The perfect hair dryers for easy, speedy styling at dwelling – no matter your hair kind

[ad_1] I n my years of reviewing magnificence tech, it was upgrading my hair dryer that made the largest distinction to my magnificence routine. I used to dread hair-wash days: the chore of shampooing, conditioning and rinsing my hair, plus the time – and aching arms – spent getting it dry once more.

The Guardian’s journalism is unbiased. We are going to earn a fee for those who purchase one thing by way of an affiliate hyperlink. Study extra.

My clunky, bargain-bucket hair dryer of seven years was weighty, deafeningly loud, and took a painstaking 20 minutes to dry my hair fully. So happier days actually did arrive after I switched it up for a brand new mannequin.

My present hair dryer makes use of a light-weight digital motor that’s not solely far quieter, however can also be highly effective sufficient to dry my hair in simply 5 minutes. It appears trendy hair dryers have stepped up their recreation. Right here, you’ll discover the very best hair dryers I’ve ever examined, from light choices with diffusers for curly hair to ultra-fast fashions that shave vital time without work your morning routine. You’ll additionally discover knowledgeable hair-drying steerage from movie star hairstylist Melissa Timperley.

At a look £225 at Hershesons £58.28 at Amazon £229 at Panasonic £118.80 at Cosmetify Why it's best to belief me I’ve been reviewing magnificence merchandise for 4 years and have amassed a near-encyclopaedic data of hair care. I’ve attended numerous styling masterclasses, interviewed hair stylists, and accomplished a beauty science course the place I discovered precisely how hair development, styling and care work at a mobile degree.

I’ve examined and reviewed greater than 57 hair-styling instruments – together with hair dryers, curlers, sizzling brushes, wavers and straighteners – from big-name manufacturers and newcomers alike. And maybe most impressively, I’ve walked away with my hair wholesome and intact.

How I examined Every hair dryer was examined for velocity and sound ranges. {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian Having researched the preferred manufacturers and fashions, I put 18 hair dryers by way of their paces for this check. I additionally spoke to a hair stylist to search out out what she seems to be for in a hair dryer, then cherrypicked the very best 10 from my checks to incorporate right here.

I used an anemometer to check every mannequin’s most wind velocity, which ranged from a measly 16 metres a second (m/s) to a mind-boggling 48m/s, and in addition a sound meter to measure noise ranges from 15cm away.

Claims of “enhanced shine or smoothness” aren’t quantifiable, however I did use each hair dryer to finish the identical activity, noting how lengthy it took to rough-dry hair after which to complete. I additionally tried my hand at utilizing a spherical brush to realize a easy, bouncy blowout. Whereas I’m no skilled at this, it did permit me to make a judgment about how straightforward a hair dryer’s controls are to make use of, how exact and versatile its settings are, and luxury ranges over the course of styling.

When testing was full, I returned the samples to the producers who despatched them. If samples couldn't be returned, they had been despatched to the Redbridge Attain Out home abuse service, who present assist and refuge for survivors.

The perfect hair dryers in 2025 Blown away: the hair dryers vying for approval. {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian Greatest hair dryer general:Hershesons the Nice {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian £225 at Hershesons Testing the Hershesons the Nice hair dryer confirmed my perception that there’s no have to reinvent the wheel. This hair dryer perfects the fundamentals and irons out any frequent niggles. It’s the lightest possibility I’ve ever examined, virtually the quickest – and a simple advice.

Why we love itThe Nice hair dryer has 4 speeds, three warmth settings and a cool shot. It reached a super-fast 38.4m/s in my checks, rough-drying my hair in lower than 5 minutes, and leaving it smooth and healthy-looking.

You alter the settings utilizing buttons on the hair dryer’s deal with, which might then be locked into place. That is in contrast to button controls on different fashions, which could be by accident pressed mid-use.

One distinctive function of the Hershesons hair dryer, and one thing that goes a protracted method to justify its premium worth, is its heat-proof mat. This may routinely swap off the dryer when it’s positioned on to it, resuming once more as soon as it’s lifted. I discovered this invaluable when blow-drying my hair with a spherical brush, since I may plonk the hair dryer all the way down to part my hair with out having to faff round with the controls.

Add on two concentrator nozzles, a diffuser, a material bag and a sturdier storage case, and the Nice is a hair dryer that actually feels designed with the person in thoughts.

It’s a disgrace that … it’s so costly. Subsequent to hair dryers with magnetic attachments, the push-on system right here additionally felt archaic and made it harder to change out instruments.

Weight (with out wire): 294gCord size: 2.75mHeat settings (together with cool shot): fourSpeed settings: fourAttachments: concentrator nozzles and a diffuserMaximum wind velocity: 38.4m/sVolume vary: 82-86dB

Greatest price range hair dryer:BaByliss Hydro-Fusion {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian £60 at Look Implausible £58.28 at Amazon For those who ever battle with frizzy hair after blow-drying, likelihood is you want an ionic dryer. This budget-friendly BaByliss possibility has an excellent vary of velocity and warmth settings, a concentrator nozzle and a diffuser, making it appropriate for quite a few hair sorts. Moreover, because of its 2,100W motor, its 26.4m/s most wind velocity rivals among the pricier choices on this web page.

Why we love itIt was instantly clear that the Hydro-Fusion was properly constructed and highly effective. It rough-dried my hair in about 10 minutes, leaving it feeling wholesome and completely free from frizz and flyaways. Regardless of this energy, it’s quieter than lots of the fashions right here, too.

Attachments securely clicked into place and stayed on with out situation whereas I accomplished my round-brush blow-dry check. I discovered the hair dryer’s two velocity settings provided loads of management for extra exact styling, and the cool shot got here by way of rapidly in contrast with different cheaper hair dryers I’ve examined. As soon as styled, my hair was bouncy and glossy, with a frizz-free end that lasted a number of days.

It’s a disgrace that … its design is fairly fundamental; there are not any frills right here. A couple of extra color choices would have been welcome, too, however you’re unlikely to discover a higher hair dryer for the worth.

Weight (with out wire): 430g Twine size: 2.5mHeat settings (together with cool shot): fourSpeed settings: twoAttachments: concentrator nozzle and a diffuserMaximum wind velocity: 26.4m/sVolume vary: 78-85dB

Greatest hair dryer for curly hair:Panasonic Nanoe Moisture+ {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian £229 at Panasonic £229 at Currys As counterintuitive because it sounds, this hair dryer provides moisture to your hair. Panasonic’s Nanoe know-how creates microscopic water droplets that penetrate the hair’s cuticle so as to add further moisture to the hair’s deepest layers. It claims this helps to cut back color fading, flyaways, break up ends and breakage.

Why we love itI examined the Panasonic EH NA0J hair dryer after a number of hair washes and located its distinctive form intuitive to make use of. For rough-drying, I used warmth and the quickest velocity setting (23.4m/s), and was impressed at how rapidly the hair dryer labored its magic (in about 10 minutes).

In contrast with the opposite fashions right here, the Nanoe appeared to separate moist clumps of hair into smaller sections, drying strands quicker. Regardless of utilizing the one and solely warmth setting, my hair felt easy and wholesome after a tough dry. And when trying the round-brush blow-dry, the Nanoe set the model rapidly utilizing its cool shot.

This hair dryer is especially good at gently diffusing curly and coily hair sorts. The diffuser attachment locks securely on to the entrance of the physique, and its lengthy prongs are properly designed to unfold air gently from the basis to the tip of a curl. Add in its moisturising capabilities, and also you’ll be left with smooth, shiny, more healthy curls with every use.

It’s a disgrace that … it has just one warmth setting. As an alternative, the Nanoe affords a number of modes: alternating cold and hot for preserving shine; a scalp care mode and a skincare mode. These gained’t be proper for each person, significantly for those who like adjusting the warmth ranges manually. But when your hair wants further nourishment, this hair dryer is price a shot.

Weight (with out wire): 460gCord size: 2.7mHeat settings (together with cool shot): one (plus scalp care and alternating modes) Pace settings: threeAttachments: concentrator nozzle and a diffuserMaximum wind velocity: 23.4m/sVolume vary: 73-84dB

Greatest light-weight hair dryer:Head Jog Futaria {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian £118.80 at Cosmetify £139.94 at Amazon That is the quickest hair dryer I’ve ever examined, and weighing in at 304g, the Futaria is simply 10g heavier than the lightest possibility – the Hershesons above. It was the darkish horse right here; I hadn’t encountered Head Jog earlier than my most up-to-date spherical of testing, however with its super-fast wind speeds of 43.8m/s and affordable worth level, it’s a straightforward favorite.

Why we love itThe Futaria hair dryer packs a critical punch, rough-drying my hair in a blisteringly fast 4 minutes. Due to its three velocity and 4 warmth settings, I may grasp a exact round-brush blow-dry with out a lot effort in any respect. Personally, I discovered the broader concentrator nozzle finest for styling bigger sections of hair, which sped up the method even additional.

The digital motor additionally makes the Futaria comparatively quiet, and regardless of its gentle weight, the design feels sturdy and evenly weighted, plus its rear filter is simple to scrub and keep. As such, this mannequin is ideal to be used in busy salons to cut back wrist pressure and maximise time effectivity. And people of us at dwelling may also profit from the dryer’s smooth design, which is accessible in blue, pink and black.

It’s a disgrace that … because it’s tailor-made to skilled stylists, it’s not as broadly stocked as different hair dryers. Additionally, these involved about injury could discover the knock-your-socks-off energy just a little a lot. That mentioned, for those who’re cautious with the very best depth settings, and use a warmth safety spray, you shouldn’t fry your hair.

Weight (with out wire): 304g Twine size: 3mHeat settings (together with cool shot): fourSpeed settings: threeAttachments: two concentrator nozzles and a diffuserMaximum wind velocity: 43.8m/sVolume vary: 78-84dB

skip previous e-newsletter promotion Get the very best procuring recommendation from the Filter workforce straight to your inbox. The Guardian’s journalism is unbiased. We are going to earn a fee for those who purchase one thing by way of an affiliate hyperlink.

Privateness Discover: Newsletters could comprise data about charities, on-line adverts, and content material funded by outdoors events. For extra data see our Privateness Coverage. We use Google reCaptcha to guard our web site and the Google Privateness Coverage and Phrases of Service apply. after e-newsletter promotion

The perfect of the remaining ‘My hair was left with beautiful shine’: the Cloud 9 Airshot Professional. {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian Parlux 3200 Plus {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian £117.19 at Sally Magnificence £119.95 at Amazon Greatest for: fuss-free styling

Italian model Parlux is well-known for making high-quality, highly effective, long-lasting hair dryers. Based on the model, the Parlux 3200 Plus (beforehand Compact) is essentially the most broadly used skilled hair dryer available on the market. I discovered it properly balanced and cozy within the hand and appreciated its tactile, retro-feeling switches.

Throughout testing, it dried my hair extremely rapidly, leaving a shiny, frizz-free end. That’s because of the inclusion of Parlux’s Ok-lamination motor, which supplies the ability of a 2,800W motor whereas utilizing just one,900W. The hair dryer is accessible in a variety of colors, and is a trendy possibility – for those who can look previous the field, which seems to be freshly fished from the early 2000s.

It didn’t make the ultimate reduce as a result of … it’s heavier than different choices right here, plus it lacks the design refinements of dearer fashions.

Weight (with out wire): 588g; wire size: 3m; warmth settings (together with cool shot): three; velocity settings: two; attachments: two concentrator nozzles; most wind velocity: 26m/s; quantity vary: 80-85dB

Cloud 9 the Airshot Professional {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian £299 at Look Implausible £199 at Amazon Greatest for: quiet operation

Taking each the very best and lowest noise ranges into consideration, the Airshot Professional is the quietest hair dryer I’ve examined. As well as, my hair was left with beautiful shine because of the Sericite-infused warmth tech that options in Cloud 9’s heat-styling instruments.

In addition to providing a terrific vary of temperature controls, with a steady cool shot possibility, the Airshot’s magnetic concentrator nozzle and diffuser attachments proved safe and suited to a spread of hair sorts.

It didn’t make the ultimate reduce as a result of … it lacks a devoted cool shot button, and it’s not as speedy as others on this worth vary. Nonetheless, some could also be swayed by its quiet operation.

Weight (with out wire): 448g; wire size: 3m; warmth settings (together with cool shot): 4; velocity settings: three; attachments: two concentrator nozzles, diffuser; most wind velocity: 23.8m/s; quantity vary: 75-79dB

Bellissima B-travel {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian £40 at AO £49.99 at Boots The dinky Belissima B-travel hair dryer is an excellent possibility for journeys and holidays. It has dual-voltage controls, so you should use it wherever you're on this planet. Its folding deal with and carry case hold the whole lot secure in transit, and it feels very sturdy contemplating its worth.

Not like most lodge hair dryers, which solely set free a pathetic trickle of air, this hair dryer supplies wind speeds of as much as 18.9m/s – quicker than some full-size choices I’ve reviewed and extremely spectacular given the hair dryer’s gentle weight. You additionally get a concentrator nozzle for precision styling and two velocity choices.

It didn’t make the ultimate reduce as a result of … there’s one management swap, so you'll be able to’t alter the warmth setting independently from the velocity settings, and the distinction between the 2 warmth settings is negligible. Its travel-based use case is restricted; for a similar worth, you’d be higher off investing in another with a number of temperature settings to make use of at dwelling.

Weight (with out wire): 305g; wire size: 1.8m; warmth settings (together with cool shot): two; velocity settings: two; attachments: concentrator nozzle; most wind velocity: 18.9m/s; quantity vary: 79-84dB

Gtech DryOnic {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian £179 at AO £179 at Currys Greatest for: exact temperature controls

Considered one of my greatest bugbears with hair dryers is that you just by no means fairly know the way a lot warmth you’re utilizing in your hair. Fortunately, the Gtech DryOnic has a display on the again that shows the airflow setting and its temperature. With temperatures that vary from 40-100C, you may make exact changes to your hair kind.

I discovered the assorted airflow settings helpful and appreciated how securely the magnetic concentrator nozzle and diffuser attachments fitted on to the dryer. After styling, my hair felt smooth and hydrated, with minimal frizz.

It didn’t make the the ultimate reduce as a result of … it’s not fairly as fast as others right here at the same worth, and its 2m wire isn’t fairly lengthy sufficient for my liking. I additionally discovered it too straightforward to by accident press the buttons and alter the temperature halfway by way of styling.

Weight (with out wire): 426g; wire size: 2m; warmth settings (together with cool shot): 5; velocity settings: 4; attachments: concentrator nozzle and diffuser; most wind velocity: 18.8m/s; quantity vary: 78-85dB

Remington Shine Remedy {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian £19 at AO £18.98 at Amazon Greatest for: tight budgets

This lesser-known hair dryer is the sister product to the favored Remington Shine Remedy hair straighteners. It affords equally sensible worth and is designed so as to add shine to the hair utilizing ionic know-how.

Whereas troublesome to quantify in checks, I discovered the hair dryer did dry my hair comparatively rapidly and left it shiny and easy after a round-brush blow-dry. A number of warmth and velocity settings, plus a concentrator nozzle and diffuser attachment, make it an excellent possibility for all hair sorts.

It didn’t make the reduce as a result of … of its quick 1.8m wire and the very fact it’s fairly noisy in contrast with different fashions right here. That mentioned, it may well’t be crushed on worth and is a good choice for those who’re hoping to improve an previous hair dryer on a price range.

Weight (with out wire): 449g; wire size: 1.8m; warmth/cool settings: 4; velocity settings: two; attachments: concentrator nozzle and diffuser; most wind velocity: 18.6m/s; quantity vary: 84-89dB

What you'll want to know {Photograph}: Sarah Matthews/The Guardian I interviewed Melissa Timperley, hair stylist and founding father of Melissa Salons, to find her ideas for selecting a hair dryer. “In terms of defending your hair and attaining the model you need, the instrument you utilize issues simply as a lot because the merchandise you pair it with,” she says.

What options ought to I search for? Based on Timperley, the important thing options are adjustable velocity and warmth settings, which “permit for higher management and safety, relying in your hair kind and styling wants”. Search for hair dryers with a cool shot button, too, which “assist to seal the cuticle and set your model”.

Design-wise, contemplate weight, which is “particularly vital for longer hair or skilled use” to stop arm pressure. Additionally search for a dryer that has a detachable or self-cleaning filter, as “this makes cleansing and upkeep straightforward, which helps protect motor life”.

What to keep away from when selecting a dryer Timperley warns that there are some options, or omissions, that may very well be detrimental to hair well being. It’s finest to keep away from “single-setting dryers that don’t permit warmth or velocity management”, in addition to low-wattage dryers beneath 1,800W, as a result of “they usually take longer to dry hair, exposing it to warmth for too lengthy”.

Nevertheless, among the dryers I’ve chosen listed below are under 1,800W. That’s as a result of these use digital motors, that are smaller and lighter than brushed motors and produce quicker airflow. Which means, in these instances, the distinction in drying speeds is negligible.

She additionally warns towards shopping for “heavy, cumbersome dryers which are uncomfortable to make use of usually” and “poor-quality nozzles or diffusers that don’t match securely or distribute air correctly”.

Put merely, she says: “If the dryer doesn’t clearly checklist its motor kind, wattage or warmth settings, that’s a purple flag.”

What makes a hair dryer good for various hair sorts? Choosing out the fitting hair dryer to your hair kind could be difficult. “The perfect hair dryers cater to your hair’s particular wants – whether or not that’s smoothing frizz, defending tremendous strands or reducing by way of thick, coarse textures,” says Timperley.

For tremendous or broken hair, Timperley advises searching for “decrease warmth settings and a ceramic or tourmaline dryer that distributes warmth extra gently”. For thick or coarse hair, “larger wattage and highly effective airflow are important – infrared, ionic and titanium dryers are nice for reducing drying time with out extreme warmth”. And eventually, for curly or textured hair, “a diffuser attachment is essential, as is a dryer that provides warmth management with out sacrificing quantity or pure texture”.

What’s the distinction between ionic and ceramic hair dryers? “Ionic hair dryers emit destructive ions that assist break down water molecules quicker, decreasing drying time and frizz,” says Timperley. “They’re nice for smoothing and shine, particularly you probably have thick, frizzy or unruly hair.”

Conversely, “ceramic hair dryers use ceramic heating parts to distribute warmth evenly, which helps forestall hotspots and injury. They’re supreme for tremendous or delicate hair”.

“A few of the finest hair dryers,” says Timperley, “mix each applied sciences, providing you with quicker drying with out sacrificing hair well being.”

Sarah Matthews is a shopper journalist who specialises in well being and wonder critiques. In her 4 years of product testing, she’s labored her approach by way of numerous hair styling, hair removing, gentle remedy and skincare instruments. In her spare time, you’ll discover her flippantly scolding her mates for not carrying SPF or getting sucked right into a Vinted wormhole