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Best hair dryers to buy right now
A strong, fast dryer cuts drying time more than any setting does, and fast drying means less heat on the hair. The Dyson Supersonic Origin checks its air temperature 40 times a second; a 2000W-plus ionic dryer like the BaByliss Power Smooth does most of the job for a fraction of the price.
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Best overall
1. BaByliss Power Smooth 5736CU
Yes · 2400W · 3 heat, 2 speed, cool shot
The dryer most people should buy, with 2400W, the most power of any dryer here. It has ionic frizz control and three heat and two speed settings plus a cool shot, and it is the best seller of the full-size dryers we compared. The listing names no diffuser, so curly hair is better served by the Turbo Smooth below.
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Best premium
2. Dyson Supersonic Origin
Dyson Digital Motor V9 · 4 heat, 3 speed · Styling concentrator
For anyone who blow-dries daily and wants tightly controlled heat. A glass bead thermistor checks the air temperature 40 times a second to stop extreme heat, and a high-velocity jet does the drying. The Origin comes with the styling concentrator only, so there is no diffuser for curls in the box.
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Best Dyson alternative
3. Shark SpeedStyle Pro HD731UK
Scalp Shield mode · Straight and wavy · Turbo concentrator, QuickSmooth brush, FrizzFighter
The Dyson-style dryer for people who want the clever features with more in the box. It comes with a turbo concentrator, smoothing brush and finishing tool, and Scalp Shield mode drops the air temperature for drying roots. Shark designed this version for straight and wavy hair, so curly hair needs a different model.
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Best for sleek blow-dries
4. ghd Helios
Yes · 2200W · Contoured concentrator
A premium dryer for smooth, straight blow-dries, from the brand most people know for straighteners. It has 2200W, ionic frizz control and a contoured nozzle that focuses the airflow. The title and bullet points give different shine figures, so ignore the numbers, and the listing names no diffuser.
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Best for curly hair
5. BaByliss Turbo Smooth 5572U
Yes · 2200W · Large diffuser included · 3 heat, 2 speed
The cheap dryer for curls and waves, because it comes with a large diffuser in the box. It has 2200W, ionic frizz control and three heat and two speed settings. It has 200W less than the Power Smooth, which is a small gap but means slightly longer drying on very thick hair.
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Best budget
6. Remington D3010 Power Dry
Eco setting · 2000W · Removable ceramic ionic · 3 heat, 2 speed, cool shot
The basic dryer that does the job for very little. It has 2000W, a removable ceramic ionic grille that is easy to clean, three heat and two speed settings and a cool shot. At 2000W it has the least power of the full-size dryers here, and the listing names no nozzle or diffuser.
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Best for travel
7. Remington D1500 Travel
2000W · Folding · Worldwide · Concentrator, compact diffuser
For holidays and weekend bags. It folds, works on worldwide voltage and still comes with a concentrator and compact diffuser. It has only two heat and two speed settings and the listing mentions no cool shot, so it is a backup rather than an everyday dryer.
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How we rank
Ordered by how well each sells in its Amazon UK category, what the listing confirms it can do, and price. We have not handled these products: the write-ups rest on what each listing states. Prices and stock are checked daily.
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