It's effective at controlling frizz on many hair types, from fine and wavy to coarse and coily. The tool cut drying time even more for a tester with 4B hair when using the accompanying concentrator. In the end, her hair looked and felt healthy and moisturized. All said it's lightweight and easy to hold, but the buttons are so close together that if you handle it incorrectly, you'll likely interfere with any saved settings.
Who It’s For: The InfinityPro hair dryer works on many hair types and textures. It's especially good at eliminating frizz, taming damaged hair, and commanding an airflow so strong that it even sends the curtains swaying in the room. Note that the handle is designed for right-handed people, making it more difficult for left-handed people.
Heat Settings: 3 | Speed Settings: 3 | Wattage: 1,875 W | Attachments: Concentrator and diffuser
Kendall, tester with type 2B hair: “It's incredibly lightweight, especially for its power. I have small hands, and some hair tools can feel cumbersome, but this was so light and compact.”
Why We Love It: With evenly distributed, fast-acting ionic heat that’s sealed by a cool-shot button, this device simultaneously dries and straightens hair. It gave our lab tester's fine, dense, and wavy hair a blowout in 30 minutes, leaving it smooth and void of any flyaways. Even the lowest of its three speed settings is forceful and consistent. The result: hair with body, bounce, and no need for hairspray. It can also create a variety of looks. We tested it on coarse, curly hair, and depending on the attachment we used, the tester could achieve whichever look she preferred, natural or straight.
Who It’s For: We love a multitasking product, and the Shark HyperAir Hair Dryer is certainly no exception. It’s an ideal choice for those seeking the best dryer-brush combo.
Heat Settings: 3 | Speed Settings: 3 | Wattage: 1,680 W | Attachments: Concentrator and styling brush
Danielle, tester with type 3C hair: “The difference in what I was able to accomplish with the Shark Hyper Air is pretty amazing. I'm able to achieve a myriad of hair looks I just couldn't previously unless I went to a salon. Now, I can wear my hair straight or full and curly.”
Why We Love It: With a minimalist design and a matte caramel colorway, this tool’s good looks are only the first of its noteworthy features. In our test, it clocked in at one of the fastest blowouts, drying one tester's head of kinky curls in 20 minutes and another's straight hair even faster. It created softer, smoother, straighter, and more voluminous hair. We particularly appreciated the cool-shot button, which abruptly cut off all heat, and the tool’s even, powerful airflow. While the lower heat setting felt cooler than expected, we appreciated that the body never overheated.
Who It’s For: Although this hair dryer is billed for all hair types, our testers' experiences varied. The diffuser attachment can create a head of natural, bouncy curls. Want a straight look instead? Use the higher heat and speed settings along with a brush. However, coily hair may still need a straightener.
Heat Settings: 2 | Speed Settings: 3 | Wattage: 1,875 W | Attachments: Brush, wide-tooth comb, diffuser, and concentrator nozzle
Samantha, tester with thick, curly hair: "My curls looks very healthy and shiny after using the diffuser attachment. I've used hair dryers in the past to diffuse my hair that didn't have a strong enough airflow and my hair turned out frizzy and half-dry and half-wet. This blower dried my hair evenly all around and locked in the mousse product my stylist applied."
“Diffusers are a curly girl's best friend, as long as you know how to use them,” says Vaccaro. So, what’s the best way to use a diffuser? Take it slow. Vaccaro shares his four simple steps: “One: Apply desired product. Two: Place damp or wet hair on the diffuser gently and allow the diffuser to do the work. The less you touch your hair, the better. Three: Flip your hair over and diffuse the underneath sections of your hair. Four: Once hair is 90 percent dry, you can start scrunching and touching it to give yourself the final shape.” How simple is that?
Yes, TSA allows you to pack a hair dryer in carry-on luggage and checked bags. Scope out our travel-sized hair dryer recommendation to learn more about our pick for the perfectly packable tool.
The blow-dryers on our list range from $50 to over $400. You can find a hair dryer for less than $20, but keep in mind that most inexpensive models deliver a lot of heat without a lot of power, which means they’ll take longer to dry your hair, and you'll face the risk of heat damage. If you have specific hair needs, are looking for particular attachments, or have the budget to splurge, consider investing a bit more money to get a dryer with all the bells and whistles. Plus, it’ll last longer.
According to celebrity hairstylist Joel James, a cool-shot button is a must to prevent burning and lock your style in place. "The cool-shot button feature is what keeps hair at a good temperature, even when you've been using a hot setting." It's best to use the cool-shot button when your hair needs to be cooled down. For example, if you're drying your hair with a heat setting, use the cool-shot button as a final step to cool everything down and set it in place.
You should always consider hair damage because you don't want to make matters worse by frying your hair. If you have heat damage, try drying hair on a low setting with warm or cool air instead of using hot air on a high setting. Additionally, you can use a heat protectant before blow-drying to protect your strands.
To get a smooth, sleek blowout, James says to use a concentrator nozzle and a hairbrush. Wrap your hair around the brush, then point the nozzle directly at the brush without touching the bristles. "To prevent heat damage, keep the nozzle at least 1 inch away from the brush and don't stay on one spot for long," he explains. "Blow-dry each section in fluid motions until you've finished your whole head of hair."
Before you check out, here are some other hair-boosting products to help protect your strands before and after using your favorite hair dryer.
Katy Olson is a beauty buff and professional journalist with naturally curly hair. For this article, she consulted four leading hair experts, each with 10 or more years of experience using the best (and worst) hair dryers out there. You'll learn everything you need to know about hair dryers, including key features and why they're important, straight from the industry's leading pros, including:
professional hair straightener brush InStyle’s former writer Caitlyn Martin also contributed to this article, adding a number of blow-dryers to the original list.