The Top 8 Blow Dryers for Every Hair Type, According to Experts

Finding the right blow dryer can make a significant difference in achieving a polished look, similar to stepping out of a salon. According to Amy Abramite, creative director and hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, it's best to begin blow drying about five minutes after stepping out of the shower, as hair is more pliable when wet. Hydrogen bonds, which are altered by water and heat for styling, can be harder to manipulate if hair air-dries too much beforehand.

Best Overall: Shark Glossi 2-in-1 Hot Tool and Air Glosser

This tool combines drying and styling with both wet and dry modes, featuring heated ceramic plates and airflow. Its tapered design helps reach roots, and it monitors temperature 1,000 times per second to adjust heat automatically, reducing heat damage. The Shark Glossi features a mix of boar and heat-resistant nylon bristles that detangle and smooth hair while distributing natural oils. The teardrop-shaped head allows for easier access to roots, and users can transition from damp to styled hair without multiple tools. This model offers 3 heat/speed settings, a cool shot, and a concentrator nozzle. It is ionic and has a wattage of 1,875 watts. Pros include its combination of drying and styling, wet and dry modes, heated plates plus airflow, root-reaching design, and a 72-inch cord. Cons are fewer styling options than a full multi-styler, no travel case, lack of dual voltage, and a shorter cord than some other tested dryers.

Best Blow Dryer with Attachments: Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-Styler and Dryer

The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is a high-end option for those seeking to prevent heat damage while blow-drying. It offers numerous attachments for different blowout styles. This model utilizes an app to customize the styling experience and includes a curling feature for creating ringlets. It dries hair quickly without excessive heat. Specifications include 1,300 watts, 3 heat settings, 3 speed settings, and a variety of attachments such as a conical Airwrap barrel, dryer+flyaway smoother, soft smoothing brush, 1.6-inch Airwrap long barrel, large round volumizing brush, and a fast dryer. It is ionic. Pros are its effectiveness in preventing heat damage and its multiple attachments. Cons include its high price, the learning curve for app usage, and its large size making it less travel-friendly.

Best Blow Dryer Diffuser: Chi Rocket Hair Dryer

The Chi Rocket Hair Dryer offers versatility for both traditional blow-drying and diffusing. It features rapid drying with a powerful 1800-watt motor, drying hair up to 40% faster than standard dryers. Its lightweight construction and ergonomic handle ensure comfort. The dryer includes a cool shot button that does not require continuous pressing. This model boasts rapid drying capabilities and a sleek design, with a 1800-watt motor and advanced ceramic, tourmaline, and ionic components for even heat distribution and reduced drying time. It has high and low speed settings and a cool shot button, along with a concentrator nozzle attachment. Pros are its versatility, powerful design, and ability to create bouncy blowouts. The main con is its price point.

Best Travel Blow Dryer: Conair Handheld Hairdryer

This Conair dryer is a compact and foldable option with a retractable cord, making it ideal for travel. It offers dual voltage capability and powerful performance for its size and price. Despite its compact nature, it provides quick hair drying without overheating, featuring high heat and cool shot options, plus high and low speeds. It has a wattage of 1,875 watts. Pros include its foldable handle and retractable cord, durability, great power for its size, lightweight design, and quick drying without overheating. Cons are a shorter cord than some prefer and occasional cord tangling.

Easiest to Use: Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher and High-Velocity Dryer

The Shark SpeedStyle is designed for quick styling with its innovative design and technology, delivering rapid drying without excessive heat. Its RapidGloss Finisher attachment uses dual high-speed airflow to smooth flyaways and impart a glossy finish. The dryer offers multiple heat and speed settings and automatically adjusts temperature and airflow when attachments are connected. It features an ionizer for frizz reduction and enhanced shine. This model has 1,700 watts, 4 heat settings, 3 airflow speeds, and a cool shot. Attachments include the RapidGloss Finisher, QuickSmooth Brush, and Turbo Concentrator. Pros are its collapsing design for travel/storage, multiple settings, and easy-to-use attachments. A potential con is that the effects of the frizz-fighting attachment may be temporary, and it is more expensive than some other dryers.

Best Blow Dryer for Frizz: Drybar Buttercup PRO Professional Blow Dryer

The Drybar Buttercup PRO is noted for its ability to leave hair smoother, shinier, and less frizzy. It dries hair quickly with strong airflow, and its adjustable ionic technology allows customization based on hair type and styling needs. Users can control frizz and achieve a sleek, polished look without over-drying. The dryer has 1,875 watts, 3 heat settings, and a cool shot, with a concentrator nozzle attachment. Pros include its effectiveness in smoothing and reducing frizz, quick drying time, and customization options. Cons are its higher price point and potentially strong airflow that may require adjustment for finer hair.

Best for Beginners: Amika Hair Blow Dry Brush 2.0

This blow-dryer brush is lightweight and features an ergonomic design for easy gripping. Its negative ion technology helps diminish heat damage, and the soft bristles contribute to a polished finish. It offers three heat settings for user control and styles hair quickly, typically in under 15 minutes, delivering a smooth, frizz-free result. The Amika brush has 1,620 watts and 3 heat/speed settings. Pros include its lightweight design, negative ion technology, and soft bristles for a polished look. A con is that it does not come with attachments.

Best Blow Dryer for Fine Hair: T3 Aire IQ Intelligent Hair Dryer

The T3 Aire IQ is an intelligent hair dryer that helps mitigate frizz and provides salon-quality results with a bouncy finish. It features smart sensors that self-adjust heat and speed flow based on the attached accessory. It comes with three attachments: a wide one for rough-drying, a smaller one for styling, and a diffuser. The dryer has 1,800 watts, 5 heat settings, 3 speed settings, a cool shot, and an ion setting. Attachments include a quick dry attachment, style attachment, and diffuse attachment. Pros are its frizz mitigation, salon-quality results, and lightweight design. Cons include a potentially high price point and a learning curve for optimal use.

Testing Methodology

Each model was tested for at least one month. Key criteria included ease of use, volume creation, even heat retention, frizz-taming capabilities, and versatility. The reviewer has wavy to curly hair that can be prone to frizz, making it suitable for testing a range of dryers. For healthiest results, it is recommended to use lower heat settings when possible, keep the dryer moving, and avoid concentrating heat on one section for too long.

Expert Insights on Blow Dryers

Amy Abramite advises looking for blow dryers with varied air pressure and temperature options to control styles without damaging hair. A nozzle attachment concentrates airflow to tame flyaways and smooth hair. While professional stylists use a variety of brands, they prioritize powerful airflow, heat control, durability, and comfort. For general use, Abramite suggests around 1100 watts for blow dryer brushes and 2000 watts for traditional blow dryers. Ionic blow dryers use ions to break down water molecules at lower temperatures, reducing drying time and minimizing frizz and static.

Hair Routines for Different Hair Types

For straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair, a nozzle attachment can be used with an oil containing heat protection to blow dry downward in small sections, controlling flyaways and smoothing with a paddle brush for shine. For curly and coily textures, a diffuser attachment can enhance natural texture with a hydrating styling cream. To minimize frizz, avoid touching hair strands while diffusing. For all hair types using a blow dryer brush, apply a hydrating cream or volumizing spray, wrap sections of hair around the bristles, and glide from root to end. Use the cool setting to lock in shape. For coarse hair, use the high setting; for fine hair, use low.