A good hair dryer allows you to quickly command how your hair looks and hastens the drying process so you can go on with your day.
In this guide, we review some of the most popular hair dryers – such as the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer.
In addition to our reviews, we will also cover key considerations to keep in mind when making your selection along with answering common questions men had when finding the right hair dryer to meet their needs.
Let’s begin:
5 Tips on Buying a Hair Dryer
1. Intended Use
Hairdryers don’t just blow hot air. They are also easy-to-use styling tools. Consider the following when making your selection:
- Drying and Styling: Consider investing in a higher-quality model if you plan to use the hairdryer daily. Look for ceramic, ionic, or tourmaline and a professional salon-quality dryer. As a result, you can get better control, and ultimately, better-looking results.
- Infrequent Use: If you only dry your hair on cold days or just want to keep a hairdryer around for guests, you can probably get away with a simple and inexpensive model. Keep in mind that you will sacrifice performance, but this may not be an issue.
- Travel: The most important aspect here is portability; many are small and fold up. There are also plenty of high-performing travel dryers, even some salon-quality, so you shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality if your budget allows for it.
2. Hair Type
- Short Hair: If you keep your hair short, your needs are probably far more straightforward. Your hair likely dries quickly because there is less of it, and there is little need for speed and power. It’s important to consider, however, heat damage to your hair.
- Long Hair: Long hair requires more features, precision heat delivery, and time to dry correctly. If time is a concern, look for a powerful blow dryer that dries quickly.
- Curly/Frizzy Hair: Curly or frizzy hair requires more features, precision, and time. To smooth out curls and frizz, high heat and power are needed, and a heat concentrator is highly recommended. To dry curly hair without straightening it, consider a diffuser or ionic drier.
3. Settings
- Heat Settings: Most hair dryers have three settings, cool, medium, and hot, though some have more or less. You should be using the lowest setting possible to get the job done. The highest setting will dry and style your hair quickly but may cause heat damage. The cool setting on dryers is mainly used to set your style after you blow-dry your hair on the warm or hot settings.
- Speed Settings: Speed settings control how fast air comes out of the nozzle. Similar to heat settings, there are generally three levels from low to high. The setting you need typically correlates to your heat settings; high speed goes with high heat, etc.
4. Additional Features
- Ionic: Ionic hair dryers produce negatively charged ions that break down water molecules, which are positively charged. Your hair remains smooth, curls are preserved, hair dries faster, and frizz is reduced. Ionic technology is common among high-end hair dryers and is often expensive.
- Ceramic: The inside of the hairdryer is coated in ceramic to distribute heat evenly. Many models sense the room temperature, so the air coming from the dryer will cool as the room warms up. This allows the hair to dry faster and limits damage. Unfortunately, ceramic hair dryers don’t control frizz as well as ionic.
- Tourmaline: This mineral creates negative ions, so the result here will be similar to an ionic hair dryer – a nice, even frizz-free dry. The substance allows hair to withstand more heat before damage occurs. Internal parts are either made with or coated in tourmaline and can significantly impact price.
5. Attachments
Attachments enhance the functionality of a hairdryer. They also cover the coils and avoid scorching your hair. Three main ones are:
- Diffusers: Disperse air over a wider area and reduce airflow intensity. This avoids frizz and is great for curly hair.
- Heat Concentrator Nozzles: Concentrate airflow onto the part of hair you’re drying/styling to avoid blowing hair everywhere. They’re a must for smooth styles.
- Comb/Pick: Attachments are essentially a comb that attaches to the blow dryer nozzle. These untangle hair and add volume. Some are made with the Afro hairstyle specifically in mind. Choose shorter prongs for shorter hair and vice versa.
The Best Hair Dryers Reviewed
1. Best Overall: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
From vacuums to fans, Dyson has revolutionized the way we think about consumer products. The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is no different, and it’s one of the best hair dryers currently available. With four heat settings and three speed settings, Dyson’s air temperature is measured 20 times every second to ensure that it’s Dyson supersonic technology will get your preferred hairstyle every single time.
The magnetic attachments, including a diffuser, concentrator, and pick, make it easy to change on the fly. The revolutionary design is great for men that have thick hair and want to be able to dry and style in half the time. Not for the faint of heart, the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer comes in at the very top of our price range.
Pros
- Quite possibly the last hair dryer you’ll ever need
- Temperature sensing technology prevents damage
- Magnetic attachments for easy styling
Cons
- Very expensive
- Be careful purchasing – there are lots of fakes
What You Need To Know
The absolute top of the line, the Dyson SuperSonic Hair Dryer, can take your drying time, styling time, and style game to the next level. The various heat and speed settings, plus cool shot and auto temperature sense make this perfect for men of all hair types; if you can swing the price, this is the one you want.
2. Professional Quality: Drybar Buttercup Blow Dryer
Drybar primarily markets to women, and this product is called the Buttercup Blow Dryer, but don’t let that stop you from picking up this stand-out product.
Three heat settings and nanobead technology release negatively charged ions, decreasing your drying time. The cool air button makes it easy to style following your dry. The ultralight design helps you get the job done without hurting your arms; if you don’t mind paying a premium, the Drybar Buttercup Blow Dryer is the one dryer you’ll want for fast drying and easy styling.
Pros
- Three heat settings
- Ionic technology make drying quick
- Infrared technology reduces damage
Cons
- Expensive
- Not the manliest looking item
What You Need To Know
If you can get past the yellow, slightly feminine look, the DryBar Buttercup Blow Dryer is a great professional-level hair dryer.
3. Best Value: Remington Pro Hair Dryer
The for minimum investment the Remington Pro Hair Dryer packs a great punch. With three heat settings, two-speed settings, a cool shot, and a ceramic heating element, the Remington Pro has all the features you need to get your hair dried and styled.
Easily used for all hair types, the Remington Pro doesn’t break the bank at the very bottom of our price range. The professional quality AC motor keeps things running, and the included concentrator and diffuser help you get your style.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Ceramic heating element
- High-quality motor
Cons
- May not last as long
- Reviewers report its loud
What You Need To Know
One of the most affordable options, the Remington Pro, is a cheap and easy way to get your hair dried and styled.
4. Best for Travel: BaByliss Pro Tourmaline Travel Dryer
When you’re looking for a travel hair dryer, you need convenience, portability, and power. The BaByliss Pro Tourmaline Travel Dryer is all of these and is one of the travel hair dryers available. Dual voltage for worldwide usage makes travel use easy, and at the bottom end of the price range, you won’t break the bank.
The folding handle makes packing the drier away quick and easy, and you won’t believe how small and compact it actually is. Tourmaline crystals emit ions that dry hair faster, and the cold air button allows you to style.
Pros
- Dual voltage
- Folding handle for ease
- Inexpensive
Cons
- No heat settings
- Would’ve liked it to come with a travel bag
What You Need To Know
Tourmaline technology and dual voltage make the BaByliss Pro travel hair dryer a great way to get dry hair wherever you are.
5. Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer 2000
At the top end of our price range but worth almost every penny, the Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer 2000 is a salon-quality blow dryer that fires air at up to 85 mph. The package includes a wide and narrow concentrator as well as four heat settings, including an ionic button to reduce frizz and a cold air button.
The Harry Josh blow dryer comes with a two-year warranty, one of the best on the market. The patented ergonomic design keeps you comfortable while you’re styling.
Pros
- High-speed air
- Comfortable and sleek design
- Good warranty
Cons
- Expensive
- Reviewers note the cord is a bit short
What You Need To Know
One of the best on the market with a warranty to match, the Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer 2000, is worth the investment.
6. Conair 1875 Watt Pro Hair Dryer
You don’t need to break the bank to get a great ceramic hairdryer. The Conair 1875 Watt Pro Hair Dryer has two speed settings with an easy to reach cold air button to bring cool air to your styling game. At the very low end of our price range, the Conair comes with a condenser and a five-foot power cord so you can move around while you’re using it. The Tourmaline Ceramic Technology keeps even heat throughout the drying process.
Pros
- Tourmaline ceramic hairdryer
- Inexpensive
- Nice long cord
Cons
- May require replacement
- No heat control buttons
What You Need To Know
If you use a hairdryer, need quality but don’t want to invest too much money, the Conair 1875 Watt Pro Hair Dryer is the answer to your needs.
7. Conair Infiniti Pro Dryer
The Conair Infiniti Pro Dryer comes in a whole bevy of colors and has enough power to get your hair dry and styled in minutes. A 1,875 watt AC motor helps dry hair along with ionic technology that helps to strip water molecules from the hair, reducing damage. With the included diffuser and concentrator, you can style both curly and straight hair. Three heat settings and two speed settings help you get the look you want. At the very bottom of our price range, the Infiniti Pro is an easy pickup.
Pros
- True Cold Shot helps you lock in curls or style
- Three heat settings
- Low price
Cons
- Color could be odd for some
- Only two-speed settings
What You Need To Know
A great hairdryer if you’re just looking to get dry with some light style, the Infiniti Pro will get the job done and keep money in your wallet.
8. Revlon Infrared Hair Dryer
Revlon has been making fantastic beauty products for many years. Don’t let the name throw you off – this hairdryer is just as much for men as any other. The ionic ceramic technology gets hair dry alone with patented infrared technology, which helps to get the hairdryer with less air. Concentrator and diffuser get the look you want without sacrificing hair health. There are only two speed and heat settings (as well as a cold shot button), but for the bottom end of our price range, this hairdryer is fully featured.
Pros
- Infrared technology
- Well-priced
- Ionic and ceramic
Cons
- Only two-speed settings
- No removable back screen for cleaning
What You Need To Know
The infrared technology of this Revlon hairdryer makes drying a breeze, especially if you have thinner or straight hair – a great buy.