Last Updated On February 4th, 2022
Hair dryers are essential appliances as well as highly effective styling aides. Whether you’re on the lookout for an upgrade, a replacement, or would just like a backup model, we’ve reviewed the leading hair dryers to help you to find the best hairdryer in the UK. Our selection covers hair dryers for each hair type, so you’re sure to find your perfect match right here.
The Panasonic EH-NA65CN Nanoe Hair Dryer, with its substantial diffuser, is the best hair dryer for thick hair with curls. It evenly distributes warm air to your curls for superior drying results, keeping them intact and salon-beautiful.
Thanks to its varied heat and speed settings, you can choose from four temperatures and three speeds to adjust your drying settings perfectly to your hair type for frizz-free, smooth results. If you need a hair dryer for thick curls with a good diffuser as well as excellent heat and speed settings, the Nanoe by Panasonic is a fantastic choice.
One of the main advantages of this Panasonic hair dryer is its integrated Nanoe Technology that also makes it possibly the best hair dryer for damaged hair. This new technology helps retain the moisture balance in your hair, reducing damage from brushing for shinier hair without frizz. It also has a cool shot button to set your style for longer-lasting results, as well as a removable filter for easy maintenance.
This hair dryer comes complete with three attachments: a nozzle for a concentrated airflow, a quick-dry nozzle and a diffuser. All the attachments fit well.
If you use a narrow nozzle for a very concentrated airflow, you may find that this version is too wide. The hair dryer is a little on the heavy side, which could be an issue if you have hand or wrist problems. Also, it’s pretty bulky, making it more difficult to handle than other models and certainly not the best to travel with.
Considered the best professional hair dryer on our list, the GHD Helios Hair Dryer makes an excellent choice. It is recommended as the best hair dryer for fine hair. Given its superior design and ease of use, it is a great choice for any hair type.
Thanks to its highly durable 2200W powerful motor, this model is highly efficient and built to last. Capable of putting out airflow speeds of up to 120km/hour, it is also a great choice for quickly drying your hair, making it a great way to save time getting ready in the morning. The integrated AeroprecisTM Technology ensures a more precise airflow with an even heat distribution for salon-quality styling at home. At the same time, its enhanced ionic technology improves shine and reduces frizz and fly-away hairs for a smoother-than-ever blow dry.
With three temperature settings, two distinct speeds and a large cool shot button for longer-lasting hold, this professional quality hair dryer is one of the very best around. All in all, it’s an excellent product for replicating salon styling from the comfort of your own home and is one of the very best hair dryers around.
However, bear in mind that if you need a diffuser, you’ll have to purchase one separately. Additionally, it would be nice to have a storage bag included for such a high-quality product, as with other GHD products.
Next on our list of the best hair dryers is the Remington D3190, our pick for the best value option. Not to be overlooked, this hair dryer provides outstanding performance every time.
With a powerful 2200W motor, you get an improved airflow rate for faster drying times without having to use it on full heat. With three heat settings, plus a cold shot button, you have plenty of variation in heat levels to suit all hair types. Two speed settings are also available. In addition, a diffuser and concentrator nozzle are included with your purchase.
This model makes use of ionic conditioning technology for shinier, smoother hair. It also features a removable air filter for easy maintenance and cleaning. This easy to use hair dryer provides powerful performance levels, making it our best budget hair dryer choice. Its ionic conditioning and high speeds make it a great choice for long to mid-length hair and the best hair dryer for women looking for products that offer great value.
On the downside, the included attachments are not a great fit and can come off during use. Also, it is very easy to knock it into a different speed or temperature as the power settings are located in a bit of an awkward position on the handle.
If you are looking for the best ionic hair dryer in the UK, be sure to take a look at the Remington Proluxe Ionic Hair Dryer. Featuring 90% more ions than a standard Remington hair dryer, this model is a great choice for smoother, shinier hair, making it the best hair dryer for frizzy hair.
Thanks to its three heat settings, you can easily adjust this model to suit your hair type, while its Optiheat Technology intelligently provides heat where it’s most needed for long-lasting results. With its two concentrator attachments, frizzy hair will quickly become a thing of the past for professional-looking results that last all day long. For curly hair, use the included diffuser for a softer blow dry.
If you have crinkly hair, this model is a great choice for frizz-free shine and straighter hair that lasts all day long.
Although the rear filter is easy to remove for cleaning, care is needed when using this model with longer hairstyles, as your hair can become slightly sucked in at the back if you’re drying it upside down. Also, bear in mind that there are only two speed settings. So if you like a very low speed to finish with, this may not be the best choice for you, especially as it is an extremely powerful model. Lastly, the white exterior marks very easily.
If you’re looking for the best powerful hair dryer, then be sure to take a look at the BaByliss Power Smooth Hair Dryer. This option is also the best hair dryer for long hair, thanks to its 2400W motor for enhanced airflow, complete with a high-performance heating element and faster drying times.
It is a winning combination of ionic and ceramic technology that smoothens and conditions your hair, while you can choose from three heat settings, plus a cool shot to set your style.
Given its high power and ionic technology, complete with three heat settings, this hair dryer has all the features you need to get your long hair dried quicker with less damage. If you need a powerful, super-fast hair dryer, you may not be able to find a better model.
On the downside, there is no diffuser included, making it less suitable if you have curly hair or want to try out a beach-effect wave look.
The BaByliss Power Smooth only has two speeds, and given its exceptional power levels, the lower speed is still pretty high. However, this could be perfect for your needs if you regularly dry your hair on top speed. Also, remember that at 2.5 metres, the power cord could be a little on the short side, so make sure this length works with your setup.
The Babyliss Curl Dry is the best lightweight hair dryer in the UK for short to medium-length curly hair. Thanks to its powerful 2100W, it can speed up the often laborious drying process of curly hair, while the ionic frizz-control technology helps to keep your curls smooth rather than frizzing up.
Its three temperature and two speed settings are all optimised for curl formation, so you won’t have to worry about overly hot, fast air ruining your curls. The curl-boosting diffuser is also an excellent addition and works well on short to medium length hair.
Whether you want to set your style or have particularly heat-sensitive hair, you’ll be glad to know that this model has a cool shot button. Thanks to its low weight, this hair dryer is easy to manoeuvre, and the handle features a good, easy-to-grip design. If you have short or mid-length curls, this hair dryer is one of the best options specifically designed for aiding curl formation.
You may, however, find it a little small for use with long curly hair. What’s more, the diffuser is fairly difficult to attach and remove, although you will probably want to leave it in position. On another note, the power cord is quite short, at just 1.8 metres long. So, if you think this could be the best hair dryer for you, check the distance to your nearest power socket and remember you’ll need some extra distance to move it around.
If you are looking for a hair dryer that will cut your drying time, then the Remington Shine Therapy Hair Dryer makes a great choice. Thanks to its powerful 2300W it provides air flow speeds of up to 85km per hour, ideal for getting out the door quickly in the morning. What’s more, as it can now create up to 90% more ions, it will also leave your hair shinier and frizz-free.
The Remington Shine Therapy has three heat settings. And to keep your style in place all day long, a cool shot button provides a flow of cooler air, while the included diffuser and concentrator nozzle enable you to perfect both curly and straight blow-dry. It is worth noting that this is an extra powerful hair dryer with high speeds for a frizz-free, shiny finish.
This is an unbeatable choice if you mainly want to dry your hair quickly and are less focused on styling. And despite its high power, this hair dryer is fairly quiet and reasonably lightweight.
Unfortunately, the power cord is quite short at 1.8 metres, so be sure to measure if this gives you enough length to style your hair with ease from the nearest socket. In addition, the nozzle does not stay straight on the dryer, so you may have to stop to adjust it throughout your blow-dry, which may prove to be an inconvenience for some. The second heat setting is also very hot.
The BaByliss Velvet Orchid Hair Dryer is a great choice if you have straight hair and are looking for a powerful, fast blow-dry. Its 2300W motor provides plenty of power with strong airflow levels. It is easy to manoeuvre and features variable heat and speed settings that you can adjust to suit your hair type.
This BaByliss Velvet Orchid combines ionic and tourmaline-ceramic technology for an effortlessly smoother, shinier finish. Thanks to its slim, concentrated airflow attachment, you get precision styling results every time. Use the cool shot button for an easy way to make your style last for longer.
It is ideal if you have straight hair and are looking for a fast blow-dry. Thanks to its concentrated attachment nozzle and cool button, it’s also a good choice for accomplishing a range of styles to suit the occasion.
Bear in mind that this hair dryer only has two speeds, and both are rather fast. The control placement on the handle makes it fairly easy to unintentionally change the speed or temperature or even to turn it off when in use, so it can take a while to get used to.
At 2.2 metres long, while it is not the shortest power cord, just make sure that it will be long enough for comfortable use in your normal, hair-drying place before purchase.
The Aode Ionic Hair Dryer is a compact-sized styling tool that makes it one to consider if you are also looking at travel hair dryers. While it’s not a big name brand, it’s potentially the best hair dryer for short hair, thanks to its ionic and bioceramic technology that leaves your hair smoother and shinier.
With its 1800-watt power, three heat settings and two speeds, plus a cold air button, you can easily adapt your blow-dry to suit your hair type, while the cold air option helps to keep your style salon-perfect for longer.
Thanks to its three attachment nozzles, you can achieve a wide variety of different looks every day, from super-straight sleek hair to curly waves.
If you need a small hair dryer at home or travel, this model has all the features you’ll need for a rapid blow dry. Its advanced ionic and bioceramic technologies will leave your hair shinier and frizz-free. At the same time, the choice of attachments makes it a good all-rounder for various hair types and styles.
On the downside, this model is fairly heavy compared to most other hair dryers in this price range. It can also be quite noisy and has a bulky shape, although these are only minor inconveniences.
You’ve probably noticed that pretty much all modern hair dryers have made the switch to ionic technology. They make some pretty bold claims regarding benefits, but what is an ionic hair dryer and why are they better?
An ion is an electrically charged particle. When you dry your hair with an ionic hairdryer, it releases thousands and thousands of negatively charged ions. These negative ions are attracted to the positive ions in the water and your styling products on your hair. Their attraction causes water droplets to break down into water molecules resulting in faster evaporation times.
It also means that you can dry your hair more effectively at lower temperatures, reducing the potential for heat damage and your energy usage. As water is evaporated more quickly, your hair strands’ cuticles also seal faster, for shinier, healthier-looking hair.
With so many different models of hairdryers to choose from, it can be tricky to decide which of the products included in our top hair dryers list is the best one to go for. Here are the features you should focus on when choosing your new hairdryer and what you should look out for.
Most hair dryers, straighteners, and hot air brushes have their power consumption detailed in watts. The higher the wattage, the more powerful your hair dryer will be. Some manufacturers also list their top airflow speeds to give you a better idea of performance.
Generally, you should look for standard models starting at 1800W and above. However, if you look at some newer, high-performance designs, you may find that they offer better speeds and heat levels for lower wattages. Brushless motors can also help to improve power efficiency, as well as provide a longer product lifespan.
So, the general rule is, if you are stuck for which one to choose, go for a higher rated wattage over a lower one for extra power and faster drying times. Luxury models with highly efficient systems may offer similar or superior performance levels at lower wattages.
There are a whole host of new technologies available depending on the hair dryer model and manufacturer.
Aside from these widespread technologies, you will also find specialist, patented technologies that vary with the brand and model. These tend to be available for the following:
Hair dryers with multiple heat and speed settings are the best options to go for.
At least three heat settings are recommended and a minimum of two speeds to achieve any desired look, no matter your hair type. You will want to adjust the temperature to suit your hair type and have the flexibility to dry your hair faster or slower. Similarly, if you’re in a rush to get out the door, you’ll appreciate a hairdryer with a higher top speed. However, when you’re getting ready for an evening out, you may benefit more from a lower speed to get your hairstyle just right.
If you regularly style your hair with your hair dryer, you’ll want to look out for a model with a cold shot button. This lets you set your style with cold air, preventing your styling from coming undone as your hair gradually cools down and sets. While some models have a cold button, others only feature a cool button. If this is important to you, go for one with a cold shot for faster cooling and more effective hold.
You should look out for hair dryers with a good selection of attachments. Some models often have extra attachments that are available for purchase separately.
A slim, concentrated airflow nozzle is generally the best choice for straight hair and general styling. In contrast, if you have curly hair or want a wavy look, you’ll want a heat diffuser attachment to aid curl formation. Some hair dryers also come with quick-dry nozzles designed for roughly drying your hair as quickly as possible before styling.
It’s an easy detail to forget, but double-check your power cable length before purchase.
Most models come with fairly long cords as standard, but some can skim on cord length and may even come in under two metres. Even if there is just enough length to reach your nearest power socket, remember, you’ll still need a decent amount extra to be able to comfortably style your hair from different angles.
There are a huge number of hairdryers to choose from, making choosing your next hair dryer a potentially daunting process. If you are looking for a product that can do wonders for thick curly tresses or even for damaged hair, be sure to take another look at our best hairdryer in the UK and Editor’s Choice, the Panasonic EH-NA65CN Nanoe.
It’s equipped with unique Nanoe technology that has been tested to retain moisture, keeping your hair healthy and shiny. Its fast-drying ion technology provides maximum protection from roots to the tips. This model is suitable for all hair types and styles with four heat settings, a cold shot button, and three included attachments. With these features and more, what else could you want from your next hair dryer?
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