Friend to Friend: These Are the Only Hair Dryers That Won’t Inflict More Damage

Before we talk about the exact dryers that experts and the internet recommend, let’s talk about what makes a good hair dryer in the first place. According to Jamila Powell, founder of Naturally Drenched and owner of Maggie Rose Salon, it comes down to three things—heat control, airflow, and wattage.

“Traditional hair dryers can cause damage and frizz because of a lack of heat control and airflow, but ionic and ceramic hair dryers—preferably with heat control—can effectively dry your hair with minimal damage,” she says. “Another thing to pay attention to is the wattage of your hair dryer. Wattage determines heat and drying speed, and a dryer with a wattage around 1400 will effectively dry all hair textures without going overboard and causing damage.” 

In other words, blindly choosing any old hair dryer you find at the drugstore simply won’t cut it. Not only could it prove to be extremely damaging to already damaged hair, but it could lack efficacy too. And who wants to stand in front of a mirror with a tired arm holding up a screeching hair dryer any longer than they have to? Not me. Keep scrolling to see the seven best hair dryers for damaged hair.