Best hair dryers for every budget, according to the people who use them

“In my use, my hair dries faster, while feeling less "dried-out", has more of a shine to it, and in general, just looks and feels better. I am quite pleased with nearly every aspect of the Dyson. It does the job, does it well and looks good doing it.”

The Dyson Supersonic, like all Dyson products, is known for its innovation. We tested this product when it first debuted and we've gotta say: it's damn impressive. The blower is bladeless, which makes for a smooth, quiet, and fast dry, and its motor sits in the handle rather than the head, distributing the weight evenly for a more comfortable hold.

This hair dryer measures air temperature 20 times per second and regulates the heat it produces, preventing extreme heat damage to help protect your hair’s natural shine. Set the dryer at three different speeds and four different heat levels, including constant cold. There’s also a cold shot option to set your style after it’s dry.

Three magnetic attachment styling tools are included with the Dyson Supersonic: A smoothing nozzle for simultaneous drying and styling, a concentrator to direct airflow, and a diffuser for natural drying.

The Dyson Supersonic has rave reviews at Amazon and Best Buy, where 95% of buyers saying they would recommend the hair dryer to a friend.

Best Buy reviewer skylog writes:

Though a common gripe amongst reviews — even the positive ones — is the price, though many said it ended up being worth it. A Dyson Supersonic hair dryer retails for $399.99 (though we have seen it go on sale) and you can get it from Best Buy, Amazon, Ulta, and Walmart.

“Great purchase and worth the price. I finally now understand why you should spend good money on a hairdryer. I really thought it was my straight iron doing the damage. It wasn't. My hair feels smooth and not fried.”

Drybar salons were created with the sole purpose of providing an accessible blowout. Lucky for us, the salon’s founder has gone on to produce styling tools so we can do our best to achieve that same look at home. The Buttercup Blow Dryer is one of these tools. 

The Buttercup’s 1875-watt motor and ionic technology combine to provide shiny, frizz-free blowouts in 20% less time than most professional dryers. You have the option of three heat settings and two power settings, and the dryer includes two interchangeable, concentrated nozzles for customized airflow. 

The wider nozzle focuses on a greater area of hair to help it dry faster, which is good for long or thick hair. The smaller nozzle provides extra intensity and precision, good for bangs or fringe. 

Nordstrom reviewer AshleyMarie1 writes:

Common complaints about the Buttercup are its price and weight, as some reviewers expressed that the dryer is on the heavier side.

The Buttercup Blow Dryer from Drybar retails for $195 at Nordstrom, Amazon, and Ulta.

"At 1875W, this dryer is not ‘quiet;’ but seems to be less unpleasant than other high velocity hairdryers I have used. You certainly can purchase less expensive hair dryers; but I honestly believe the HOT TOOLS Signature Series 1875W Salon Turbo Ionic Dryer is worth every penny. I have been using it with ultra-shiny and frizz-free results. My hair has never felt more silky."

The Hot Tools Signature Series Salon Turbo Ionic Dryer delivers salon-quality drying at a relatively low price. It uses ionic technology to help reduce frizz and static for shiny, healthy-looking hair. The motor is designed for turbo drying with maximum airflow, producing results up to 40% faster than conventional dryers. 

You have options on how you want to dry your hair as the blow dryer features two speed and three heat settings. The Turbo Ionic dryer is suitable for every hair type and it leaves hair silky smooth and full of volume. Finish off your look with the tool’s cool shot feature.

The most common complaint about this hair dryer is the placement of the control buttons. They sit where your hand will touch them, which some reviewers found inconvenient. Other than that, reviewers raved about the weight and temperature of the dryer and the results it produces.

Amazon reviewer The Rothwells writes:

Get the Hot Tools Signature Series Salon Turbo Ionic Dryer for $49.99 at Amazon.

“My hair dresser recommends GHD, and this dryer is as good as the other things I've used from them. It dries quickly, quietly, and the best part - doesn't blow so hard my hair is in knots. Maybe I'm crazy, but I really think my hair is softer feeling with this dryer compared to my other and my hair doesn't seem to get as frizzy.”

The ghd Air is a powerful hair dryer with a body shaped to give you a faster blow-dry. Its ionic technology is meant to lock in moisture for soft, shiny results that last without frizzing. The ergonomic design makes it easy to handle while the long cord gives you flexibility to move.

Two speeds and three heat settings give you the ability to control how you dry. The blow dryer also has a cool shot button to set your style and is quieter than drugstore dryers. This is a tool designed for professional salon use that can also easily be used at home.

This hair dryer also comes with two concentrator nozzles to aid in styling. The ghd Air is similar to the Buttercup from Drybar. What makes the Air worth buying is that it has a cool shot button and is from a brand trusted by salons across the country.

Amazon reviewer Ren writes:

The ghd Air hair dryer retails for $199 and is available at Amazon, Ulta, and Walmart.

“I wanted a good ionic blow dryer that would help with frizz. I didn't even bother looking for one with attachments bc that would drive the price up. So I was skeptical about this one that came with attachments and lots of good reviews for a low cost. I was amazed. It dries my thick, long hair quickly. No frizz, and I don't even have to use a straightener anymore. Great buy!”

The Infiniti PRO by Conair is designed to provide uniform heat to dry hair quickly without excessive heat damage. Ionic technology creates smooth, shiny hair with less frizz and is effective on all hair types. It has three heat and two speed settings, plus you can finish off your look with a cold shot to lock in shine.

The motor in the Infiniti PRO is powerful, but quiet and you’re even able to remove the dryer’s filter to prevent damaging buildup. The Conair Infiniti PRO is highly appraised, with 4.6 stars at Best Buy and 94% of customers saying they would recommend the product to a friend.

Best Buy reviewer Jennifer writes:

The Conair Infiniti PRO hair dryer is available at Best Buy, Ulta, Amazon, and Walmart.

“I know that this dryer is expensive, but you get what you pay for. This is an excellent product that will allow you to grow your hair healthily, without burning those strands. I highly recommend it.”

The T3 Cura, one of the more innovative hair dryers on this list, combines digitally-controlled heat with a wide, gentle airstream to dry hair quickly and evenly while creating volume and shine. Three heat and two speed settings give you control during your blow-dry while a cool shot button helps to lock in your style.

Lightweight design and quiet operation lend to a more enjoyable drying experience. The Cura’s ergonomic slant handle is meant to alleviate wrist strain for more comfortable use. You’ll see optimal performance from this hair dryer as its filter is easily removable to be cleaned.

The Cura comes with two concentrator nozzles — the larger dries hair evenly with a wide volume of air while the smaller one focuses on one section at a time with concentrated airflow. 

Amazon reviewer Aleksandra writes:

The T3 Cura hair dryer retails for around $200 and is available at Amazon and Ulta.

“I love this blow dryer. My hair looks and feels so healthy and voluminous.”

Choose from five different volume levels with the Bed Head Pump Up The Volume hair dryer, a device designed specifically for creating that "big hair" look. In addition to selecting how much volume you want your hair to have, you can also choose between two heat and speed settings. After your hair is styled, set it with the dryer’s cool shot.

This dryer isn’t just focused on volume, though. Ionic technology fights frizz and adds shine, while it also comes with an attachable concentrator to help you create a blowout look. Unfortunately, it is not designed for a diffuser attachment.

Amazon reviewer Ang writes:

The hair dryer is available for $34.31 at Amazon.

“Works just as good as my professional hair dryer that finally stopped working. Air is hot, the low speed isn't one of those horribly low, useless speeds and the high is powerful. Nice and light weight, took no time at all to dry and style my thick, shoulder length hair. Love the brush that comes with it, too. Chi makes great products and this one is no exception.”

We all covet our CHI straighteners, so it should come as no surprise that the beauty brand has a hair dryer that's just as great. Tourmaline ceramic elements within the CHI Air Classic 2 hair dryer evenly distribute heat to give you a comfortable and professional styling experience. The powerful motor should even allow you to cut down on drying time without causing damage to your hair.

Dry your hair using the CHI’s two heat and speed settings. For added style, use the included round brush and one of the two attachments — a diffuser or concentrator. CHI uses ionic and infrared technology to reduce static and frizz.

Best Buy reviewer Citycat writes:

The CHI Air Classic 2 hair dryer is priced at around $89.99 and can be found at Walmart and Best Buy.

“I bought this hair dryer a few weeks ago as my other hair died on me. I am SO happy I went with this product. I love the nice clean look to it, and it was lighter in weight than I had expected. It was easy to use and left my hair feeling softer and smoother than hair dryers I've used in the past. I also felt like it dried my hair quicker than other dryers that I've used.”

Don’t discredit the Remington Pro Hair Dryer based on its low price. The dryer has similar features to some of the more expensive models on this list and reportedly dries hair 50% faster than standard Remington hair dryers. It uses negative ion technology to dry your hair quickly while locking moisture into the cuticles. 

Remington promises a frizz-free and silky finish when using this dryer made with ceramic infused with silk protein. A diffuser and concentrator are included for extra styling and the dryer has three heat and two speed settings, plus a cool shot button. 

This dryer has a powerful blow and gets hot, however many reviewers found that it was quieter than other hair dryers they had used. It’s also fairly lightweight.

Walmart reviewer tsachs87 writes:

You can get the Remington Pro Hair Dryer for $29.99 at Walmart and Amazon.

“Bought this for travel...this is so lightweight and compact, I could carry it in a small purse and never know I had it along. I was hesitant to buy it since the wattage was much lower than my bigger heavier 1875 watt regular drier but I have to say, it dried my hair even more quickly. I like it so much, I may buy another to use daily.”

The Nano Titanium Travel Dryer from BaBylissPRO packs a lot of power into a compact design. The 1,000-watt hair dryer uses nano titanium and negative ion technology to produce a powerful dry that results in shiny hair. 

The foldable design makes this hair dryer ideal for traveling or small space storage, plus it’s outfitted for worldwide usage with the ability to change the voltage.

The BaBylissPRO dryer has two heat/speed settings and it comes with a concentrator nozzle, though some reviewers do report that it's not as powerful as a full-sized blow dryer. But when you're traveling and need something to get the job done, a small compromise might be necessary.

Amazon reviewer Mom2brtg writes:

The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Travel Dryer retails for around $33 and is available at Amazon and Walmart.