We’ve Tested Dozens of Affordable Hair Dryers—These 9 Are the Standouts

Finding the perfect hair tool to transform your at-home styling routine can be overwhelming. In my opinion there’s one device that’s a non-negotiable when it comes to getting your hair looking great and that’s the best hair dryer. Some of you may disagree, and say that it's a pair of the best hair straighteners, curling wands or a hot brush that can truly transform your look. But finding the best hair dryer for your hair type can be an absolute game-changer when it comes to drying, styling and looking after your hair. In short, even if you’re low-maintenance like me, then a good hair dryer is an absolute essential.

However, if you’re in the market for a new one, then a quick Google tends to churn out a rather expensive list of options. And, a little disclaimer here, I have been an avid user of the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer for the last five years—having been lucky enough to be gifted one in a previous job. So, can a more affordable hair dryer really rival the technology and innovation of a model that costs upwards of £300?

Prior to switching to the Dyson, I had been using a way more purse-friendly Remington hair dryer for almost a decade—my parents had bought my one while I still lived at home with them. So I am not only used to styling my hair with affordable hair dryers, but believe that if you buy well then they last just as long as their more expensive counterparts. Plus, while I can’t promise you Dyson-levels of tech development, I have been seriously impressed with the way that all hair brands have upped their game in recent years to create forward-thinking, hardworking hair dryers that cater to consumers wants and needs for effective hairstyling.

I enlisted the help of Valeza Bakolli, Marie Claire UK's Junior Shopping Editor, to help with my search for the best affordable hair dryers. It's Valeza's job to trial new beauty products, day in, and day out, so she's pretty well-placed to narrow down this list to only the best. Her idea of a brilliant bargain isn't just an affordable product, but one that will also stand the test of time, too. I also recruited Nessa Humayun, our Junior Beauty Editor—who, with her mane of long, thick, wavy hair, is perfectly placed to test out hairdryers. Nessa has long been a proponent of budget-friendly hair tools, having sworn by the Revlon One-Step Hairdryer and Volumiser for the past five years. She is now on the hunt for something new to take up the mantle.

Together, we've shared our list of the 9 best affordable hair dryers. These are the models that we think really deliver in terms of our personal priority list—speed and power, weight, and technology innovation. We've chosen styles to suit every hair type, and best of all, they’re all £65 and under.

The best affordable hair dryers at a glance:

• Best all-rounder: Remington ONE Dry and Style | £64.99 at Amazon (save 35%)
• Best for a customised blow dry: Remington PROluxe | £52.98 at Amazon
• Best for dry or flyaway-prone hair: BaByliss Hydro Fusion | £40 at Amazon
• Best for straight, fine hair: Mark Hill Perfect Blow Dry Kit | £34.99 at Boots
• Best for colour-treated hair: Remington Botanicals | £51.99 at Boots
• Best for curly hair: BaByliss Salon Pro 2200 | £35 at Boots
• Best for thick hair: Tresemmé Smooth & Shine Power 2200 | £14.38 at Amazon (save 45%)
• Best for travel: Amika Mighty Mini Dryer | £50 at Space NK

The 9 best affordable hair dryers: tried and tested

1. Remington ONE Dry and Style Hair Dryer

"I named this Remington hair dryer one of the best affordable alternatives for the Dyson Supersonic, and there’s a few reasons why. It has a similar sleek, compact and lightweight design as the iconic original, and four head attachments (including one for flyaway-taming). It dries my hair quickly and effectively: in my opinion, it performs far beyond its under-£60 price tag." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor

2. Remington PROluxe You Adaptive Hair Dryer

"I’ve used this hair dryer for years and love the tailored aspect. The smart tech literally adapts itself to suit your exact hair type - from hair density to curl pattern - so that you get the most efficient result with minimal damage. It might be a little heavy to hold, but the results make it worth it. This hair dryer is usually £159.99 but is currently on sale for under £65, so if you’re keen, I’d snap it up pronto." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor

3. BaByliss Hydro Fusion Hair Dryer

As someone whose hair is naturally frizzy, I’m always looking for ways to smooth it’s somewhat unruly texture. Normally I rely on products, but the BaByliss Hydro Fusion Hairdryer has been created especially with this hair issue in mind and uses Advanced Plasma Technology (namely a moisture balancing dual iconic system) to hydrate hair and reduce frizz as you dry it. I can definitely attest to the fact that even when rough-drying my hair with this, it does deliver a smoother finish than other hair dryers that I’ve tried. And if I really take my time with a blow-dry, my hair feels really soft and has a nice sheen after use. It also has a diffuser which is pretty decent if you have curly or textured hair and like to use one as part of your styling routine.

4. Mark Hill Style Addict Perfect Blow Dry Kit

While this definitely isn’t rewriting the rule book when it comes to what makes a good hair dryer, it has all of the features that you need for a good blow dry—three heat settings, two speed options, and a cold shot—and it’s really lightweight so there’s no risk of arm ache. It delivers a decent amount of power so if you’re someone that blow dries your hair regularly and you just want something that gets the job done then this is a great option. Plus, if you want some extra volume then this hair dryer comes with a great blow dry brush and rollers too.

5. Remington Ionic Dry 2200W Hair Dryer

"My thick hair is right on the edge of being curly, which can make it pretty tough to style. One of my main bugbears is the frizz I get right on top of my head, but this dryer has been excellent at eliminating that, and in no time at all. This is thanks to its ionic conditioning technology, which releases thousands of ions into the airflow to eliminate static. I was also pleased to find that at 2200 watts of power, this dryer is really powerful, and can dry my whole head in around 10 minutes, which is a win-win in my book." — Nessa Humayun, Beauty Editor

6. Remington Botanicals Hair Dryer

If you have hair that’s already quite damaged from either colour treatment or excessive heat styling, then this innovative hair dryer from Remington would make a great option. It has a BotaniCare temperature setting which dries your hair at a gentler, lower temperature to minimise the damage caused by heat styling. Plus, it contains micro-conditioners harnesses from aloe vera, jojoba and rose extracts which are released into the air as you dry to condition and add shine to each strand.

7. BaByliss Salon Pro 2200 Hair Dryer

Find an affordable hair dryer with a genuinely good diffuser is challenging, but this one from BaByliss really does deliver. It’s large, which does make the hairdryer feel quite bulky and somewhat heavy to use, but it does such a good job at enhancing and defining curls that it can be forgiven for the price. There are a few different heat and speed settings, depending on your preference, and also a separate cold shot button to help set your style in place at the end of your blow-dry. Plus, the brand’s iconic frizz-control technology really helps to inject shine and softness into textured styles.

8. Tresemme Smooth & Shine Power 2200 Hair Dryer

This looks like a pretty basic hair dryer, but packing 2200 watts of power it actually delivers a blow dry to rival something you’d expect in a professional salon. It has two different heat and speed settings and really gets hair dry fast, making it a great choice if your hair is particularly thick or long and usually takes a long time to dry. Admittedly, it is a little on the noisier side, but considering the price and that you won’t need to have it on for that long to get the job done I think it makes a brilliant budget option.

9. Amika Mighty Mini Dryer

If you want a hair dryer that is truly portable, but still delivers a decent blow dry then this is the best travel hair dryer I’ve found—let alone the best affordable one. Some of the reviews for this product are so positive, that users have actually switched their standard hair dryers out for this one. Of course, it doesn’t pack the same amount of power as a classic, at-home hair dryer, but it is impressively powerful. It also comes with a diffuser and a nozzle for a sleek blow-dry and it all fits in a travel-friendly case. It is truly tiny, ultra-lightweight, and really delivers a good blow-dry when you’re away from home.

What type of hair dryer is safest for hair?

While no amount of heat is ever completely safe, there are some choices you can make when selecting a hair dryer to ensure you keep your hair in tip-top health. "There are many new technologies and advancements designed to make hair dryers safer and less damaging to hair," Dr. Viktoryia Kazlosukaya, MD/PhD a board-certified dermatologist and a hair loss expert, tells Marie Claire UK.

"First, it’s essential to have controlled heat technology, which allows for adjustable heat levels to suit different needs. Features like ceramic and tourmaline barrels in hair dryers help deliver heat gently without causing overheating," she continues. "Some newer, more advanced technologies include ionic technology, which helps combat frizz, and even delivers infrared light, which promotes hair growth. Depending on your hair type, it is also important for a hair dryer to come with various attachments for different styling purposes and to be easy to handle — this all ensures that you're not inflicting unnecessary damage."

How we tested

At Marie Claire, we take testing very seriously. We never feature items that we haven’t tried personally and only recommend things that we’d purchase ourselves. So, every product you see in our beauty guides, including this one, has faced vigorous testing, and we’ve ensured to include a variety of different hair types too. I have naturally frizzy and unruly hair, while Valeza has naturally wavy and fine hair. Nessa, at the end of the spectrum, has long, thick hair, which is something between wavy and curly. To find out more about our testing process, please visit our testing page.