These Time-Saving Hair Dryers Deliver Speed Without the Strain

• Smart technology creates customized experience

• May not be best for coily, coarser hair

A favorite of Hingorani for “its fast drying time, lightweight design, and intelligent heat control,” the Supersonic Nural works to maintain your hair’s moisture level and sheen without harming your scalp. The more you use it, the easier it adapts to your routine, ultimately streamlining your styling sessions.

Wattage: 1,600

Attachments: Curl diffuser, gentle air attachment, styling concentrator, wide-tooth comb, flyaway attachment

Nordstrom rating: 4.8/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I have really thick hair that takes forever to dry—drying my hair has always been my least favorite part of my beauty routine. This hair dryer is one of the fastest I’ve used. It completely dries my whole head of hair in under 20 minutes. I also like that it has a ‘scalp protect’ mode to make sure you don’t burn yourself when you go too close to your scalp. I like to use the comb attachment to blow dry my hair completely before styling.”—Katie Berohn, beauty editor

• Fully customizes hair drying routine

• Learning curve

Are you smarter than your hair dryer? T3 begs to differ. The Aire IQ adjusts its heat and speed settings according to your hair’s texture for a fully customizable experience that dries without stripping your hair of its moisture.

Wattage: 1850

Attachments: Diffuser, style concentrator, quick dry concentrator, stand

Nordstrom rating: 4.9/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “Blow drying my hair is the bane of my existence, so I'll admit that I am an air-dry girl. However, that method isn’t best for my tightly coiled, 4C hair, and typically leaves my strands drier and more prone to breakage. On a quest to treat my hair with more TLC, I turned to the T3 Aire Dryer. Relief was one main benefit it offered, as the combination of my personalized speed and heat settings cut my drying time in half and didn’t leave my hair feeling brittle afterward.”—Nerisha Penrose, beauty commerce editor

• Perfect for textured hair

• Snap-in button is a bit fragile

If there’s anyone to trust for a versatile, durable, and aesthetically pleasing blow dryer, it’s Tracee Ellis Ross. The actress effortlessly switches between hairstyles, so it’s no surprise that Pattern’s first tool is as versatile as its founder’s beauty looks. It comes with all the attachments needed to achieve straighter styles or boost volume for curlier ones.

Wattage: 1875

Attachments: Diffuser, silicone brush, concentrator, wide-tooth comb

Nordstrom rating: 4.6/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “When I opened the box, I immediately reached for the silicone brush attachment, which made stretching my curls for sleeker, longer looks easier than ever. The best part about this tool is the heat settings—it gets hot enough to dry your hair fast, but the cold shot is super cold and helps reduce frizz.”—Penrose

• Straightens each section in seconds

• Can feel a bit heavy

No round brush and excessive heat needed to get your hair straight in a flash. Just watch any video of someone using the RevAir and you’ll become a believer. After placing a section of your hair in the chamber and holding it for a few seconds, removing the device reveals straighter, smoother hair.

Wattage: 800

Attachments: None

Amazon rating: 4.2/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “Very helpful because I like to stretch my hair a lot. Now I can do it easily without getting any heat damage.”

• Adds volume

• Bulky

Another viral favorite, Revlon’s popular brush elongates hair in just one step. Engineered with tiny bristles attached to each nylon pin, it creates tension without causing breakage. Additionally, the rounded design boosts volume from root to tip.

Wattage: 1100

Attachments: None

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “Very pleased with this hair dryer!I spray my hair with conditioner, section my hair and dry (for the most part) on the cool setting. It smooths hair nicely. The round brush design eliminates having to use a flat iron or curling iron to shape. 100% better than before.”

Just as our different hair types require specific products to achieve our desired results, not all hair dryers are one-size-fits-all. According to Hingorani, familiarizing yourself with a tool’s specifications and capabilities will help you determine which one is best for you.

Straight hair: “A regular blow dryer with a concentrator nozzle works well. Ionic dryers can help reduce frizz.”

Curly hair: “A diffuser attachment is essential to maintain curl definition and minimize frizz.”

Fine hair: “A lightweight, lower wattage dryer with a cool setting can prevent damage and over-drying.”

Thick hair: “A powerful dryer with higher wattage, like 2000w, and multiple heat settings is necessary for effective drying.”

Like using sunscreen for your face, protecting your hair is equally important. “Always apply a heat protectant spray before drying to prevent damage. Use lower heat settings for fine or damaged hair and higher settings for thick or coarse hair,” she explains. It’s also important to keep the tool at a distance from your hair, “at least six inches, moving the dryer around to prevent overheating. Finally, use the cool shot button to set styles and enhance shine,” she adds.

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor Nerisha Penrose polled a hair expert, ELLE editors, and read through customer reviews to land on the best hair dryers for different hair types.