If you have curly hair, you know that having the right products and tools in your routine is critical to having hair that 1) looks good and 2) doesn’t stress you out. A good hair dryer is arguably one of the most important tools to have if your hair is curly. It helps dry, define, and even stretch your hair for some styles (like silk presses or box braids).
The reality, however, is that not all hair dryers are created equal or with curls in mind. When shopping for hot tools suitable for curly hair, you want to consider a bunch of things like attachments (do you prefer a concentrator nozzle or a diffuser?), heat settings are also important, and you want your device to be able to be as warm (or cool) as you need to do the job while keeping your hair safe. Another thing to consider? Speed. I mean, who wants to be sitting around all day waiting for their hair to dry? Most people using hair dryers are plugging them in on a weekly or daily basis, so if you are gonna spend your money, you want to also make sure that your dryer holds up. With the right hair dryer, you have the power to style your curls exactly the way you want them.
If you’re in the market for a hair dryer (that won’t crash on you in a few uses), we rounded up the best hair dryers for curly hair ahead from innovative attachments like diffusers and brushes to classic reliable options like hooded dryers.
Best Hair Dryers For Curly Hair
Best multi-attachment system: Dyson Supersonic — $429.00
Before using this hair dryer, if you’d ask us to cough up over $400 on a hair dryer, the answer would be a hard pass. After using this hair dryer, we can confidently say the Dyson Supersonic is worth the investment if your hair is curly. Many curly hair professionals use this in their salons because it delivers targeted heat that won’t fry curls. You can use it without an attachment to dry through a wash and go when you want some extra volume, or you can use the diffuser attachment when you don’t want to disturb your curls too much. I personally love the comb attachment, which is great if you’re stretching your hair for braids or a silk press.
- Targeted heat won’t over-dry or damage curls
- Drying speed allows for quick heat distribution
- Cool shot button to keep style in place
- Multi-use attachments for any style you desire
- Expensive but worth the investment if you’re looking for a dryer to have in your collection long-term
Best heated smoothing brush: Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer And Styler — $30.00
Don’t underestimate the power of a good styling brush for curly hair, especially if stretching your curls for buns or braids is part of your regular styling routine. This one is popular amongst people with curly hair because it quickly runs through curls (we recommend working in small-ish sessions for a really smooth finish) and smoothes while it dries. The only caveat: depending on the thickness of your hair, you may have to pass this through your sections multiple times, which is something to keep in mind if you’re trying to limit the use of heat.
- A lot of heat application may be required depending on your desired look
Best innovative technology: Bio Ionic Smart-X Dryer And Diffuser Set — $329.00
This dryer uses air to dry hair to cut back on excessive due to aggressive heat. It has a long nozzle design, which is perfect for drying or fluffing out a curly fro. If heat damage from hot tools is your main concern, it might be worth investing in this one.
- Heatless technology
- 9 ft. cord
- Might not work for everyone depending on your style preferences
Related Stories
Best hooded dryer: Conair Bonnet Hair Dryer — $70.00
A hooded dryer can be the unsung hero of any curly routine if your goal is defined curls that last for days. You can get one like this Conair Bonnet dryer, which provides a 360-degree air flow, which dries your entire head evenly. It’s a great option to set your hair for a wash-and-go style: just rake through your product and sit under the dryer for as long as you need for your hair to take shape. Once your curls are 100% dried, you can pick or fluff as you wish. This hooded number also has a two-heat setting and can adjust to your height. The only downside? It’ll take up more space than the average handheld drier, so ensuring you have somewhere to house this is key.
- 360 heat distribution
- Affordable
- Adjustable height
- Difficult to store in small spaces
Best innovative technology: T3 Featherweight StylemMax Hair Dryer — $200.00
This dryer takes the guesswork out of safe heat settings by allowing you to select your hair texture and adjust accordingly. If you want more control, you can also change the speed settings. We’ve seen a lot of hair dryers, but few are beating T3 when it comes to the little details featured in this one.
- Auto-adjust heat and speed technology based on hair type
Best diffuser: Curlsmith De-Frizzion Hair Dryer — $189.00
This was made specifically with curls in mind, and its 8-inch diffuser attachment is spacious enough to cup various textures, from loose waves to tight coils. Thanks to the size of the diffuser, you can dry more hair once, and drying more hair at once means more time in your life back.
- Large 8-inch diffuser attachment specifically designed to dry more hair at once
Best budget: Infiniti Pro By Conair — $54.00
Conair is a reliable brand of tools, and this one is a great choice if your hair is curly. It has six total heat and speed combinations and two different attachments, so you can customize it based on your needs. It’s a budget-friendly option, too, and it won’t drain your pockets but will do the job of drying your curls quickly.
- Six heat and speed combinations
- Affordable
Best for styling thick textures — $189.00
Who better to create a hair dryer for curly hair than someone with curly hair? Tracee Ellis Ross used her experience and expertise with natural hair to develop this hair dryer, which is honestly so durable yet extremely chic.
This one is perfect for someone like me with thick, natural hair. The blow dryer can gently diffuse curls and also stretch hair. The brush attachment also has thermal-protected bristles, so you can smooth your hair (think for a bun or ponytail) without worrying about your hairbrush melting.
- Great for diffusing and blowing out natural hair
- Multiple attachment options for different style preferences
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Available for U.S. and Canada only
Best budget-friendly option: Tymo Airhype — $169.00
Fans of this device like to compare it to the Dyson for good reason: it heats up nicely, has a sleek design, and does a great job drying and diffusing curly hair. It rings up at over $100 but still won’t cost as much as a Dyson if you’re on a budget.
- Four heat settings
- Powerful airspeed with multiple settings
- Lightweight feel
