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price: When shopping for a hair dryer, we recommend starting with your budget. At full price, most of the hair dryers on this list are over $200, but they are often on sale for less. If you use your hair dryer every day and your hairstyle depends on it, a more expensive dryer may be worth the extra cost. However, if you only occasionally use a hair dryer for simple drying, you’ll want to opt for the budget Conair Ion Shine 1875 under $50. As for the most expensive model on this list, it is the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x at $750.
Wattage: The higher the wattage, the more energy, which can correlate to higher heat density and faster drying times. If the latter isn’t important to you, using a lower wattage may be better. The lowest wattage hair dryer on this list is the 1,500-watt Shark Glam, while the highest is the 1,875-watt Conair Ion Shine 1875.
Attachments: If you style your hair yourself at home, you may want your hair dryer to come with a brush or volumizing attachment. For curly hair, a diffuser will be necessary. For those who like to curl their straight hair, the curlers that come with Shark Glam or FlexStyle can be helpful. Glam comes with a hair straightener that can help tame frizzy hair. If attachments are important to you, be sure to check which attachments come with the hair dryer you’re looking at.
The pink Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x and all its accessories
Weight and size: If your hair usually takes longer to dry, you may not want to use a heavy, bulky dryer for that long. That’s why it may be important to take weight and size into consideration, especially if you have a disability that affects the amount of weight you can hold in your hand. The lightest hair dryer we tested is the Dyson Supersonic r at 0.7 pounds, while the heaviest is the Conair Ion Shine 1875 at 2.05 pounds.
In terms of size, we like the Shark Flex Pro because its foldable handle reduces its bulk by half. That’s why it was chosen as the best travel hair dryer.
Special Features: Some dryers have a “scalp protection” feature that reduces temperature and airflow when it detects the dryer is close to the scalp, helping prevent heat damage. Others adjust heat and airflow based on the attachment being used, a process called attachment learning or, for Shark products, “design intelligence.” As for ionic hair dryers, they are designed to release negative ions that neutralize the positive ions that cause static electricity, thus reducing frizz.
Heat and speed settings: Hair dryers have different heat and speed settings, and some offer a “cool” setting to reduce heat damage. On this list, the most you’ll see is four heat settings and three speed settings, while the least is two heat settings and two speed settings for our budget pick: the Conair Ion Shine 1875. If your hair is damaged, you may want to consider using a dryer with lower heat settings to prevent further heat damage.
Speed and temperature control on Shark Flex Pro
a guarantee: A warranty can give you peace of mind when purchasing your hair dryer, allowing you to replace the dryer or certain parts if there is a problem. If your hair dryer has a limited warranty, you’ll need to read the fine print to understand exactly what it covers. The best warranty on this list is the 2-year limited warranty, which both Shark and Dyson offer. However, if you purchase the Turbo 2600, you only get a one-year warranty.