The 11 Best Hair Dryers That Blew Our Editors Away

Key Specs

• Heat Settings: 3
• Speeds: 2
• Cool shot: Yes

Remington earned the top spot because it heats up relatively quickly and evenly for a $25 hairdryer. Plus, it's compatible with all hair types and boasts impressive Amazon reviews.

The ceramic barrel of this Remington hair dryer is infused with real crushed pearls. By transferring micro-conditioners through the air via the dryer, hair looks extra smooth, and the dryer also offers an impressive 40% faster airflow than its competitors.

Director of SEO and content Erica Murphy calls this her hair dryer of choice, saying she’s had this particular product for more than 5 years, and it “still works like a charm.” She also notes that this is her to-go for its powerful blow-drying skills, multiple heat settings, and simplicity. “All it takes is about five minutes, and my hair is perfectly dry,” she says.

More: Rotating Curling Irons Will Level Up Your Hair Styling Game

Key Specs

• Heat Settings: 3
• Speeds: 2
• Cool shot: Yes

Save the big bucks for the hair serums because this top-quality pick is less than $20, a total steal. This option from Revlon covers all the bases with multiple heat settings, a cool shot button, and an included diffuser. Plus, it uses ionic technology to smooth hair and reduce frizz.

Christine Anderson, our executive director, recommends this dryer for those who usually air-dry their hair but occasionally need a quick dry.

“I purchased this hair dyer back in college and 17 years later it’s still kicking. I love a product that can last nearly two decades without a loss in performance," she says. "I’m not a daily shampoo person, so I probably only blow-dry my hair once a week. If your haircare regiment is low maintenance and you just need a reliable blow dryer for occasional use, the Revlon Essentials is the tool for you.”

Plus, its under-$20 price tag is pretty hard to beat, which is another reason why Anderson loves this hair dryer.

Key Specs

• Heat settings: 3
• Speeds: 2
• Cool shot: Yes

Made for the pros by the pros, Drybar's Buttercup Blow Dryer ensures the ultimate styling experience. It's a light-in-hand, quick-dry tool that works to not only dry but condition hair with nanobeads that seal cuticles to keep hair healthy and looking smooth.

It's a favorite of tester Zarah Kavarana, who says it's worth the investment for its ability to smooth and shine strands without causing any heat damage or frizziness.

Beauty editor Nicole Saunders adds that the Buttercup is worth the $200 price tag because it works on all hair textures, including her natural hair. “Whenever I can use this sunshine-yellow hair dryer, I can skip using an anti-frizz serum because it’s made with ionic technology,” she says. “The wider nozzle dries my thick hair fast, but I like to swap in the narrow nozzle when I want extra smooth and sleek hair.”

Key Specs

• Heat settings: 3
• Speeds: 2
• Cool shot: Yes

This lightweight, professional-style Conair option features a special tourmaline ceramic technology, which helps prevent heat damage. Plus, ionic conditioning smoothes your strands, leaving behind shiny-looking hair with less frizz. The best part? It's way cheaper than the other guys.

Senior technology editor Brandon Carte has been loyal to this hair dryer since 2015. He considers this Conair hair dryer an affordable, reliable, and low-maintenance hot tool. “The hair dryer is really easy to use and practically requires no maintenance whatsoever,” he says. “You can pop the back of its filter off to wipe away the dust and debris that block the air intake vent overtime.”

Key Specs

• Heat settings: 2
• Speed settings: 3
• Cool shot: Yes

Is it a hair dryer? A brush? Surprise: It's both! This best-selling Revlon hair-drying brush has garnered over 280,000 sparkling ratings on Amazon.

Our art production manager, Bridget Clegg, can't get enough of this brush for creating at-home blowouts that look identical to expensive salon ones. She also loves that this quick styler makes her reach for curling wands and flat irons less frequently.

Senior home editor Melanie Yates also loves using this iconic hot tool to style her shoulder-length hair. She considers this Revlon brush a “user-friendly device that does the work of two hair tools in just a fraction of the time.”

Key Specs

• Heat settings: 3
• Speeds: 2
• Cool shot: Yes

It might be hard to imagine spending nearly $350 on a hair dryer, but after using this one from celeb stylist Harry Josh’s line of hair care tools, you’ll be hooked. Ion technology reduces frizz, the motor has a speed of 94 miles per hour for a faster dry-time, and it’s designed to be much quieter than the typical hair dryer.

Former beauty and style editor Ashley Phillips first discovered this magical dryer through her roommate, and she swears there’s nothing better for straighter strands. “It works wonders on my naturally straight hair, too, leaving it soft, shiny, and looking like I just got a salon blowout,” she said.

It's super pricey, but according to Phillips, the results are honestly that much better.

Key Specs

• Heat settings: 3
• Speeds: 2
• Cool shot: Yes

This under-$100 pick is one of the absolute best picks for curly hair, according to former beauty editor Jennifer Hussein. "I love how the large diffusing head defines and enhances my 2B curl pattern with minimal frizz," she says. "I have a lot of hair, and using this larger diffusing head makes drying time faster and easier than ever before."

But the diffuser head isn’t the only thing that keeps her hair looking its best. This hair dryer not only reduces damage caused by other heating tools but actually helps repair any damage caused by daily brushing. Its “nanoe” technology also infuses much-needed moisture into hair, allowing it to completely dry without becoming dry and brittle to the touch.

This Panasonic hair dryer also keeps things simple with two speeds and three temperature settings, which is really all you need for perfect blowouts and diffusing.

Key Specs

• Heat settings: 3
• Speeds: 2
• Cool shot: Yes

If you have curly or kinky strands, diffusing and blow-drying can get pretty tricky. Hairstylist Tonya Fairley says she loves this lightweight hair dryer because it's especially great for these hair types, thanks to its NanoIonic mineral technology, which leaves curls defined, shiny, and hydrated.

“That’s not the only reason why I’m obsessed with this hair dryer for curls: It has powerful airflow for quicker drying time, and it helps eliminate frizz and static,” says Hussein.

Key Specs

• Heat settings: 3
• Speeds: 2
• Cool shot: Yes

The Helios truly deserves a round of applause, according to Hussein. "I was a dedicated user of the Dyson Supersonic, but after using the Helios, I converted to this pick for its hair-defining power," she says.

This hair dryer works for all hair types, no matter how thick or curly, or thin your strands may be. Hussein also loves this hair dryer for its frizz-fighting abilities, saying that frizzy strands are now a thing of the past for her. “It’s incredibly light on my weak typer’s wrists, and it takes a measly 5 minutes to blow-dry my hair while getting the exact style I want — no other hot tools needed,” adds Hussein.

It's no wonder how the Helios swept every major beauty award out there (it even won a Best of Beauty award from Allure, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and many more!).

Key Specs

• Heat settings: 3
• Speeds: 2
• Cool shot: Yes

You've probably seen the Dyson Supersonic before, and as cool-looking as it is, you probably thought it wasn't worth the hefty price tag — and boy, were you wrong. This hair dryer is a favorite of nearly every celebrity hairstylist with beautiful, silky hair.

This lightweight, fast-drying tool works by preventing extreme heat damage to help protect shine and uses negative ions to reduce static in hair. There's no wonder why Saunders and senior editor, Caitlyn Fitzpatrick, are so in love with it.

“The Supersonic helps me achieve a salon-quality blowout at home,” says Saunders. "It's made with a powerful V9 motor and uses Air Multiplier technology to dry my hair quickly without heat damage. Plus, the variety of attachments is also important to me because it allows styling flexibility."

Saunders and Fitzpatrick recommend keeping the smoothing nozzle on to create a silky-smooth look that makes your hair feel light as air.

The solo hairdryer is currently sold out across your favorite retailers, but for an extra $30, you can order the limited-edition kit. Instead of three attachments, this set comes with five that stays cool to the touch, even when styling. You'll also receive a paddle brush and wide-tooth comb to perfect your coif, and a sturdy storage case.

Key Specs

• Heat settings: 3
• Speeds: 3
• Cool shot: Yes

Frizz will be a thing of the past thanks to this powerful hairdryer. It combines a consistent high-velocity heat control with ionized air to style hair quickly and heat up evenly.

If you’re looking for a high-tech hairdryer, Saunders recommends the Shark HyperAIR. “It’s equipped with two sensors that automatically adjust the airflow and heat based on the attachment you use,” she says. “You can also manually adjust those settings if you prefer.”

Frizz will be a thing of the past thanks to this powerful hairdryer. It combines a consistent high-velocity heat control with ionized air to style hair quickly and heat up evenly.

It comes with a concentrator nozzle and comb to achieve a salon-worthy blowout from the comfort of your home. Shark also sells a kit with an adjustable diffuser to volumize your curly hair. Choose between longer prongs when working with long or thick hair, while short diffuser claws are helpful for short or fine hair.