If you have thick hair, you probably know that it can be a pain to dry. However, if you have the right blow dryer, it could be a breeze. At one-time blow dryers were basically the same, handheld heat fans that took forever to dry your hair and would make you frizz up like a Chia pet. Now you can dry your hair fast and have smooth, shiny, healthy-looking hair all from your blow dryer technology. In this review, I will give you some information about the best blow dryers for your hair, and I will review five of the best blow dryers on the market.
Best types of hair dryers for thick hair
Just like everything else, blow dryers have evolved from their basic functions. There are now many different “technologies” that provide different benefits for your hair. Three of the best blow dryers for your full head of hair would be the ionic, tourmaline, and the titanium hair dryers.
Ionic Blow Dryers
One of the biggest reasons that traditional blow dryers cause your hair to frizz up is that they require too much heat to dry thicker hair quickly. Ionic blow dryers are designed to do the opposite, that is, the oppositely charged particle. Ionic blow dryers emit negatively charged ions and blast them onto your hair. “[Ions] is creating an environment where the cuticle can be closed easier and the [water molecule] can be taken from the hair quicker and easier. It usually requires less heat, less time, less energy to get a very polished blow dry,” explained Andrew Carruthers, director of Sam Villa.
Ionic blow dryers can be made with ceramic, tourmaline, or other types of material. They are just dubbed as “ionic” because of the added coil that generates the negative ions. It is important to note that ionic hair dryers aren’t really great for styling because they don’t add body or bounce to your hair. In fact, you will have less body than if you use other types of blow dryers. These hair dryers are more for people who value speed and saving time.
Tourmaline Blow Dryers
Tourmaline blow dryers are generally more powerful (not necessarily hotter) than ionic blow dryers although they still tend to use the power of negative ions when drying your hair. The big difference between tourmaline and ionic blow dryers is that tourmaline also generates infrared heat which allows your hair to dry from the inside out.
Because of the way tourmaline works, it takes even less time to dry your hair than an ionic dryer. It also dries your hair evenly and gently, so you don’t have to worry too much about heat damage. This makes it good for thicker hair as well as thin hair. Having a powerful dryer is great because you can dry your hair on a lower heat setting and lower speed setting and still get fast and high-quality results.
Titanium Blow Dryers
A titanium dryer is the most powerful of all of them. It can also produce the most heat. In a titanium dryer, the metal heating element is made from titanium and produces titanium dioxide which has great properties for drying, smoothing, and shining your hair. Another plus is that it is extremely lightweight so it’s easy to work with.
On the other hand, a titanium dryer is powerful. You must be careful not to damage your hair from heat with this type of dryer. I would recommend that you only use this type of blow dryer if you have really thick hair.
Does it matter how many watts my dryer has?
Most people think that they need the hottest dryer, but in all actuality, you just need a dryer with high watts. The best blow dryers will generally have at least 1600 watts.
If blow dryers are very expensive, does that mean they are the best?
Not necessarily. There are many low to mid-range priced blow dryers that give you high-quality drying results. With the more expensive models, you will generally be paying for the quality of the equipment itself, extra features, and a brand name.
How often should you replace blow dryers?
This really depends on your dryer. Does it still work as good as it used to or have you noticed that it doesn’t perform as well? If your answer is the latter, it’s time to replace the dryer. In general, blow dryers usually last around 5 years[1].
The Best Blow Dryers For Thick Hair
What Makes a Good Curling Iron for Thick Hair?
Curling irons for thick hair must have a high-temperature setting (heat up to at least 400F) to hold thick hair into curls all-day if not for a few days!
The best curling irons for thick hair use an advanced ionic or infrared technology to reduce frizz and keep your hair moisturized.
What size barrel is best for thick hair?
For thick hair, a curling iron with a barrel sized 1.5 inches is the most suitable option for everyday use.
Depending on your desired hairstyle, you can section your hair into smaller or thicker sections to create both tight and loose curls.
How do you make curls last all day with thick hair?
Use a mousse and heat protectant before you blow-dry in order to give the hair more hold. Prepping with a setting spray is also great for locking in your curls. Many of them offer heat protection, too!
Dyson Supersonic
Our Pick
Fast Drying. No extreme heat. Engineered for different hair types.
Ratings of the Dyson Supersonic on a scale of 1 to 5:
- Ease Of Use – 5
- Durability – 5
- Heat Output – 5
- Price – 3
- Options – 5
- Power – 5
There aren’t many things in this world that are perfect, but this dryer is very close. First off, it’s a Dyson. That by itself is enough to make you want it because Dyson is known for their innovative, high-quality products. More importantly, this is a very advanced dryer in which Dyson has sort of “created” their own technology, so it really can’t sit in the categories of ionic, tourmaline, or titanium.
One of the most impressive features is the built-in microprocessor and glass bead thermistor. These can virtually eliminate the need for any worries about heat damage because they monitor the temperature 20 times per second to ensure that you are drying at the ideal temperature. The dryer also features Air Multiplier Technology which allows the high-pressure air to be multiplied by three and sent out in a high-velocity jet. If any company knows about airflow, it’s Dyson.
The dryer is 1600 watts and has a 9 ft cord so you can move around easily. There really is no downside to this dryer other than the fact that it costs a small fortune. If cost is not a barrier for you, then the Dyson Supersonic Dryer is a really good choice.
PROS
- The motor is in the handle of the dryer so you don’t get that “top-heavy” feeling.
- The dryer is made with some of the best craftsmanship of hair dryers on the market. It also has a two-year warranty to back it up.
- It comes with three attachments while most blow dryers only come with one.
- If you like luxury, they have a blue Supersonic that has a 24kt gold faceplate.
CONS
- This dryer is expensive.
Where To Buy: Amazon
Conair InfinitiPRO 294NPR
Budget Pick
Ratings of the Conair Infiniti Pro on a scale of 1 to 5:
- Ease Of Use – 3
- Durability – 3
- Heat Output – 4
- Price – 5
- Options – 4
- Power – 5
You don’t always have to spend hundreds of dollars to get great results. The Conair Infiniti Pro is a combination of ionic and ceramic technology to give you smooth, shiny, frizz-free hair. This is a budget hair dryer, so it isn’t without its problems, but one thing that has been said over and over by consumers is that this dryer works well. If you aren’t too picky about name brands (because Conair is a generally a budget brand) and you want to save some money while still reaping the benefits of an ionic dryer, this is a great choice to consider.
PROS
- The removable grill on the air intake makes it easy to clean.
- You get phenomenal results for a budget price.
- A hanging ring is included with the dryer for easy storage.
- It has 1875 watts so it is a very powerful dryer.
CONS
- It is heavy compared to similar types of hair dryers.
- It is really noisy compared to similar dryers on the market.
- The buttons are in an awkward spot on the dryer so it is easy to accidentally press buttons while drying your hair.
Where To Buy: Amazon
The Rest Of The Competition
What Makes a Good Curling Iron for Thick Hair?
Curling irons for thick hair must have a high-temperature setting (heat up to at least 400F) to hold thick hair into curls all-day if not for a few days!
The best curling irons for thick hair use an advanced ionic or infrared technology to reduce frizz and keep your hair moisturized.
What size barrel is best for thick hair?
For thick hair, a curling iron with a barrel sized 1.5 inches is the most suitable option for everyday use.
Depending on your desired hairstyle, you can section your hair into smaller or thicker sections to create both tight and loose curls.
How do you make curls last all day with thick hair?
Use a mousse and heat protectant before you blow-dry in order to give the hair more hold. Prepping with a setting spray is also great for locking in your curls. Many of them offer heat protection, too!
Solano Vero
Weighing only 1.2 pounds, the Solano Vero features ceramic technology enhancing smoothness and shine.
Ratings of the Solano Vero on a scale of 1 to 5:
- Ease Of Use – 4
- Durability – 2
- Heat Output – 3
- Price – 5
- Options – 4
- Power – 4
The Solano Vero is a great mid-range priced tourmaline dryer that has a lot of great features. It has infrared technology to dry hair faster and gentler. It also has a cold shot, two-speed settings, and three heat settings. While it isn’t the absolute best, it does what it’s priced to do.
PROS
- The dryer has a 1600 watt motor.
- It uses far infrared technology so it doesn’t have to get super hot to dry your hair.
CONS
- The Vero blows air a little weaker compared to some similar dryers.
- The accessories can break easily.
Where To Buy: Amazon
Paul Mitchell Neuro Dry
The Neuro Dry High-Performance Dryer dries hair from the inside out, reducing frizz and adding salon-quality shine.
Ratings of the Paul Mitchell Neuro Dry Dryer on a scale of 1 to 5:
- Ease Of Use – 4
- Durability – 5
- Heat Output – 4
- Price – 4
- Options – 3
- Power – 5
The Paul Mitchell Neuro Dry Dryer is a great tourmaline styling tool that gives you smooth, dry hair in a small amount of time. That is basically what people want out of a dryer, so this could possibly meet your needs. It’s a bit pricey but it has an 1875 watt motor and it is a good, durable product so you can safely invest your money in it.
PROS
- The dryer has a SmartSense chip and a Clean Light filter to let you know when the dryer needs to be cleaned.
- It dries hair very fast, even if the hair is thick and/or curly.
CONS
- There is no way to control heat separately from airspeed, so you have fewer options for drying your hair.
- It is a very heavy dryer.
Where To Buy: Amazon
RUSK Engineering W8less
Weighing less than 1 pound, the RUSK® Engineering W8less® Professional 2000 Watt Dryer is easy to hold all day, yet powerful enough for all your styling needs.
Ratings of the Paul Mitchell Neuro Dry Dryer on a scale of 1 to 5:
- Ease Of Use – 4
- Durability – 5
- Heat Output – 4
- Price – 4
- Options – 3
- Power – 5
If you are power hungry (we are talking about your dryer), then the Rusk W8less dryer might fill your appetite. It has an incredible 2000 watt motor so you definitely get all the power you need, sometimes a little bit too much power. I would recommend not using the hot setting, even for thick hair. It’s also in a fair price range so you won’t break your wallet with this purchase.
PROS
- It’s super lightweight, weighing less than one pound.
- The electric cord is connected to the dryer with a ball joint so you have 360-degrees of flexibility when moving around with the hair dryer.
CONS
- The attachments don’t fit snugly and can slide right off while you are drying your hair.
- The hot setting is entirely too hot. This is possibly due to the 2000 watt motor.
Where To Buy: Amazon
Final Thoughts
The Dyson Supersonic was chosen as the best overall because not only do you get a great performing dryer, but it is innovative, interesting, and comes from one of the most trusted brands in the world. I confess–it is ridiculously expensive but this is no different than splurging on a luxury vehicle or a designer handbag. If you’ve got the funds and you like the best, then go for it.
There are no comparable hair dryers to the Dyson Supersonic, but if you are on a budget and just want something different and innovative, we recommend the Conair InfinitiPRO 294NPR. This dryer is inexpensive and is a well balanced and powerful blow dryer.
I hope the information in this review helps you to make a great decision on the best hair dryer for you and your locks.