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Best hair dryers, tried and tested on different hair types
Is it worth buying the pricier Dyson hair dryer for an at-home blow dry, or can a GHD, Shark or another cheaper model blow you away?
Is a Dyson hair dryer worth it? We tested hair dryers from popular brands – including Babyliss, GHD, Shark and more – to see if it's really worth paying more than £300 for a Dyson, or whether there's a good cheaper alternative.
The hair dryers we tested cost from £20 to £400. We've found a handful of models that are head and shoulders above the rest, and these get our Best Buy recommendation.
The best hair dryers are brilliant at drying and styling, according to our diverse panel of testers, who have hair types from 1 (straight) to 4C (tight afro curls). Our recommended models are also powerful, energy efficient and easy to use.
How our tests find you the best
Styling and drying
Hair type matters when it comes to picking the perfect dryer. That’s why we test on everything from straight strands to tight curls.
Wind speed
Looking for a speedy blow-dry? We measure wind speed with an anemometer, so we can tell you which are the most powerful hair dryers for busy mornings.
Weight and size
Fed up with hotel hair dryers? We list the weight, size and cable length of each dryer so you can find one that fits perfectly in your luggage.
We also test
ease of use, noise, energy use and versatility, to help you find the best one for you.
The hair dryers we tested
Only logged-in Which? members can view the hair dryer test results.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
| Hair dryer | Price | Score | Drying | Styling | Ease of use | Number of attachments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableDigital £8.99 per month, cancel any time. Already a member? Log in | 90% | |||||
| 85% | ||||||
| 82% | ||||||
| 73% | ||||||
| 71% | ||||||
| 66% | ||||||
| 62% | ||||||
| 61% | ||||||
| 58% | ||||||
| 57% | ||||||
| 56% | ||||||
| 53% | ||||||
| 53% | ||||||
| 49% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableDigital £8.99 per month, cancel any time.
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Date tested: July 2024 and August 2022. Page last checked: September 2025. We're not able to show every retailer, and cheaper prices may be available.
All the hair dryers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best hair dryers from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Babyliss Rose Lustre 2400W Hair Dryer
Most recently tested July 2024
Accessories Concentrator nozzle
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 2
Need to know 470g, 215cm cable, cool-shot button
Cloud Nine The Airshot Hair Dryer
Most recently tested August 2022
Accessories 2 concentrator nozzles
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 2
Need to know 578g, 255cm cable, cool-shot button
Dyson Supersonic
Most recently tested July 2024
Accessories Diffuser, flyaway attachment, gentle air attachment, styling concentrator, wide-tooth comb
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 3
Need to know 490g, 256cm cable, cool-shot button
Dyson Supersonic Nural
Most recently tested July 2024
Accessories Diffuser, flyaway attachment, gentle air attachment, styling concentrator, wide-tooth comb
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 3
Need to know 490g, 256cm cable, cool-shot button, scalp-protect mode that automatically adjusts temperature depending on proximity to scalp
GHD Air Hair Drying Kit
Most recently tested August 2022
Accessories Diffuser, narrow concentrator nozzle, round brush, 2 sectioning clips
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 2
Need to know 573g, 280cm cable, cool-shot button
GHD Helios Professional Hair Dryer
Most recently tested July 2024
Accessories Concentrator nozzle
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 2
Need to know 590g, 286cm cable, cool-shot button
Mark Hill Style Addict Perfect Blow Dry Kit
Most recently tested August 2022
Accessories Concentrator nozzle, round brush, 2 sectioning clips, 4 rollers
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 2
Need to know 470g, 290cm cable, cool-shot button
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Panasonic EH-NA65CN Nanoe Hair Dryer
Most recently tested August 2022
Accessories Concentrator nozzle, quick dry nozzle, diffuser
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 3
Need to know 535g, 265cm cable, cool-shot button
Parlux Alyon Hair Dryer
Available from Look Fantastic (£168) (Out of stock)
Most recently tested July 2024
Accessories 2 concentrator nozzles
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 2
Need to know 600g, 300cm cable, cool-shot button
Remington Hydraluxe AC8901 Hair Dryer
Most recently tested July 2024
Accessories 2 concentrator nozzles (wide and narrow), diffuser
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 2
Need to know 650g, 244cm cable, cool-shot button
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Shark SpeedStyle 5-in-1 Hair Dryer
Most recently tested July 2024
Accessories Concentrator nozzle, diffuser, rapid gloss finishing tool, quick smooth brush, express touchup brush, storage bag
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 3
Need to know 430g, 240cm cable, cool-shot button
The Hair Lab by Mark Hill Professional Hair Dryer
Available from Boots (£29.99)
Most recently tested July 2024
Accessories Concentrator nozzle, diffuser, wide tooth comb
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 2
Need to know 810g, 294cm cable, cool-shot button
Tresemmé Salon Power 2000W Hair Dryer
Most recently tested July 2024
Accessories Concentrator nozzle
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 2
Need to know 340g, 175cm cable
Tresemmé Smooth Shine Power 2200W Hair Dryer
Most recently tested August 2022
Accessories Concentrator nozzle
Temperature settings 3
Speed settings 2
Need to know 358g, 230cm cable
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How we test hair dryers
Unlike with other hair dryer reviews you'll read online, each of our testers spent time using all the dryers we test, rather than just one or two of them. This enables them to fairly compare each model and put the results in proper context.
We're careful to make sure that the 10-person panel we recruit has people with a wide range of hair types, from 1 (straight) to 4C (tight afro curls). Our testers give each hair dryer scores for styling, drying and ease of use – and, ultimately, they tell us which one is their favourite.
We regularly revisit the hair dryers on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them, we do so.
In addition to the hair dryer panel test, we conduct the following tests on each model:
- Wind speed We use an anemometer to measure the maximum wind speed of each hair dryer. The most powerful blows hot air at 35mph, while the weakest can only muster 10mph.
- Weight The heavier the hair dryer, the faster your arm will get tired when holding it above your head to dry your hair, so we weigh each dryer we test. The heaviest weighs 810g, while the lightest is 340g.
- Cable length You'll want a long cord if you like to hold the hair dryer up to a mirror as you style, so we measure the length of each cable. You can get a 3-metre reach with the longest cable we found, and just 175cm with the shortest.
- Energy use The most energy-guzzling hair dryers use almost twice as much energy as the most efficient. If you use your hair dryer for two hours every week, you'd save just over £30 a year on electricity with the most efficient hair dryer compared with the least efficient.
- Noise With a decibel (dB) meter, we measure how noisy each hair dryer is. The quietest is a pleasant 78dB, but the loudest goes up to 104dB. That's the difference between the noise of a vacuum cleaner and a motorbike.
- Versatility We look for hair dryers with a range of useful attachments, such as a diffuser, brushes or concentrator nozzles, plus a good range of speed and temperature settings.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent
What's the best hair dryer for curly hair?
It's important to consider the attachments when choosing the right hair dryer for your hair type.
If you have curly hair, you may want a diffuser attachment to maintain your curls while drying. If you have very tight curls or afro hair, look for a wide-tooth or 'pik' comb attachment if you want to smooth the hair.
Join Which? to find out which hair dryer our testers with tight curls and afro hair chose as their favourite.
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How powerful does a hair dryer need to be?
A key misconception about hair dryers is that the higher the wattage, the greater the heat the hair dryer will produce, and the faster you'll be able to dry your hair.
This wasn't the case in our testing. Some of the most energy-efficient (lowest wattage) hair dryers we tried out were also the best for drying and styling, according to our testers.
Join Which? to find out which hair dryers impressed in our tests, and are also energy efficient.
What does a hair dryer diffuser do?
The prongs on a diffuser hold up sections of your hair in order to add volume to the roots. They also reduce the ferocity of the airflow, which defines curls.
It takes longer to dry your hair using a diffuser, which can make it a bit time-consuming for everyday use.
How to use a diffuser on a hair dryer
- Once you've got your desired curl pattern in your wet hair, place a small section of hair in the diffuser, put it on a low heat and speed setting and move it up towards your scalp.
- Tilt your head to one side when diffusing for extra volume.
- Stop once your hair is around 80% dry so it can be left to air-dry.
- Avoid touching your curls too much once diffused so you don't break them up.