Credit: Dyson
With a powerful motor in its handle, Dyson's innovative dryer has proven to be a game-changer that's worth the splurge. It dried hair faster than any model in the history of GH Beauty Lab hair dryer testing. The dryer comes with five magnetic attachments to suit different hair types, including two concentrators, a diffuser, a flyaway smoother, and a gentle air attachment.
The tool is also a favorite among professional hairstylists. "It's pricey but worth it," Alvarez said. "The technology is so advanced, the cord is so long, and its three heat and airflow settings make it so efficient. It dries hair quickly, and the smoothing attachment gets rid of frizz without needing a styling product, making blowouts last longer."
The model dried an eight-inch hair sample in just 54 seconds and delivered strong airflow in Lab assessments. Lab experts also like that it has a long cord, helping you reach distant outlets or mirrors and avoiding awkward positioning while styling. A few drawbacks: It is on the heavier side, lacks a cord tie, and has buttons that can be tricky to reach.
Consumer testers with various hair types (straight to curly) and lengths (short to very long) told us they loved this dryer. One tester said, "On the most humid days, it smoothed my hair faster than any dryer I've used." Another added, "The air pressure was great, and it dried my hair faster than usual."
Credit: InStyler
InStyler's ionic hair dryer, featuring a customizable heat dial, stands out for its lightweight design, comfortable grip, and easy-to-use buttons at an under $100 pricepoint.
The tool was a top performer for its strong airflow and fast drying speed. Testers found the attachments were simple to attach and remove, though it was noisy in sound evaluations.
Two Beauty Lab experts commented that they “loved” this model. It is “lightweight but powerful, easy to hold and use," one reported. "Gives a great, strong airflow but not overpowering," another said.
Credit: Shark Beauty
Style everything from bouncy curls to sleek blowouts with this versatile Shark Beauty hair dryer.This compact tool comes with three attachments, including a diffuser, a smoothing brush, and a shine finishing brush.
It earned top marks for fast drying and high air temperature. All testers agreed it left their hair smooth and shiny, with no frizz, and created their desired look. However, some noted it was loud and a bit heavy.
"I was shocked at just how quickly I was able to dry and style my thick hair, which usually takes so long," one marveled. A tester with coily hair agreed: "My hair takes forever to dry and this cut the time by 15 or 20 minutes." Users also praised how hair felt "soft and bouncy" after drying.
Conair's “compact yet powerful” design was a top performer in GH Beauty Lab testing at drying (and smoothing!) even dense strands in no time.
When our pros evaluated this hair dryer in the Lab, it received the highest scores for maximum measured airflow and speed, and its rate of drying hair was near the top. Plus, 100% of testers agreed it made hair look smooth, felt safe, and didn't burn skin, and the materials were high quality. A few caveats: Users found it to be loud and thought the controls weren't convenient to operate.
"This dryer left my hair feeling so soft and shiny with minimal frizz," a tester with long, thick curly hair raved. "I'm obsessed with it!"
Credit: Skin Research Institute
Get a smooth blowout fast with this state-of-the-art SRI dryer. It provides substantial drying power in a lightweight, compact design with a foldable handle.
This received top scores for quick drying and leaving hair smooth and frizz-free. Testers loved its easy-to-use magnetic attachments, high-quality construction, and wide temperature range. However, some noted that the controls were tricky to operate, and the attachments could get too hot.
"It dried my hair in record time—within five minutes!" one user with long, textured hair marveled. "My thick hair dried incredibly fast and looks healthy and shiny," another shared. "This will be my go-to blow dryer forever."
Credit: Bio Ionic
Strong yet gentle, Bio Ionic’s hair dryer proved to be a great match for damaged hair in GH Beauty Lab testing.
The tool had the lowest air temperature at its highest setting, yet still dried hair quickly. Experts found it comfortable to hold, with easy-to-use attachments and well-placed control buttons, including a convenient cool shot button.
Though the model was loud in Quiet Mark sound tests and is pricey, it comes with a 10-year motor warranty and a storage bag. Note that it lacks a diffuser, making it less suitable for curly hair.
One tester praised this model as "sleek-looking" with a "balanced weight and size that’s not too heavy or big but feels powerful." Two others added, "I like that it has three temperature settings," and "it worked really well."
Credit: Paul Mitchell
Paul Mitchell is known for its innovative tools, and this one is no exception: It features a digital LED display for heat and power settings and a “clean filter” indicator light. The dryercomes with a diffuser, great for drying curly and natural hair, and it performed well at reducing frizz.
This model received top scores for drying speed due to its strong airflow and high heat settings. Users gave it high marks for minimizing frizz, a top concern for curly hair. While both consumer testers and Lab experts found it easy to operate and liked the controls, some found it uncomfortable to hold, and it was one of the heaviest models we evaluated.
One noted that it “added fullness," and another commented that "it seemed to dry my hair quickly."
Credit: Drybar
This Drybar dual voltage model, one of our top picks in the GH Beauty Lab’s travel hair dryer test, offers fast drying strength in a compact design.
