The Best Hair Dryers That Don’t Damage Hair

Best Hair Dryers

The right hair dryer can help you avoid heat damage. But with so many options on the market, it can be hard to know which one is best for you. We turned to experts for guidance. They told us the key features to look for, what to avoid, and why they love their favorite hair dryers.

Using a best hair dryer can cause heat damage in three ways: It can burn the outside layer of your hair, known as the cuticle; cause tiny holes to form in the cuticle, which exposes the inner layers of your strands; or break down the keratin that makes up each hair strand. The good news is that you can minimize damage by using a heat protection styling spray, avoiding high-heat settings, and using a cool shot button at the end of your blowout.

You’ll also want to pay attention to the sound level of your hair dryer. A model that reaches 85 decibels or higher veers into heavy-traffic-zone territory, which can damage your hearing over time. A hair dryer with a lower noise level, like this one from Bio Ionic, may be better for you. It earned top marks in GH Beauty Lab assessment and is lightweight enough that you can easily hold it for an extended period of time. The quieter model also produces less heat and is gentle on your scalp and strands, which can be a plus for those with fragile hair or sensitive scalps.

The Best Hair Dryers That Don’t Damage Hair

Hairstylist D’Exenia Clark says she loves this hair dryer for its smoothing and volumizing power. Its nozzle attachment works well on curly and kinky hair to lift the roots, while the wide tooth comb attachment is great for detangling and fluffing afros and tangles. It’s also easy to use, which is a must for any hair dryer you buy.

Another hair dryer that earned praise in GH Beauty Lab testing for its strong airflow and lightweight feel is this ionic model from InStyler. It has a dial that lets you customize the temperature, and it’s one of the few models tested that didn’t cause heat damage to hair at all. In fact, this dryer was among the least damaging in GH’s assessment and is a solid option for all hair types.

The InStyler also has a cool shot button that can be used at the end of a blowout to help lock in your style and keep your strands from frizzing. This feature is especially important for kinky and curly hair, which is more susceptible to frizzing.

A travel hair dryer can be a lifesaver when you’re traveling and don’t have access to your usual tools. The CHI 875 Series Advanced Ionic Compact Hair Dryer is compact, lightweight and powerful, and it’s made with antimicrobial materials that minimize bacteria build-up inside the unit. Plus, it has a universal voltage switch so you can use it anywhere in the world.

This hair dryer is a top pick for those with curly and kinky hair because it comes equipped with a diffuser that has extendable prongs to evenly dry curls. Testers found it also dries quickly and minimizes frizz, a common problem for curly hair.