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Want every day to be a good hair day? We tested 22 hair dryers to find the best, from gentle diffusers to high-speed and travel-ready models
The best hot brushes, tried and tested by our expert
In my years of reviewing beauty tech, it was upgrading my hair dryer that made the biggest difference to my 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 again.
My clunky, bargain-bucket hair dryer of seven years was weighty, deafeningly loud, and took a painstaking 20 minutes to dry my hair. So happier days really did arrive when I switched to a new model.
My current hair dryer uses a lightweight digital motor that’s not only far quieter, but is also powerful enough to dry my hair in just five minutes. It seems modern hair dryers have stepped up their game. Here, you’ll find the best hair dryers I’ve tested, from gentle options with diffusers for curly hair to ultra-fast models that shave significant time off your morning routine. You’ll also find expert hair-drying guidance from celebrity hairstylist Melissa Timperley.
Best hair dryer overallHershesons The Great
Best budget hair dryerBaByliss Hydro-Fusion
Best hair dryer for curly hairPanasonic Nanoe Moisture+ EH NA0J
Best hair dryer for sensitive scalpsDyson Supersonic Nural
Best lightweight hair dryerElectric Head Jog Futaria
Best travel hair dryerDyson Supersonic Travel
I’ve been reviewing beauty products for four years and have amassed a near-encyclopaedic knowledge of hair care. I’ve attended countless styling masterclasses, interviewed hair stylists, and completed a cosmetic science course where I learned exactly how hair growth, styling and care work at a cellular level.
I’ve tested and reviewed about 70 hair-styling tools – including hair dryers, curlers, hot brushes, wavers and straighteners – from big-name brands and newcomers alike. And perhaps most impressively, I’ve walked away with my hair healthy and intact.
Having researched the most popular brands and models, I put 22 hair dryers through their paces for this test. I also spoke to a hair stylist to find out what she looks for in a hair dryer, before cherrypicking the best 12 from my tests to include here.
