This $50 Hair Dryer Rivaled a Viral $400 Model in Our Lab Testing (2024)

What made it a winner: A game-changer on the market, this first-of its-kind Dyson design (the motor is in the handle!) dried hair faster than any model in the history of GH Beauty Lab hair dryer testing. In Lab evaluations, it dried an eight-inch hair sample in only 54 seconds and had strong airflow. The tool also features a generous cord length.

The hair dryer includes a rare five attachments to customize to your hair type and needs, including two concentrators, a diffuser, an attachment for smoothing flyaways and a gentle air attachment, all of which are magnetic for simple usage. Note, though, that it is heavy, the cord doesn't come with a tie and the buttons can be difficult to reach.

Testers said: Consumer testers, including a range of hair types (from straight to curly) and lengths (very long, long, shoulder length and short), also evaluated the product and loved how sleek it looked. One raved, "On the most humid of days, it got hair smoother, and in less time, than any hair dryer I've used." Another echoed: "The air pressure was great and I do feel like it dried my hair faster than normal."

The Dyson is also a professional hairstylist go-to: "It is expensive, but so worth it: The technology is so advanced, the cord is so long, and it has three heat settings as well as airflow settings," Alvarez says. "It dries hair quickly and efficiently, and the smoothing attachment gets rid of frizz without the need of a styling product, allowing your blowouts to last longer."

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

What made it a winner: This compact model from Hot Tools earned near-perfect scores for drying speed in GH Beauty Lab testing and ranked high for strong airflow, yet is a more affordable pick at a fraction of the cost of other dryers. Testers loved its smaller, easy-to-store size and that it left their hair less frizzy.

They gave it top marks for its easy-to-reach controls and comfortable shape, and both Lab assessments and consumers found it to be quiet. The tool has an ample cord length, though it doesn't come with a tie. The included concentrator attachment was also wobbly, users found.

Testers said: "The hair dryer dried my hair with less frizz and more shine to it," a tester reported. "It was super easy to use and small, so it could be stored pretty much anywhere." Another remarked: "It took a lot less time to dry my hair than usual." (Alvarez is also a fan of the brand's Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic Hair Dryer.)

What made it a winner: You can create everything from bouncy curls to silky-straight blowouts with this multi-purpose Shark hair dryer, which excelled at drying hair quickly in GH Beauty Lab testing. The compact tool comes equipped with five different attachments, including a diffuser for curls, concentrator, smoothing brush, touch-up brush and shine brush (plus a storage bag).

It earned a top score for having a fast drying rate and had a high measured air temperature in Lab tests. A full 100% of testers agreed it left hair smooth and shiny; they also gave it high marks for not leaving hair frizzy and creating the desired look. (Drawbacks include its loud noise emission and heavier weight.)

Testers said: "I was shocked at just how quickly I was able to dry and style my thick hair, which usually takes so long," one marveled. A tester with coily hair agreed: "My hair takes forever to dry and this cut the time by 15 or 20 minutes." Users also praised how hair felt "soft and bouncy" after drying.

What made it a winner: You can get a smooth blowout in no time with this state-of-the-art SRI tool. Despite its light weight and slim, compact size (thanks to a foldable handle), it packs serious hair drying punch. In GH Beauty Lab assessment, it earned top scores for drying hair quickly and making it look smooth and not frizzy.

It was also a tester favorite, thanks to its easy-to-use magnetic attachments, high quality construction and temperature range. (Some did find that the controls weren't as simple to operate and the attachments could get overly hot, however.)

Testers said: "It dried my hair in record time — within 5 minutes!" a user with long, textured hair enthused. Another reported: "My thick hair dried incredibly quick and looks healthy and shiny; this will forever be my go-to blow dryer."

RELATED: 10 Ways to Tame Frizzy Hair

What made it a winner: Power-packed yet gentler than other models, Bio Ionic’s hairdryer was mild on both hair and scalp in GH Beauty Lab testing, key for damaged or fragile fine hair. It had the lowest air temperature at the highest of three settings, yet still dried hair samples quickly.

Expert evaluators found it comfortable to hold and that the attachments were easy to put on and take off. They also gave it points for the strategically located control buttons and easy-to-use cool shot button.

Though it was loud in Quiet Mark sound testing and is the priciest of the most recent test winners, it comes with a 10-year motor-life warranty and a storage bag. That said, it doesn't include a diffuser, so it may not be the best pick for those with curly hair.

Testers said: An expert called this pick “sleek-looking," and liked its "balanced weight and size that’s not too heavy or big and feels powerful." Two others remarked: "I like that it has three temperatures," and, "it worked really well."

RELATED: How to Fix Damaged Hair

What made it a winner: Paul Mitchell has a reputation for implementing new technologies in their tools and the Neuro Dry is no exception. The dryer features a digital LED display for heat and power settings and has a “clean filter” indicator light. It comes with a diffuser, key for drying curly and natural hair textures, plus received a top drying rate score due to its airflow and high heat settings in Beauty Lab testing.

Though users and experts found it easy to operate and liked the controls, some found it uncomfortable to hold. It was also one of the heaviest hair dryers evaluated.

Testers said: They gave it high marks for minimizing frizz, a top concern for curly hair. One noted that it “added fullness" and another commented that "it seemed to dry my hair quickly."

RELATED: The Best Hair Dryers for Curly Hair

What made it a winner: In GH Beauty Lab testing, Cricket’s hair dryer model emitted high heat and had powerful airflow to quickly dry even dense or coarse hair. At 150°F, it had one of the highest air temperatures of the top dryers, making it a good option for thick hair, although it may get too hot for fragile, fine or damaged hair types (a user reported that at the highest heat setting, it can get overly hot and the cool air didn't activate as fast).

The tool ranked high for being comfortable to hold and had easy to use attachments and buttons. It also has an ample cord length with an attached Velcro tie.

Testers said: “Cute and compact, yet powerful and well made, it's also light and nice to hold,” one expert evaluator raved. “I like pretty much everything about it," another said, but noted it lacks a diffuser.

What made it a winner: The best in the GH Beauty Lab's travel hair dryer tests, Drybar’s top-of-the-line dual voltage model delivers fast-drying power in a portable package. It scored perfectly in Lab evaluations for having easy-to-use controls, dried hair samples fast and had strong airflow.

This tool was also easiest to maneuver and comfortable to hold, though it was heavier than other models and more effort was required for proper placement and removal of the attachment.

Testers said: "Wow, this is powerful," an expert evaluator marveled. "It's the right size and doesn't look like a travel dryer until you fold the handle — I like that it could do double duty for home and away."

RELATED: Best Travel Hair Dryers

What made it a winner: InStyler's ionic hair dryer, which features a dial that lets you customize the heat level, was a top performer in GH Beauty Lab testing for delivering strong airflow. The powerful airflow translated to fast drying speed, and it came out on top for being comfortable to grip and having easy-to-navigate buttons. The tool was also lightweight and the attachments are simple to put on and take off, though sound evaluations found it to be noisy.

Testers said: Two experts noted they “loved” this model. It is “lightweight but powerful, easy to hold and use," reported. "Gives a great, strong airflow but not overpowering," another said.

What made it a winner: GH Beauty Lab evaluations found this lightweight Olivia Garden blow dryer dried hair quickly, thanks to its robust airflow and temperature yet didn't feel hot on the scalp, making it ideal for those with fine or thin strands.

It was easy to hold and operate and received a perfect score for maneuvering attachments, plus has a generously long cord. A caveat: The dryer was a bit loud, confirmed by the Quiet Mark noise measurement test, receiving 1 out of 3 stars.

Testers said: "I like the size and weight and it has quite powerful airflow," an expert evaluator noted. "It looks and feels well-made."

What made it a winner: A unique superslim design that was effortless to maneuver and top-notch performance made this FHI hair dryer a GH Beauty Award recipient. The cutting-edge model had strong airflow and dried hair fast in GH Beauty Lab instrumental testing despite its compact size.

Testers said: Lab pros found it lightweight and "very comfortable to hold with easy-to-reach controls." Though it was slightly more noisy than others tested, it can also double as a travel hair dryer due to its smaller build.

What made it a winner: This easy-to-handle dryer from Bio Ionic was the least noisy of the GH Beauty Lab's top performers, according to sound level measurements. Testers loved the "powerful dryer in a small package" and raved about how effortless it was to hold.

Testers said: Despite its strong airflow, the tool is also very light, though it didn't dry hair as quickly as other models tested. "Comfortable, quiet and not too hot," a user commented.

In addition, testers with a range of hair types (thin, medium, and thick) and textures (straight, wavy, curly and coily) assess the hair dryers during use at home on a variety of factors. These include ease of use (including hold and maneuvering, affixing and removing attachments, and location and operation of controls), any irritation or damage to scalp, skin or hair, and the look and feel of hair after drying.

Finally, each hair dryer's noise emission level may also be determined via the third-party certifier Quiet Mark, which issues a star rating (1 star, Poor/Loud; 2 stars, Average; 3 stars, Good/Quiet) based on recorded sound level tests.

There are several factors to consider when picking a good hair dryer, GH Beauty Lab scientists say:

✔️ Adjustable heat and speed settings: Different settings allow you to customize the level of heat and power the hair dryer emits according to your hair type and preferences.

✔️ Attachments: Using attachments with your hair dryer can really make a difference on various hair textures since they affect the dryer's air flow. These are the two you'll most commonly find included with your hair dryer or sold separately:

• Diffusers are great for curly hair because they circulate air to the ends of hair while diffusing the airstream from the hair dryer to prevent frizz, which can help to define curls and even add volume.
• Concentrators narrow the hair dryer's airflow to blow air directly on the hair for smooth, sleek styles. They come in different sizes for varying purposes: Broad, extended concentrator nozzles are meant for larger surfaces and are "useful for thick and long hair as they help it dry faster," says GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann. Short, narrow concentrator nozzles provide curly and frizzy hair the opportunity for a sleek blowout, since their powerful flows are great for eliminating frizz.

✔️ Cool shot button: Each of the top-tested hair dryers in the GH Beauty Lab's most recent test has a cold-shot button, which can help to close the hair's cuticle and lock in the style, preventing frizz once you're finished drying.

✔️ Wattage: A hair dryer's wattage determines its power: The Beauty Lab recommends a range of between 1,500 and 2,000 watts for best results on any hair type (1,875 watts is the most common hair dryer wattage).

✔️ Design attributes: In GH Beauty Lab testing, we take into account each hair dryer's weight, the length of its cord and its noise level, which can affect ease of use.

✔️ Safety certification: Look for safety verification emblems such as those from ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories), UL (Underwriters' Laboratories) or TUV or SUD (both part of the Technical Inspection Association) on the hair dryer's packaging. "These certifications are essential to ensure that the tools are tested for safety and found to meet safety requirements," Wizemann explains.

Ionic, yes; ceramic, not necessarily. "Ionization technology has visible benefits," Wizemann explains. "It is easy to see effects when you have ionized technology switched on and off. Static builds up when you blast air without an ionizer and with it, the hair is more aligned and appears shinier." Shop for an ionic hair dryer if you have curly hair that is prone to frizz and flyaways.

Many hair dryers also tout special technologies like ceramic, tourmaline or far-infrared radiation on product packaging, but these aren't necessary for an effective, quality tool, GH Beauty Lab testing has found. While there is general research on these technologies, little data is available on their benefits in the context of hair dryer design.

That said, "ceramic seems to be better for smoothing straight and wavy hair," Wizemann says. "And because tourmaline produces less static and frizz, it may be more beneficial for curly and textured hair, in addition to adding volume to straight or flat hair."

When it comes to choosing the best hair dryer for your specific texture or length, it's more about finding a tool with settings you can customize to your needs. Follow these general guidelines of what to seek out for certain hair types:

✔️ Curly hair (from 3a to 4c curl types): Look for an ionic hair dryer that comes with lots of attachments. "A diffuser is a must for all curly and coily hair types who wish to embrace their natural texture and a narrow nozzle attachment if they want to smooth it," Wizemann says.

✔️ Thin hair: In general, look for a hair dryer with low heat settings since higher temps can damage fragile strands. "High temperature is unnecessary for quickly drying thin and flat hair unless it is being styled in a specific way where higher heat is needed to shape it," Wizemann advises.

✔️ Thick or long hair: Look for a dryer with higher voltage for maximum power. "Usually, a higher wattage hair dryer will exhibit a more robust flow and temperature on higher settings," Wizemann says, perfect "for styling thicker, denser and longer hair that needs higher heat and airflow."

✔️ Hair extensions: You don't need a special dryer for synthetic and real hair extensions: Standard hair dryers are generally good for all hair types, says Cleveland.