The best hair dryers for the perfect blowout every time

They’re a tool that can make or break a hairstyle, so it’s important that the one you rely on is of the best hair dryers that money can buy.

The truth is that while most hair dryers look very similar, they weren’t all created equal, and some will be better suited to your hair type than others.

Before we continue, let’s recap the basics of drying and heat styling. We spoke to ghd’s Global Ambassador, Adam Reed to ask: ‘how do you blow dry your hair properly?’

How to blow dry hair according to an expert

First thing’s first, resist the temptation to reach for the brush before you dry, as you should never brush your hair while it’s wet. Adam advises that your hair is actually 85% dry before you start styling it with your dryer.

‘Style your hair on a medium setting and only use the hotter setting for the finishing touches,’ he says. ‘Once you’re done styling, seal the hair using the cool setting for a super-smooth look.’

And, we hate to break it to you, but you’ve probably been drying your hair wrong your whole life. ‘Many women move the dryer back and forth, up and down each section of the hair, or just hold the dryer in one place – that’s wrong!’ says Adam.

‘Continually follow the brush, with the nozzle of the dryer facing in the direction of the brush.’ And the bigger the brush, the better the finish and bounce.

Best hair dryers for curly hair

ghd Air Hair Dryer, £99, Fabled

When it comes to the world of straightening, we can’t not mention ghd. They’re no doubt the first name that springs to mind when you think of hair styling tools.

Ghd claim that the ‘Air’ is the ‘best blow-dry of your life’, and we’re not going to argue. Maintaining their incredible reputation for salon-worthy styling, they’ve built all of the power and ionic technology into their hair dryer to make sure you get the best results every time, alongside long-lasting healthy hair effects.

The secret to precise, sleek styling is the wide nozzle that comes with the dryer – don’t forget to angle the dryer downwards to maximise its straight styling power. It’s every bit as their best hair straightener, the classic IV gold styler.

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Best hair dryers for frizzy hair

T3 Cura Luxe Dryer, £235, Beauty Bay

The latest hair drying innovation from T3 is a bit of a masterpiece, featuring five heat settings, an auto-stop function and a ‘cool shot’ function for locking down your style. It’s quick drying without fluffing and frizzing your hair into oblivion, and surprisingly lightweight for such a technologically advanced tool; the digital IonAir technology helps boost shine and minimise frizz levels for much smoother hair overall. If drying your hair easily results in a frizz-bomb situation, this one is for you. (Plus, the black and rose gold combination is seriously Instagrammable.)

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Best hair dryers with diffusers

ghd Air Diffuser, £15, Fabled

Diffusers are popular choice for smoother hair as they distribute the air and heat evenly around your locks, ideal if it’s on the thick side or curly. It’s ultimately better than. Most hair dryer brands, including Parlux, ghd and Dyson, have the option of buying a separate diffuser as an add-on if you wish.

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Best hair dryers for fine hair

BaByliss SalonLight 2100 Hair Dryer 5568BU, £30, Debenhams

Fine hair doesn’t require as much time to dry as other hair types, but if you’ve got a lot of it it can still be a bit of a task. You need a dryer that doesn’t turn your locks into a haystack, but dries ’em quick.

Enter BaByliss SalonLight 2100 dryer, one of the best hair dryers under £50 and the model that puts an end to arm-aching hair drying. It’s got a lighter body and longer cable to improve the practicalities of drying and, most importantly, dries hair faster for your convenience. Because who needs hair drying slowing them up in the mornings?

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Best hair dryer for thick hair

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, £299.99, John Lewis

No doubt you’re heard all about the Dyson Supersonic, which is by now one of the most famous hair dryers in the world. Yes, it’s the most expensive hair dryer on the list, but it just so happens to be the smartest hair dryer on the list. If you are prepared to part with the money it really is worth it. Professionals, experts and beauty editors are obsessed with it and there’s now a curler, the Dyson Airwrap, too.

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Best travel hair dryer

BaByliss Travel Pro Dryer, £40, Beauty Expert

Granted you probably care less about your hair’s appearance on holiday, where you spend most of your time looking like a pineapple with it scrunched atop your head. A girl has more important things to worry about, like soaking up the local culture or getting bronzed on the beach.

But while you’re not so focused on the actual styling of your hair, you still want it dry before you leave your Airbnb. We’re all aware of how much space hair dryers take up, but the new travel dryer from Babyliss is a smaller version without compromising on any power – so it’s just as good as taking your full-sized one.

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Whether you struggle with fine hair or frizz, damaged hair or curls, you’re now equipped with the right dryer for you. Arm yourself with your heat protection spray and one of the best hair dryers from our round up below, and you’ll never have a bad hair day again.