Best hair dryers

Is a Dyson hair dryer worth it? We tested hair dryers from popular brands, including Babyliss, GHD, Shark and more, to see whether it's really worth paying more than £300 for a Dyson or whether there's a cheaper alternative out there.

The hair dryers we tested cost from £23 up to £330. We found one model that's head and shoulders above the rest, and a Great Value option that's often on sale for about £30.

The best hair dryers produce brilliant drying and styling results according to our diverse panel of testers. They're also quiet, powerful, energy efficient and easy to use. 

The best hair dryers from our tests

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The hair dryers we tested

All the hair dryers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below. 

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Babyliss Rose Lustre 2400W Hair Dryer

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Accessories: Concentrator nozzle

Cable length: 215cm (below average)

Temperature settings: 3

Speed settings: 2

Weight: 445g (below average)

Cloud Nine Airshot Hair Dryer

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Accessories: Concentrator nozzle

Cable length: 255cm (above average)

Temperature settings: 3

Speed settings: 2

Weight: 578g (above average)

Dyson Supersonic

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Accessories: Flyaway attachment, styling concentrator, diffuser, gentle air attachment, wide tooth comb

Cable length: 256cm (above average)

Temperature settings: 3

Speed settings: 3

Weight: 474g (below average)

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GHD Air

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Accessories: Air diffuser, narrow nozzle, two section clips, radial brush

Cable length: 280cm (above average)

Temperature settings: 3

Speed settings: 2

Weight: 573g (above average)

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Mark Hill Style Addict Perfect Blow

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Accessories: Concentrator, radial brush, 2 x sectioning clips, 4 x rollers

Cable length: 290cm (above average)

Temperature settings: 3

Speed settings: 2

Weight: 470g (below average)

Panasonic EH-NA65CN Nanoe

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Accessories: Diffuser, quick dry nozzle, styling nozzle

Cable length: 265cm (above average)

Temperature settings: 3

Speed settings: 3

Weight: 535g (above average)

Remington Curl & Straight Confidence Hair Dryer D5706

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Accessories: Concentrator nozzle, diffuser, curling nozzle, smoothing nozzle, barrel brush

Cable length: 240cm (below average)

Temperature settings: 3

Speed settings: 2

Weight: 416g (below average)

Shark Style IQ Hair Dryer

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Accessories: Diffuser, concentrator

Cable length: 235cm (below average)

Temperature settings: 3

Speed settings: 3

Weight: 530g (above average)

Tresemme Power Hair Dryer 2200W

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Accessories: Concentrator nozzle

Cable length: 230cm (below average)

Temperature settings: 3

Speed settings: 3

Weight: 358g (below average)

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How we test hair dryers

Unlike other hair dryer reviews you'll read online, each of our testers spend time using all nine hair dryers we tested, rather than just one or two of them. This is so that they can fairly compare each model and put the results in proper context. 

We are careful to make sure that the 10 person panel we recruit has representatives from a wide range of hair types, from 1 (straight) to 4C (tight afro curls). Our panel members give each hair dryer scores for styling, drying, ease of use, and ultimately they tell us which of the hair dryers is their favourite. 

In addition to the hair dryer panel test, we conduct the tests listed below on each hair dryer. 

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. 

Noise

With a Decibel meter, we measure how noisy each hair dryer is. The quietest makes a pleasant 81db, but the loudest 104dB. That's the difference between the noise of a vacuum cleaner and a motorbike. 

Wind speed

With an anemometer we measure the maximum wind speed of each hair dryer. The most powerful blows hot air at 35mph, while the weakest can only muster a 10mph puff of breeze.

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 £20 a year on electricity if you purchased the most efficient hair dryer, compared to the least efficient. 

Cable length

There's not much more irritating than a hair dryer with a short cable. We measure the length of each cable, and you can get more than half a metre more reach with some hair dryers than others. 

Weight

The heavier the hair dryer, the quicker your arm will get tired when holding it above your head to dry your hair. We weigh each one. The heaviest weighs more than half a kilo, compared to the lightest, which is less than 400g.

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Hair dryer features and attachments explained

Even the cheapest and most basic hair dryers come with at least one attachment. Most will come with three or four that are useful for different types of hair, or to put your hair in different styles. 

Ceramic technology

This is designed to add shine while protecting hair from frizz and damage.

Concentrator nozzle

A narrow attachment that comes as standard. This nozzle concentrates both air flow and heat. Direct it towards hair roots to add volume, but move it frequently to avoid damage. Some air flows feel too hot with a concentrator nozzle, so you might need to use a lower heat.

Cool shot

Cool hair holds its shape better, so use this feature to rapidly reduce the air temperature and set your hairstyle. Most cool-shot buttons need to be pushed continuously to operate, and some can be a bit stiff.

Diffuser

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 air flow, which gives definition to curls. It takes longer to dry your hair using a diffuser, which can make them a bit time consuming for everyday use.

Hanging loop

A loop at the top of the power cable that's useful for hanging a hairdryer out of harm's way while it cools.

Power cord

Look for a long cord if you like to hold your hair dryer up to a mirror as you style. Power cords range from less than two metres to almost three metres. Never wind the cable around your hair dryer for storage, as this can damage the internal wiring and create a fire risk. Some hair dryers have a retractable cord.

Removable air inlet

Most hair dryers have a removable end cap with mesh filter that catches dust and prevents your hair from getting caught in the motor. This should be cleaned regularly to avoid a build-up of debris, which reduces air flow and can cause your hair dryer to overheat. This is particularly important if you use a lot of styling products.

Switches

There are two basic types: sliding and rocker switches. 

• Sliding switches are set into the handle and can be hard to use if they are stiff, lack a textured grip or don't stick out. 
• Rocker switches are activated when you push their raised end down. They are easy to use, but they can be accidentally activated as you hold the handle and unexpectedly change the heat and speed mid-drying.

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What's the best hair dryer for my hair type?

Our panel of testers had a wide variety of different hair types, from dead straight to afro. Regardless of the tester's hair type, nearly every panellist had the same favourite hair dryer, so there aren't particular hair dryers that we recommend for different hair types, as the best one caters for all. 

The most important factor to consider is which attachments you'll need to style your hair, depending on your hair type. If you have very tight curls or afro hair, then you'll need a hair dryer that has a wide toothed or 'pik' comb attachment. 

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 be able to produce and the quicker you'll be able to get your hair dry. 

This isn't the case, according to our testing. The most energy efficient (lowest wattage) hair dryer in our test, was also the best for drying and styling, according to our panel.