‘It blew our socks off’: The best hair dryers for every hair type, tested by 315 panellists

Score: 95/100

Whenever there’s a new winner in our tests, we have to shout about it, especially when it dethrones hair tool titans Dyson and ghd. The Air Power PRO blew our testers’ socks off with its super streamlined airflow, which means super precise and speedy styling. It’s mighty, yet small and lightweight, making it a great compact dryer for keeping your hair bouncy while travelling.

It comes with three attachments to suit different hair types, two styling nozzles for thicker and finer hair, as well as a curl diffuser. You can switch between them easily, too, as it’s “very intuitive to use,” according to one tester. There are three airflow settings and four temperature options too, including a cold shot to seal in your style.

All testers agreed that it helped them achieve their desired look, as well as leaving a smooth and frizz-free finish (thank you, ionic technology). The high-speed motor is designed to be extremely quiet too, so you can dry your hair any time, any place without too much disruption.

Did we mention it’s super affordable and still outperformed the high-tech models below?

Score: 92/100

We know it doesn't look like a hair dryer, but the Dyson Airstrait is one of a new wave of innovative wet-to-dry stylers, (alongside the ghd Duet below), which means it's essentially a hair dryer and straightener in one. It uses high-pressure, precise airflow rather than traditional heated plates. Its smart heat control technology also regulates the airflow temperature every 30 seconds to ensure there’s no excessive heat damage and leave your locks looking healthy and shiny instead.

Can’t remember if you turned the Airstrait off? Not to worry – smart technology means it pauses after three seconds of inactivity, saving on energy and anxiety when you're out and about.

All our testers said it styled hair effectively and quickly, with one praising its multitasking benefits for a busy lifestyle. Another said it was great for maintaining volume. What more could you want from a hair styler?

Read our editor's Dyson Airstrait review

Score: 92/100

The ghd Duet is another wet-to-dry styler that outshone the competition in both our hair dryer and hair straightener tests. Although the chunky paddles made it a bit trickier for those with fringes and short hair – something we also found with the Airstrait – most of our testers said this was tech you could really trust.

It left hair looking fully styled without the need to straighten separately (in most cases), so lengths were less exposed to heat damage over time. Our panellists also praised the speed at which it dried their hair and the glossy after-effects.

Read our full ghd Duet review

Score: 88/100

Both foldable and lightweight, this is another travel-friendly hairdryer that will keep the bounce in your hair wherever you are. Whether you want smooth locks for the office or to refine those beachy curls from the hotel room, the three magnetic attachments (a diffuser, precision concentrator and smoothing concentrator) offer versatile styling and they’ll fit in your suitcase.

“This left my hair smoother, with zero damage,” said one tester, which is likely down to the strand-softening ionic technology. It works fast too, so you shouldn’t be a second late for your dinner reservations. Well, you can’t blame your tools at least.

With four heat settings and three speeds, which are all easy to monitor via a clear LED display screen, our panellists found it super easy to use.

Score: 85/100

Designed to enhance hair’s natural shine and protect our all-important scalp health, this tech-y new tool lives up to the hype, heralding another potentially life-changing launch from Dyson. Those who tried it described it as small but mighty, and more powerful than you might think at first glance.

The scalp sensor means the temperature automatically changes when the tool gets close to your hairline, which gave our panel peace of mind that they wouldn’t hurt themselves or burn their roots.

The magnetic attachments were easy to use and most of our panellists said it was light to hold, although a couple mentioned that the shape of the handle could have been more ergonomic. It left hair shiny and smooth with minimal flyaways, with one tester telling us: “I’ve got a lot of thick hair, and it made short work of getting it all dry,” with another declaring, “This is the best hair dryer I’ve ever used.”

Score: 84/100

BaByliss claims the 3Q hair dryer is its most effective yet, and it didn’t disappoint in our tests. With a high-speed motor for quick drying, paired with ionic technology to banish static and frizz, it gives hair a super sleek finish in minutes.

The hot mode will help you achieve a smooth, bouncy blow dry, while a final blast with the cold setting helps lock your style in place. Not only did it leave testers' hair looking “smooth, shiny, and frizz-free”, it was quiet and comfortable to hold – so your blow dry won’t feel like a workout.

Score: 83/100

Achieve dream curls or sleek strands depending on your mood with this hair dryer, which comes with both diffuser and straightener attachments. One tester noted that it didn’t get too hot on the scalp when diffusing compared to other tools they’d used. This will be thanks to the special drying settings: the scalp care mode has a gentler, cooler airflow, while the skincare mode is meant to boost hydration.

This dryer also has an alternating hot and cold setting, which is great for enhancing shine, plus a hair tip care mode, which creates more manageable ends with the help of a targeted airflow. All testers agreed that it was easy to change between the settings too, all while comfortably holding the hot tool.

Score: 82/100

Another entry from ghd, this hair dryer excelled when it came to smoothing and banishing frizz, and everyone agreed it left hair looking healthier.

Despite its speedy drying capabilities, it didn't leave anyone's strands feeling dehydrated, and all our panellists were happy with their desired styles. The diffuser attachment stood out for those with curly or wavy hair too.

Score: 81/100

Bellissima’s array of attachments were a hit with our testers, allowing everyone to easily achieve the look they were after.

Those with curly hair were particularly impressed with how much volume was created, with no static or frizz in sight. Everyone saw a boost in smoothness and shine, and most agreed their stands looked stronger and healthier.

Score: 81/100

Weighing in at just 294g, Hershesons takes top spot for the most suitcase-friendly hair dryer. Despite its size, it boasts impressive functionality, with two styling nozzles and a diffuser for sleeker curls. In fact, all participants said it left their hair feeling smoother, without drying or dulling their colour.

According to our testers, the design “feels premium” and “durable”, and they appreciated the option to automatically save your preferred heat and speed setting for future use. That said, some felt the hair dryer was a little too powerful, and warned that the nozzle can get hot during use.

Score: 80/100

This sleek, professional-looking hair dryer from Nicky Clarke would look just as at home in a salon as it does on your dresser. The 2,000 watts of power quickly styled our testers’ hair, whether they were after a super straight finish with the concentrator nozzle, or beachy waves with the two Aircurl stylers. There’s also a diffuser for the curly girls out there. Weighing an ultra-light 350g, it offers speedy styling without the strain – it’s “easy to manoeuvre,” according to one tester.

There are three different heat settings, although some of our panellists found the highest one a little toasty on their scalps, so take care when using this one.

Score: 80/100

This hair dryer has eight speed settings, which means you can opt for a leisurely blow out, or get the job done quickly if you’re in a rush. The highest setting reaches 120 km/h for some seriously speedy styling. There are also eight different heat settings, which is great for personalising to your hair type – on top of this, there’s a smart Thermacare sensor that continuously regulates the temperature to protect against extreme heat.

Testers loved how quickly this hair dryer styled their hair, as well as how “light and easy” it was to use. Some did think it was slightly bulky, which may not make it one of our best travel hair dryers, but still one for the dressing table.

Score: 80/100

Innovative modes and a sleek design make this hair dryer one of our top contenders. Our panel was impressed by how well it handled frizz, with some testers noting that their style lasted all day. Hair was also left feeling softer and shinier.

Testers with afro hair loved the hot and cold mode (which auto-adjusts between hot and cold air) and the scalp mode — a lower temperature airflow designed for gently drying the scalp area.