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here’s nothing like the look of the perfect blowout, but weekly trips to the salon are just not in my budget. The first step to any DIY blowout is having a hair dryer fit for the task—but with thousands of models to choose from, narrowing down the best option for you and your hair type is no easy feat. The days of simply blowing hot air are long gone—between ionic technology to reduce frizz and powerful motors to cut down on dry time, it’s easy to hit a wall of decision fatigue. So I spoke to a hair stylist with over 16 years of experience and combed through hundreds of reviews to make that choice a little bit easier for you.
With a volumizing round brush included in the box, this dryer is your first step to a bargain blowout. Conair is a trusted brand in hair, and for about $55, you can own a tool that’s targeted to your do’s volume and shine. Promising 75 percent less frizz thanks to the ionic technology, this option offers you six total heat and speed settings to style your hair on your own terms, all for a reasonable price.
Best hair dryer: Dyson’s Supersonic Hair Dryer
When it comes to hair dryers, very few are buzzier than the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer — but it’s at a high cost. The innovative hair tool will set you back a cool $429, and for that price, the brand claims it can “increase smoothness by 75%, increase shine by up to 132%, and decrease frizz and flyaways by up to 61%,” all while actually protecting hair from damage and drying hair faster than any other dryer out there.
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Four
- Speed settings: Three
- Attachments: Five (concentrator, diffuser, gentle air, flyaway smoother, wide-tooth comb)
- Accessories: One (nonslip mat)
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
- Cord length: 8.6 feet
Best budget hair dryer: Revlon 1875W Infrared Heat + Ceramic Hair Dryer White
Specifically engineered for wavy and curly hair, this dryer promotes definition without the frizz. This Curlsmith model comes with an 8-inch diffuser to reduce styling time and evenly dry your coils—plus its long prongs help to dry your roots faster. Additionally, it’s built with a hands-free stand on the back, so you can give your muscles a break while the machine does all the work.
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Three (high, medium, and low)
- Speed settings: Two (high and low)
- Wattage: 2000 watts
- Attachments: Diffuser, concentrator, and pick attachment
- Weight: 3.4 pounds
Best hair dryer for curly hair: Curlsmith De-Frizzion Dryer
With thick hair, you’ve got even more locks to protect, and this dryer’s iconic and ceramic technologies are designed for just that. Additionally, the negative ions minimize frizz by reducing static electricity, so you don’t need to worry about your mane getting out of hand.
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Three (hot, warm, and cool)
- Speed settings: Two (high and low)
- Wattage: 1900 watts
- Attachments: Concentrator
- Weight: 2.25 pounds
Best hair dryer for thick hair: BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic Carrera2 Dryer
If you’ve ever been to one of DryBar’s 150+ locations for a blowout, you’ve seen these cheery yellow (yet powerful) blow dryers. The Buttercup was designed for the pros (specifically to withstand constant use), which is what makes it such a great fit for anyone with frizzy hair. The powerful 1875 watt motor dries your hair 20% faster than the average hair dryer, the ionic technology conditions, and the wave heater evenly distributes heat so you don’t end up with damp spots. Together, these features handily defeat the main causes of frizz—not fully drying your hair, and breakage.
Specifications:
- Heat settings: Three (hot, warm, and cool) and a cold shot setting
- Speed settings: Two (fast and medium)
- Wattage: 1875 watts
- Attachments: Two concentrator nozzles
- Weight: 1 pound, 1 ounce