The Five Best Hair Dryers for Wavy and Curly Hair (From Cheapest to Most Expensive)
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Not all diffusers are the same. I’ve used quite a few, and although they may look similar at first glance, the experience is completely different depending on what you’re looking for: price, drying speed, build quality, or versatility. Here are five models I’ve tested myself, from the most affordable to the most expensive.
1. Tymo AirHype Lite | ~$100
Small, lightweight, and easy to use. It took about 20 minutes to dry my hair—which is of average thickness and chest-length—which is about average. Nothing groundbreaking, but it does what it’s supposed to do. If you’re looking for an affordable, fast-drying hair dryer that’s compact and easy to take with you when traveling, this is a great choice to start with.
2. Laifen Swift | ~$140
A good mid-range option that does exactly what it promises. For my hair, the drying time was also about 20 minutes, so in terms of speed, it’s comparable to the Tymo. The package includes the hair dryer, a diffuser, and a concentrator nozzle, which is a great set for this price.
Good to know: The diffuser is removable and not very sturdy, and mine cracked after I dropped it just once. So if you tend to be a little careless with your tools (I’m that kind of person), keep that in mind. The good news is that the hair dryer itself still works perfectly with a universal diffuser.
3. Shark FlexStyle | ~$300
This is perfect for you if you like to mix up your look and don’t want to wear your hair curly all the time. The complete set includes air curling pins, a diffuser, brushes, and much more—all at a much more affordable price than the Dyson. The diffuser nozzle is large and can hold a lot of hair at once, which speeds up the process considerably.
The drying time is also pretty short. There’s one thing I want to be honest about: the machine is really loud. If you have a sleeping baby or a pet nearby, this might not be the best choice. But considering the price and everything you get with it, I definitely recommend it. And I’m not going to lie: I’m a little biased, because I love using this device’s air curlers.
4. GHD Speed | ~$399
The price is in the same range as the Dyson, but to be honest, I prefer this model. It’s a little heavier than the other models I’ve tested, but I don’t mind that. What’s more important is its performance: it dried my hair in less than ten minutes, which is really impressive. It also gets less hot than the Dyson, which is a big plus if you have fine or thin hair that overheats easily.
5. Dyson Supersonic | ~$429+
This is the most expensive device on this list, and as a stylist, it’s also the one I use most often in my home salon. Its speed is unmatched: even with clients who have dense, thick hair, the Dyson dries everything in 10 to 15 minutes at most. Time is of the essence when you’re seeing one client after another. It’s a lot lighter than the GHD.
That said, the device does get warm, even on the lowest heat setting. If you have fine hair, I wouldn’t rush into buying it unless heat sensitivity isn’t an issue for you. In my salon, I use the lowest heat setting for finer hair or hair with lower density, and the medium setting for hair with high density. The magnetic diffuser attachment is handy, but it does fall off sometimes; I’ve learned to live with that by now. What I do want to say is that this device is incredibly durable: I’ve dropped the diffuser countless times, and it still works perfectly.
No matter which one you choose: if you dry your hair the right way on wash day, it can make a huge difference in how long your curls last and how much volume you get!
Have you tried any of these yet? Let me know in the comments!
