Beauty Experts Tested: Best Hair Dryers of 2023

AnnieRim.com - Unlocking salon-quality blowouts in the comfort of your own home hinges on one essential tool: a top-tier hair dryer. According to Michelle Cleveland, the renowned celebrity hairstylist and proud owner of Hair Addict Salon in Toms River, New Jersey, achieving exceptional results demands a perfect blend of power, airflow precision, and featherlight design. To make your choice easier in the midst of the bewildering array of options and considerations—from your unique hair type and concerns to cutting-edge dryer technology and personalized features—we've got you covered.

Our team at the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, in conjunction with professional hairstylists, has embarked on a comprehensive journey to uncover the ultimate hair dryer gems. Through rigorous testing on actual human hair samples and the discerning eyes of consumer testers, we've scrutinized their performance and evaluated any potential hair damage. In our latest extensive examination, we meticulously assessed 41 different products both within our Lab and in real-life usage scenarios. This exhaustive process, comprising thousands of data points, has culminated in a meticulously curated list of the finest hair dryers available in the market today. Trust us to help you make the right choice and elevate your hairstyling game to a professional level.

1. Remington 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."

2. HOT TOOLS 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."

3. Bio Ionic 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 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."

4. Dyson 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. Testers loved how sleek it looked and 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."

5. Paul Mitchell Neuro 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.

6. Cricket 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.

7. Drybar 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."

8. InStyler 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.

9. Olivia Garden 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, without feeling hot on the scalp. 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."