10 of the best hair dryers in 2024 for salon-worthy results, tested by our experts

The humble hair dryer is a staple in any good haircare regime. But the best hair dryer goes beyond just functional drying; it needs to be well designed and perform well, complementing both your styling habits and hair's needs.

In terms of popularity, hair dryers arguably beat the best hair straighteners as the tool most households have to hand. But with such a wide range of options, from simple, "gets the job done" tools to powerful, high-spec options like the Dyson Supersonic, where do you start? 

Technology that cares for your hair's health is very beneficial, while multiple speed and heat settings, including a cool shot, are key for styling, says ghd's Global Ambassador Adam Reed. "Dry your hair on a low heat and only use the hotter setting for the finishing touches," he says. "Once you're done styling, seal the hair using the cool setting for a super smooth look." Extra attachments, such as the narrow nozzles, the best diffusers and comb attachments, are also pro points. 

But our tried and tested guide is here to narrow it down further for you. During our beauty journalism careers, we've tested dozens of models to guide you through the best hair dryer options. Spoiler alert: it's the ghd Helios that gets our vote as the best hair dryer overall, but we've also narrowed down the top tools for specific categories including best for frizz-prone hair, best on budget and best for fine hair, too. 

Fiona McKim

Beauty Channel Editor Fiona might have the kind of naturally wavy hair that you could leave to air-dry but, with more than a decade of experience in the industry, she's flexed her at-home blow-dry muscles enough times to know what makes a brilliant hair dryer. She’s a big fan of Dyson, wooed by Shark and partial to a Parlux. 

Lucy Abbersteen

Lucy has curly hair, so knows what to look for in a dryer to get great definition in curls and be able to dry into a smooth, sleek style – without generating excess frizz either way. She has tested hair dryers with diffusers (like the Dyson Supersonic and Zuvi) to see how well they can dry and define her spirals, plus plenty of others (including the Dyson Airwrap) for a sleeker, straighter finish. 

Stephanie Maylor

Stephanie has great hair: it's long and thick with a natural wave. As an experienced beauty editor, she has tried and tested an impressive amount of hair tools over the years to maintain and style her lengths, including the hairdresser favourite, Parlux. 

Our six top picks

Our beauty team has tried and tested dozens of models and refined this list of the 11 best hair dryers from leading brands, including ghd, Dyson and Remington, to bring you a complete, results-driven guide on the top tools. Below are six of our overall favourites.

The best hair dryer overall

The follow-up to the fan-favorite Air, the ghd Helios Professional Hair Dryer is billed as the brand's lightest, fastest professional dryer, also claiming to impart 30% more shine than other dryers. Our first impressions were good; it's a little sleeker and sexier than other ghd models and there are five colours to choose from – black, ink blue, powder pink, white, and (our personal favourite) plum with gold accents. The casing is matte with a nice velvety texture, and, while at 780g it isn't the lightest, we found it to be pretty nimble. The weight is balanced fairly equally between the handle and head, thanks to its ergonomic design.

The settings are also very user-friendly: two speed, two heat and one cool shot. This may seem simple but, honestly, how many more do you really use? Beyond good looks, the Helios offers solid performance from its light, brushless motor with an airflow of 120kph. You can feel that power when you flick it on to full heat and speed. The dryer roars into action, then releases negative ions to smooth as you dry (there's more on ions in the cheat sheet at the end of this guide). Group Beauty Director Sarah Cooper-White says this dryer gives her "the sleekest, fastest blow-dry I've ever managed at home." 

Overall, it's a brilliant all-rounder, with incremental improvements on previous models but nothing that will alienate or annoy long-time ghd fans. This powerful tool makes for a satisfying and ultra-speedy – albeit not 100% silent – drying experience. It tops our list of the best hair dryers for fine hair, but we rate this tool for all hair types. 

You can see our full ghd Helios hair dryer review

The best premium hair dryer

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: not everyone has this much money to spend on a dryer and it's certainly not a necessity to get a good one; there are plenty of excellent, lower-priced choices in this guide. But if you are planning to make a sizeable investment, it’s easy to see why the Dyson Supersonic has such a devoted fan base.

As you’d expect from the name that made hoovers a status symbol, the specs are impressive. The main draw is its power, generated from a 13-blade digital motor positioned not in the head of the dryer, as is the industry norm, but in its handle. Said motor sends 13 litres of air per second up to the head, which is then multiplied to 41 litres – and checked 20 times – per second to maintain a precise temperature. The aim is fast, controlled drying and styling without the damage of extreme heat (for those wondering do hair dryers damage hair, the answer lies in how hot yours is).

While it's considered a top tool for all hair types, many hairdressers consider the Supersonic and its diffuser the best hair dryer for curly hair – and it's contributing beauty editor Lucy Abbersteen's favourite pairing for drying her curls. "The airflow is super gentle – you can tell Dyson's engineering expertise has gone into the diffuser design – and I always get great, well-defined results," she says. 

The dryer runs at a relatively low 1600W, proving bigger isn’t always better when it comes to power. And it's impressive to use; considering how much technology the Supersonic packs in, the experience is pleasingly pared back, with three speed controls and four heat, plus a cold-shot button. Tap the power button and it whooshes right to full speed, not a second wasted warming up – plus, it’s one of the quietest hair dryers on the market and a dream to control, thanks to that handle-based motor. Nozzles attach magnetically, which is handy when you click them on, but less so when they occasionally snap back off of their own accord. We also managed to loosen the little vent at the base of the handle after a couple of months of continuous use, but we're nitpicking. It's not easy finding negatives here!

Read our full Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer review for more insights

The best hair dryer for good value

If you're thinking there's something familiar-looking about this vacuum company's first foray into the hair dryer market... you're probably not the only one. But physical and pedigree similarities aside, the Shark Style iQ Hair Dryer & Styler is no Dyson dupe. It aims to merge drying and styling into one session via two clever attachments. One is an adjustable concentrator nozzle that you can use for both rough and focused drying with a brush; the other is a diffuser with adjustable prongs that can cradle the hair to protect and enhance curls while gently drying. When testing, we found both to be uniquely useful for creating defined styles – and leagues above the nozzles usually found in the hair dryer box.  

As for settings, you can take two very different routes with the Shark. Either use the handy switch on the side to adjust the dryer to your perfect airflow and heat with one of three options. Or, snap on one of those clever attachments and allow the dryer to select the perfect setting for said attachment. (For even more styling options, our Shark FlexStyle review breaks down the brand's multi-purpose dryer and styler.)

"Even on the highest setting I didn't feel particularly blasted with heat or noise, and still my hair dried quickly and smoothly with a lovely shine to it," explains McKim. This is down to ultra-powerful, concentrated airflow, which, despite the relatively low wattage, allows for fast drying without extreme damage. Good old ionic technology helps to smooth and minimise frizz, as does a cool shot button, and the 2.5m cord is easy to store and, in our opinion, sufficient for any consumer. It's undoubtedly a luxuriously priced dryer, but that investment is repaid in luxury features, kindness to hair and clever touches we're yet to see elsewhere.

You can see our full Shark hair dryer review for more details

The best lightweight hair dryer

If you ask a room full of hairdressers to name the best hair dryer, Parlux would probably win the majority vote. This Italian brand has amassed a fierce cohort of professional fans over the years and, after testing its merits, we can certainly see why. Aesthetically, this is among a few dryers that could reasonably be described as sexy. It comes in 10 colours, from inky matte black to bright corals and yellows (we tried the peacock-like jade, above).

Design-wise, it's small, sleek, and incredibly light, yet boasts a muscular 2250W of power, which you’ll notice right away. Especially when drying thick hair – no achy arms here. In fact, that's also why this iconic hairdryer made it to our list of the best hairdryers for curly hair. Looks and feel aside, the Parlux Alyon also has plenty of useful features. The heat and speed options are uncomplicated – flick the switch on the side of the handle and off you go. "I found this particular detail so handy for mid-dry temperature adjustments, as I could intuitively use my thumb instead of having to pull the dryer away to see which button I was pressing," says Maylor. "It's the little things like this that make a big difference to everyday use." 

The Alyon also helps prevent frizz and damage with ionic technology, while its K-Advance Plus motor promises powerful airflow and a lifespan of at least 3,000 hours. Additional touches include two smoothing nozzles in the box, plus a tactile cool button with a satisfying click. The dryer also features a patent-pending HFS – “Hair Free System" – a tiny corkscrew within the back vent that catches and prevents hair from getting trapped in the dryer. Though it appears tricky with its 10-step instruction booklet, this feature is actually quite simple to master – though we aren't quite convinced it deserves such fanfare compared to an ordinary twist-off vent.

Read our full Parlux Alyon review for our detailed guide

The best hair dryer for fine hair

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we say don't judge a hair dryer by its casing. Because what appears to be a generic, albeit sleek and pleasant-looking device from celeb stylist Nicky Clarke actually hides some pretty interesting technology and features. The first and most unique aspect of this dryer is infrared technology. Here, along with a unique honeycomb-shaped element, it helps to disperse heat evenly. Clarke says this makes for a kind, gentle hair-drying experience without sacrificing blow dry performance.

Mostly, we're sold. We tested it on fine hair and had a gentle and non-scorching experience, even on the highest heat setting, and enjoyed its low weight and nimbleness. Our hair was left smooth and dried without static or flyaways, even after rough drying, which we venture was down to the ion technology. Did we notice the infrared, particularly? No, but we trust it was doing its job of caring for our scalp and hair. We'd rate the drying time as average for a hair dryer of this price; not noticeably quick or slow, but certainly impressive considering its energy efficiency. 

The design isn't exactly a statement, in our opinion, but it is attractive and contemporary-looking with a velvety black finish. For us, the three-metre cord was a welcome touch, as was the smoothing nozzle, which did a great job of creating sleek sheets of hair when we used it alongside a round brush and had the time to really put it through its paces. Overall, this is a strong and thoughtful foray back into premium devices from Nicky Clarke – kind to our hair, kind to the planet, and not too unkind to bank balances.

The best hair dryer for minimising heat damage

The first thing we noticed when picking up the Zuvi Halo is that it’s so light, weighing around one pound (just shy of 500g). But don’t be fooled, because this is a tech-heavy tool. Along with the dryer itself, there are three different attachments included: a diffuser, a concentrated nozzle and a gentle air attachment, so it’s adaptable to your hair’s styling needs. That low wattage also makes it super energy efficient. 

We found the Halo nice and easy to use with magnetic attachments that are very secure once snapped onto the dryer. There’s just one button that cycles through the four styling modes – slow, fast, care, and style – and which activates the cold shot when pressed and held. While some dryer’s cool shot functions are lukewarm at best, the Halo’s is noticeably chilly, and it zips between temperatures impressively quickly. 

If you’re the kind of person who usually loads up on heat protection for hair and blasts your strands, you’ll quite literally need to lower your expectations. The Halo styles at just 111°F (44°C) and – this is where the impressive tech comes in – also uses infrared light to dry water on the surface of the hair. According to research conducted by the brand’s labs, this way hair retains 109% more moisture at its core and, if you colour your hair, it also helps to reduce fade. 

Our hair felt super soft after multiple styling sessions with the Zuvi and it dried hair fairly fast – though perhaps not dramatically faster than a traditional dryer. When drying curls, the diffuser creates excellent volume and definition, making it a good hair dryer for curly hair, too (though, as with any diffuser and dryer combo, using it adds on drying time). The Halo’s one major drawback is, of course, its price tag; for many, spending this kind of money on a hair dryer isn't an option, no matter how groundbreaking the technology. But if it’s within your price range, or you’re able to save for it, there are clear benefits to making the investment. 

You can read our full Zuvi Halo hair dryer review for more

The best hair dryer for frizzy hair

Luxury blow dry bar chain Drybar also sells a range of salon-quality tools for at-home styling, many of which we’ve tried and found excellent (see our guide to the best hair dryer brushes for another one of our faves). Among them is the Buttercup Dryer, a reasonably light model that, despite this, still feels like a well-made, ergonomic, professional tool.

There are three heat settings and two different speeds to play with here, but probably the most significant factor that we’d like to shout about is that it's noticeably good at keeping frizz to a minimum, most likely down to its ionic technology which, in short, adds smoothness and definition. There are also two concentrated nozzles of different widths in the box, helping you create ultra-smooth styles and learn how to make your blowout last longer. 

Drybar also makes one of the best diffusers for curly hair, The Bouncer, which is compatible with both the full and travel-sized Buttercup dryers, as well as some non-Drybar models – though, sadly, it does have to be purchased separately. Nevertheless, our hair was noticeably smoother with this dryer, whether enhancing natural curls with the diffuser or blow-drying a sleeker style. 

It may not feel quite as premium as the ghd Helios or techier options like the Dyson, but we think you'll agree with us when we say that it is seriously cheerful to look at (is there a happier colour than yellow?). More than that, it’s a great, quality overall tool and an ideal match for you seek a less-frizzy finish. 

The best hair dryer for easy styling

The Airwrap isn’t going to be for everyone. There is the obvious expense, but it’s also a little bit trickier to get the hang of (though our step-by-step guide to how to use the Dyson Airwrap will help with that). So it's probably not for anyone who just wants to blast their hair in the most fuss-free manner possible. If you do like to experiment withstyling, blow drying smooth one day and curling the next, you'll likely try the Dyson Airwrap and wonder where it has been all of your life.

The Airwrap Complete comes with six attachments that cover almost everything you could ask for: a dryer attachment that essentially turns it into the Supersonic Dryer (minus the styling nozzles); 30mm and 40mm barrels to create waves of varying degrees of tightness; a round volumizing brush; plus firm and soft smoothing brushes. 

The technology hinges on a unique phenomenon called the Coanda effect, which creates a pressurised flow of air that draws hair towards the attachment, wrapping it around the barrel or holding it against the brush. Combined with heat, air is then pushed over the strands to dry and style hair without ever subjecting it to the searing temperatures of hot styling tools. You can set the hair using a cool-shot button then release it, and out drops a shiny curl, bouncy wave, or perfectly smoothed section of hair. We found it extremely satisfying and positively mouse-like in volume compared to the average hair dryer.

"It may take a little time to master the technique of the Airwrap's curling barrels if you've not used anything similar before; it takes a little getting used to," says Abbersteen. "But once you've taken a minute to get the hang of it it creates smooth, bouncy curls." The Airwrap is ideal for travel as it’s essentially every styler plus your best hair dryer in one ultra-slim and lightweight package. Again, it isn’t for everyone, but if you regularly use a variety of drying and styling tools, this could replace them in spectacular style – the only thing we'd note is missing is a diffuser attachment to dry natural curls.

You can see our full Dyson Airwrap review 

The best hair dryer for quick results

Our initial thoughts were that the design team chad learly broken away from the modern dryer mould – which tends to be either sleek, slim and black, or as close to Dyson as they can without getting in trouble. This is a chunky and curvy number in gloss and matte greige, and we love it. If your idea of the best hair dryer is one that's cute and vaguely retro-looking, this will tick your visual boxes like no other. 

Picking it up, you'll probably notice what we would class as the only real downside – it's fairly heavy. Not the heaviest in our guide, but its squat form is certainly weighty. That aside, this dryer blends convenience and care with ease of use. The main USP is Hydracare technology, which checks your hair as it dries and automatically adjusts the heat to prevent damage. This really removes the guesswork for anyone concerned about excessive damage caused by daily heat styling. Of course, you don't have to have this function switched on if you'd prefer to choose your own heat or simply want to go full-throttle every time (though, with the power of this device, you're unlikely to need it). 

This was one of the fastest dryers on our list and, although a bit of noise came with that power, it was worth it for our tester's four-minute blow dry. Other notable mentions include its three-metre cable and a very chilly cold shot that you don't have to continuously depress, plus three accompanying nozzles (one diffuser and two concentrators). These attach not with the usual annoying click-around-the-edges mechanism but slip smoothly on like the final jigsaw piece, via a little nub in the centre of the attachment. Our verdict? It's little touches like this that elevate this kind and fast dryer to being one of the best on the market today.   

The best hair dryer for family use

Ask any parent and they'll agree that drying a child's hair can be a tear-soaked, frustration-filled challenge. But the Panasonic EH-NA67 Enrich + Family Care dryer aims to nix this with a clever and ultra-gentle drying experience that prevents painful, hair-damaging hotspots. 

This is mainly down to a clever oscillating nozzle that spreads the heat around rather than directing it in one specific area. We found this allowed us to blast away, free from worry about misjudging the distance or spending too long on one area and receiving a pained squeal in response. This hair dryer also incorporates Panasonic's Nanoe technology, which sends tiny moisture particles into the hair to hydrate as it dries. This hair and scalp-loving tech not only makes it the best hair dryer for families, but for anyone with over-processed, frazzled hair or a sensitive scalp. In terms of noise and blast, we deem it a solid middle-of-the-pack option – neither noticeably loud nor one of the quietest hair dryers on the market. 

As well as a generous four temperature settings and three speed options, a cool shot and both a concentrator and diffuser nozzles, there's a mighty 2000W of power, too. It's a little heavier than the Panasonic Nanoe + Double Mineral and also lacks the handy folding handle of its predecessor; for us, this omission makes it trickier to transport and slightly less nimble to manoeuvre when drying. Overall, it may not be the sexiest, most show-it-off dryer on our list, but it's definitely the kindest – and smart girls know that nice beats flash any day.

How we tested the best hair dryers

With decades of experience testing hair tools between them, woman&home's beauty team extensively put these best hair dryer picks through their paces, weighing up every aspect of these tools. During the testing process, they analysed all of the following factors.

• How the dryer feels in the hand
• Usefulness of controls
• Number of heat and speed settings
• Ease of cleaning
• User experience
• Technical specs including weight, power, and warranty
• Whether attachments are included or have to be bought separately
• Price

While many models blew us away, several options that we tested didn't make the final cut. We also found that the cordless and bonnet hair dryers we tried did not live up to their claims and therefore could not feature on our best hair dryer list

Want more information on the types of dryers and hair dryer technology, or to learn why a cold shot function is so beneficial? Everything you need to know can be found in our FAQs ahead. 

How to choose a hair dryer

• Heat and speed: Don't assume that more is more. "A bad habit most of us have is to turn the dryer up to the fastest and hottest setting – that can cause damage, overheating the cuticle and frazzled, dry ends," says Syd Hayes, session stylist and BaByliss ambassador. If you have long or thick hair, try to accelerate the styling process with more power rather than heat. Cooler temperatures work best for colour-treated or brittle hair to minimise heat damage and frizz. 
• Attachments: "If you’re after a salon-worthy blow dry full of volume the narrow styling nozzle is the attachment for you," explains Dafydd Thomas, ghd's global head of education. "The wide styling nozzle is great if you want to blow dry your hair smooth, quickly, as it covers a larger surface area. A comb styling nozzle is perfect for adding additional volume and shape whilst not disturbing natural movement. If you’re looking to enhance and define natural curls, a diffuser will allow you to cup your hair for a natural finish."
• Practical features: Specs like cord length or weight aren't seductive, but they are important. Think about your habits – if you dry thick hair into salon-style flicks every day, ensure your dryer is light and has a swivel cord so you can style without tangling. If your dryer will be in a drawer for half the week, heavier is ok, but a robust dust filter is probably a good shout. Need the best hair dryer for the whole family? Look for gentle temperatures and a vent that comes off easily for cleaning. 

What are the types of hair dryers?

Generally speaking, there are three main types of hair dryers. The best one for you will depend on the condition of your hair and how long it usually takes you to dry. 

• Ionic hair dryers: One of the most popular features in modern dryers with good reason. Our hair has a natural positive charge, which is what causes frizz and static. Ionic hair dryers release a stream of negative ions, which grab onto the positive ones and neutralise them for a smoothing effect. Ions can also help reduce drying time as they break down positive ions in the water in your hair, dispersing it so you can dry for less time on a lower heat, thus reducing damage.
• Ceramic hair dryers: Essentially, hair dryers work by pushing concentrated air over something hot, then said heated air blasts your wet hair dry. The material of the “something hot” affects the efficiency of this process and, to many, ceramic is the gold-standard material. This is because ceramic heats up extremely quickly and evenly, so every iota of air emitted from your dryer maintains a consistent temperature – no one section of your hair is frazzling while a surrounding area is out in the cold.
• Tourmaline hair dryers: Another material used for “the hot bit,” tourmaline is a gemstone that’s crushed into a powder, then reformed to be used in dryers and other hot tools. The reason it’s so popular is that, when heated up, it generates infrared heat and an ionic charge, both of which help dry hair quickly – with less damage and good smoothing properties, too.

How powerful does a hair dryer need to be?

As a general rule, the more powerful a dryer is, the hotter the element will get and the faster it can dry your hair. However, this doesn't take into account technology, such as airflow concentrators and brushless motors. Plus, extreme heat causes damage, so bigger isn’t necessarily better when it comes to power. The best hair dryers usually have more than 1500W of power, though some high-tech options cut this right down.

If you only use a dryer every so often, go with a basic, low-power model, whereas if you have thicker and/or denser hair and spend a considerable amount of time creating a professional blow-dry most mornings, it’s worth investing more in a tool with a few more bells and whistles and higher power.

Do I need a diffuser or a cold shot button?

If you have curly hair, yes, a diffuser is a good idea (although some might argue that curly hair types should avoid using a dryer). Nonetheless, many people find that the air-drying process is neither practical nor enjoyable. Knowing how to use a diffuser will allow you to dry the hair far more gently, rather than forcing the cuticle this way and that and disrupting the natural curl pattern.

And what about the cold shot? For anyone who likes to dry their hair into a particular style, such as using tension to straighten it or a round brush to add flicks or a root lift, a cold-shot button is essential. This is because the cooler air sets in place whatever style you have just created, locking it in for longer. 

"When blow drying your hair, always finish with the cold shot, this seals the cuticle to reduce atmospheric damage to the hair and allows longevity with hair styling," says Reed. "This will also add shine to ensure your hair looks healthy and its best.”

What hair dryers do professionals use?

This is very subjective and really depends on the professional hairdresser. Well-known salons often work with specific brands preferred by their big-name stylists, as well as those that said stylists have relationships with. That said, Dyson and ghd are both brands we see a lot in professional settings. 

Then there are the hair dryer brands that are widely used in salons and by session stylists on location and shoots, but aren't as widely available in the usual places where we would look for beauty tools. These are brands like Elchim and Parlux, whose Alyon model features in this guide. 

Ask a professional what they look for in a hair dryer and three key themes will emerge: Power, reliability and ergonomics. That last one may seem strange, but even if your hair is seriously thick and takes what feels like an age to dry, your hairdresser spends longer with a hair dryer in their hand on any given day, so the comfort of holding and movement is crucial. This is why we often see more compact models, such as the Dyson and Parlux, in the hands of the pros, over powerful-yet-heavier tools.