This Best-Tested Hair Dryer Dries Sections in Less Than One Minute

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The number one essential for getting a professional-level blowouts at home? A high-quality hair dryer. And all models are not created equal. For the best results, "you need the maximum amount of power with the best type of airflow to protect the hair, combined with the lightest weight possible," explains Michelle Cleveland, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon in Toms River, New Jersey. But it's tricky to know where to start, with so many models on the market and seemingly endless factors to consider, from your hair type and concerns to each blow dryer's technology and your desired features. Here, get the full blow-by-blow on the best hair dryers you can buy from Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists and professional hairstylists.

Our top picks:

GH Beauty Lab experts rigorously test hair dryers in our Lab on human hair samples and consumer testers to assess their attributes and performance. In the most recent test of hair dryers, GH Beauty Lab analysts evaluated 41 products in the Lab and at home for ease of use, performance, drying time, whether they cause hair damage and more. Thousands of data points were then tallied to compile this list of the best hair dryers you can buy for every hair type, form thin and fine to curly, frizzy and more.

Whether you're looking for a blow dryer you can use every day at home, an affordable pick or a travel hair dryer, here is everything you need to know about shopping for the best hair dryer for your needs, based on GH Beauty Lab testing and expert insights.

Pro Hair Dryer with Thermaluxe Advanced Thermal Technology

If you're looking for an affordable drugstore dryer that really works, GH Beauty Lab test winner Remington is it. Testers gave it high marks for drying hair fast, great control button locaiton and overall performance. The model also has a tangle-free fabric cord, though it is shorter than others.

Even though it's a bargain price, this tool doesn't skimp on extras, including both concentrator and diffuser attachments. Some users thought it was a little heavy and loud, but two users commented on the good air pressure and heat emitted. "It dried hair fast but was not too hot," a tester reported. Another raved: "My hair was not frizzy after using this dryer."

Professional Turbo Ionic Dryer

This compact model from Hot Tools earned near-perfect scores for drying speed in our testing and ranked high for strong airflow. Testers loved its smaller, easy-to-store size and that it left their hair less frizzy. They gave it top marks for its easy-to-reach controls and comfortable shape, and both Lab assessments and consumers found it to be quiet.

The tool has an ample cord length, though it doesn't come with a tie. The included concentrator attachment was also wobbly, users found. "The hair dryer dried my hair with less frizz and more shine to it," a tester reported. "It was super easy to use and small, so it could be stored pretty much anywhere." Another remarked: "It took a lot less time to dry my hair than usual."

GrapheneMX Brushless Professional Hair Dryer

Power-packed yet gentler than other models, Bio Ionic’s hairdryer was mild on both hair and scalp in GH Beauty Lab testing, key for damaged or fragile fine hair. It had the lowest air temperature at the highest of three settings, yet still dried hair samples quickly. Expert evaluators found it comfortable to hold and that the attachments were easy to put on and take off. They also gave it points for the strategically located control buttons and easy-to-use cool shot button.

Though it was loud in sound testing and is the priciest of the most recent test winners, it comes with a 10-year motor-life warranty and a storage bag. That said, it doesn't come with a diffuser, so it may not be the best pick for curly-haired folks. An expert called this pick “sleek-looking," and liked its "balanced weight and size that’s not too heavy or big and feels powerful." Two others commented: "I like that it has three temperatures," and, "it worked really well."

Supersonic Hair Dryer

A favorite of professional hairstylists, this one-of-a-kind Dyson design (the motor is in the handle!) dried hair faster than any model in the history of GH Beauty Lab hair dryer testing. In Lab evaluations, it dried an eight-inch hair sample in only 54 seconds and had strong airflow. The tool also features a generous cord length, though it doesn't come with a tie, and evaluators found the controls are not easy to reach.

The hair dryer includes a rare five attachments to customize to your hair type and needs, including two concentrators, a diffuser, an attachment for smoothing flyaways and a gentle air attachment, all of which are magnetic for simple usage. Consumer testers, including a range of hair types (from straight to curly) and lengths (very long, long, shoulder length and short), also evaluated the product and loved how sleek it looked. One raved, "On the most humid of days, it got hair smoother, and in less time, than any hair dryer I've used." Another echoed: "The air pressure was great and I do feel like it dried my hair faster than normal."

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Why the Dyson Supersonic Dryer Is Actually Worth It

Light Tourmaline Hair Dryer

Paul Mitchell has a track record of implementing new technologies in their tools, and the Neuro Dry is no exception. The dryer features a digital LED display for heat and power settings and has a “clean filter” indicator light, plus comes with a diffuser included, key for drying curly and natural hair textures, plus, in GH Beauty Lab testing, it received a top drying rate score due to its airflow and high heat settings.

Testers also gave it high marks for minimizing frizz, with one noting it “added fullness" and another that "it seemed to dry my hair quickly." Though testers and experts found it easy to operate and liked the controls, some found it uncomfortable to hold. It was also one of the heaviest hair dryers evaluated.

Ultra Smooth Professional Hair Dryer

In GH Beauty Lab testing, Cricket’s hair dryer model emitted the high heat and had powerful airflow to quickly dry even dense or coarse hair. At 150°F, it had the highest air temperature of the top dryers, making it a good option for thick hair, although it may get too hot for fragile, fine or damaged hair types (a user reported that at the highest heat setting, it can get overly hot and the cool air didn't activate as fast).

The tool ranked high for being comfortable to hold and had easy to use attachments and buttons. It also has an ample cord length with attached Velcro tie. “Cute and compact, yet powerful and well made, it's also light and nice to hold” one expert evaluator raved. “I like pretty much everything about it," another said, but it does lack a diffuser.

Baby Buttercup Blow Dryer

The winner of the GH Beauty Lab's travel hair dryer test, Drybar’s top-of-the-line dual voltage model delivers fast-drying power in a portable package. It scored perfectly in Lab evaluations for having easy-to-use controls, dried hair samples quickly and had strong airflow.

The tool was also easiest to maneuver and comfortable to hold, though it was heavier than other models and more effort was required for proper placement and removal of the attachment. "Wow, this is powerful," an expert evaluator marveled. "It's the right size and doesn't look like a travel dryer until you fold the handle — I like that it that it could do double duty for home and away."

Turbo Max Ionic Hair Dryer

With a dial that lets you customize the heat level, InStyler's ionic hair dryer was a winner in GH Beauty Lab testing for delivering strong airflow. The powerful airflow translated to fast drying speed, and it came out on top for being comfortable to grip and having easy-to-navigate buttons.

The tool was also lightweight and the attachments are simple to put on and take off, though sound evaluations found it to be noisy. Two experts noted they “loved” this model. It is “lightweight but powerful, easy to hold and use," one noted. "Gives a great, strong airflow but not overpowering," another said.

Ceramic + Ion Professional Hair Dryer

GH Beauty Lab testers found this lightweight Olivia Garden blow dryer dried hair quickly, thanks to its robust airflow and temperature yet didn't feel hot on the scalp, making it ideal for those with fine or thin strands. It was easy to hold and operate and received a perfect score for maneuvering attachments, plus it offers a generously long cord.

A caveat: The dryer was a bit loud, confirmed by the Quiet Mark noise measurement test, receiving 1 out of 3 stars."I like the size and weight and it has quite powerful airflow," one of our expert evaluators noted. "It looks and feels well-made."

Ultra Light Pro Dryer

You've probably seen this ultra-chic, pint-sized pastel dryer from Harry Josh Pro Tools all over Instagram, but now it comes in a lightweight, compact design that makes it perfect for drying bangs. The GH Beauty Lab tested the original Harry Josh Pro Tools 2000 hair dryer and testers loved how much power it packed.

It's also a beauty editor favorite. "Super lightweight, great speed and high heat settings," a reviewer reported. Another raved: "It cuts down my dry time significantly and leaves me with the best blow out." Note that some users complained that the tool malfunctioned over time.

Innovator The Pro Power Speed Dryer

A unique superslim design that was effortless to maneuver and top-notch performance made this FHI hair dryer a GH Beauty Award winner. The cutting-edge model had the strong airflow and dried hair fast in GH Beauty Lab instrumental testing despite its compact size. Lab pros found it lightweight and "very comfortable to hold with easy-to-reach controls." Though it was slightly more noisy than others tested, it can also double as a travel hair dryer due to its smaller build.

Nano Weight Pro 1900 Turbo

A top performer in GH Beauty Lab testing, the FHI Heat dryer scored high for being lightweight, very quiet and comfortable to hold. Note that while the dryer itself stays temperate, the air it emits on its highest settings can get hot. That said, "the attachments are easy to use and give me the styling options I want," a tester commented. Another raved that it was "light, quiet and fast."

Goldpro Dryer

This easy-to-handle dryer from Bio Ionic was the least noisy of the GH Beauty Lab's top performers, according to sound level measurements. Testers loved the "powerful dryer in a small package" and raved about how easy it was to hold. Despite its strong airflow, the tool is also very light, though it didn't dry hair as quickly as other models tested. "Comfortable, quiet and not too hot," a user commented.

Professional Ionic Blow Dryer

GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann loves the way this easy-to-maneuver Sam Villa hair dryer feels in her hands — and how her short hair looks after using it. "It provides a shiny, salon-caliber look in no time that was what truly blew me (and my hair) away," she says. "It turns out my hairstylist has been using this one for years, which made me happy that I followed my instincts." An Amazon reviewer agrees: "It dries my hair in a fraction of a second and I’m pretty sure my hair breaks a lot less now."

Infiniti Pro Hair Dryer

While we haven't hands-on tested this pick, Conair's affordable model has over 11,000 five-star ratings on Amazon and slashes drying time with its powerful AC motor and it also comes with both a concentrator and diffuser. "It was fabulous and dried my thick, long hair in record time," a reviewer raved. Plus, the removable filter makes cleaning lint and dirt a breeze. "This is by far the best hair dryer I've bought, and it's incredible for the price," another user enthused.

360 Surround Hair Dryer and Styler

No, you're not imagining things: There really is an open "tunnel" right through the middle of this Revlon dryer. The barrel opens and closes so you can dry your hair vertically — similar to how you'd feed your hair through a flat iron. That means quick, intuitive styling. "It does a nice job straightening my hair as well as drying it," a reviewer noted.

Hair Blow Dryer Brush

The winner of our hair dryer brush test, easy-to-hold Amika was best of all those evaluated at creating volume, was the quietest of the winners, had the gentlest heat and worked well on all hair types. An impressive 100% of expert testers agreed that the tool delivered the perfect blowout, gave hair volume, wasn’t overly loud, had an ideal weight and didn’t burn hair or skin on the highest heat. It was also versatile: “Easy to create curls, giving a bouncy look” and “gave volume at the roots and a straight blowout,” two testers commented.

Damage Protection Hair Dryer

Amazon's top-selling hair dryer is a major bargain: Remington's affordable tool has over 30,000 five-star ratings. It comes with two attachments, an air concentrator and diffuser, for styling versatility. One reviewer suggests taking advantage of the handy loop by hanging it on a hook for easy, out-of-sight storage. "It dries quickly and my hair is smooth after," another found.

How we test hair dryers

The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab has been testing hair tools, including hair dryers — plus hair dryer brushes and travel hair dryers — for over a decade. In the GH Beauty Lab's most recent test, our scientists evaluated 41 hair dryers over eight weeks (for a total of 320 hands-on testing hours), recording 2,244 data points to determine the winning models.

In the Lab, scientists evaluate hair dryers across price points and power ratings (ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 watts) by measuring drying speed on standardized human hair samples (left), airflow force (above), weight, air and surface temperature and cord length.

In addition, hair dryers are assessed for their 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, which issues a star rating based on recorded sound level tests.

What to look for when shopping for the best hair dryer

When purchasing a top quality 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 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," Wizemann says. 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, we 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 safety verification emblems such as those from ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories), UL (Underwriters' Laboratories) or TUV or SUD (both part of the Technical Inspection Association) on the hair dryer's packaging. "These certifications are essential to ensure that the tools are tested for safety and found to meet safety requirements," Wizemann explains.

Is a ceramic or ionic hair dryer better?

Ionic, yes; ceramic, not necessarily. "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.

Many hair dryers also tout special technologies like ceramic/ceramic-tourmaline or far-infrared radiation 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. Follow these general guidelines of what to 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 Cleveland.

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. To hit Cleveland's specs for a top-performing hair dryer (high power, great airflow and light, easy-to-maneuver weight) our top pick for a professional hair dryer is the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, but per Cleveland's advice, any of the dryers above are suitable for professional use — look for the one with the features and attachments that best suit your hair type and needs.

What's the best way to blow dry hair?

Here, tricks for getting a bouncy, lush DIY blowout from celebrity hairstylist Harry Josh, creator of Harry Josh Pro Tools:

✔️ Apply your product. Work your leave-in hair styling product(s) of choice through damp hair from roots to ends with fingers, then comb through to distribute evenly.

✔️ Section and start. Clip hair into four equal parts and dry one at a time. Using your dryer’s nozzle attachment to concentrate airflow, blast roots while lifting strands with fingers to boost body.

✔️ Grab a hair brush. Wrap a 1-inch-thick piece of hair around the brush, running the nozzle down the hair shaft as you brush through, pulling taut. Continue until all hair in the section is completely dry; repeat with the remaining sections until finished.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

GH Beauty Director April Franzino has over 15 years of experience researching, writing and editing haircare content, utilizing the expertise of the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists and top industry professionals including hairstylists, hair colorists and trichologists. For this story, she worked with GH Beauty Lab scientists to report in-depth on hair dryer test results, technical information, shopping advice and more. She also interviewed professional hairstylists for their commentary on hair dryer best practices.

GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann leads testing of all types of hairstyling tools, including hair dryers, and provided expert insight into the technology behind the products and the latest innovations in the category for this article. She conducted the GH Beauty Lab's last two hair dryer tests and is constantly evaluating new hair dryer launches as they hit the market.

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