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Best hair dryers.
Good hair days, on repeat.

Our own research across 44 expert tests, retailer ratings, owners' communities, video reviews and safety records (2,311 ratings and reports in all), cross-checked for long-term reliability. No sponsors, no paid placements. Updated October 2026.

Best for fine hair →Best for curly hair →Best for travel →Best for thick hair →
The leaderboard ↓Comparisons ↓How we score
Hair dryers

The leaderboard

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  1. 01Shark SpeedStyle

    Shark SpeedStyle

    A fast, gentle all-in-one dryer that takes some practice

    EXPOWNREL87
  2. 02Dyson Supersonic Nural

    Dyson Supersonic Nural

    A fast, quiet, scalp-friendly dryer with a steep price tag

    EXPOWNREL84
  3. 03Shark FlexStyle

    Shark FlexStyle

    A capable, well-built dryer and styler that saves money over pricier rivals

    EXPOWNREL83
  4. 04Dyson Supersonic r

    Dyson Supersonic r

    Featherlight, fast and quiet, but you pay dearly for it

    EXPOWNREL80
  5. 05Dyson Supersonic

    Dyson Supersonic

    A light, fast, hair-friendly dryer that costs a small fortune

    EXPOWNREL80
  6. 06ghd Helios

    ghd Helios

    A seriously fast, smooth-finish dryer that keeps things simple

    EXPOWNREL75

Category champions

Highest scoreShark SpeedStyleShark SpeedStyle87 overallMost reliableOwners' favoriteBest for curly hairBest for travelBest for thick hairBest for fine hairShark FlexStyleShark FlexStyle73 for this need

If you only read one thing

For most homes, the Shark SpeedStyle is the one to beat: it suits you if you want one tool for drying, smoothing and volume.

We researched 44 expert reviews, analyzed 2,311 owner ratings and comments across 26 sources for 6 hair dryers, and cross-checked them into one verdict, so you don't have to.

Popular face-offs

Dyson Supersonic Nural vs Shark SpeedStyle→Shark FlexStyle vs Shark SpeedStyle→Dyson Supersonic r vs Shark SpeedStyle→Dyson Supersonic vs Shark SpeedStyle→Dyson Supersonic Nural vs Shark FlexStyle→Dyson Supersonic Nural vs Dyson Supersonic r→Dyson Supersonic vs Dyson Supersonic Nural→Dyson Supersonic r vs Shark FlexStyle→Dyson Supersonic vs Shark FlexStyle→Dyson Supersonic Nural vs Shark FlexStyle vs Shark SpeedStyle→Dyson Supersonic Nural vs Dyson Supersonic r vs Shark SpeedStyle→Dyson Supersonic vs Dyson Supersonic Nural vs Shark SpeedStyle→

Brand showdown

2 models · avg 853 models · avg 811 model · avg 75
Shark vs Dyson→Shark vs ghd→Dyson vs ghd→

Questions people actually ask

What is the best hair dryer?

The Shark SpeedStyle, for most homes. It suits you if you want one tool for drying, smoothing and volume.

Based on: Highest score of the 6 hair dryers we rank.

What is the best hair dryer for thick hair?

The Shark SpeedStyle. It is also our top pick overall.

Based on: Top of our best hair dryers for thick hair ranking (85 for this need).

What is the best hair dryer for travel?

The Shark SpeedStyle. It is also our top pick overall.

Based on: Top of our best travel hair dryers ranking (84 for this need).

What is the best hair dryer for curly hair?

The Shark SpeedStyle. It is also our top pick overall.

Based on: Top of our best hair dryers for curly hair ranking (81 for this need).

What is the best hair dryer for fine hair?

The Shark FlexStyle. It suits you if you want one tool that dries and styles your hair.

Based on: Top of our best hair dryers for fine hair ranking (73 for this need).

How much should I spend on a hair dryer?

The top-rated ones start around $169 and go up to about $570. The Shark SpeedStyle is the lowest-priced of the leaders.

Based on: US prices quoted in expert reviews and at Amazon.com for the six highest-scoring models.