Finding the best hair dryer for natural hair is no easy feat. Any dryer can do the job when you’re in a pinch, but the right device can make your curls pop or speed up your blowout time, all while reducing frizz and mitigating heat damage. But what qualities make for an excellent hair dryer?
It’s easy to look only at the attachments, price and reviews for a hair dryer, but it’s also important to think about product longevity, wattage and heat and speed settings. Ease of use is key as well — some expensive hair dryers are excellent until your arm begins to ache from holding it for too long. To help you discover the tool of your dreams, we’ve created a list of the best hair dryers for natural hair based on every major and minor factor. We considered product reviews, testing, features, heat and speed, noise, wattage, attachments, ease of use, drying performance and price in order to make fair assessments. Learn more about our selections and what went into our decision-making process below.
Finding the Best Hair Dryers for Natural Hair
If you have natural hair, you have probably tried plenty of dryers in your lifetime. However, trying a new dryer every two years isn’t the goal! We set out to find the devices that would not only dry hair efficiently with minimal frizz, but also stand up to the test of time. While less expensive dryers won’t have the longevity of high-end products, they should last for at least three years and get you through your wash days.
So, how should you go about picking a dryer from our list? It depends on your hair type and priorities. Dryers that have a quick drying time also tend to use high heat, which could contribute to damage. On the other hand, dryers with low heat settings tend to have long drying times. Our top picks are in the sweet spot, meaning they don’t have long drying times and don’t use very high heat, but there are other important factors to consider as well.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Hair Dryers for Natural Hair
Heat and Speed
Do you plan to style your hair in a blowout, lengthen it for braiding or wear it curly? Each style has an ideal heat and speed setting. Generally, a blowout or a lengthened style requires high heat and speed, while delicate curls require lower heat and speed settings. Keep in mind that low heat and speed can significantly lengthen your drying time.
We recommend using a dryer that has at least two heat and two speed settings, preferably with a cool shot button or a cool setting for locking in your style and reducing frizz. Our top three recommendations have at least two heat and two speed settings.
Hair Type
Every hair type has an ideal hair dryer — the trick is finding your perfect match. Fine, thin or damaged hair would do well with a gentle dryer that has low heat and speed settings. Very thick hair requires a powerful dryer with a higher voltage to reduce drying time. And a good diffuser attachment is a must if you have curly, coily or kinky hair.
Attachments
Most people don’t need more than two attachments to meet their styling needs, but having multiple attachments does increase your options. At the bare minimum, opt for a dryer that comes with a diffuser for curls and a concentrator nozzle for stretching and straightening strands. Other helpful attachments include a brush and a wide-tooth comb
Wattage
While wattage is important if you want a high-heat, high-speed dryer, it’s important not to go too high and increase your hair damage. Most hair dryers sold in the U.S. range between 1200 and 2000 watts.
Noise
If you’re blow drying your hair every day or even just once a week, the noise level can become quite annoying. Most blow dryers don’t go above 85 dB, which isn’t likely to cause hearing damage for a brief period, but long or repeated exposure can reduce your hearing over time. We made sure to include quieter dryers in our recommendations, though we still recommend wearing ear plugs while you blow dry to reduce your risk of hearing damage.
What Are the Different Types of Hair Dryers for Natural Hair?
Universal Dryer
A universal hair dryer is one that is designed for all hair types. It’s a chameleon, meaning you can add a diffuser attachment and make it work for curly hair, or use it with zero attachments and create a voluminous blowout. Universal dryers have a wide price range.
Diffuser-Only Dryer
A diffuser-only dryer is one that can only be used as a diffuser. Unlike typical blow dryers, it doesn’t have a nozzle for multiple attachments — it just has a diffuser end. This makes the device much lighter and easier to maneuver around curly hair. Of course, the downside of a diffuser-only dryer is that you can only style your hair one way.
Curly Hair Dryer
A curly hair dryer is essentially a universal dryer that was specifically designed for curly hair. It still has a traditional nozzle that can accommodate different attachments, but the heat and speed settings are optimized for curly locks and the air flow reduces frizz. Curly hair dryers are a good in-between for those who prefer to style their hair curly but want the freedom of other styling options.
#11 Best for Straightening Before Braids: RevAir Reverse-Air Hair Dryer
PROS
✅ Reduces heat exposure
✅ Uses suction instead of harsh, blown air
✅ 3 heat settings
If you want the perfect dryer to prep your hair for braids, twists and more, consider the RevAir Reverse-Air Hair Dryer. It uses suction to elongate strands, and the design significantly reduces heat exposure to prevent long-term hair damage. Overall, its three heat settings create elongated, soft hair in an impressively short amount of time.
USWeekly.com | Jenna Cartusciello | January 30, 2024
