This hair dryer may not have all the bells and whistles of the fancier (and pricier) options on this list, but it gets the job done beautifully.

For curly-haired folks looking for either a straight or bouncy blowout, Nicole Karkalis, cofounder of Chicago's blow dry bar, Blowout Junkie, recommends high heat and high-speed settings, “while creating tension with your desired brush to create that smooth, shiny finish. It weighs only 294 grams, is ergonomic and compact because it is designed to prevent muscle damage to arms and shoulders resulting from use at a professional level. We dry our hair once or twice a week, and our favorite style to create is a traditional full-bodied, bouncy blowout, which was easy to accomplish with this dryer — and fast. The hairdryer is also equipped with the most sophisticated and desired technologies, including: Oxy Active Technology, Memory Function, Auto-Clean and Intelligent Brushless Motor.The sensor regulates the temperature to prevent and protect both the hair and the hairdryer from overheating. I really enjoyed using it in my salon on all my clients and I didn’t get any hand ache, as it’s so light to hold. Similar to the noted downside of our budget pick, which is also from Conair, the button placement on this higher-end model caused a bit of a pause for us.

In fact, it blew out our fine, wavy hair within 30 minutes, commanding an airflow so strong that it sent the curtains swaying in our room. Yet we found that “strong, stronger, and very strong” might be more apt descriptions — even on the lowest setting, the air is forceful and consistent.The elegant design will enhance your salon, while the light weight will reduce muscle stress when blow drying for long periods, making it the ideal professional hair dryer. The recommended drying setting for all hair types is the 2nd temperature level, while we suggest the 1st temperature level for fine hair. She's a Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism graduate who sticks to the highest standards of commerce reporting. The combination of energy-saving and effective power features not only ensures shorter drying times but also helps to protect the hair and hair colour. I also tried the hair dryers at home on my own thick, wavy hair and that of my eight-year-old daughter’s long, straight hair.

Despite its time-efficiency, the airflow felt gentle and never too hot on our head and scalp— be sure to still use heat protectant spray. On its highest setting it measured 88 decibels in our test, so it’s not the quietest design on the market, and it can feel a little heavy in hand after a while. TECHNOLOGY - The hair dryer features an intelligent brushless motor, an interface with digital control technology that boosts product performance, exponentially reducing drying time. STYLING - iQ has exceptional airflow and pressure, so we highly recommend a unique drying setting when styling to ensure hair protection and optimise the performance of the hair dryer.iQ Perfetto promises high performance, combined with the construction features and design typical of the best Italian quality. Though the Bondi Boost Sonic Dryer comes with an air concentrator and a diffuser, both were at first tricky to attach as well as to take off without an extra set of helping hands. The cool shot button feature is what keeps the hair at a good temperature, even when you've been using a hot setting.

I wouldn’t use it professionally, as I didn’t feel enough difference on the heat controls, but it does have everything you need for a successful blow dry. For those who want to “take textured hair straight, you’ll need a concentrator attachment to smooth out strands and create shine,” says Giovanni Vaccaro, hairstylist and co-founder of the on-demand beauty service, GlamSquad.You can even hit the stop sections with the cool shot button to set the style, creating more of a voluminous look. Hair dryers with ionic technology are good at drying your hair at a faster rate on a lower temperature. While the heat doesn't feel as powerful as other models', it’s deceiving, as the dryer was fierce enough to also get a smooth blow dry done on our limp, fine hair without creating the dreaded “crispy” feel. Those blessed (or cursed) with a head of thick, luscious hair know the struggle of finding a blow dryer that will actually dry it. This hair dryer from ghd is not one of those — in fact, it dries thin hair and gives it one heck of a boost thanks to its 1600-watt power and easy-to-use concentrator attachment.