12 Best Hair Dryers of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

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Beauty editor confession: I am a total hair dryer novice! Luckily, my desk is in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab and I have had access to all of our scientists' in-depth testing and knowledge of the category for years. Their key takeaway: If you want a professional-level blowout — or even just a good, quick rough dry — a quality hair dryer is essential.

"The best hair dryers offer faster drying times, reduce frizz and [promote] better hair health," says Cynthia Alvarez, a celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles and New York. For optimal results, "you need maximum power with the best airflow, all in a lightweight design," adds Michelle Cleveland, owner of Hair Addict Salon in Toms River, New Jersey.

But over their long history testing hair dryers, GH Beauty Lab scientists have found that all models are definitely not created equal. There have even been some epic fails, including one tool that caught on fire and others whose parts have fallen off! To find the best hair dryers on the market, Beauty Lab experts rigorously test them in the Lab for performance on human hair samples and technical attributes, plus distribute them to consumer testers, who evaluate them at home for ease of use and effects on hair.

✔️ Hair dryers tested: 41✔️ Hands-on testing hours: 320✔️ Duration of testing period: 8 weeks✔️ Airflow and air temperature experiments: 24 ✔️ Surface temperature measurements: 2,196

In total, GH Beauty Lab scientists tallied 2,244 Lab measurements and tester responses to determine the best hair dryers for all hair types, from fine to frizzy, thick and curly, including affordable budget buys and models with hair diffusers included.

Wattage: 1,600 | Attachments: 2 concentrators, diffuser, flyaway attachment, gentle air attachment | Number of settings: 3 speed; 4 heat | Weight: 1.9 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes

With a powerful motor in its handle, Dyson's innovative dryer has proven to be game-changer that's worth the splurge. It dried hair faster than any model in the history of GH Beauty Lab hair dryer testing. The dryer comes with five magnetic attachments to suit different hair types, including two concentrators, a diffuser, a flyaway smoother and a gentle air attachment.

The tool is also a favorite among professional hairstylists. "It's pricey but worth it," Alvarez said. "The technology is so advanced, the cord is so long and its three heat and airflow settings make it so efficient. It dries hair quickly, and the smoothing attachment gets rid of frizz without needing a styling product, making blowouts last longer."

LAB TEST RESULTS: The model dried an eight-inch hair sample in just 54 seconds and delivered strong airflow in Lab assessments. Lab experts also like that it has a long cord, helping you reach distant outlets or mirrors and avoiding awkward positioning while styling. A few drawbacks: It is on the heavier side, lacks a cord tie and has buttons that can be tricky to reach.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: Consumer testers with various hair types (straight to curly) and lengths (short to very long) told us they loved this dryer. One tester said, "On the most humid days, it smoothed my hair faster than any dryer I've used." Another added, "The air pressure was great, and it dried my hair faster than usual."

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

Wattage: 1,875 | Attachments: Concentrator, diffuser | Number of settings: 3 speed; 3 heat | Weight: 1.6 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes

This compact Hot Tools model achieved near-perfect scores for drying speed and strong airflow in testing, all at a fraction of the cost of other dryers.

LAB TEST RESULTS: In addition to top drying speed scores, it received high marks for easy-to-reach controls, a comfortable shape and quiet operation. And while the cord length is ample, it lacks a tie, and users found the included concentrator attachment a bit wobbly. If you're willing to spend more, note that Alvarez is a fan of the brand's Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic Hair Dryer.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: Testers especially loved its smaller, easy-to-store size and reported that it reduced frizz. "This dryer left my hair with less frizz and more shine," one tester said. "It was easy to use and small enough to store anywhere." Another added, "It dried my hair much faster than usual."

Wattage: 1,700 | Attachments: Diffuser, smoothing brush, shine brush | Number of settings: 3 speed; 3 heat | Weight: 1.65 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes

Style everything from bouncy curls to sleek blowouts with this versatile Shark Beauty hair dryer. This compact tool comes with three attachments, including a diffuser, a smoothing brush and a shine finishing brush.

LAB TEST RESULTS: It earned top marks for fast drying and high air temperature. All testers agreed it left their hair smooth and shiny, with no frizz, and created their desired look. However, some noted it was loud and a bit heavy.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: "I was shocked at just how quickly I was able to dry and style my thick hair, which usually takes so long," one marveled. A tester with coily hair agreed: "My hair takes forever to dry and this cut the time by 15 or 20 minutes." Users also praised how hair felt "soft and bouncy" after drying.

Wattage: 1,875 | Attachments: Diffuser, concentrator| Number of settings: 3 speed; 3 heat | Weight: 1.35 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes

Conair's “compact yet powerful” design was a top performer in GH Beauty Lab testing at drying (and smoothing!) even dense strands in no time.

LAB TEST RESULTS: In Lab evaluations, it received the highest scores for maximum measured airflow and speed, and its rate of drying hair was near the top. Plus, 100% of testers agreed it made hair look smooth, felt safe and didn't burn skin, and the materials were high quality. A few caveats: Users found it to be loud and thought the controls weren't convenient to operate.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: "This dryer left my hair feeling so soft and shiny with minimal frizz," a tester with long, thick curly hair raved. "I'm obsessed with it!"

Wattage: 1,600 | Attachments: 2 concentrators, diffuser | Number of settings: 3 speed; 4 heat | Weight: 1.2 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes

Get a smooth blowout fast with this state-of-the-art SRI dryer. It provides substantial drying power in a lightweight, compact design with a foldable handle.

LAB TEST SCORES: This received top scores for quick drying and leaving hair smooth and frizz-free. Testers loved its easy-to-use magnetic attachments, high-quality construction and wide temperature range. However, some noted that the controls were tricky to operate, and the attachments could get too hot.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: "It dried my hair in record time — within five minutes!" one user with long, textured hair marveled. "My thick hair dried incredibly fast and looks healthy and shiny," another shared. "This will be my go-to blow dryer forever."

Wattage: 1,875 | Attachments: 3 concentrators | Number of settings: 2 speed; 3 heat | Weight: 1.6 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes | Quiet Mark rating: 1 (poor/loud)

Strong yet gentle, Bio Ionic’s hair dryer proved to be a great match for damaged hair in GH Beauty Lab testing.

LAB TEST RESULTS: The tool had the lowest air temperature at its highest setting, yet still dried hair quickly. Experts found it comfortable to hold, with easy-to-use attachments and well-placed control buttons, including a convenient cool shot button.

Though the model was loud in Quiet Mark sound tests and is pricey, it comes with a 10-year motor warranty and a storage bag. Note that it lacks a diffuser, making it less suitable for curly hair.WHAT TESTERS SAY: One tester praised this model as "sleek-looking" with a "balanced weight and size that’s not too heavy or big but feels powerful." Two others added, "I like that it has three temperature settings," and "it worked really well."

RELATED: How to Fix Damaged Hair

Wattage: 1,875 | Attachments: Concentrator, diffuser | Number of settings: 4 speed; 4 heat | Weight: 2.1 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes

Paul Mitchell is known for its innovative tools and this one is no exception: It features a digital LED display for heat and power settings and a “clean filter” indicator light. The dryer comes with a diffuser, great for drying curly and natural hair, and it performed well at reducing frizz.

LAB TEST RESULTS: This model received top scores for drying speed due to its strong airflow and high heat settings. Users gave it high marks for minimizing frizz, a top concern for curly hair. While both home testers and Lab experts found it easy to operate and liked the controls, some found it uncomfortable to hold, and it was one of the heaviest models we evaluated.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: One noted that it “added fullness" and another commented that "it seemed to dry my hair quickly."

RELATED: The Best Hair Dryers for Curly Hair

Wattage: 1,200 | Attachments: Concentrator | Number of settings: 2 speed; 2 heat | Weight: 1.3 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes | Quiet Mark rating: 2 (average)

This Drybar dual voltage model, the best in the GH Beauty Lab’s travel hair dryer test, offers fast drying strength in a compact design.

LAB TEST RESULTS: It got perfect scores for its easy-to-use controls, quick drying and strong airflow. Though the tool was the easiest to maneuver and comfortable to hold, it was heavier than some other travel dryer models, and the attachment required more effort to place and remove.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: "Wow, this is powerful," one tester marveled. "It's the right size and doesn't look like a travel dryer until you fold the handle — I like that it could do double duty for home and away."

RELATED: Best Travel Hair Dryers

Wattage: 1,500 | Attachment: Concentrator | Number of settings: 2 speed; customizable heat | Weight: 1.45 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes | Quiet Mark rating: 1 (poor/loud)

InStyler's ionic hair dryer, featuring a customizable heat dial, stands out for its lightweight design, comfortable grip and easy-to-use buttons.

LAB TEST RESULTS: The tool was a top performer for its strong airflow and fast drying speed. Testers found the attachments were simple to attach and remove, though it was noisy in sound evaluations.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: Two Beauty Lab experts commented that they “loved” this model. It is “lightweight but powerful, easy to hold and use," one reported. "Gives a great, strong airflow but not overpowering," another said.

Wattage: 1,875 | Attachments: 2 concentrators | Number of settings: 2 speed; 3 heat | Weight: 1.4 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes | Quiet Mark rating: 1 (poor/loud)

While this power-packed yet lightweight Olivia Garden dryer has a strong airflow and high temperatures, it's surprisingly gentle on strands and scalp, which makes it ideal for fine or thin hair that can be more fragile.

LAB TEST RESULTS: Evaluations found that the tool dried hair quickly due to its strong airflow and heat, but didn't burn or irritate the scalp. Easy to hold and operate, it also earned a perfect score for ease of maneuvering attachments and has a generously long cord. The dryer was a bit loud, however, receiving 1 out of 3 stars in the Quiet Mark noise test.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: "I like the size and weight and it has quite powerful airflow," one tester noted. "It looks and feels well-made."

Wattage: 1,700 | Attachments: 2 concentrators; diffuser | Number of settings: 3 speed; 3 heat | Weight: 1.2 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes

The FHI Heat hair dryer’s unique superslim design and top-notch performance won it a GH Beauty Award. In GH Beauty Lab testing found it was easy to maneuver and highly effective. It can also double as a travel hair dryer due to its smaller build.

LAB TEST RESULTS: Although it is compact in size, it delivered strong airflow and dried hair quickly in Lab assessment. The tool was slightly more noisy than some of the other dryers tested, though.

What testers say: Users reported that it was lightweight and "very comfortable to hold with easy-to-reach controls."

Wattage: 1,875 | Attachments: 2 concentrators | Number of settings: 2 speed; 2 heat | Weight: 1.2 lbs. | Cool shot button: Yes | Ion technology: Yes

This easy-to-handle Bio Ionic dryer was the quietest among GH Beauty Lab's top performers, based on Lab sound level measurements.

LAB TEST RESULTS: It has strong airflow and testers reported that the tool is very light, though it didn't dry hair as quickly as other models tested.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: They praised it as a "powerful dryer in a small package" and loved how effortless it was to hold. "Comfortable, quiet and not too hot," one remarked.

The GH Beauty Lab has been testing hair tools, including hair dryers, hair dryer brushes and travel hair dryers, for over a decade. In the most recent test, our scientists evaluated 41 hair dryers over eight weeks (that's 320 hours of hands-on testing!), analyzing 2,244 data points to identify the top-performing models. Hair dryers are tested as follows:

✔️ In the Lab: GH Beauty Lab experts test hair dryers at various price points and power levels (1,500 to 2,000 watts) in the Lab, measuring drying speed on standardized human hair samples, airflow force, air temperature, weight, surface temperature and cord length.

✔️ On consumer testers: Consumer testers with a range of hair types (thin, medium, thick) and textures (straight, wavy, curly, coily) assess them at home for ease of use, scalp and hair damage, and appearance of hair after drying.

✔️ For noise emission: Noise emission is also measured by third-party certifier Quiet Mark, which issues a star rating (1 star for Poor/Loud, 2 stars for Average, 3 stars for Good/Quiet) based on sound level tests.

Ionic technology offers visible benefits and is ideal for curly hair prone to frizz and flyaways, says GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann, noting that it reduces static and leaves hair smoother. "In testing, it is easy to see effects when you have ionized technology switched on and off," she explains. "Static builds up when you blast air without an ionizer, and with it, the hair is more aligned and appears shinier."

On the other hand, many hair dryers advertise technologies like ceramic, tourmaline or far-infrared radiation, but our testing has found these aren't essential. While research exists, there's little data on their specific benefits in hair dryer design.

When choosing the best hair dryer for your hair type, focus on finding one with customizable settings. Here are general guidelines for different hair types:

Minimizing hair damage is actually more about the dryer's features and how you use it. "Using the correct heat settings for your hair type is more important than the dryer's technology," Wizemann says. Generally, lower heat generally causes less damage, but since all hot tools can damage hair, it's essential to protect strands. "Always prep hair with a leave-in styling product that provides heat protection before blow-drying," to form a protective barrier against heat, Alvarez advises.

Here are celebrity hairstylist and Kerasilk Brand Ambassador Harry Josh's tips for a bouncy DIY blowout:

GH Senior Beauty Director April Franzino has over 15 years of experience in researching, writing and editing hair content. To write this guide, she collaborated with GH Beauty Lab scientists, who provided their detailed hair dryer test results, technical insights and more. Franzino also interviewed several professional hairstylists for their expert advice.

GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann oversees testing for all hairstyling tools, including hair dryers. She led the last two GH Beauty Lab hair dryer tests and continuously evaluates new dryer launches as they launch on the market.

April (she/her) is the senior beauty and style director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.

Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.

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