Here we'll discuss everything you need to look for in a high-quality hair dryer, topping it off with the best 5 Top Rated hair dryers that won't damage your hair.
What to Look for in a High-Quality -Top Rated Hair Dryer
If you want to protect and restore your lackluster locks, then you should invest in a good-quality hairdryer like one of these top-rated hair dryers
Here are the requirements to look for in a top-rated hair dryer.
Iconic Technology
The negative ions generated break apart water molecules in damp hair spreading this moisture evenly while directing positive ions at your roots.
Ceramic or Tourmaline Heating Elements
By emitting infrared heat to lock in moisture, ceramic and tourmaline are less damaging than metal ones. They provide a more even distribution of heat, preventing damage to concentrated areas.
Range of Speed and Heat Settings
While high speeds work best for reducing drying time, lower speeds and heat allow for more control of style and limit frizz and damage. A great-quality hairdryer will at the very least have both.
Cool Setting
Best for sealing in your style and holding it in place for a longer drying time. But, as the wattage increases, so do the weight and difficulty of controlling the dryer.
While these are the most important things to look for in a hairdryer, cable-length, hanging loops, and availability of attachment options may also be worth noting if effortless and salon-worthy styling is your goal.
How Many Wattages should a Top-Rated Hairdryer Have?
Although some professional hair dryers can function at a higher wattage of up to 3600, a wattage of between 1800 and 2100 is recommended for consumer usage.
When selecting a good-quality hairdryer, use the minimum wattage required for the shortest drying time to prevent damaging your locks. While you can use a higher heat setting if desired, extreme-heat blow dryers should be avoided!
Here's a quick guide for deciding wattages based on hair type:
- For fine/thin hair – 1200 – 1500 watts
- For medium/normal hair – 1300 – 1800 watts
- For thick/curly hair – 1600 – 2000 watts
What Hair Dryers Do Professionals Use?
One of the most important tools a professional hair stylist can have is a good hair dryer. So, to give you that salon-worthy look all year round, here are the top-rated hair dryers that professionals use that are also available to the public:
Best Overall Hairdryer – Dyson Supersonic
Unsurprisingly, the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer tops the list. Celebrity hair stylists like Andrew Fitzsimons, Stefan Bertin, Jhonatan Rendon, and Kristen Shaw love this top-rated hair dryer due to its ease of use, energy-efficient quiet motor, and ability to regulate the direct heat on hair strands. It works well with all hair textures and types.
Best Lightweight Hairdryer – Ghd Helios
Alternatively, Bertin and Rendon also recommend this lightweight and more affordable Ghd Helios hair dryer due to the precision styling it provides over long periods at record speed. They also add that it works well for all hair types and textures because of the nozzle combs, diffusers, and afro comb attachments that can be added to cover all looks.
Best Hair dryer Designed by a Professional – Harry Josh Pro Tools Ultra Light Pro
Created by and for hair stylists, it's no wonder the Harry Josh Pro Tools Ultra Light Pro Dryer comes highly recommended by professionals. Hair stylists to the stars, Caile Noble and Shaw, recommend this product because of the 12 heat and speed settings, allowing this dryer to seamlessly cater to all hair types, while significantly speeding up drying time.
They also note the adjustable ion technology, cute color options, lightweight and energy-efficient design, and long nozzle concentrator with air flex technology are just some of the amazing benefits of using this dryer professionally.
Best Investment-worthy Hairdryer – Gama Professional IQ
Celebrity hairstylist with his namesake hair care line, Kevin Murphy recommends this super lightweight dryer. He mentions that it's perfect for doing brushwork for volume and bounce, while the oxygen that is blasted using Oxygen Active Technology locks in the styles effortlessly.
With a whopping 18 possible settings to further customize this dryer to specific styling needs, we understand why this product is highly recommended by professionals!
Are Hairdryers Bad For Your Hair?
Yes, it's not a myth. Using a hair dryer too often can damage the health of your hair, most often because of the high heat.
- The protein Keratin that makes up your hair can begin to break down and cause further damage when exposed to high heat.
- High heat can deplete the moisture content of your hair leaving room for static electricity, which causes frizz and split ends.
- High can affect the color that you put in your hair, meaning you may need to color it more frequently.
- High temperatures also make your scalp's sebaceous glands produce too much oil (sebum), leading to oily or greasy locks that don't look their best.
- When you use heat on dry hair, it can cause brittleness, breakage, dullness, and dryness.
- Scalp irritation is another side effect if you're exposed to high heat too often, causing itching, redness, or flaking.
These are reasons why experts recommend staying away from hair dryers for at least fifteen minutes after washing your hair, as well as using the correct dryers and products
Can Hairdryers Cause Hair Loss?
Indirectly, yes, there are certain situations where using a blow dryer may eventually lead to hair loss.
- Hair dryers may overheat your scalp causing damage to the follicle due to long-term heat exposure.
- Next, they are also constantly blowing air onto the scalp, which dries out the follicles over time.
- Lastly, over-processing or using tools that are either too hot for your strands or applied for too long, can also eventually lead to hair thinning or loss.
With that said, the heat from air conditioning, straighteners, and hot water can just as easily damage your hair as an actual hairdryer.
Therefore, as long as your hair dryer isn't burning your skin or scalp, it won't directly cause hair loss.
What are the Top Rated Hair Dryers for Damaged Hair?
Now that you have everything you need to understand why choosing a top-rated, great quality hairdryer is a must, we've made the process of picking your much-needed dryer that much easier.
Here's our list of 5 Top Rated Hairdryers to choose from:
1. Elchim 3900 Healthy Ionic Hair Dryer
Special Features: Available in a wide variety of colors to suit every color palate. This hairdryer combines unique ceramic and ionic technology to protect your hair, with up to 30% faster drying time. It even comes with a lifetime warranty!
Best for: This hairdryer works best for thin to medium hair thickness.
Specifications: 30% faster drying time – 2400 watt motor – 3 heat settings – 2-speed settings – 2000 hours of drying time – High-quality AC professional motor made in Italy – Lifetime warranty
>> Elchim 3900 Healthy Ionic Hairdryer on Amazon
2. Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Special Features: This innovative hair dryer uses an intelligent heat-monitoring system to protect against excessive heat damage. The fast-drying and controlled styling technology help boost smoothness by 75%, shine by up to 132% and reduce frizz and flyaways by up to 61%.
Best for: This hairdryer works best for thick, curly, and frizzy hair types.
Specifications: 1600 watt – Air MultiplierTM technology for faster drying and precision styling – Intelligent heat control, measuring temperature over 40 times per second – 3-speed settings – Cold shot button – Immediately deactivates the heating element for cooler air to set the style – Reduced noise with one inaudible frequency – 27 mm diameter V9 motor positioned in the handle for balance – Up to 110,000 rpm motor spins – Produces negative ions – Concentrator nozzle
>> Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer on Amazon
3. T3 Micro Cura Ionic Hair Dryer
Special Features: This dryer harnesses the power of T3 Digital IonAir Technology, using gentle and ion-rich airstreams that dry the hair evenly and quickly to produce a smooth and shiny style with each use. With the angled handle that is ergonomically designed to alleviate wrist strain, this hairdryer is great for at-home use!
Best for: Works best for all hair types.
Specifications: Digital IonAir Technology – 3 Heat Settings – 2 Speed Settings – Cool shot button – 2 Drying and Styling Concentrators – Lightweight & quiet – Pure Stream Removable Cap – Removable filter of optimal performance – Long-life motor.
>> T3 Micro Cura Digital Ionic Professional Blow Hair Dryer on Amazon
4. Rusk Engineering Pro 2000 Watt Hair Dryer
Special Features: This lightweight, travel-friendly dryer weighs less than 1 pound and can be held easily while providing enough power for all your styling requirements. With ceramic and tourmaline heating elements, it produces far-infrared heat waves that provide deeper penetration, drying it faster and eliminating static and frizz.
Best for: This hairdryer works best for thick hair.
Specifications: Designed for professional salon use, while also publically available – 7 heat and speed settings – shockproof – lightweight – Removable filter – Ceramic and tourmaline heating elements – Far-infrared heat.
>> Rusk Engineering Super-Freak Professional 2000 Watt Dryer with Italian Motor on Amazon
5. Babyliss Pro Tourmaline Titanium 3000 Hair Dryer
Special Features: Using far-infrared technology to produce faster drying speeds this product provides phenomenal drying power for its size. You have the option to use it gently or intensely as needed. The natural ions released help to reduce damage, static, and frizz while providing optimal shine.
Best for: This hairdryer works best for coarse hair types.
Specifications: Tourmaline Titanium technology – 1900 Watts – Ultra-lightweight design – 6 heat/speed settings – Cold shot – Far infrared heat – Faster drying – Extremely lightweight – Supreme heat and air pressure – Limited 24-month warranty
>> Babyliss Pro Tourmaline Titanium 3000 Hairdryer on Amazon
This concludes our list of the 5 top-rated hair dryers for damaged hair.
We have used 3 or the 5 above recommended blow dryers. We compiled this list from our personal experience, as well as pouring over countless reviews on Amazon, Reddit, and clinical trials to give you the best on the market.
Please note there's no hair dryer out there that will fix your hair issue by itself overnight. These hair dryers are made to support your effort in caring for your damaged hair. If you want noticeable, lasting results, you may need to use other solutions such as nutrient supplementation, thyroid support, change your diet or lifestyle, special serums, shampoos, etc.,
