With all of the impressive, high-tech picks on the market, why settle for anything less than the best hair dryer? We all deserve sleek, smooth styling sans frizz, flyaways, excessive heat damage, and painstakingly long drying times — in the comfort of our own homes, no less.
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Whether you blow-dry daily or once a week, it all starts with having the right tools to execute it. Before you purchase a brand-new hair dryer, Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist and Virtue’s creative director Adir Abergel recommends selecting a device that works with your hair type. “When blow-drying curly hair, use an ionic dryer,” he previously told Allure. “If you have finer hair that needs more volume, use a traditional blow-dryer, not ionic.” If you’re unsure, or if you’re sharing with a roommate or partner, here’s some good news: There are options that feature both nonionic and ionic technology so you can swiftly toggle between them.
Abergel also noted that using a concentrator nozzle, which precisely hits hard-to-reach areas, is the real key to achieving salon-level results. “It concentrates the air and aids in directing the airflow exactly where you want it to go,” he previously explained. This concentrated airflow also helps the cuticle of the hair lay flat so that it will be shinier and less frizzy, according to Los Angeles-based hairstylist Kiki Heitkotter. Finish with a cold shot of air for extra shine, too.
To minimize damage, look for multiple temperature settings—since high heat isn’t always necessary, especially for, say, fine hair types. If you have the time, low heat is best for stymieing damage caused by heated hair tools. And don’t forget to prep with heat protectant, a hair-care staple when you’re using styling tools. (Good news? They tend to be built into some leave-in products.)
Below, we’ve rounded up the best blow-dryers for all hair types — as recommended by professional hairstylists and Allure editors — that’ll help you achieve frizz-free, salon-worthy blowouts with impressively fast drying times.
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