Our Beauty Editor Tested Dozens of Professional Hair Dryers to Find 5 That Deliver Pro-Level Results at Home (2024)

TL;DR

My favorite professional hair dryer is the Dyson Supersonic. This stylist-approved tool is powerful, easy to control, boasts a variety of heat and speed settings, and comes with six different attachments. But if you’re looking for a more affordable option, the BaByliss Nano Titanium Dryer is a great choice. It offers super powerful airflow and gives the hair a smooth finish.

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Features: 3 speed settings, 3 heat settings, cold shot | Attachments: 6 | Wattage: 1600

This likely comes as no surprise given how beloved innovation giant, Dyson, has become in the hair category. In addition to the sleek design, it comes with six different attachments (so all hair types can use it), and offers three speed settings, three heat settings, and a cold shot. It fits perfectly in my hands without feeling clunky or heavy, and is powerful without being super noisy. The various attachments are easy to pop on and off, and changing the settings on the dryer is simple and intuitive. The combination of power, design, and useful attachments helped me achieve a smooth finish that doesn’t totally lack body, something I always struggle with when doing an at-home blowout.

It’s worth noting that Dyson recently launched its next-generation blow-dryer, the Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer. I’m in the process of testing it and will provide updates as soon as I have a solid opinion. But for now, I highly recommend the original (it’s also $70 less), and so do Kim and pro stylist Gregg Lennon Jr., who notes that his first-generation Dyson dryer is still going just as strong as the day he got it. “The control and precision I am able to achieve with the airflow is perfect,” he adds.

Features: 3 speed settings, 3 heat settings, cold shot | Attachments: 1 | Wattage: 2000

Not all salon-quality hair dryers need to come with a hefty price tag. I owned this one from Babyliss in college and it’s still one of my favorites. It doesn’t boast futuristic technology or a super fancy design like the new Dyson, but it offers multiple heat and speed settings and it’s quite powerful. Lennon Jr. says that a powerful motor is a must when it comes to tools professionals use. “Without the strength of the motor, it’s just like somebody blowing warm air at you.”

I love that this dryer is simple and easy to use but strong and hot enough to dry and smooth my fine hair in just a few minutes. It might not be ideal for all hair types since it only comes with a concentrator, but if you don’t need things like a diffuser and are just looking for a quality yet wallet-friendly tool to blow out your hair, I recommend this one.

Features: 2 speed settings, 2 heat settings, cold shot | Attachments: 1 | Wattage: 1875

Taming flyaways is something I struggle to achieve whenever I blow out my hair at home. Between holding the dryer in one hand and the round brush in the other hand, and attempting to direct the airflow precisely, I’m often left with a frizzy finish and a head full of them. But I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth my hair looked while testing this dryer from GHD, and I attribute it to the powerful airflow and the small concentrator nozzle. The narrow nozzle let me get close to my roots and control the airflow well, leading to a sleeker finish than I’m accustomed to with other hair dryers. The only downside I found with this one is that it didn’t get super hot. While that might be good in the long run since it’s not as damaging, it took a bit longer to dry my hair.

Features: 3 speed settings, 5 heat settings, cold shot| Attachments: 2 | Wattage: 1875

One of the worst parts of attempting a blowout at home is how tired your arm gets. But instead of upping my gym membership, I opt for lightweight styling tools. Lennon Jr. and I agree a lightweight dryer is a must. “Professional hair dryers must be lightweight with a grip that's sensitive to people with wrist issues,” he says. This one from T3 is the most lightweight option I’ve come across. Not only is it easy to hold and maneuver without weighing my arm down, but I also love that it’s one of the quieter options I’ve tried. It also comes with three speed settings, five heat settings, and a cold shot that you can lock, making it a suitable option for a range of hair types. Plus, you can turn the ionic generator off if you’re looking for more volume.

I do wish the dryer was more powerful; I found that it took longer to dry my hair than other options because the airflow wasn’t super strong. However, the variety of heat and speed settings, powerful ionic generator, and chic and practical design kept it high on my list.

Features: 2 speed settings, 4 heat settings | Attachments: 1 | Wattage: 1700

Both Kim and Lennon Jr. agree that professional blow-dryers should have a variety of heat and speed settings so you can customize them to your hair type. However, sometimes dryers with all those f features can be complicated to use. During testing, I absolutely loved how intuitive this one was; I didn’t need to comb through the manual or do much experimenting to get the swing of it. It offers two speed settings and four heat settings, and it was as hot and powerful as I needed it to be. I achieved the smooth finish I was after in less than 15 minutes.

It’s not as aesthetically pleasing as more modern dryers, but the power, heat settings, and ease of use make it a great option.

FAQ

• What’s the difference between a professional hair dryer and a standard hair dryer?

  “To me, the key differences between professional and drugstore dryers come down to heat and power,” says Lennon Jr. “There are lots of cutting-edge technologies in new dryers, but to me, heat and power are what is needed to style one's hair. I have yet to find an over-the-counter dryer that comes close to the strength of professional tools.” Kim adds that they also have more settings and are extremely durable. “Professional dryers will last longer, withstand much more usage, and have more power and higher wattages while being safer to use with evolved technology,” she explains.

• What hair dryers do professionals use?

  Both Kim and Lennon Jr. say they consistently use the Dyson Supersonic. “I love all of the attachments on the Dyson and that the filter is at the handle instead of the back of the blow-dryer. It’s also very light, so it's easy on the wrist,” says Kim. “I do love the attachments, and as a brand, they seem to be releasing new innovations all the time,” adds Lennon Jr.

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