Sunday, February 13, 2022

19 Best Hair Dryers for Every Type of Hair

 

19 Best Hair Dryers for Every Type of Hair

These blow dryers are proven to perform on fine hair, curly hair and every hair type in between

best hair dryers
AMAnupdated this article in November 2021 to ensure all picks previously tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab were in stock and reflected correct pricing. Our scientists are currently testing the newest hair dryer launches as well as hair dryer brushes for 2022.

The key to gorgeous, salon-style hair every day is a great hair dryer for easy blowouts at home. Lucky for you, we've got the full blow-by-blow on the best hair dryers.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab has been testing hair tools like hair dryers (including hair dryer brushes and travel hair dryers) for over 10 years: In the Lab, scientists evaluate hair dryers across price points by measuring drying speed on standardized human hair samples, airflow force, weight, air and surface temperature and cord length. In addition, they rate ease of use, including comfort of hold, ease of putting on and removing attachments, location and ease of controls and buttons, and any potential irritation or damage to scalp, skin or hair. Finally, each hair dryer's noise emission level is determined via the third-party certifier Quiet Mark. In the GH Beauty Lab's most recent test, scientists evaluated 41 hair dryers over eight weeks or 320 hours, recording 2,244 data points to determine the winning models, here:

Whether you're going for everyday at-home use, the best travel hair dryer, an easy-to-use hair dryer brush or professional-level blowouts once in a while, here is everything you need to know about the GH Beauty Lab's best hair dryers of 2021 for every hair type and need:

What makes a great hair dryer?

All hair dryers are not created equal. When purchasing a hair dryer, there are several factors to consider, GH Beauty Lab scientists say:

✔️Adjustable heat and speed settings, which allow you to customize the level of heat and power the hair dryer emits according to your hair type and preferences.

✔️Attachments, which really make a difference on various hair textures since they affect the airflow of a hair dryer. These are the two you'll most commonly find included with your hair dryer or sold separately:

  • Diffusers are great for people with curly hair because they circulate air to the ends of hair while diffusing the airstream from the hair dryer to prevent frizz, which can help to define curls and even add volume.
  • Concentrators narrow the hair dryer's airflow to blow air directly on the hair for smooth, sleek styles. They come in different sizes for varying purposes: Broad, extended concentrator nozzles are meant for larger surfaces and are "useful for thick and long hair as they help it dry faster," says GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann, who oversees the Beauty Lab's hair dryer testing. Short, narrow concentrator nozzles provide curly and frizzy hair the opportunity for a sleek blowout, since their powerful flows are great for eliminating frizz.

✔️Cool shot button. Each of the top-tested hair dryers in the GH Beauty Lab's most recent test has a cold-shot button, which can help to close the hair's cuticle and lock in the style, preventing frizz once you're finished drying.

✔️Wattage. A hair dryer's wattage determines its power: The Beauty Lab recommends a range of between 1,500 and 2,000 watts for best results on any hair type (1,875 watts is the most common hair dryer wattage).

✔️Design attributes. In GH Beauty Lab testing, scientists take into account each hair dryer's weight, the length of its cord, and its noise level, which can affect ease of use.

✔️Safety certification. Look for marks such as ETL, SUD and TUV on the hair dryer's packaging. "These are essential to ensure that they are tested for safety and found to meet safety requirements," Wizemann explains.

✔️Ion technology. "Ionization technology has visible benefits," Wizemann explains. "It is easy to see benefits when you have ionized technology switched on and off. Static builds up when you blast air without an ionizer and with it, the hair is more aligned and appears shinier." Shop for an ionic hair dryer if you have curly hair that is prone to frizz and flyaways.

✔️But be wary of specialized technology claims. Many hair dryers tout special technologies like far-infrared radiation or ceramic/ceramic-tourmaline on product packaging, but these aren't necessary for an effective, quality tool, GH Beauty Lab testing has found. While there is general research on these technologies, little data is available on their benefits in the context of hair dryer design.

    What's the best hair dryer for my hair type?

    When it comes to choosing the best hair dryer for your specific texture or length, it's more about finding a tool with settings you can customize to you. Here are some general guidelines of what you can seek out for certain hair types

    • Curly hair (from 3A to 4c curl types): Look for an ionic hair dryer that comes with lots of attachments. "A diffuser is a must for all curly and kinky hair types who wish to embrace their natural texture and a narrow nozzle attachment if they want to smooth it," Wizemann says.
    • Thin hair: In general, look for a hair dryer with low heat settings since higher temps can damage fragile strands. "High temperature is unnecessary for quickly drying thin and flat hair unless it is being styled in a specific way where higher heat is needed to shape it," Wizemann advises.
    • Thick or long hair: Look for a dryer with higher voltage for maximum power. "Usually, a higher voltage hair dryer will exhibit a more robust flow and temperature on higher settings," Wizemann says, perfect "for styling thicker, denser and longer hair that needs higher heat and airflow.
    • Hair extensions: You don't need a special dryer for synthetic and real hair extensions: Standard hair dryers are generally good for all hair types, says Michelle Cleveland, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon in Toms River, New Jersey.

    What hair dryer do professionals use?

    If you want to mimic a salon-like blowout at home, it helps to know what type of hair dryer professional hairstylists use and what they look for when shopping for one. "For professional hair dryers, you need the maximum amount of power with the best type of airflow to protect the hair, combined with the lightest weight possible," Cleveland explains. Our top Lab pick for a professional hair dryer that checks all these boxes is the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, but per Cleveland's advice, any of the dryers below are suitable for professional use — look for the one with the features and attachments that best suit your hair type and needs.

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