Honorable Mentions

Photograph: Amazon

Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus for $70: The Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus has a 2-inch, oval-shaped hot brush barrel that dries and styles hair at the same time—not to be confused with the original One-Step dryer, which was recalled in the UK in 2020 over safety reports of overheating. The Plus is a close runner-up to Drybar’s hot brush, with its four heat settings (low, medium, high, cool) and detachable design that makes storage much easier. I have fine hair and this is one of the few hair tools that gives me the frizz-free bounce I love, thanks to its ceramic titanium tourmaline technology that delivers 50 percent less heat exposure.

Hairitage Comin’ Hot Dryer for $40: Hairitage’s Comin’ in Hot Hair Dryer is compact at 1.6 pounds and costs just $40. The basics are covered: two speeds, three heat settings, and a cool shot button. It only comes with an air concentrator nozzle, but you can purchase a separate diffuser for curls and a comb attachment. The add-ons are frequently out of stock, though, sometimes for months at a time.

Hot Tools Pro Artist Quietair for $120: The Hot Tools Pro Artist Quietair is certified by Quiet Mark, an independent organization that assesses how much noise pollution household products produce. While the price is technically $120, it’s almost always discounted to around $60 on Amazon, so you don’t have to splurge. The reduction of sound isn’t a reduction of capability. The high-speed setting will blow the dryer right off your counter if you set it down. It has three heat settings and two speed settings, plus a cool shot button.

Panasonic Nanoe Hair Dryer for $160: This dryer comes with a concentrator nozzle and diffuser attachment in addition to its removable oscillating head that mimics the back-and-forth motion you make with your hand. There are three heat settings and two speed settings, which is the minimum standard. Panasonic also claims the dryer uses electrostatic shock to disperse water molecules into tinier nano-sized particles, which might reduce hair damage. Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano tested the compact version for $100, which she says makes for a great travel hair dryer.

Gama iQ2 Perfetto for $330: The iQ2 includes an auto-clean function to automatically turn off should it overheat (it did not do this in testing, thankfully). There’s a setting lock so you can dry your hair without accidentally changing the speed or heat. Plus, it comes with a silicone thermal mat that puts the dryer into standby mode when you place it down, turning it back on when you pick it up. This is helpful if you’re sectioning off strands, and frequently have to put the dryer down. But it’s expensive, and the microperforated magnetic mesh filter cover tends to fall off.

Accessories to Try

Photograph: Kat Merck

Use a heat protectant spray before blow-drying. The Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer is our favorite, but we also love the R+Co Hot Spell Thermotech Blow Out Balm for curly or thick hair. For more recommendations, check out our guide to the Best Heat Protectant Sprays.

Get a quality hair towel to avoid frizz and breakage. A regular body towel is too rough on hair, especially fragile curls. A plain old cotton T-shirt works great for drying, and you likely have one in your closet that you no longer wear. You’ll find specific hair towels anywhere you shop for hair products, but former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano recommends TO112’s Bamboo Wrap ($39).