The 10 best hair dryers for curly hair, reviewed by a beauty editor with curls

No matter your curl pattern(s), the best hair dryer for curly hair must cater to the unique needs of these hair types. Requirements for the best hair dryer usually focus on things like speed, power, and heat, whereas curls have a different set of needs. Almost the opposite, really, as a big whoosh of hot air will create a whirlwind of frizz and can flatten curl patterns. 

Here, the best hair dryer must be light (the low and slow method means you spend a long time clutching the thing) and gentle enough not to disrupt delicate curls. Picking a drier that includes one of the best diffusers for curly hair is also hugely important, says Eugene Smith, Style Director at John Frieda. "The best way to dry curly hair is definitely with a diffuser," he tells us. "The dispersed air allows the drier to evenly dry the curls without disturbing their natural spiral texture."

With these requirements in mind, woman&home's Senior Beauty Editor Rhiannon Derbyshire put tens of driers and diffusers through their paces on her 3A curls. The result is this definitive list of the best hair dryers for curly hair (and slightly achy arms). 

Rhiannon Derbyshire

Rhiannon Derbyshire is the Senior Beauty Editor at woman&home and other titles. During her career she's specialised in writing about beauty, fashion, interiors, and health, but beauty remains her favorite topic. Since embracing her natural hair texture, she hasn't looked back since, making her W&H's go-to expert in nailing a curly hair routine.

Our top 6 picks of the best hair dryers for curly hair

The best hair dryer for curly hair to suit every curl type and budget

The best hair dryer for curly hair overall

I've had my Helios for years and it still works as well as it did the first day I unboxed it. It's the model I keep coming back to, even after trialling countless hair dryers over my near-decade in this industry. It's just good. 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 option I recommend to anyone who asks for the best hair dryer for curly hair and it works just as well to diffuse my curls as it does smoothing and de-frizzing on those (exceptionally rare) days when I can be bothered to attempt a smooth blow-dry. The fact that you have to pay extra for a diffuser is, admittedly, a little bit annoying, but it still makes it cheaper than many of the other options on this list, so in my opinion, this balances things out to make it the overall best hair dryer for curly hair. 

I sometimes worry that the classic ghd dryer has taken a back seat in the world of hair tools, with ultra-fancy, high-tech options launching seemingly weekly. But I'll always be loyal to ghd – it's just never let me down.

See our full ghd Helios review for more details on this dryer

The best hair dryer for curly, coily and Afro hair

You knew this one was coming. Of course the Dyson was always going to make this list – it really is as good as everyone says it is. My colleagues have been waxing lyrical about the Dyson Supersonic for months, so my expectations upon testing this were high. I also had a tiny amount of pessimism in my back pocket. How good can one hair dryer really be? 

I can confirm it's worth the hype. It's light, user-friendly and genuinely feels quite fun to use. I mostly loved how quiet it is – drying my mid-length hair can take forever, so by the end of the session my ears can start to feel a little sensitive. This was an absolute delight and my curls were left soft, defined, bouncy and definitely shinier than when I air dry. I'm converted. 

But it's the wide tooth comb attachment that sets this aside from my other picks. This makes it especially good for drying and styling coily and Afro hair. I also love that it comes with so many attachments as standard, making it a great, inclusive buy. What's not so inclusive, however, is the price.

See our Dyson Supersonic review for more details

Best cheap hair dryer for curly hair

Although I’d consider the best hair dryer for curly hair to be one of the bigger and most important beauty investments you can make, that doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune. This bargain tool is a perfect example of that. This is a tenth of the price of the Dyson. A tenth. That's a discount to not... er, discount. 

While at first glance it may look quite no-frills, it does feature some fairly impressive smoothing gadgetry, including both ionic and ceramic technology and a coconut oil-infused nozzle. While I personally can’t vouch for the coconut working any specific shine-boosting magic, all this is to say that this is a dryer that puts hair health first. 

This worked well as a simple, straightforward dryer and the diffuser really helped to boost volume at the roots. It's louder and heavier than some of the snazzier, mega-bucks options on this list, but if you're looking for something affordable that won't compromise your curls, this is it. 

Best versatile hair dryer for curly hair

The FlexStyle launched to huge hype, swiftly building a reputation as one of the closest Dyson Airwrap dupes – so at first, I didn’t really register it as a candidate for the best hair dryer for curly hair. However, what sets this apart from the Dyson Airwrap (apart from its price tag) is that it also works as a standalone hairdryer – and a very good one, too. It's also incredibly pleasing clicking the styler into the dryer mode, a very slick little twist and lock that all feels a bit James Bond. 

This hardworking bit of kit has a diffuser among its six included attachments, and it's an especially clever one as it has a little lever at the back that you can lower or raise the spikes. I haven't seen anything like this before; it means you can raise them towards the end of drying to give your roots an extra boost if needed. I was quite wowed before even switching the thing on. 

As for the actual drying, it's a dream; it's quick, easy and provides impressive volume when you use the clever little lever. It's worth noting that it's definitely louder than the Dyson, but not dramatically so – and not enough to put me off. In fact, it may have knocked my trusty little ghd off the top "go-to-styler" spot. I'm really excited to use all the other accoutrements on days when I want more of a blow-dried style. 

If you don’t want or need all these added extra – the waving, the blow dry brush, etc – then I’d say stick to the original Shark Dryer, which is a brilliant standalone. But seeing as it’s not dramatically more expensive, I’d wager you might as well have these extra bits, alongside the very light and travel-friendly dryer.

See our Shark FlexStyle review for more details on this versatile tool

Best travel-friendly hair dryer for curly hair

This tool sits at the opposite end of the spectrum to Shark, so if you're only planning to use your new dryer for diffusing, this is the perfect one-stop shop. It's a standalone diffuser with three heat settings and two power settings, so you can be as gentle as you want to keep that dreaded frizz from forming. 

I've long recommended the original Bellissima diffuser as an affordable, easy hair dryer for curly hair, but this newer, swisher version is a good option if you're looking for something a bit more premium. The updated version includes ceramic technology to aid a smoother, frizz-free drying session. 

I enjoyed using this; it's pleasing that it's a specific buy for curls and I liked how fuss-free 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. It is more compact than other models, which makes it a great option for the best travel hair dryer if your plan is to dry your hair curly while you're away. Nobody wants to risk frying their curls with the dodgy hotel drier...

Best stylish hair dryer for curly hair

Hershesons is one of my favourite spots in London to get a blow dry, so I was curious to see how their dryer stacked up, especially when it comes to drying curls. (I have to admit, when I'm at a salon I do tend to opt for a swishy, straight blow dry – for the novelty factor, more than anything.)

Right off the bat, this looks so different to many dryers. It's got a slim, conical shape in a full-blown electric blue – even the cord and plug match, which is hugely pleasing. The roomy diffuser slotted in satisfyingly and it still felt incredibly light and nicely balanced in terms of the weight, not tipping at an angle with the attachment. It was very quiet too, thanks to the petite motor.

Overall, I really enjoyed using this dryer; I normally find drying my hair a huge chore, but this tool really took that feeling away. It’s not the cheapest hair dryer for curly hair, but if you’re looking for a stylish, exciting newcomer that looks gorgeous on your dressing table while doing it all, this is it.

Best hair dryer for long curly hair

It makes sense that this curly haircare brand has created a drier specifically with curls in mind. They’ve focused their area of innovation on the diffuser, which is the biggest we’ve ever used - or seen. At 8 inches, it's practically the size of a dinner plate. When you consider most hover at about half that (ghd's is 5 inches), it's a pretty notable USP. 

I used it on my relatively short, shoulder-length hair and I will admit that the diffuser felt a bit necessarily big for me. However, if you have long or very thick hair, this will be a huge time saver - it's practically achievable to fit three peoples’ worth of hair into the thing. 

This uses a lot of hair health-boosting technology, like ionizing and ceramic tech to prevent frizz. It also comes with a smoothing attachment, should you want a sleeker blow-dry, as well as a pic attachment for type 4 coils. In short, it's a brilliant option at a fair price point and the best hair dryer for curly hair created by a curly brand. 

Best hair dryer for curly hair for scalp care

Panasonic’s offering promises high-tech specs at a nice, mid-level price point. Most notable (and least jargon-y) is the mineral technology, which is used to reduce damage, boost shine and prevent frizzy hair. 

The heat settings are unlike anything I've seen before. There are four options, including two for scalp and skin, which make this one of the best hair dryer options for curly hair. Because you don't move the dryer around as much when drying curls, it's common to find the scalp gets a little bit scorched in the process, but this smart little extra fully removes that irritation. 

Anyway, it’s all well and good listing these specs, but how did this dryer measure up while actually in use? In two words, absolutely brilliant. It felt efficient and quick to use, while my hair felt soft and bouncy but not at all crispy. The diffuser is different from others I’ve tried, too – it's more pointed and less cone-shaped. This makes the tool a better hair dryer for creating volume and catering to shorter hair or tighter curl patterns. Impressive.

See our Panasonic Nanoe review for more details

Best luxury hair dryer for curly hair

The Zuvi is a slightly underground tool, but its launch got beauty editors really excited. Alongside air, it dries hair using light, not high heat, which makes it an extra gentle hair dryer option. This is supposed to emulate your hair air-drying in the sun. Curly hair types will know that this is can be a nicer idea in theory than in practice (to quote Monica Gellar, "it’s the humidity"), but it’s an interesting concept from a new tech brand.

I was surprised by how much I was wooed by the slick design. There's a reason they call it the Tesla of the hair dryer world. It's quite beautiful – light, slim and a little bit sexy. The lightness and the physical lights that illuminate when you switch it on make it a genuine joy to use, while the magnetic attachments clicked on satisfyingly and firmly – no slipping and sliding here. 

The fact that this offers such a gentle dry means this is one of the best hair dryers for curly hair because it puts care first, over speed or mega-watt power. Overall this is a sleek, high-tech design that’s changing the game. I’m so impressed.

See our Zuvi Halo review for more details

Best salon-style hair for curly hair

With so many new all-singing, all-dancing, jazz-hands hair dryers launching, it’s easy to forget about the classics. But underestimate Parlux at your peril, as there’s a reason it’s been hairdressers’ go-to dryer for decades.

The Italian brand is known for its durable, hard-working dryers that you'll find peeking out of most hair stylists' kit bags. They're quite petite but powerful, giving a speedy, bouncy blow dry in minutes. Although you have to buy the diffuser separately, it's a robust, sizeable option that will still work well on very long hair. Plus, the brand is now offering combo deals, making you a small saving when you buy the diffuser as part of the set with the dryer. 

I forgot how much I liked this buy until I picked it up for the purpose of this review. It feels sturdy and reliable, while the smaller shape helps it feel light and useable. It's a little bit loud, but only compared to whisper-quiet options 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 options

Every product in this guide has been fully tried and tested by me. I put them through their paces and weighed up every aspect of these tools, assessing everything from their ease of use, attachments, heat levels, price points and any other high-tech specs. High power isn't necessarily an important factor when drying curls as that often generates excess frizz. Slow and steady is key, so the weight of these dryers matters more than it does in the case of drying straight and smooth hairstyles to prevent that dreaded dead arm. 

Ultimately, the main non-negotiable here is a diffuser. Sure, it's handy to have other smoothing nozzles for a bouncy blow dry and if these were included, great. But I'm not going to be too snippy about having to spend on an extra attachment for an otherwise excellent dryer. There's an argument to be made that including one in every box is wasteful for the majority of people who don't use it, but let's save that debate for another day. 

As all driers were tested on my 3A curls, I also considered whether these driers would work on other curl types, from loose type 2 waves all the way through to type 4 coils. The options on this list would suit all curl types, with some working better than others for type 4 hair, specifically, which has been noted in the specifications. 

FAQs

Michelle Thompson

Michelle Thompson is a hairdresser and award-winning Afro and texture hair expert who has worked on numerous campaigns and editorials during her career. She is also an ambassador for ghd. 

Keisha Jo Lawler

Keisha Jo Lawler is an entrepreneur and the founder of curly haircare brand and salon TREPADORA.