Nothing against flat irons and curling irons, but if I had to pick just one must-have hair tool, it’d be the good ol’ fashioned hair dryer. Whether to smooth out frizz, add volume and bounce, or heck, just get your hair dry, it’s a styling necessity. Because, let’s be real – blow-drying your hair is a real chore and often a sweaty struggle even in the cooler months. And while the easy answer would be to get a salon blowout on a regular basis, that’s just not realistic for most of us. So why not make the blow drying process a bit easier for yourself? There are tons of amazing hair dryers out there to help you complete the feat.
Here’s the thing, though: There are a LOT (and I mean a LOT) of hair dryers out there, at every price point imaginable. So to help you choose, I narrowed it down to 10 standouts – eight of which ring in at $150 or less, plus two that are well-worth the splurge.
More Hair Tips:
The 10 Best Hair Dryers
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Gamma + Italia Aria Hairdryer
The Gamma + Italia Aria Hairdryer ($139.95) features an extra powerful-- though still super lightweight - motor to seriously cut down on drying time. It's so lightweight, that the entire dryer weighs less than a pound.
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Bed Head Curlipops 1875 Watt Diffuser Dryer
Curly-haired girls will love the Bed Head Curlipops 1875 Watt Diffuser Dryer ($35), which features a unique diffuser nozzle to give hair texture and volume. Ionic technology keeps your strands frizz-free and shiny, too.
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Harry Josh Ultra Light Pro Dryer
Splurge alert: There’s a good reason why the Harry Josh Ultra Light Pro Dryer ($349) is worth the price. The first iteration of the celeb stylist's eponymous dryer quickly earned a cult-like following, and this newbie is quickly giving it a run for its money. Credit a motor speed of 94 miles per hour, 12 heat, speed, and ion settings, and a silencer that makes it extra quiet (ideal when you don't want to wake anyone up in the morning).
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Nume Signature Dryer
Thanks to integrated infrared technology (say that five times fast), the Nume Signature Dryer ($120) heats hair from the inside out, for a quicker, less damaging blow-dry. Also nice: It comes in fun turquoise and pink colors, too.
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Pro Beauty Tools Professional Ionic Copper Ceramic Dryer
Slim and sleek, the nozzle on the Pro Beauty Tools Professional Ionic Copper Ceramic Dryer ($35) improves air flow for faster, easier blowouts.Plus, the copper ceramic technology provides even heat transfer for less damage to your hair.
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Remington Pro Hair Dryer with Thermaluxe Advanced Thermal Technology
The Remington Pro Hair Dryer with Thermaluxe Advanced Thermal Technology ($40) dries hair 50 percent faster than the brand's other dryers, and also comes with concentrator and diffuser attachments. A steal of a deal.
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Revlon Perfect Heat Smooth Brilliance AC Motor Styler
True to its name, the Revlon Perfect Heat Smooth Brilliance AC Motor Styler ($25) features an AC motor, most often found in much pricier models. Translation: High-powered airflow that transfers heat fast, so your hair is exposed to less of it and less damaged as a result.
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Style Craft PeeWee 1200 Dryer
We've found that most travel-sized dryers just don't get the job done, but the Style Craft PeeWee 1200 Dryer ($60) delivers. With a folding handle, travel bag, and dual voltage, it's perfect to take on all your trips, yet is powerful enough to use as your daily dryer.
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Sultra Airlight Dryer
1875 watts of power combined with ion technology make the Sultra Airlight Dryer ($149) a great pick for dry or damaged hair; the negative ions penetrate into the hair shaft and infuse moisture into your strands. We're also big fans of the nine foot, tangle-free cord (tangle-free being the operative word).
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T3 Cura Luxe Dryer
Splurge alert number two. Yes, the T3 Cura Luxe Dryer ($285) will cost you, but trust us, the five heat and two speed settings, coupled with a volume boost switch, and auto-off sensor (it shuts off whenever you put it down) make it worth every penny.
