What to look for | Editor faves | Expert recs | How we chose | Meet the experts
A blow-dryer is the one beauty gadget we likely all have but don't give much thought to — until the frantic morning when that trusty hair dryer goes kaput.
Let's be honest: The options are endless when it's time to buy a new one, and it's hard to figure out what's worth the money. That's why we talked to celebrity hairstylists and experts to get the scoop on the best hair dryers around. The Shop TODAY team also found some options that are reliable and under $100.
What to look for when shopping for a hair dryer
You probably want to prolong the life of your hair dryer, so before you dig into our top picks, we asked the experts what to look for when it comes time to shop for one. The consensus? There's two key things to consider:
- Look for a "cool shot" button and speed control. "A good blow-dryer should have speed control as well as a cool shot button," Jennifer Korab, celebrity hairstylist and colorist, tells Shop TODAY. "The cool shot button will help you seal down the cuticle of your hair, to 'lock' in the style you have created. It also helps [to] add shine."
- Look at the tech. Korab also mentions that the type of technology your blow-dryer uses is equally important. "Ionic is best for thicker, frizz-prone hair; tourmaline is [a] great option for dry, curly-to-wavy hair; and ceramic is a great choice for all hair types, especially dry hair."
With the experts' guidance in mind, here are a few expert- and editor-approved picks, plus affordable options under $100.
Best hair dryers, recommended by editors
Revlon One-Step Volumizer PLUS 2.0
- Easily styles large sections of hair
- Bristles make it easy to get to the root
- Can be very loud
Cool shot? No | Heat and speed settings: Four | Attachments: None
If you haven’t yet purchased this viral, well-known two-in-one hairdryer brush, now’s your chance, especially since it’s on sale. This hair tool won best blow dry brush in Shop TODAY’s Beauty Awards, and social media editor Kara Quill loved it because “it’s a hair dryer and straightener all in one,” she said, adding “I love simplicity and it’s so easy to use. The barrel also feels like a really nice size. I was left with dry, bouncy and smooth hair.”
T3 Afar Travel Hair Dryer
- Compact design
- Lightweight
- Hair can get caught in filter
Cool shot? Yes | Heat and speed settings: Six | Attachments: One
Editorial assistant Madison San Miguel loves this compact hair dryer from T3. "Hotel hair dryers don’t always do my hair justice. My hair takes too long to dry and the power doesn’t seem up to pair with the one I have at home But bringing a chunky hair dryer is a lot to pack in a carry on or even checked bag," she says. "While it does take a bit longer to blow dryer than its full-size counterpart, it does the job, and way better than a hotel one. Even blowouts are achievable with this small dryer."
Pattern The Blow Dryer
- Ideal for curly and coily hair
- Blow-dryer head doesn't get hot
- Some say heat stopped working after a few uses
Cool shot? Yes | Heat and speed settings: Five | Attachments: Four
Associate SEO editor Kamari Stewart says there was a learning curve when it came to snapping on the included attachments, but praises the double-locking mechanism: "It snaps in two ways so you're not stuck trying to get it into an exact slot."
She had also heard that she could style while holding the dryer's head because it doesn't get hot — so "that was the first thing I did," she says.
"I put on the diffuser attachment and held it from the head at all three heat levels," she continues. "Wouldn't you know — they were serious! It really does stay cool to the touch, which I find is most helpful when my hair is flipped over and I'm trying to get the back dry or get the crown of my head."
Best hair dryers, recommended by experts
BaBylissPRO Ceramix Xtreme Dryer
- Dries and styles quickly
- Provides body and volume
- Long-lasting
- Some say it's heavy
- Controls may be hard to slide
- No retractable cord
Cool shot? Yes | Heat and speed settings: Six | Attachments: One
Hairstylist Melissa Parizot of Cutler Salon in New York's SoHo neighborhood is a fan of the BaBylissPRO ceramic dryer, which is specifically designed to protect hair from heat damage, thanks to four temperature settings.
Rusk Engineering W8less Professional 2000 Watt Dryer
- Lightweight
- Buttons are designed so you don't actually switch settings mid-use
- Lasts a long time
- Some say setting button order is confusing
Cool shot? Yes | Heat and speed settings: Seven | Attachments: One
Savannah Fincher, former corporate educator for Blo Blow Dry Bar, likes this Rusk hair dryer because it's lightweight. She also prefers this tool because it emits far-infrared heat, which helps to dry the hair faster without causing frizz.
It was also a winner in last year's Beauty Awards!
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ionic Hair Dryer
- Lightweight
- Powerful
- Works well on thick/curly hair
- Settings can be easily changed
- Some say it's loud
Cool shot? Yes | Heat and speed settings: Six | Attachments: One
Korab and Fincher both recommend the BabyBlissPRO Nano Titanium dryer as a budget-friendly option. Its six-speed functionality makes blow-drying hair faster than ever — minus the frizz. Also, customers rave about the lightweight design and how silent it is compared to other models.
Drybar Baby Buttercup Blow-Dryer
- Lightweight
- Compact and good for travel
- Some say it stopped working after a few uses
Cool shot? Yes | Heat and speed settings: Two | Attachments: One
Salon 120 West co-founder and hairstylist Kasey Bertucci calls this Drybar option "sleek and powerful." The lightweight tool features ionic technology, two heat settings and even comes with its own carrying bag, so you can take it with you when you travel.
T3 Fit Hair Dryer
- Small, good for travel
- Lightweight
- Learning curve when you first start
- Some say changing attachments is difficult
Cool shot? Yes | Heat and speed settings: Five | Attachments: None
Another compact hair dryer that Bertucci recommends is this model from T3. It's another compact option that she says is sleek and small enough to travel with. It operates on three heat settings and two speed settings to help you achieve a polished look, and several reviewers mentioned that it's easy to hold.
For a full-size T3 hair dryer that's popular among Shop TODAY readers, try the, which has five heat settings. Reviewers note that it's powerful yet quiet, as well as lightweight.
Ghd Air 1600W Professional Hair Dryer
- Dries hair quickly
- Lightweight
- Easy to maneuver
- Attachment may move around
Cool shot? Yes | Heat and speed settings: Five | Attachments: One
Scotty Cunha, a stylist at Andy LeCompte Salon, loves this Ghd hair dryer for its sleek look and lightweight feel. Cunha says its ability to leave hair "super smooth and shiny even if I am not using a brush" during a quick rough dry also makes it a standout.
Glenn Ellis, another stylist at Andy LeCompte Salon, prefers the brand's Helios Advanced Professional Hair Dryer, saying it "polishes hair like a dream without over complicating the style.”
Sam Villa Light Ionic Professional Blow Dryer
- Lightweight
- Lasts a long time
- Some say the heat settings are too extreme
Cool shot? Yes | Heat and speed settings? Five | Attachments: Two
Korab describes the Sam Villa dryer as a "lightweight, powerful blow-dryer" that delivers a sleek finish and shine in less time than typical tools. It features a ceramic/tourmaline ion generator that works on all hair types to dry, soften and smooth hair.
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
- Dries thick hair quickly
- Doesn't cause frizz for curly hair
- Some say it stopped working after about a year
Cool shot? Yes | Heat and speed settings: Seven | Attachments: Four
Several of the stylists we spoke to praised Dyson’s Supersonic Hair Dryer.
“Don’t let its size and light weight fool you!” Michelle Cleveland, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon, says. “It’s powerful and fast (six times faster than most dryers on the market). Although it’s pricey, it makes for a quick and polished blow-dry every time!”
Holly Dear, founder and owner of House of Dear Hair Salon in Dallas, says the Supersonic’s technology helps for a “quicker blow-dry and keeps the cuticle compact for less damage.”
Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist and salon owner Andy LeCompte tells us that the “temperature settings and buttons are easy to use and allow me great control to dry hair effectively and maintain the integrity of the hair while drying.”
How we chose the best hair dryers
We selected the best hair dryers by interviewing hair experts who love and praise their drying tools due to their multiple heat settings and a “cool shot” button. We also included hair dryers loved by our own team.
Meet our experts
- Kasey Bertucci is co-founder and hairstylist at Salon 120 West. She previously spoke to Shop TODAY about how often you should wash your hair and why you need purple shampoo if you have blonde or gray locks.
- Michelle Cleveland is a celebrity hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon. She previously spoke to Shop TODAY about how rosemary oil can help with hair growth and the benefits of using hair mousse.
- Scotty Cunha is a stylist at Andy LeCompte Salon.
- Holly Dear is the founder and owner of House of Dear Hair Salon in Dallas. She previously spoke to Shop TODAY about the most effective products for wavy hair.
- Glenn Ellis is a stylist at Andy LeCompte Salon.
- Anthony French is a stylist at Andy LeCompte Salon.
- Jennifer Korab is a celebrity hairstylist and colorist. She previously spoke to Shop TODAY about the best shampoos and conditioners for red tresses and how aloe vera can benefit your hair and scalp.
- Andy LeCompte is a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist and salon owner.
- Julius Michael is a celebrity hairstylist. He owns and runs the Julius Michael Hair Salon in Scarsdale, New York.
