The 9 Best Hair Dryers for a Salon-Level Blowout at Home, According to Cosmo Editors and Pro Hair Stylists
Even better? These picks won't fry the heck out of your hair.
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With the rise of hair dryer brushes, straightening brushes, and multi-stylers like the Dyson Airwrap and Shark FlexStyle, you might think a traditional hair dryer has become a superfluous hair tool. Well, think again. Today’s hair dryers are nothing like the bulky, clunky, hair-frying ones of the '90s. Instead, they're high-tech devices equipped with infrared technology, multiple attachments, and advanced airflow for faster, healthier drying. They're also lightweight and easy to maneuver with a round brush, so you can say goodbye to hand cramps mid-blowout.
And let’s be real—nothing beats a salon-quality blowout's sleekness, bounce, and volume. The best part? You can achieve that same professional finish at home with these game-changing hair dryers. Keep reading for team Cosmo's reviews of the 9 best hair dryers of 2025—plus expert insights from celebrity hair stylists Marc Ballance and Andrew Inconstanti.
Pros
- The smoothing attachment is great for flyaways
- Less than half of the price of other luxury dryers
Cons
- Doesn't come with a case
This hair dryer needs no introduction. It's a Cosmo 2024 Holy Grail Beauty Award winner and is loved by our editors its lightweight design, the fact that it can be used on literally all hair types and textures, and, of course, its thoughtful attachments that can diffuse, style, and smooth your hair depending on how you use them. It's basically like your beloved Shark multi-styler, but with the power of a salon-level dryer.
- Attachments: 3
- Weight: N/A
One Cosmo editor says: “I’ve been a beauty editor for a long time and never used a dryer as multitasking as this one! It’s literally a one-stop tool for all your hair needs. And there are two fab versions—one for straight/wavy hair and another for curly/coily hair.” —Julee Wilson, beauty editor-at-large
Pros
- Has a compatible app that helps create and save custom profiles with each use
- Doesn't dry out the hair or make it feel straw-like
- Uses infrared light to evaporate water molecules on the hair
Cons
- The most expensive option on our list
Tired of breakage and heat damage from your styling tools? Meet L'Oreal's Airlight Pro Hair Dryer, which uses infrared technology and strong airflow to dry the hair instead of overly high temps to quickly (and safely) dry your hair. "The L’Oréal blow dryer is a serious contender, especially with its built-in infrared technology," says Inconstanti. "It allows for precise heat adjustments and helps dry hair even faster while locking in moisture more effectively than traditional dryers to avoid dryness or breakage. Plus, they have an app that lets you customize your preferred settings," Inconstanti adds.
- Attachments: 2
- Weight: 1.7lbs
One Cosmo editor says: "When I was backstage at NYFW, I saw a bunch of hairstylists using this exact blow dryer over and over again to get models' hair styled quickly. Now that I've tested it myself, I see why: It's so. freakin'. powerful. Like, probably the most powerful hair dryer I've ever used. It could blow dry my whole head in just a couple of minutes—but without totally damaging the eff outta my hair either." —Beth Gillette, beauty editor
Pros
- Automatically adjusts temperature and velocity
- Has an auto-pause mode
Cons
- Shape might take some time to get used to
Talk about an innovative hair tool. The new T3 AIRE IQ is a smart blow dryer that has you select your hair texture so that the device can then automatically adjust the temperature and airflow for you, creating optimal drying and styling results for your specific hair type with minimal damage. It adapts its settings based on the attachment in use too. Plus, it comes with a chic stand and has an auto-pause feature for extra efficiency. Need we say more?
- Attachments: 3
- Weight: N/A
One Cosmo editor says: "I find a lot of techy hair dryers to be gimmicky, but all the bells and whistles on this one are totally worth it. Not to mention it dries my hair incredibly fast with zero sign of frizz or flyways." —Lauren Balsamo, beauty director
Pros
- Testers like how lightweight and easy to maneuver this one is
- Affordable relative to other options on our list
Cons
- Attachments are a bit flimsy
- Doesn't have the same damage-preventing technology as other dryers on our list
If you're looking for a no-frills device, this Hot Tools Hair Dryer gives you some serious power for just $50. It weighs less than a pound and has three different heat and airflow settings (including a cold shot). With more than 5,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, you can trust that it has some serious blow drying abilities.
- Attachments: 2
- Weight: .86 lbs
Glowing customer review: "This dryer cut my drying time in half! No frizz. My hair actually feels better after use. The buttons for the heat and speed are placed so I don't accidentally change the settings while using it."
Pros
- Attachments are great for curly hair
- Uses ion technology for smoothing
- Cosmo Holy Grail Award winner
Cons
- A bit on the heavier side
Pattern Beauty seriously changed the game for textured hair. The brand's blow dryer is ideal for any hair type, but specifically curls and coils. All of the attachments are designed to minimize heat damage and define your natural curl patterns (we especially love the wide tooth comb and brush ones). It has three different heat settings, including a cold shot to set the hair in place.
- Attachments: 4
- Weight: 1.12 lb
One Cosmo editor says: “I didn’t think it was possible to design a dryer specifically for textured hair, but Tracee Ellis Ross totally did it. The unique attachments are a curly girl’s dream.” —JW
Pros
- Has the same capabilities as a multi-styler
- Super light
Cons
- On the pricier side
The FHI Heat Pro Air Styler is beloved by Ballance for all of his clients. "It's super lightweight, it's like holding a toy blow dryer, and with all the attachments it's the best way to blow out your hair on your own," he says. It even has a round brush and barrel accessories, so you really don't need any expert styling skills. Its ergonomic shape also makes it way easier to work with than heavy and chunky dryers.
- Attachments: 6
- Weight: .64 lb
One Cosmo editor says: "This is legit one of the lightest hair dryers I've ever tried. It also has all the fancy barrel attachments of other multi-stylers but with the power of a handheld dryer." —Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editor
Pros
- Attachments are magnetic
- Has heat control technology
Cons
- On the heavier side compared to others on this list
- Can make some hair types feel straw-like or dried out
The Dyson Supersonic has super strong velocity, making it especially ideal for those with thick hair. Its airflow is also super concentrated and precise for styling. "I’ve been a loyal Dyson user for years, upgrading attachments and devices as they’ve added new features, and I’m especially obsessed with the Supersonic and diffuser combo," says Incostanti. "It’s a game-changer for my curly and textured clients. It really locks in moisture and fights frizz, leaving the hair bouncy and perfectly defined."
- Attachments: 5
- Weight: 1.8 lb
One Cosmo editor says: "Nothing has ever dried my long, thick hair faster than the Dyson supersonic hair dryer. I love that it comes with a few attachments for a more tailored blow dry, as well as three speeds and heat settings." —Olivia Truffaut-Wong, editor
Pros
- Has a self-cleaning function
- Four heat settings and three speed settings
Cons
- The buttons are not super intuitive
The Bondi Boost Sonic Hair Dryer is incredibly lightweight, making it super easy to use with a round brush, especially when styling thick hair that usually takes forever to dry. Unlike other bulky dryers that leave your arms feeling sore, this one is super sleek and designed for comfort. The powerful airflow cuts down drying time while still being gentle on the hair.
- Attachments: 2
- Weight: .7 lbs
One Cosmo editor says: "As someone with minimal ability to maneuver a hair dryer and round brush, this Bondi Boost one is the lightest I've ever used. It's super thin and lightweight, and it's also relatively quieter than most other handheld dryers I've used in the past." —JH
Pros
- Great for textured hair
- No brush required
Cons
- Not the best option for styling
This viral hair dryer is great for thick or textured hair, or honestly anyone who doesn't wanna be double-fisting a dryer and brush. The actual device looks like a mini vacuum cleaner and kinda works like one too with its extra strong suction that's designed to rapidly dry the hair.
- Attachments: N/A
- Weight: N/A
One Cosmo editor says: "You’ve probably seen the RevAir all over social media—and for good reason. It’s amazing! Your hair is dried and stretched using air suction. It not only cuts down on time, but also hair fall and damage since you’re not dragging a brush or comb through your crown. The only downside is that fact it’s pretty bulky and pricey as hair dryers go, BUT when you cover all the advantages it’s totally worth the closet space and price."—JW
How do you blow dry your hair with a round brush?
Our professional stylists have some pretty helpful tips for a salon-esque blow dry. "Section your hair into pieces roughly the same width as your brush, and before you start drying, apply your favorite volumizing product at the root," says Inconstanti. "Over each section as you dry, really focus on smoothing and lifting the root for maximum bounce. And to give a pro tip: once each section is dried, pin it up and let it cool completely to lock in that volume."
"Dry your hair to 85 percent before you start with a round brush," recommends Ballance. "The bigger the round brush, the straighter your hair will be, and the smaller the barrel, the curlier and bouncier it will be."
They also both recommend a lightweight hairspray to the mid-lengths and ends.
Which hair dryer do hair stylists use?
While every stylist has their own preferences when it comes to blow dryers, Ballance recommends the lightweight FHI 6-in-1 Styler, and Inconstanti loves the Dyson Supersonic and L'Oreal Airlight Pro.
Meet The Experts
- Marc Ballance is a celebrity hairstylist at IGK salon in New York, NY. He has worked with celebs like Nick Jonas, Bad Bunny, and more
- Andrew Inconstanti is a hairstylist and the founder of UMI Salon in New York, NY.
Why Trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan where she covers all the best beauty products from LED masks to foundation. For this story, she tapped the rest of Cosmo's beauty team for their favorite blow dryers that they've tested, and also consulted professional hair stylists for their recommendations and insight.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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