The 7 best hair dryers for curly hair, reviewed by our curly-haired beauty experts
Define curls, coils and waves without frizz with one of the best hair dryers for curly hair – tested and reviewed by us
Lucy Abbersteen
At the risk of stating obvious, any hair dryer used on curly hair must cater to these hair types' unique needs to get good results. Dryers are often rated based on high speed, power and heat – but it's not the same story for curls. In a way, the best hair dryer for curly hair is the polar opposite. A big whoosh of hot air creates excess frizz and disrupts curl patterns, making it a one-way route to a lack of definition. But fear not, as our curly-haired testers put in the hours to test a big selection of dryers, whittling down the list for this guide to only the best tools for the job.
First and foremost, the best hair dryer for curls should be lightweight (gentle drying means holding it for a long time) with at least one lower heat and speed setting and a compatible best diffusers for curly hair. As Eugene Smith, style director at John Frieda Mayfair, puts it: "The dispersed air allows the dryer to evenly dry the curls without disturbing their natural spiral texture."
So, with all this in mind, I asked two hair experts on some of the most common questions on blow drying curls and put several hair dryers and diffusers to the test on my type 3a curly hair. This guide includes my detailed reviews of the top-performing models, drawing on my years of beauty editor experience testing dozens of hair tools – and other testers' insights – including picks from ghd, Dyson and Revlon.
Best hair dryers for curly hair deals
These deals were last checked on 20/03/26 and we will continue to do so to ensure that all of the products below are still in stock, still discounted and, most importantly, are the very best deals around at the moment.
Our top 6 best hair dryers for curly hair
For our curly-haired tester, this tool is the gold standard of hair dryers. Packing in the power and easy to use, it couldn't be better for creating definition with the diffuser attachment – though it does have to be bought separately for £29.
Its reputation precedes it, but we can confirm the Dyson Supersonic lives up to the hype. It's quiet, easy to use and creates soft, bouncy curls. It also comes with a wide tooth comb attachment for coily and Afro hair, making it a great for multiple hair types.
If you can't (or don't want to) stretch to ghd or Dyson-level prices, this three-attachment bundle from BaByliss has you covered with all the essentials you need for well under the £100 mark. Think ionic technology and gentle, definition-preserving drying.
Super travel-friendly, this clever diffuser-and-dryer in one is equipped with three heat settings and ceramic tech to keep frizz to a minimum. The design is much easier to throw in an overnight bag or suitcase, so we'd recommend it if you only diffuse your hair and want something compact.
Quiet, well-balanced and chic-looking, this dryer takes luxury to another level. Designed by the experts behind the Hershesons salon, it's ideal for elevating your curl game. The price tag is steep, but the luxurious design and the fact that it's a dream to use helps to make up for it.
Putting shape and curl definition at the forefront, this dryer uses a lot of hair health-boosting technology and is a brilliant option for those with curly hair, seeking a tool made by a dedicated curl brand and at a reasonable price point.
The best hair dryers for curly hair, reviewed by our beauty experts
The best hair dryer for curly hair overall
How Rhiannon's curls looked after using the ghd Helios
Reviewed by: Rhiannon Derbyshire
I've had my Helios for years and it still works as well as the day I unboxed it. It's the dryer I always come back to, even after trialling countless tools over my decade in the beauty industry. It's just great. Unpretentious, extremely powerful and easy to use, it has simple controls and well-made attachments that come on and off with ease.
It's the first I recommend to anyone asking for the best hair dryer for curly hair, working just as well to diffuse curls as it does smoothing them out on the (extremely rare) days when I can be bothered to try a sleeker blow dry.
You do have to pay extra for the diffuser, which is, admittedly, a little annoying. But the combined total is cheaper than many of the other options on this list, which balances things out to make it the top choice for curls, in my opinion. Sometimes I worry that this classic has taken a bit of a back seat in the hair tool world – ultra-fancy and higher-tech options seem to launch on a near-monthly basis – but I'll always be loyal to ghd. It's never let me down.
See our full ghd Helios review for an in-depth guide to its capabilities
The best hair dryer for curly, coily and Afro hair
The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer and how Rhiannon's curls looked after using it
Reviewed by: Rhiannon Derbyshire, Lucy Abbersteen
The Dyson Supersonic was always going to make this list because it really is as good as everyone says it is. My colleagues waxed lyrical about it for months before I tried it, meaning my expectations were high. I'll admit I also had a tiny bit of scepticism. How good could a hair dryer really be?
I can now confirm it's worth the hype. It's lightweight, user-friendly and genuinely feels fun to use. I mostly loved how quiet it is; drying my hair can take forever, leaving my ears feeling a little sensitive. But this was an absolute delight and my curls were left soft, defined, bouncy and shinier compared to air drying them. Not only am I a fan, it's contributing beauty editor Lucy Abbersteen's go-to, too. She describes it as "the best combination" for curls, adding that many hairdressers agree. Though the brand has released a few new tools since the original, we still think it's the winner for curly hair. The scalp protect mode of the Dyson Supersonic Nural – one of the new tool's biggest draws – is a great feature, but isn't designed to work with the new and improved diffuser when you hover it close to your head. The Nural is still great and a noticeable level up, but you could save some money and still get a great curly-compatible tool with the original design.
Including the wide tooth comb attachment, primarily for styling coily and Afro hair, as standard also sets Dyson dryers aside from others in this guide – one of several attachments that make it a great, inclusive buy. Not so inclusive, however, is its price tag, though it's worth noting that many of 2026's premium dryers aren't far off that.
See our full Dyson Supersonic review for more details
Best cheap hair dryer for curly hair
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
While investing more in hairstyling tools often gets you more advanced technology, you don't have to spend hundreds to get a good quality hair dryer. This is something that BaByliss is known for as a brand, and we rate the 2300 dryer as one of the best affordable hair dryers for curly hair. £90 is by no means a small investment but, as hair dryers go, it's a fairly reasonable price for a stylish model with three included attachments – a diffuser, pik and concentrator nozzle. All this is why we deem this tool the best value bundle if you're looking to spend as little as possible while getting fairly decent results. It's equipped with two speed and three heat settings, plus ionic technology to promote a smoother finish in curly textures.
As for the user experience, the diffuser made for a nice, gentle drying experience that kept my curls fairly defined and bouncy. One downside I did really notice while using this dryer was that the diffuser didn't seem to attach particularly securely; thankfully it didn't fall off many times mid-dry, but any contact with the dryer could loosen it. That said, for its price tag, this is still a decent dryer that doesn't cost the earth – an ideal pick for those shopping hair dryers under £100.
Best travel-friendly hair dryer for curly hair
Reviewed by: Rhiannon Derbyshire
In terms of attachments, this tool is the polar opposite to something like the Shark FlexStyle or Dyson Airwrap, as it's a combined dryer-and-diffuser unit in one. By that we mean that if you only need a dryer for diffusing curls, it's an ideal one-stop shop. This standalone diffuser unit is equipped with three heat and two speed settings, so you can be as gentle as you want while drying – and stave off excess in the process.
I've long recommended the original Bellissima Diffuser as an affordable, easy hair dryer for curly hair. (Abbersteen agrees that it's a great all-in-one tool.) But the newer, swisher Prestige version is a ideal if you want something a bit more luxe in feel and user experience. This updated version also packs in ceramic technology to aid a smoother, frizz-free drying session.
All in all, I enjoyed using this tool. It's very satisfying that it's specifically geared towards defining curls and I liked how fuss-free using it was. However, I have to say that the results aren't massively different to the original Diffon, so if your budget is smaller I'd stick to that. This tool is also more compact than others, which makes it a great option for the best travel hair dryer if you only plan to wear your hair curly while you're on holiday. Because nobody wants to risk frying their curls with the dodgy hotel dryer...
Best stylish hair dryer for curly hair
Reviewed by: Rhiannon Derbyshire, Jess Beech
Hershesons is one of my favourite blow dry spots in London, so I was curious to see how its own brand dryer performed – especially when it comes to drying curls. (I'll admit that when I'm at a salon, I tend to opt for a swishy, straight blow dry, mostly for the novelty factor.)
From the get-go, this tool looks different to many other dryers. It's got a slim design entirely in bold, electric blue – even the cord and plug match, which is very pleasing. The roomy diffuser slotted in satisfyingly and it still felt incredibly lightweight and nicely balanced, not tipping at an angle with the attachment. It was very quiet, too, thanks to the petite motor. My beauty team colleague Jess Beech, whose results you can see above, also loves it – describing it as a "small but mighty" little tool.
While I normally find drying my hair a huge chore, I found the Hershesons dryer really removed that feeling. It’s not the cheapest option for curly hair, but if you want a stylish, exciting newcomer that performs well and looks gorgeous on your dressing table, this is it.
Best hair dryer for long curly hair
The Curlsmith Defrizzion Dryer & XXL Diffuser and how Rhiannon's curls looked after using it
Reviewed by: Rhiannon Derbyshire
It makes sense that this curly haircare brand has created a dryer specifically for curls. Curlsmith has focused their area of innovation on the diffuser, which is the biggest we’ve ever used or seen. At eight inches, it's practically the size of a dinner plate. When you consider that most mass market options are about half that (ghd's is just five, for example), I think this is a pretty noteworthy selling point.
I used this dryer and diffuser combination to dry my relatively short, shoulder-length hair and I will admit that this attachment felt a bit unnecessarily big for me, personally. However, if you have long or very thick hair (or both), it will be a huge time saver – particularly if you've found standard diffusers not to cut it in the past.
Putting shape and curl definition at the forefront, this dryer has incorporated a lot of hair health-boosting technology, like ionising and ceramic tech, to prevent frizz. It also comes with a smoothing attachment, should you want to dry with a sleeker finish, as well as a pik attachment for type 4 coils. My overall verdict? It's a brilliant option, sits at a reasonable price point and is the best hair dryer for curly hair created by a dedicated curl brand.
Best salon-style hair for curly hair
Reviewed by: Rhiannon Derbyshire
With so many all-singing, all-dancing hair dryers having hit the market in the last 10 years, it’s easy to forget about the classics. But underestimate Parlux at your peril, because there’s a reason it’s been hairdressers’ dryer brand of choice for several decades.
This Italian brand is known for its durable, hard-working hair dryers, one of which you'll find in most hair stylists' kit bags – as has been the case for years and years. They're petite but powerful, creating a big blow dry with body in minutes. Though with some colourways you have to buy the compatible diffuser separately, Parlux does offer bundle deals, meaning there's a small saving when you buy it as one set. Either way it's a robust, sizeable attachment that will still work well on longer hair.
I forgot how much I liked the Alyon until I revisited it for this guide. It feels sturdy and reliable, while the smaller and more compact shape helps it feel light and useable. It's a little loud, but only compared to whisper-quiet output of some newer designs. If you're looking for a tool that will last you years – if not a decade – of regular use, this is the one.
See our Parlux Alyon hair dryer review for more details
How we tested the best hair dryer for curly hair contenders
A selection of the curl-friendly hair dryers that were tested for this guide
We tested dozens of hair dryers to assess their curly capabilities before making our final selection. Each one featured in this guide outperformed the contenders that didn't make it onto the final list. As all dryers were tested on my 3a curls, but I also looked out for signs that each one would suit other curl types, from tighter type 4 coils to looser type 2 waves. The models are generally universal, with notes in the specifications and reviews if it suits one particular kind specifically. After trying a broad range of the different tools on the market, I narrowed the list down based on the following factors.
- Design: An ergonomic design that wasn't too fiddly or weighty was a must, particularly given the extra time and care needed to dry curly hair types gently for soft and defined results.
- Ease of use: A dryer shouldn't take a long time to get to grips with, nor should it be easy to knock and change the settings or for the attachments to come loose.
- Settings: A good range of both speed and heat settings, including a cool shot, is a must for customisable drying and the "low and slow" method. Mega power wasn't necessarily important here, as too much causes excess frizz in curly hair types.
- Technology: Any features that were especially compatible with and styled curls well all scored points. These could have been be ionic technology (which helps to reduce frizz by balancing the ions in hair), ceramic element (helps with even heat and retaining moisture in the hair) or tourmaline (can reduce drying time and improve smoothness), for example.
- Attachments: A very important factor was the availability of a compatible diffuser attachment, while a comb attachment also scored points, to ensure that a tool could style various curly hair types. I wasn't too snippy buying attachments separately if the dryer is otherwise excellent; it's nice to have as standard, but including these in every box is arguably wasteful for those who won't use them (but that's a debate for another day).
- Price: Advanced technology can go some way to justify a larger price tag, but these tools' price tags needed to be good value for money in line with their user experiences and results.
How to choose the best hair dryer for curly hair
When your goal is to order a dryer that's particularly suitable for curly hair, looking out for the following features is a good place to start.
- Heat & speed settings: Especially important for styling, as curls need to be dried carefully at a lower temperature to help avoid damage and generating excess frizz.
- Wattage: Those with curly, coily or wavy hair will benefit from a powerful wattage, between 1,800 to 2,000 watts, to help reduce drying time and potential damage.
- Ion technology: Works to break down water molecules and spread moisture evenly throughout the hair. The result? Reduced frizz and static, sealed in moisture and a high-shine finish.
- Ceramic & tourmaline: Both elements are worth looking for. Ceramic is ideal for those with delicate and/or damaged curls as it works to evenly distribute heat, yielding smooth and shiny results. Tourmaline, however, is ideal for a gentler approach, as it locks in moisture and allows for a shiny, frizz-free, salon-worthy finish.
- Cable length: Beneficial in any hair dryer, a long cable comes in extra handy when diffusing curls as it makes it easier to move the dryer around – and prevents you from being limited to the vicinity of a wall socket.
FAQs
How do you dry curly hair without ruining curls?
If you're using even the best dryer for curly hair in the wrong way, your curls can look undefined and flat – and even damaged. Afro and textured hair specialist Michelle Thompson, who is also an ambassador for ghd, has shared the best routine.
- "Semi-dry the roots by using a 'hover method' and slowly circulate [the dryer] around the curls towards the ends. This will help to prevent frizzing during the drying process.
- "Once the hair is 60% dry, start to cup the curls into the diffuser, gently moving the dryer towards the root area, and hold for up to 10 This is called the "scrunch method". This enhances your curls to give them volume and bounce.
- "Make sure the scalp, roots and hair are 100% dry as this will give you a longer-lasting result."
Should I blow dry curly hair with hot or cold air?
Thompson advises using a low heat and speed setting to prevent frizz from forming; we recommend sticking to slightly warm air, usually the first setting on your dryer. A cold shot is good to lock in the style or for a quick blast if you're overheating, but it'll take a lot longer to dry it completely on this setting. Yes, extreme heat can seriously affect curls, but you'll need some of it if you want to get the job done in reasonable time.
Curly hair specialist and founder of TREPADORA Keisha Jo Lawler confirms you can get away with a slightly warmer heat when drying with a diffuser. "When using a diffuser in our salon we generally recommend our guests to use medium speed, medium temperature," she says. "The beauty of a diffuser is that it is not concentrated heat, so it is a lot gentler for your curls."
Is ceramic or ionic hair dryer best for curly hair?
Both technologies have their benefits, including when it comes to drying and styling curly hair, but there are some distinctions you can make if you're torn between the two. "Ionic is best suited for thicker, dry, and/or frizzy curly hair due to its ability to lock in moisture and leave behind a soft, smooth finish," Smith confirms.
Thompson agrees: "The ionic technology produces negative ions while you dry and style to neutralize the positive static charge on hair which reduces frizz and flyaways."
What are the long term effects of using high heat on curly hair?
Heat is incredibly damaging to all hair types, causing weaker strands, split ends and breakage. On top of that, for curly hair specifically, heat damage also results in less-defined curl patterns – in the case of heat damage, you'll notice that curls and coils are flat, looser and misshapen as well as the usual breakage. This is why it's so important to always apply a form of heat protection – like the best heat protection spray – before using any heat on your hair. Some experts would advocate using little-to-no heat to keep the risk to a minimum, but if you are drying, "low and slow" is the way to go. Once serious damage has been done to strands, the only way to truly "fix" them is with a haircut – so if you aren't looking to get a chop, caring for and protecting your hair is key.
Our expert panel
Rhiannon Derbyshire is Senior Beauty Editor at woman&home and other women's titles. During her career, she's specialised in beauty, fashion, interiors and health, but beauty remains her favourite topic. Since embracing her natural hair texture, she hasn't looked back, making her our go-to in-house expert in nailing a curly hair routine.
Lucy Abbersteen is a freelance beauty editor and one of woman&home's contributing beauty editor. With close to a decade of experience in the industry – and with hair as one of her specialisms – she's tested a lot of hair tools on her curly hair during her career. As such, she's also shared her insights on some of the top-rated dryers in this guide.
Eugene Smith is a hairdresser and Style Director at John Frieda's Aldford Street salon. As well as his in-salon experience, during his 30-year career he's worked on many campaigns and with icons including Beyoncé, Naomi Campbell and Mariah Carey.
Michelle Thompson is a hairdresser and award-winning Afro and textured hair expert who has worked on numerous campaigns and editorials during her career. She is also an ambassador for ghd.
Keisha Jo Lawler is an entrepreneur and the founder of the curly haircare brand and salon TREPADORA. A curl expert and with curly hair herself, she knows what to look for in a hair dryer that suits these hair types well.