Skip to main content
- Security
- Politics
- Gear
- The Big Story
- Business
- Science
- Culture
- Ideas
- Merch
- Black Friday
- Podcasts
- Video
- Newsletters
- Magazine
- Travel
- Steven Levy's Plaintext Column
- WIRED Classics from the Archive
- Events
- WIRED Insider
- WIRED Consulting
- Jobs
- Coupons
00
Days
:
00
Hours
:
00
Minutes
:
00
Seconds
Shop NowAll Products Tested and Reviewed by WIRED Editors
Medea Giordano Victoria Woollaston-Webber
Gear
We tried blow-dryers, brushes, and a machine that sucks up your locks like a vacuum. These are our top tools to dry your do.
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
4
/
17
Having curly hair is a challenge. I used to let it air dry, but I couldn’t stand sitting with wet hair all day and ending up with frizzy curls. I needed to find the best hair dryer for my unmanageable locks. Even if you don’t use it every day, it’s good to have one on hand for certain situations—like when you’re rushing to work straight out of the shower or if your finicky curls need to be diffused or if you crave smooth, glossy locks.
There’s an infinite number of hair dryers in every price range from a dizzying array of brands. If you have easy-to-manage hair that just needs to dry faster, you can probably go with any cheap dryer you find at your local CVS. But some of us have more temperamental hair that needs specific care. We’ve tried standard blow-dryers, blow-dry brushes, diffusers, and multiuse tools on coarse and fine hair. These are our favorites.
Be sure to read our other hair and beauty guides, including the Best Hair Straighteners and Best Curling Irons.
Updated August 2024: We've added the Dreame Pocket travel dryer.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
Medea Giordano is a former staff writer for WIRED who covered a little bit of everything including health, beauty, and pet tech. Prior to WIRED, she was an assistant editor at Wirecutter and an assistant in the newsroom of The New York Times. She studied journalism at Hofstra University and... Read more
Victoria Woollaston-Webber is a freelance journalist, editor and founder of science-led health, beauty and grooming sites, mamabella and MBman. She has more than a decade's experience in both onlineand print journalism, having written about tech and gadgets since day one for national papers, magazines and global brands. Victoria specializes in... Read more
Wired Contributor
TopicsShoppinghouseholdbuying guideshome
Curls and waves are beautiful. But when you want to smooth them out, these hot tools work wonders.
Kat Merck
We're testing gadgets that keep showing up in our feeds. Here are the ones that deserve the hype—and would make awesome presents.
Brenda Stolyar
Whether you’re setting out before dawn for that epic summit or need some light during a power outage, these are the best flashlight and headlamps you can buy.
Martin Cizmar
Tote your photo and video gear around in style. We tested more than 80 packs and rounded up our favorites.
Julian Chokkattu
Our favorite tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and other outdoor gear are on sale now.
Scott Gilbertson
Whether you’re climbing peaks or taking the family to the local park, we’ve found the best sleeping bags for every temperature, budget, and camping expedition.
Scott Gilbertson
Our team evaluated a ton of toiletry bags to find the best storage, organization, and design options for all your essentials.
Kat Merck
This is an essential item for all skiers and snowboarders. WIRED has tested the best helmets for all abilities and budgets.
Chris Haslam
These are the best bubblers we've found for fresh carbonation at a moment's notice.
Andrew Watman
These accessories might not cure your anxiety or insomnia, but they can feel like a hug when you really need one.
Nena Farrell
Which material should you buy? Percale or linen? We tested dozens of sheets to find our favorites and break it all down.
Nena Farrell
We spent months sleeping on various pillows to find the right support for your noggin whether you snooze on your side, back, or in a tangle of blankets.
Eric Ravenscraft