The 6 best hair dryers for curly hair, reviewed by our curly-haired beauty editors
Define curls, coils and waves without frizz with one of our top-rated dryers for curly hair – all tested and reviewed by us
With any type of curly hair, from tight coils to loose waves, blasting any old dryer on full power and heat is unlikely to get you the finish you're after. You're more likely to end up with a lack of curl definition and a lot of excess frizz. The best hair dryers for curly hair are made with materials that help preserve its moisture levels, plus have a range of heat and speed settings and curl-friendly attachments. And our curly-haired testers have put in the testing hours to find the top tools that tick those exact boxes, sharing detailed reviews here.
But as well as our firsthand expertise, we also sought the insights of professionals to give you clear guidance on what you need to look for when shopping. So: first and foremost, the best hair dryer for curls should be lightweight (drying gently and slowly means you hold it for a long time) with at least one lower heat and speed setting, plus have compatible diffusers for curly hair. "The dispersed air allows the dryer to evenly dry the curls without disturbing their natural spiral texture," says Eugene Smith, style director at John Frieda Mayfair.
For more expert know-how, our two hair experts have also answered the most common questions about drying curls at the end of this guide. But first, here are my detailed reviews of the top, drawing on my years of beauty editor testing experience and other testers' insights. After putting several hair dryers and diffusers to the test on my type 3a curly hair, these were the tools that came out on top – including picks from ghd, Dyson and Revlon...
Best hair dryers for curly hair deals
These deals were last checked on 27/07/26 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.
The quick list
For Rhiannon, this tool is the gold standard of hair dryers. Packing in power and easy to use, it couldn't be better for creating definition with the diffuser attachment, available separately for £29.
The famous Dyson Supersonic lives up to the hype, we can confirm. It's quiet, easy to use and gave us soft, bouncy curls. It also comes with a pik-style comb attachment for coily and Afro hair types, so it caters to a broad range of curly hair types.
Compact and travel-friendly, this clever diffuser-and-dryer in one is equipped with three heat settings and ceramic tech to keep frizz to a minimum. We'd recommend it if you only ever diffuse your hair and want a straightforwad tool.
Quiet, well-balanced and chic, this dryer epitomises luxury. 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 dreamy user experience helps to make up for it.
With a design centred around curl definition, this dryer uses a lot of hair health-boosting technology and is a brilliant option for those seeking a tool made by a dedicated curl brand and at a reasonable price point.
When it comes to hairdressers preferred tools, the Parlux Alyon is one of the go-tos. Powerful, trusty and sturdy, although it's a little loud it dries impressively quickly with a lovely finish – and comes with a diffuser bundle, too.
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 used my Helios for years and it still works as well as the day I unboxed it. This is the dryer I always return to, even after trying near-countless others my decade working in the beauty industry. It's just... great. Unpretentious, extremely powerful and easy to use, the controls are simple while the well-made attachments come on and off with ease.
It's the first tool I name when anyone asks for best hair dryer for curly hair recommendations, as it's just as good at diffusing curls as stretching and 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 bit annoying. But even then, the combined total is still cheaper than many other options on this list, which balances things to make it my choice for curls. Sometimes I'm concerned that this classic has taken a back seat in the hair world – ultra-fancy and higher-tech tools seem to launch on a near-monthly basis – but I'll always be loyal to my Helios. 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. It really is as good as everyone says. Colleagues raved about it for months before I tried it, so my expectations were high. But I'll admit I was also a little sceptical. How good could a hair dryer really be?
Well, it's worth the hype. It's lightweight, user-friendly and genuinely fun to use. I most 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 than air drying. It's also contributing beauty editor Lucy Abbersteen's go-to, who calls it "the best combination" for curls (and many hairdressers agree). Though Dyson has released a few more tools since the original, we still think it's the overall winner for curly hair. The newer Supersonic Nural's scalp features are great, but they don't work with the updated diffuser, which would be useful when holding the tool close to your head. The Nural is still noticeably levelled-up, but you could save some money and still get a great curly-friendly tool with the original.
Including both the diffuser and comb attachment, designed primarily for coily and Afro hair, as standard also sets the Supersonic apart from other dryers 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 premium dryers today aren't far off that.
See our full Dyson Supersonic review for more details
Best travel-friendly hair dryer for curly hair
Reviewed by: Rhiannon Derbyshire
In terms of attachments, this tool is the opposite of something like the Shark FlexStyle or Dyson Airwrap, as it's an all-in-one diffuser and dryer unit. So if you only ever diffuse your curls dry, it's your ideal one-stop shop. This standalone unit is equipped with three heat and two speed settings, so you can be as gentle as you want while drying your curls, staving off excess frizz in the process.
I've long recommended the original Bellissima Diffuser because it's affordable and easy to use (Abbersteen agrees). But the newer, swisher Prestige model is designed to be bit more luxe in feel and user experience. This updated version also features ceramic technology to help yield an even smoother finish.
All in all, I enjoyed using it. The curls-first design is satisfying and I liked its fuss-free user experience. But I have to say, the results aren't especially different to those of its predecessor, so if your budget is smaller, I'd stick to the original. Both tools are more compact than traditional dryers, making them akin to the best travel hair dryers if you only plan to wear your hair curly while you're away, too.
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 their first hair tool, The Great Hairdryer performed, especially for curl. (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.)
At a glance, it certainly looks completely different to most dryers. It's slim design is entirely in bold, electric blue – even the cord and plug, which is very pleasing. The diffuser slotted on satisfyingly and it still felt very lightweight and nicely balanced, not thrown off when you secure an attachment. It was very quiet, too, thanks to its small motor. My fellow beauty team member Jess Beech, whose results you can see above, also loves it, describing it as "small but mighty."
Usually, I find drying my hair a massive chore, but Hershesons' dryer really removed that feeling for me. It’s far from the cheapest tool, but if you want something stylish and exciting that will performs well and looks gorgeous on your dressing table, this is it.
Read our full Hershesons The Great Hairdryer review for a deeper dive into this tool
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 total sense that this curly haircare brand has created a dryer specifically for curls. Curlsmith focused its innovation efforts on the diffuser, which is the biggest we’ve ever used or seen and practically the size of a dinner plate at eight inches. When you consider that most mass market options are about half that – ghd's is just five, for example – I think it's pretty noteworthy.
I used the two to dry my shoulder-length hair and will admit that the attachment felt a bit unnecessarily big for me, personally. But if you have very long and/or thick hair, it will be a huge time saver, especially if you find standard-sized diffusers to be lacking.
This dryer has incorporated a lot of hair technology, like ionising and ceramic tech, to prioritise shape and definition and help prevent frizz. There's also a smoothing attachment included, should you want to create a sleeker finish, as well as a pik for type 4 coils. My overall verdict is that it's pretty brilliant, reasonably priced and the best option from a dedicated curl brand.
Best salon-style hair for curly hair
Reviewed by: Rhiannon Derbyshire
So many all-singing, all-dancing hair dryers have launched over the last couple of decades that it’s easy to forget about the classics. But underestimate the legacy of Parlux at your peril, because there’s a reason it’s been hairdressers’ brand of choice for several decades.
This brand is best known for durable, hard-working hair dryers, which is why you'll find one in most hair stylists' kit bags. They're petite but powerful, able to create a big blow dry with body in minutes. While you have to buy a differ separately with some colourways, Parlux does offer bundles for a small saving when bought as a set. Either way, said diffuser is a robust, sizeable attachment that works 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 its smaller and more compact shape makes it feel light and useable. It's a little loud, but only compared to the whisper-quiet output of modern designs. If you want a tool that will give you years – if not a decade – of regular use, this is it.
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
To find the very best dryers for curly hair, we tested dozens of tools to thoroughly assess their styling abilities – ensuring the final edit was only made up of truly the top tools. Each one featured here outperformed the other contenders.
I tested them all 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, as well as taking notes from fellow curly-haired testers at woman&home. These curl-friendly models are generally universally suitable, with notes in the specs and review if it suits specific types. During my testing process, all of the following factors were taken into account.
- Design: Being ergonomic and not too heavy were musts, particularly given the time needed to dry curly hair gently for soft, defined results.
- User experience: A dryer shouldn't long to get to grips with, nor should it be easy to accidentally change settings or for attachments to come loose.
- Settings: A range of both speed and heat settings, including a cool shot, is key to customisable drying and being able to dry low and slow. Big power wasn't necessarily important for our testing considerations as, here, we want avoid excess frizz in curly hair types.
- Technology: Any features that were especially curly-friendly all scored points. These might be ionic tech (helps reduce frizz by balancing the ions in hair), ceramic (helps with even heat and retaining moisture in the hair) or tourmaline (improves smoothness and drying time), for example.
- Attachments: Having compatible diffuser and comb attachments available scored points for styling various curly hair types. I wasn't too snippy about buying these separately if the dryer is otherwise excellent (they're nice to have but including them in every box is arguably wasteful when some won't use them (but that's a debate for another day!).
- Price: Advanced technology and great results help to justify a larger price tag, but any dryer we tested had to offer good value for money in line with the user experience and results.
How to choose the best hair dryer for curly hair
When your goal is to order a dryer that's suitable for curly hair, taking a look at the following features in particular is a good place to start.
- Range of settings: Important for styling, as curls need to be dried carefully on a lower temperature and power to help avoid damage and reduce 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.
- Ionic technology: As mentioned, this works to break down water molecules and spread moisture evenly throughout the hair – for reduced frizz and static, sealed in moisture and a shinier finish.
- Materials: Ceramic is ideal for delicate and/or damaged curls as it works to evenly distribute heat and yield smooth and shiny results. Meanwhile tourmaline 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?
Even the best dryer for curly hair in the wrong way can leave curls looking undefined and flat – and even damaged – if used in the wrong way. Afro and textured hair specialist Michelle Thompson, also a ghd ambassador, has shared her recommended step-by-step method below.
- "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' and 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 you use a low heat and speed setting to prevent excess frizz from forming. We recommend slightly warm air, usually the first setting on your dryer. The cold shot is good for setting your style but it would take an age to fully dry your hair on this setting. (Yes, extreme heat seriously affects curls, but you need some if you want to dry your hair in a reasonable amount of time.)
Keisha Jo Lawler, curly hair specialist and TREPADORA founder, confirms you can get away with slightly warmer heat when using a diffuser. "In our salon, we generally recommend 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 have their benefits, 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 neutralise 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, weakening strands and causing split ends and breakage. But curly hair is already naturally weaker, due to the bends in the shape, and damage shows up as a lack of definition, often referred to as a loss of curl pattern. Here curls and coils often look flat, looser and misshapen along with breakage. This is why it's so important to always apply a product like the best heat protection spray for hair before using any heated tools.
Some experts would advocate using little-to-no heat at all, but if you are drying, "low and slow" is the way to go. Once serious damage has been inflicted, the only way to truly "fix" it is with a haircut – so unless you want a major chop, always protect your strands as best you possibly can.
Our expert panel
Rhiannon Derbyshire is Senior Beauty Editor at woman&home and Future plc's 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 is a freelance beauty journalist and one of woman&home's contributing beauty editors. With a decade of experience in the industry, with hair as one of her specialisms, she's tested a lot of hair tools on her curly hair during her career. She also shared her testing insights on some of the top-rated tools in this guide.
Eugene Smith is a hairdresser and Style Director at John Frieda's Aldford Street salon in Mayfair, London. As well as his salon experience, during his 30-year career he's worked on many campaigns and styled 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.
Entrepreneur Keisha Jo Lawler is the founder of curly haircare brand TREPADORA and the salon of the same name. As a curl expert – and with curly hair herself – she knows what to look for in a hair dryer that suits these hair types well.