Your Hair Dryer And Its Attachments

Professional hair dryer reviews and advice on choosing the best model for your needs.

For thermal styling, look for a model that is lightweight and offers several heat settings and air flow options.

A cool shot button is a very nice feature for setting curls or volume styling.

Also be sure the model you choose has a removeable lint filter and take the time to clean it regularly. This will greatly extend the life of your appliance.

The temperature settings are another important factor when choosing a hair dryer. Look for an appliance with a minimum of 1500 watts, however around 1800 watts will work the best.

Our Recommendations

Hair Dryers

High End

This model has ceramic heat coils and uses tourmaline, a fairly new technology which is fast drying, yet retains moisture levels and natural oils in the hair.

The crushed tourmaline jewels work similarly to a magnet, emitting negative ions and infrared heat which dry the hair quickly without blasting the health out of it.

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Economical

A terrific, inexpensive powerhouse of a dryer.

With 6 heat/speed settings and 2000 watts of power, this model offers a lot of versatility for different styling needs.

Comes with a directional nozzle to concentrate airflow for better control and usability features like a rubberized handle for grip and a 9 foot cord... and of course, the all important cool shot button.

Dryers With Brush and Comb Attachments

The comb and brush attachments make these models a great choice for soft, natural styling. Smooth strands and add a bit of body to your hair with one of these two-in-one tools.

The design makes this type of hair dryer lightweight and the attachments allow for adequate tension to smooth the hair. Besides that, it takes the challenge out of trying to hold a brush in one hand and blower in the other!

Both of these models use ion technology which dries hair faster while enhancing shine and reducing frizz in the finished style.

Andis Ceramic Styler

Conair Infiniti Professional Tourmaline Ionic Styler

For Travel

A must if you're a jet-setter, or just on the go alot. Being away from home doesn't mean you have to use inferior tools, or settle for unmanageable hair.

This affordable travel models use Ion technology and offer the most important features in a hair dryer... adequate power and a cool shot button.

Anti-static ionic technology increases your hair's softness and shine and helps reduce 'fly away' hair. A powerful little friend to have along on your journeys. Also features a folding handle for travel convenience.

Features:

• 1875 watts of power
• Dual voltage for worldwide travel
• Cool shot button
• 2 heats/2 speeds
• 1 year warranty

Diffuser Attachments

This nifty gadget attaches to the nozzle of your hair dryer. Use a diffuser when you want to reduce the intensity of the air stream by spreading it out over the surface of your hair.

A great tool for drying curly or wavy hair or gently drying hair set in rollers. Look for a diffuser with a cup shape (hollow inside rather than flat on the surface), which allows you to pile hair in from ends to roots, or a model with long fingers which'll get right inside your curly hair and gently dry it.

T3 Diffuser

Solano Universal Diffuser

Hair Dryer Holder

This acrylic tool holder keeps your hair dryer conveniently on hand and off the surface of your furniture.

Can also be mounted on the wall if you don't have counter space.

A professional-type setup that protects your valuable appliances from risk of damage by dropping.

Hood Dryers

If you like hands free drying or do alot of roller sets, hair treatments or hair coloring, a hood dryer is a useful tool to have. Here are two good options at different price points, depending on your needs.

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Professional free standing hood dryer by Babyliss.

A professional ionic dryer with 1600 watts of power and built-in airflow diffuser that lets you enjoy professional quality and salon-results.

The benefit of this model is that it is portable so it can be rolled up behind any chair you want to sit in while your hair dries (or your color processes) and the height easily adjusts to get the dryer in the best position for optimal results.

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If you're not quite as hardcore about hair tools, or wouldn't use a hood dryer terribly often, this countertop model from Hot Tools would be a good choice.

It's got an extra large interior space to fit even the largest rollers and two heat/speed settings for different drying needs.

Low EMF emissions make this an extra safe tool and the ionic feature can be turned on or off for extra versatility.

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