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Best Hair Dryer Review – Top 5 Hottest List

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Rebecca Moses
Your guide to this Review is Rebecca Moses

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blow dryers

There are two types of people who own blow dryers: the ones who meticulously style and blow out their hair, and the ones who just want to dry off after a shower and get on with their day.

There are two types of people when it comes to hair dryers: those who put a lot of thought and effort into choosing the best hair dryer that matches their hair type and desired appearance and others who just grab the first affordable model they find at a department or drug store. Regardless matter which category you fall into, talking with your barber or hairstylist is always beneficial. They may give suggestions based on your hair texture, length, and styling preferences.

In our review of the top 5 best hair dryers at Groom+Style, we’ve included both elaborate models for dedicated home stylists and affordable options that can still get the job done quickly and efficiently. So take the time to do your research, consult with your barber or stylist, and choose a hair dryer that will help you achieve the look you want.

How to Choose the Best Hair Dryer?

It is amazing how complicated a simple hair dryer can be.

A professional hair dryer with ionic, ceramic, and tourmaline components produces negative ions. These blow dryers are beneficial for people with brittle or dry hair, as they neutralize the positive charges in weakened follicles and shafts and help to lock moisture in the hair, leading to smoother strands.

In addition, there are titanium dryers that do much the same thing but more efficiently and with more heat.

Some models are designed specifically for hair that is frizzy, curly, treated, coarse or fine and can include a “cool shot” button and variable heat settings.

Quick Guide to Finding the Best Hair Dryer for Your Hair Type

In search of some quick assistance to select the blow dryer right for you?

If you have coarse or thick hair, you should consider blow dryers with high heat output.

Alternatively, if your hair is fragile or thin, you are better off choosing lower-powered models.

Most professionals recommend ionic dryers for all hair types due to their speed and ability to smooth and hydrate hair.

If your hair is prone to damage, a good hair dryer choice is an ionic dryer. If you’re someone who likes to dry your hair quickly, then a hair dryer with strong air that dries hair fast can work well. This way, your hair is exposed to heat for less time, which is good, especially if you have straight hair.

Below is Groom+Style’s list of the top 5 best blow dryers on the market – these will blow you away…

1. Velecta Paramount X:Q Onyx Blow Dryer

Best Hair Dryer - Velecta Paramount XQ Onyx Blow Dryer
Velecta Paramount X:Q Onyx Blow Dryer. Click on the photo to check the Price on Amazon.

When you want your hair to look like you just visited a stylist, you need the type of tool a stylist would use. Unfortunately, that is going to be expensive!  The Velecta Paramount X:Q is the most expensive hair dryer on our list. You should, therefore, expect to get a blow dryer with all the bells and whistles, which is exactly what this unit has!

The French-made X:Q is a deluxe salon model, delivering 2000 watts of power. It uses ceramic and tourmaline components for even, continuous ionic heat generation and distribution. The Velecta Paramount is a very powerful blow dryer, which is designed to deliver heat quickly and efficiently to minimize damage and leave you with hair that is smooth and sleek. Those are claims that companies that produce low-end hairdryers sold in drugstores cannot make, which is why the Velecta is more of a salon tool than a simple blow dryer.

The combination of ceramic and tourmaline is optimal for both styling speed and appearance. Here is how it works: the tourmaline is crushed and melded with ceramic heating elements. This combination emits a much greater level of negative ions than you would get with either one individually. The end result is shinier, smoother and silkier hair that dries in a flash with less frizz and fewer broken or damaged hairs. The Velecta Paramount is ergonomically designed and feels comfortable in the hand.

The controls are simple to use with two speeds, two heat settings (the lower one is perfect for thinner hair) and a cool shot button. Groom+Style also liked the salon-length nine-foot power cord.  2000 watts is a lot of power in a blow dryer, particularly when delivered at 81 mph.

Velecta says it will dry your hair 60% faster than a normal blow dryer. While Groom+Style cannot verify this, we believe it! Just be careful not to over dry your hair, as it can happen very quickly with this model. Velecta Paramount claim the dryer emits only 64 dB of noise, however when you plug it in, it appears to be as loud as any other hair dryer.

This is a brilliant hair dryer for those who want the best.

Facts and figures for the Velecta Paramount X:Q Onyx Blow Dryer:

  • Power: 2000 watts
  • Ionic: Yes
  • Temperature settings: Two, plus cool shot
  • Heating: Ceramic and tourmaline
  • Size: 14 x 14 x 8 inches
  • Weight: 18 ounces
  • Warranty: Not specified
  • Diffuser/concentrator: 1 diffuser, 2 concentrators
  • Cord length: 9-foot

Check Velecta Paramount Blow Dryer Price on Amazon

2. Elchim 3900 Hair Dryer

Best Hair Dryer Elchim 3900 Hair Dryer
Elchim 3900 Hair Dryer. Click on the photo to check the Price on Amazon.

The Elchim comes to us from Italy, and while it does not have the sleek look of the Velecta Paramount, its performance comes close to that of our top-ranked model and is better value.

This blow dryer uses ceramic elements to generate the negative ions which neutralize the damaging positive ions created by chemicals and other hair treatments. The ceramic elements close the follicles and smooth down the shafts while hydrating hair, making it smoother, more manageable while reducing frizz and fly-aways.

This is another 2000 watt blow dryer with strong airflow which works extremely quickly even on thick hair, while the two speeds, three heat settings, and cold shot button, let you tone things down for normal or thin hair.

The Elchim works almost as quickly as the Velecta and produces almost the same styling results. The slight difference between the two models may be due to the Elechim not having tourmaline in its ionic mix.

This model looks clunky, but its ergonomic handle fits well in the hand and the eight-foot power cord is sufficient for most uses. One nice feature of the Elchim 3900 is that it comes with two concentrator nozzles (but no diffuser) to let you focus the airflow exactly where you want it.

You probably will not see the Elchim at your local salon, but it provides a quick and professional blow dry even for thick and curly hair, at a reasonable price.

  • Facts and figures for on the Elchim 3900 Hair Dryer:
  • Power: 2000 watts
  • Ionic: Yes
  • Temperature settings: Three, plus cool shot
  • Heating: Ceramic
  • Size: 7 x 9 x 3 inches
  • Weight: 23 ounces
  • Warranty: Lifetime
  • Diffuser/concentrator: 2 concentrators
  • Cord length: 8-foot

Check Elchim Hair Dryer Price on Amazon

3. BaBylissPRO Titanium Dryer

Best Hair Dryer BaBylissPRO Titanium Dryer
BaBylissPRO Titanium Dryer. Click photo to check the Price on Amazon.

This is the heaviest ionic dryer the team for art of hair has reviewed, which is one reason why it comes in at number 3 on our list. You may not mind the extra weight, however, when you learn that the BaByliss performs very well at a price you would expect to pay for a drugstore hairdryer.

Rather than using ceramic and/or tourmaline components, this 2000 watt dryer uses titanium for the creation of negative ions. Titanium provides faster heat transfer than the other two materials, but it is not as evenly delivered. This means you have to be extremely careful not to over dry or even touch the blow dryer to your hair when using it. The uneven and high heat makes this type of model best for blowouts a few times a week rather than for everyday use.

In spite of this, the BaBylissPRO is an inexpensive model and does an impressive job in half the time it would take an ordinary dryer. In addition, the negative ions from the titanium components leave hair even shinier than most ceramic blow dryers. The BaBylissPro is versatile, with two speeds, four heat settings, and a cool shot button. The airflow is very good, and it comes with one concentrator nozzle and a long nine-foot cord.

This BaByliss would not be our first choice for a salon-style blowout, but it is excellent for good for styling and drying hair lightning-quick. For its price, it is a bargain.

Facts and figures for the BaBylissPRO Titanium Dryer:

  • Power: 2000 watts
  • Ionic: Yes
  • Temperature settings: Four, plus cool shot
  • Heating: Titanium
  • Size: 11 x 10 x 4 inches
  • Weight: 32 ounces
  • Warranty: Four years, limited
  • Diffuser/concentrator: 1 concentrator
  • Cord length: 9-foot

Check BaBylissPRO Blow Dryer Price on Amazon

4. Andis 1875 Watt 2-Speed Styling Hair Dryer

Andis 80655 1875-Watt Styling Hair Dryer, 2-Speed And 2-Heat Settings, Black

Groom+Style promised you an inexpensive blow dryer which would do the job as quickly as possible at a low price, and here it is! This is an upgraded model over the company’s previous 1875 watt dryer, and Andis has added a number of features at the same great price; the most important is ionic tourmaline technology to help repair damaged hair and lock in the moisture that will keep it healthy.

This upgraded model now has two heat settings as well as two speeds, plus a cool shot button to lock in the style you craft. It has a removable air intake filter that can be cleaned easier, and the coiled power cord has been lengthened to eight feet. Although the design is nothing special to the eye, it is powerful enough to dry long or thick hair almost as quickly as the models the Groom+Style review team has ranked higher on our list.

The Andis Styling Hair Dryer comes with a surprisingly long five-year limited warranty, and in our experience, blow dryers never make it through five years – so this could be a cool way to get a good-quality hairdryer for life.

Facts and figures on the Andis 1875W Turbo Dryer:

  • Power: 1875 watts
  • Ionic: Yes
  • Temperature settings: Two, plus cool shot
  • Heating: Tourmaline
  • Size: 3.6 x 11 x 8.2 inches
  • Weight: 1.65 pounds
  • Warranty: Five years, limited
  • Cord length: 8 feet

Check Andis 1875W Turbo Dryer Price on Amazon

5. T3 Featherweight 2 Dryer

Best Hair Dryer - T3 Featherweight 2 Dryer
T3 Featherweight 2 Dryer. Click on the photo to check the Price on Amazon.

Groom+Style finish our list with another ionic blow dryer which takes a slightly different approach than the top three products in our rankings. The 1800-watt T3 uses a trademarked technology called “SoftAire”, which uses a specially engineered fan to blow the hot air at a slower speed than normally seen with a more powerful hairdryer.  The producers of this model claim that this is the best way to combat frizzy hair. The air that is delivered is still hot enough to dry hair quickly, and the tourmaline heating elements produce negative ions to keep hair shiny and frizz-free!

The T3 does not come with a diffuser. However, the unit is designed so the hot air comes out gently in a wide cone rather than a tightly-directed blast, effectively acting like a diffuser. This design speeds up the drying process while protecting against the damage that can easily be caused by powerful blow dryers. It does come with a concentrator attachment if you prefer to go that route. There are two speed and three power settings on the T3, with a nine-foot power cord. This model is one of the most stylish dryers Groom+Style have reviewed; it is comfortable to hold and is extremely lightweight.

All of these features would make this one of our top choices on our review list, except that the gentle airflow makes this a “niche” choice rather than a hairdryer for everyone. The price tag is definitely reasonable, particularly if you are constantly fighting the battle against frizz.

Facts and figures on the T3 Featherweight 2 Dryer:

  • Power: 1800 watts
  • Ionic: Yes
  • Temperature settings: One, plus cool shot
  • Heating: Tourmaline
  • Size: 9 x 4 x 10 inches
  • Weight: 13 ounces
  • Warranty: Two years, limited
  • Diffuser/concentrator: 1 concentrator
  • Cord length: 9-foot

Check T-3 Featherweight Professional Hair Dryer Price on Amazon

Andis 1875W Turbo Dryer

Best Hair Dryer - Andis 1875W Turbo Dryer
Andis 1875W Turbo Dryer. Click on the photo to check the Price on Amazon.

* Unfortunately it looks like this Andis model might not be available right now, so please consider the Andis 1875-Watt 2-Speed Styling Hair Dryer.

Do not expect ionic technology or lots of options; the Andis Turbo Dryer is for people who hop out of the shower, and just want their hair to be completely dry before going. With 1875 watts of power, the Andis is up to that task.

This model only has one heat setting and two speeds, although it does have a cool shot button. It comes with a concentrator attachment, a hair pick, and a shorter (six feet) power cord. Although the design is nothing special to the eye, it is powerful enough to dry long or thick hair almost as quickly as the ionic models Groom+Style reviewed.

Incidentally, the Andis Turbo Dryer comes with a surprisingly long five-year limited warranty.

In our experience, blow dryers never make it through five years, so this could be a way of getting a hairdryer for life!

Facts and figures on the Andis 1875W Turbo Dryer:

  • Power: 1875 watts
  • Ionic: No
  • Temperature settings: One, plus cool shot
  • Heating: Standard
  • Size: 9 x 11 x 4 inches
  • Weight: 28 ounces
  • Warranty: Five years, limited
  • Diffuser/concentrator: 1 concentrator
  • Cord length: 8-foot

Check Andis Turbo Hair Dryer Price on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better ionic or ceramic hair dryer?

Ceramic hair dryers cost a bit more than regular ones, but they’re worth it because they have extra good things. Ceramic dryers send out some negative ions to manage frizzy hair. But if you really want to take care of frizz, it’s better to spend money on ionic hair dryers instead of ceramic ones.

Do expensive hair dryers make a difference?

In most cases, the answer is yes. Hair tools that are of better quality and have improved technology give a way better drying experience compared to cheaper options that basically just blow out hot air.

Are good hair dryers worth it?

Investing in a high-quality hair dryer can be worth it, depending on your specific hairstyle and desired outcome. A good hair dryer can help you achieve soft curls, straighten out unruly strands, or create any other look you desire.

Conclusion

With this list of the best hair dryers, you can be confident that your hairstyling needs will be met by whichever one you choose. Whether you want to try something new or just stick with a classic, this hair dryer roundup is sure to help you pick the best option for your look and lifestyle.

Plus, we’ve given an outline of all the necessary features so you can make an informed decision when purchasing your newest best hair dryer.

The team at GroomwithStyle hopes you found this review useful.  If you are still on the lookout for other hair styling products, why not continue reading about the top 5 flat iron hair brush straighteners?

Author

  • Rebecca Moses

    Depending on the day, you’ll find Rebecca in a well thought-out ensemble that she handcrafted herself, or in hiking and rock climbing gear. An avid outdoorswoman, cyclist, and cat lover, Rebecca reminds us all on the Groom+Style team just how much we need to get outdoors. She’s worked in spas and salons off and on before going full-time with the G+S team. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-moses-3158b914b/

3 thoughts on “Best Hair Dryer Review – Top 5 Hottest List”

  1. Thanks for your helpful reviews. I’m tending toward the Andis model. I have hair which is very fine but I have enormous quantities of it. It’s so dense that it lies flat on my head. It’s also straight. I keep it short in order to have a bit more body. Do you think the Andis is the best choice for me?

    Reply

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