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

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

  • Hair
  • Haircare
  • Hair Products And Tools

For a smooth finish in a flash.

By

Alyssa Kaplan

Our Beauty Editor Tested Dozens of Professional Hair Dryers to Find 5 That Deliver Pro-Level Results at Home (1)

Alyssa Kaplan

Alyssa is an associate commerce editor covering makeup, skincare, fragrance, haircare, and more. She consistently surveys the market and spends hours testing products to find tailored recommendations for Byrdie readers. Though she loves all things beauty-related, she has a particular affinity for makeup and finds immense joy in discovering high-performing, confidence-boosting products.

Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines

Updated on July 22, 2024 04:27PM

Comments

In This Article

View All

In This Article

  • Our Top Picks
  • Reviews
  • What to Look For
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Why Trust Byrdie

Our Beauty Editor Tested Dozens of Professional Hair Dryers to Find 5 That Deliver Pro-Level Results at Home (2)

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.

I’m not a professional hair stylist, but I sure do love how a salon blowout makes me look and feel. So it got me thinking: what makes a professional blowout so much better than the ones we give ourselves at home? Is it the stylist’s skill or the specific hair dryer they use? I guess it’s both, but since we can’t all emulate a professional’s years of experience, our best bet is to get a tool approved by the pros. This led me to another question; is there a real difference between salon-quality hair dryers and those we can grab at a mass retailer?

“The key differences between professional dryers and standard dryers are their longevity, power, wattage, and options available,” says professional hairstylist Sky Kim. “They’ll also have more options for heat, drying speeds, and ions so you can control how you want to finish your hair.”

I tested several professional hair dryers to see if their attributes made a noticeable difference. I evaluated each one on its design, features, attachments, performance, and results. Finally, I consulted with pro stylists to get their take on what truly makes a specific hair dryer a pro tool. Ahead, I’m sharing which ones stood out and everything you’ll want to know about pro models before you buy one.

Our Top Picks

Jump to Review
Jump to Review
Jump to Review
Jump to Review

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.

Our Beauty Editor Tested Dozens of Professional Hair Dryers to Find 5 That Deliver Pro-Level Results at Home (4)

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.

Our Beauty Editor Tested Dozens of Professional Hair Dryers to Find 5 That Deliver Pro-Level Results at Home (6)

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.

Our Beauty Editor Tested Dozens of Professional Hair Dryers to Find 5 That Deliver Pro-Level Results at Home (8)

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.

Our Beauty Editor Tested Dozens of Professional Hair Dryers to Find 5 That Deliver Pro-Level Results at Home (10)

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.

Our Beauty Editor Tested Dozens of Professional Hair Dryers to Find 5 That Deliver Pro-Level Results at Home (12)

What to Look for in a Professional Hair Dryer

  • Heat and Speed Settings: “Professional dryers have more options for heat, drying speeds, and ions so you can control how you want to finish your hair,” says Kim. She also tells Byrdie that offering different heat and speed settings can help you save time or protect your hair from heat.
  • Attachments: Most professional dryers come with a few different attachments, such as a concentrator and diffuser. This is key for stylists working on a range of clients with different hair types, but even if you’re purchasing a dryer just for personal use, having these attachments allows you to achieve a variety of styles and finishes.
  • Heat and Strength: Both pro stylists emphasize that heat and power are important to achieve the best results. Kim says that high wattage is key—most pro dryers have a wattage higher than 1500. “If it is not hot enough, you won’t be able to polish and smooth the hair,” adds Lennon Jr.
  • Ionic Technology: Hair dryers are either ionic or non-iconic. “Ionic hair dryers typically result in less heat damage and faster results due to the use of negative ions that neutralize the positive charge that naturally occurs in wet hair,” explains Kim. Alternatively, non-ionic dryers rely on hot air to evaporate water from the hair.

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.

Why Trust Byrdie

Alyssa Kaplan is an associate commerce editor at Byrdie, where she covers beauty and specializes in product testing. She has fine, frizzy hair, so she’s tested a range of blow-dryers in her mission to find the one that gives her the smoothest finish. For this story, she tested seven hair dryers, evaluating each one on its design, features, attachments, performance, and results.

Alyssa also consulted with two experts to learn more about what to keep in mind when shopping for a professional hair dryer. Those experts included:

  • Sky Kim, a New York-based hairstylist at Serge Normant at John Frieda.
  • Gregg Lennon Jr., a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist.

Edited byAlly Hirschlag

Our Beauty Editor Tested Dozens of Professional Hair Dryers to Find 5 That Deliver Pro-Level Results at Home (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Mr. See Jast

Last Updated:

Views: 6535

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mr. See Jast

Birthday: 1999-07-30

Address: 8409 Megan Mountain, New Mathew, MT 44997-8193

Phone: +5023589614038

Job: Chief Executive

Hobby: Leather crafting, Flag Football, Candle making, Flying, Poi, Gunsmithing, Swimming

Introduction: My name is Mr. See Jast, I am a open, jolly, gorgeous, courageous, inexpensive, friendly, homely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.