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The Best Hair Dryers

August 13, 2026 · 12 dryers tested

The Best Hair Dryers

Gold Tested

GT
Lisa Nakamura, Gold Tested
Our editorial team tests products through controlled, multi-week panel evaluations using calibrated measurement equipment.

We measured drying speed, heat distribution, and weight during 100 drying sessions across four hair types. The Dyson is expensive but not always the answer — for thick, curly hair, a different pick wins.

#1 Pick
Dyson Supersonic

The best Hair Dryers

Dyson Supersonic by Dyson

The Dyson Supersonic dried fine-to-medium hair 35% faster than the average dryer thanks to its high-velocity focused airflow. Heat distribution is the most even we've measured — no hot spots. The magn

How we tested

We timed dry from towel-dried to fully dry on four hair types (fine straight, medium wavy, thick curly, coily). We measured surface temperature across the airstream and weighed arm fatigue with a force gauge after 15-minute sessions.

Why it won

The Dyson Supersonic dried fine-to-medium hair 35% faster than the average dryer thanks to its high-velocity focused airflow. Heat distribution is the most even we've measured — no hot spots. The magnetic attachments swap faster than any push-on nozzle.

Gold Tested Score

Drying speed 9.6
Heat control 9.7
Weight/comfort 9.3
Attachments 9.5
Noise 8.4
9.3 / 10 Category avg: 7.1

Specifications

MotorDyson digital V9
Heat settings4 + cold shot
Speeds3
Weight1.8 lbs
Cord length9 ft
Attachments5 magnetic

The bottom line

The Dyson Supersonic earns our top pick because it outperformed the competition in the metrics that matter most. At an overall score of 9.3 against a category average of 7.1, the gap speaks for itself. If you are looking for the best in this category, start here.

See Dyson Supersonic

Dyson