Best Hair Dryer

Hair Dryer Buying Guide

One of the most useful styling tools available, a hair dryer conveniently dries your hair within minutes while providing conditioning and smoothing benefits. With so many hair dryers available, it’s important to figure out what features and technology you want before deciding on any one model. Some hair dryers offer high heat settings and special attachment tools, while others are more basic or designed for travel use. Like with any hair styling tool, it’s important to find a hair dryer which suits your hair needs, personal preferences, and budget.

Performance

Performance is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a hair dryer. High-performance hair dryers don’t necessarily have to be the most expensive, but they should provide you with consistent results and dependable technology. A quality model should distribute heat evenly for rapid hair-drying, leave hair smooth, and function consistently without defects.

Handling

Since blow drying hair requires you to hold a hair dryer for extended periods of time (especially if you’re a professional hairdresser) how the tool feels in your hand is very important. The best hair dryers have well-designed, ergonomic grips for comfortably handling the tool as you dry your hair. All hair dryers vary in weight, but the best ones are lightweight so they won’t strain the arm during handling.

Features

With so many features to choose from, it’s important to decide which ones you want before shopping for a hair dryer. Higher-priced or professional hair dryers have the most features which can include more heat and speed settings, quiet-running motors, and longer power cords. Travel hair dryers typically feature dual worldwide voltages and compact designs.

Hair Dryer Types

Ionic Hair Dryers
Hair dryers with ionic technology project negative ions into your hair which cause water clusters to reduce into small molecules. These tiny water molecules then permeate hair, leaving it looking shinier and healthier. While hair dryers featuring ionic technology typically cost more, they significantly decrease hair damage and provide you with professional-looking results.

Professional Hair Dryers
Professional hair dryers are perfect for hairdressers or anyone who wants a high-performance hair dryer. These tools often have more speed/heat settings and powerful, higher wattage motors than standard hair dryers. Professional hair dryers may also include longer cords, various blower attachments, and ergonomic handles. While these units cost more, they typically last the user for several years.

Ceramic Hair Dryers
Popular among consumers, ceramic hair dryers feature ceramic heating technology which distributes heat evenly to prevent overheating and damaging hair. These hair dryers are available in various prices ranges and offer features ranging from basic to professional. They may also feature technologies such as ceramic pearl for faster drying or ionic drying for better hydration. 

Tourmaline Hair Dryers
Instead of drying hair strands from the outside, tourmaline hair dryers trap moisture inside the shafts to prevent heat-related damage while making hair more conditioned and less frizzy. Tourmaline hair dryers typically have high wattage to emit millions of negative ions into your hair. Like other hair dryer categories, they vary in cost and features, providing you with many options to choose from.

Budget Hair Dryers
When choosing a budget hair dryer, first consider the quality of its performance, technology, and design. If you want to save money on a hair dryer, you’ll probably have to skip some extra features exclusive to higher-end models. However, there are still many quality, affordable hair dryers available with plenty of useful features and drying technology.

Travel Hair Dryers
These hair dryers are smaller and more compact than standard models, making them very convenient to have while traveling. Unlike full-size hair dryers with multiple features, travel hair dryers are more basic in function with lower power wattage and less speeds/heat settings. However, a travel hair dryer should always have dual voltage for worldwide travel and a compact design.

Bonnet Hair Dryers
Bonnet hair dryers take most of the work out of hair drying by giving you a hands-free, salon-like experience. These hair dryers provide even airflow to prevent heat-related damage, making them ideal for individuals who wear rollers in their hair. These hair dryers are available in various wattages and typically cost the same as a standard hair dryer.