Having curly hair is a challenge. I used to let it air dry, but I couldn’t stand sitting with wet hair all day and ending up with frizzy curls. I needed to find the best hair dryer for my unmanageable locks. Even if you don’t use it every day, it’s good to have one on hand for certain situations—like when you’re rushing to work straight out of the shower or if your finicky curls need to be diffused or if you crave smooth, glossy locks.
There’s an infinite number of hair dryers in every price range from a dizzying array of brands. If you have easy-to-manage hair that just needs to dry faster, you can probably go with any cheap dryer you find at your local CVS. But some of us have more temperamental hair that needs specific care. We’ve tried standard blow-dryers, blow-dry brushes, diffusers, and multiuse tools on coarse and fine hair. These are our favorites.
Be sure to read our other hair and beauty guides, including the Best Hair Straighteners and Best Curling Irons.
Updated August 2024: We’ve added the Dreame Pocket travel dryer.
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