I have a love-hate relationship with heat tools. On the one hand, I love what they do, transforming my limp and lifeless locks into a style with movement and body. I have naturally fine and dry hair, so that's a big deal to me. On the other hand, I hate the damage they can cause with every styling session. All I have to do is use a cheap flat iron, curling iron, or hair dryer for a couple of weeks to see breakage, dullness, and split ends appear in droves.
That's why it's critical to find the right heat tools—those that will quickly and effectively style my hair while also minimizing damage. So far, I feel confident I've found the right flat irons and the right curling irons. I've even found the best hair dryers—but not for my dry, damaged hair. You see, my fragile strands need a hair dryer that's gentle enough to prevent even more damage yet strong enough to, you know, actually dry my hair. It's a fine line to walk. So as any beauty editor would do, I turned to the experts and the internet to get the best recs. Ahead, see the eight best dryers for damaged hair. Plus, learn at-home blowout tips from pros.
What to Look For in a Hair Dryer for Damaged Hair
Before we talk about the exact dryers that experts and the internet recommend, let's talk about what makes a good hair dryer in the first place. According to Jamila Powell, founder of Naturally Drenched and owner of Maggie Rose Salon, it comes down to three things: heat control, airflow, and wattage.
"Traditional hair dryers can cause damage and frizz because of a lack of heat control and airflow, but ionic and ceramic hair dryers—preferably with heat control—can effectively dry your hair with minimal damage," she says. "Another thing to pay attention to is the wattage of your hair dryer. Wattage determines heat and drying speed, and a dryer with a wattage around 1400 will effectively dry all hair textures without going overboard and causing damage."
In other words, blindly choosing any old hair dryer you find at the drugstore simply won't cut it. Not only could it prove to be extremely damaging to already damaged hair, but it could lack efficacy too. And who wants to stand in front of a mirror with a tired arm holding up a screeching hair dryer any longer than they have to? Not me.
The 8 Best Hair Dryers for Damaged Hair
Lulu Pierre is a hair expert and founder of Boho Locs. Her top hair dryer recommendation is this one from DevaCurl. It was specifically designed for wavy and curly hair. "I love the DevaCurl DevaDryer with the diffuser attachment," she says. "It's an ionic dryer that's perfect for natural hair because its negative ions dry hair quickly while the diffuser lets the airflow surround curls evenly. The shape of the diffuser is also great for scrunching, which helps set curl patterns without causing more frizz."
Customer review: "My Devadryer and Devafuser have lived up to the hype. I've heard a lot of great things about it over the years and am happy to add it to my curl routine. It leaves my curls bouncier than I've ever been able to get them since I've gone natural."
With clients such as Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence, and Kamala Harris, hair expert Cory Aaron Scott knows a thing or two about the importance of a good heat tool. His go-to hair dryer is the Parlux Ionic and Ceramic Professional Hair Dryer. Yep, ionic and ceramic for the utmost hair health protection. "I have used this every day for over a decade," he says. "It has been reliable, easy to use, and extremely lightweight. The price is very reasonable considering you'll be using it for years to come."
Customer review: "This is probably the best hairdryer I’ve ever owned. Lightweight and compact, yet powerful. Dries my hair fast and leaves it smooth and soft. The hot setting isn’t overly hot like some hairdryers."
This T3 dryer is a favorite of beauty editors far and wide for a few reasons. First, it auto-adjusts its heat, so you don't have to fry your hair in the name of an at-home blowout. Second, it has an ion-infused airstream that boosts shine and smoothness. Third, it has an ergonomic, lightweight design.
Customer review: "Holy moly! I had no idea how badly I needed a new hairdryer till now! I have been using the T3 compact hairdryer for 3 years and still works except for the diffuser till recently wouldn't latch on anymore. This hairdryer is so good! I have no frizz in my curls and just felt like it didn't take much damage from the heat."
Big surprise—the Dyson hair dryer made the list. While the price tag is certainly, um, imposing, there's a reason so many people swear by this machine. It's specifically engineered to protect the hair from damage, it promotes shine and smoothness, it's super lightweight, and it comes with easy-to-change magnetic styling attachments. Click here to read one editor's honest review.
Customer review: "I had to admit, I had reservations about spending the amount of money for this dryer [...] The first time I used it I felt it did well. My drying time was 20 mins. Using it the second time I had a better feel for the dryer and wow, my hair looked amazing and it was soft. By the time I flat ironed it, I looked like I came from a salon and had a silk press done. I have been receiving so many compliments. I still think it is expensive but I get salon-quality hair and I did it myself!"
This ceramic and ionic hair dryer from Revlon is a customer favorite on Amazon. That's probably because it boasts infrared heat, which can cut drying time and give hair a high-shine finish. It also doesn't hurt that it has two heat settings, a cool shot button to seal the hair, and concentrator and diffuser attachments.
Customer review: "I am so impressed by the quickness from wet to dry with the least amount of frizz in my hair afterward! Super cost effective and great quality plus the attachments are perfect. I’ve been using the anti-frizz tip and it’s awesome."
Speaking of Amazon favorites, this hair dryer from Remington is a best seller—probably because it was created specifically with damage protection in mind. It features ceramic, ionic, and tourmaline technology; three heat and two speed settings; and 1875 watts of power. It's also only $17 right now.
Customer review: "I've been trying to revive my natural waves and this hair dryer is perfect for my needs. I use it on the coolest setting with the diffuser attachment and it dries my hair without making it frizz. The highest heat setting isn't very hot either, so it likely wouldn't damage your hair if you used it, though I have not tested the theory. The cool shot setting is pretty cool but I don't use that either as I don't use heat. As large as the device is, it's still very lightweight, which is great because I have to blow dry my hair upside-down for volume. Great value for the price."
One of the best-selling hair dryers on Sephora's website, this high-tech device uses two streams of airflow to take the hair from wet to dry ultra fast with no heat damage. Oh, and the dual airflow even collects and smooths flyaways for smoother styling. How cool is that?
Customer review: "I am not experienced with hair products so I did a lot of research before buying my first blow dryer (my hair used to be 4ft long so I never bothered to buy one). But now that my hair is shorter, I thought I might try styling my hair. I love that it doesn’t get too hot because I have thin, fragile blonde hair. I’m not sure if the ionic technology works as advertised because I did not find any studies about it, but it makes my hair look great!"
This little hair dryer is iconic, and not just because of its spritely shade of mint green. It's lightweight and compact; features eight heat, speed, and ion settings; and has a motor that lasts up to 2000 hours. I trust this to style my hair sans damage.
Customer review: "I bought this dryer several years ago and when that one started to wear out I didn't even think twice about replacing it with the same dryer. It does such a good job drying my hair super quickly, makes my hair shiny, super light and easy to handle. I'm sure there are others on the market with more bells and whistles but this one does a truly AWESOME job of exactly what it's supposed to do."
Even though the right hair dryer can make a world of difference in the health of your hair, it's not the only variable to consider. As Powell puts it, "Choosing the right hair dryer is only half the battle!" You also have to consider how you're using a hair dryer and what products you're using to protect your vulnerable strands from thermal damage. If you're not using anything, then it's time to start. The pros have some suggestions.
Tip #1: Make Sure Your Hair Is Mostly Dry Before Using a Hair Dryer (Yes, Really)
Caring for your hair starts the second you step out of the shower. Before reaching for your hair dryer of choice, Powell recommends making sure your hair is already mostly dry. This will cut down on heat exposure, which will reduce potential damage. "You can air-dry or use a microfiber towel before you start blow-drying," she says.
Tip #2: Apply Heat Protectant
Next, it comes time for a heat protectant, and please, for the sake of your strands, don't skimp on this part. "Applying heat protectant is key, and it's a step that I see a lot of people neglecting because hair dryers seem 'safer' when they're temperature controlled," Powell says. "Heat is heat, so your hair needs protection no matter what your dryer promises."
Scott recommends this hair milk since it's so lightweight and hydrating. It's also multi-beneficial. It offers heat protection along with smoothing and detangling effects.
Tip #3: Dry Your Hair in Sections—Not All at Once
After rough-drying your hair, you should always blow it out in sections. That's according to Scott, who says, "When it comes time to smooth the hair, I always start with the hairline, taking half-inch sections, blow-drying the hair away from the face, and using lots of tension with a boar-bristle round brush. Keep taking half-inch sections until every section is smooth and shiny."
Powell agrees, saying drying your hair in sections is the key to replicating a professional salon blowout at home. "This will help ensure even drying without causing a full head of frizz that results from the cuticles getting pushed up in different directions," she says.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
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