Achieving a salon-worthy blowout at home starts with a high-quality hair dryer. But not all models are created equal. “You need the maximum amount of power with the best type of airflow to protect the hair, combined with the lightest weight,” explains celebrity stylist and hairstylist Michelle Cleveland. To help you find your match, the Cut spoke to experts and conducted our own tests to bring you the very best of the best (read: hair dryers that actually make your hair look like you just stepped out of a blowout bar).
The best hair dryers are light, have multiple heat and speed settings, and come with attachments for styling purposes. If you’re a curly-haired beauty, opt for a dryer with a diffuser that will gently disperse the flow of heat to encourage definition and minimize frizz. And for those with long, fine hair that tends to frizz, a dryer that has a nozzle attachment will allow you to direct the stream of heat where it’s needed most, which can be especially helpful in taming flyaways and frizz.
One of the most popular options on the market is the Dyson Supersonic, which has become the most buzzy blowdryer invention of recent years. It’s beloved by many of the celebrity hairstylists we spoke to, including Adel Chabbi and beauty veteran Linda Wells. GH Beauty Lab testers lauded it for its strong airflow, quick drying time, and sleek, futuristic design.
Other standouts include the Drybar Buttercup, which took top honors in our best hair dryer brush story, and the IQ Perfetto, which earned high marks from testers for its ability to create lift, volume, and a sleek finish. Both offer several heat and speed settings, and have a concentrator nozzle for precise application. best blow dryer