Finding the best hair dryers for men can be tougher than it seems. Not only are there literally hundreds of different models and brands to choose from, but very few vendors actually explain what makes their devices so great for men’s hair.
After all, while human beings of all genders have similar hair, men’s hair can sometimes be thicker, denser, and affected by different hormones. Choosing the right hair dryer for your specific type of hair is crucial to ensuring you get the best results from every styling session, while protecting your locks.
That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you. Our team of hair experts has reviewed some of the world’s most impressive hair dryers to find out which options really give you barber-quality looks at home. From Dyson’s Deluxe model, to GHD’s efficient dryer, here are the top products to consider.
How we Chose the Best Hair Dryers for Men
Before you take our advice, you probably want to know how we selected the top hair dryers to include on this list. Notably, we’re not sponsored by any of these companies, however our team of salon experts regularly use and review a wide range of hair styling products, to ensure we can deliver the best possible experience to all of our clients.
To bring you this specific guide, our panel of testers (all with different hair types), reviewed around 20 different hair dryers, paying attention to factors that matter most to our customers, such as:
- Power: Wattage and speed settings
- Temperature and airflow: Temperature settings and cool shot options
- Design: How comfortable, lightweight, and ergonomic the hair dryer is
- Unique features: Extra attachments, unique materials used, and innovative technology
- Pricing: The overall cost of the dryer
The 5 Best Hair Dryers for Men: Assessed by Salon Experts
We chose our list of the “best hair dryers” for men with a focus on finding devices that would be suitable for people with any hair type or style. Whether you’ve got frizzy, straight, thick, or fine hair, these products are sure to work perfectly for you.
Let’s dive into the list.
Dyson Supersonic: The Ultimate Hair Dryer
It might be one of the most expensive hair dryers on this list, but there’s no denying that the Dyson Supersonic is a true powerhouse. It doesn’t just look incredible, with its sleek, lightweight design, but it delivers a true gold medal performance, with industry-leading drying speed and 1600 watts of power. Not only does this hair dryer do the job quickly, but it does it incredibly well too.
The small but powerful motor, combined with Air multiplier tech produces a high-velocity and high-pressure jet of air, while giving you an exceptional level of precision. It actually measures air temperature itself over 40 times a second too, to prevent extreme heat or damage to your hair.
Engineered for virtually all hair types, the Dyson Supersonic leaves your hair feeling soft and rich, and it even comes with various great attachments for different styles. There’s a flyaway attachment, styling concentrator, diffuser for frizzy hair, a wide-tooth comb, and gentle air attachment.
Pros:
- Incredible drying speed for the man on the go
- Intelligent heat control to protect your locks
- Suitable for all types and styles of hair
- Wide range of heat options (3 settings plus a cold shot)
- Sleek and lightweight design
Cons:
- Expensive pricing
- Not the best indicator light
GHD Helios: Best Control and Ergonomics
The Helios hairdryer, created by GHD, is one of the best hair dryers for men we’ve tried to date. Like the Dyson, it comes with a phenomenal amount of power (1,875 watts), 3 temperature settings, a cool shot mode, and a fantastic “styling concentrator” attachment.
If you’re the kind of guy who doesn’t want to spend hours styling your hair each morning, you’ll love the performance of this dryer’s ultra-powerful brushless DC motor. It creates a phenomenal airflow of around 75mph, so you’ll be done primping in no time.
This dryer is also lighter and quieter than the original GHD Air, plus, it offers incredible control for those who need it. The AeroprecisTM technology, and contoured nozzle means you can position airflow exactly where you need it. The only real downside is that while your hair will look shiny after using this dryer, the hefty power can slightly reduce volume and bounce.
Pros:
- Extremely fast drying times
- Excellent for taming frizz and increasing shine
- Fantastic control, with a contoured design
- Lightweight, ergonomic, and quiet
- Multiple temperature settings
Cons:
- Hair can lose some volume
- Fewer attachments than some alternatives
Panasonic Nanoe Salon: Best for Ease of Use
If your idea of the best hair dryer for men is something simple but effective, the Panasonic Nanoe Salon is an excellent choice. While it might not be the most attractive hair dryer out there, it’s an innovative solution that uses a back-and-forth moving nozzle to dry hair quickly, and gently.
With an impressive 1875 watts of power, this sensational hair dryer helps to minimize damage to your scalp, which is excellent if you’re trying to avoid hair damage, and dryness. Plus, it comes with a range of professional quality attachments, such as a concentrator nozzle for precision styling, and a full-sized diffuser for when you want a bit of extra volume.
What really sets this hair dryer apart is how easy it is to use. You can easily switch back and forth between two different speed settings and 3 heat settings with a flick of a button. We also love the cool shot mode, which helps to keep styles in place for longer.
Pros:
- Excellent oscillating nozzle to protect your scalp
- Powerful and quick performance
- Cool shot option and 3 heat settings
- Various brilliant attachments
- Easy to use design
Cons:
- Not a very attractive design
BaByliss PRO Nano Titanium: Best Budget Model
Although there are definitely cheaper hair dryers for men out there, the BaByliss PRO Nano Titanium offers perhaps the best value for money. For less than $100, this hair dryer gives you incredible power (2000 watts), a long-life high-torque motor, and a lightweight, ergonomic design.
It includes a true ion generator, which helps to make your hair look shinier and healthier after every styling session. Plus, there are six different heat and speed settings for performance driving, including a great cold shot options. This dryer manages to be lightweight and ergonomic, while still delivering a professional quality finish.
You also get a concentrator nozzle included with the kit, and you can add other attachments too, such as the BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium universal diffuser. However, the heat settings can be a little fiddly to master, so keep that in mind.
Pros:
- Sensational power and fast performance
- Excellent lightweight and ergonomic design
- Fantastic for creating shiny, healthy looking hair
- 6 speed and heat settings
- Reasonably affordable
Cons:
- Some attachments don’t fit perfectly
- The heat settings aren’t ideal for everyone
GHD Flight+: Best for Travel
Another great product from GHD (they know their stuff), the GHD Flight+ is an incredible option if you’re looking for a lightweight, powerful hairdryer you can take on the move. Trust us when we say finding a great compact hair dryer isn’t as simple as it seems.
Unlike other travel hair dryers, this one really blew us away with its powerful wattage (1,600 watts), and speedy performance. Although you won’t get as many speed and heat settings as you would on a full-sized hair dryer, you can dry even long hair in less than 10 minutes.
Compact, and ergonomic, this device is incredibly convenient for regular travellers. It even has a folding handle, so you’ll have no problem fitting it into your suitcase. Plus, it should work with most outlets, because it can switch between 240V and 120V.
Pros:
- Lightweight and compact design
- Excellent dual voltage capabilities
- Fantastic speed and performance
- Cold shot setting included
- Comes with a travel case
Cons:
- Limited heat and speed settings
How to Pick the Best Hair Dryer’s for Men
We’ve already explained how we evaluated the best hair dryers for men available today, but we wanted to share a few extra tips to help you narrow down your options if you’re still not sure. Here are the most important things you’ll need to consider:
- Power (wattage): As mentioned above, a hair dryer’s wattage is an important factor to consider when picking a hair dryer. If you have thin, or regular hair, 1800 watts should be more than enough, but for thicker or curly hair, look for 2000 watts or above.
- Heat and speed settings: More heat and speed settings give you more control over your styling experience. High heat is great for tackling hair straight from the shower, however, you’ll want to switch to a lower setting later, to protect your hair from damage. A cool shot button is also great for protecting hair, and locking styles in place.
- Included technology: Ionic technology is big in the hair dryer world for a reason. Negative ions are great at breaking up water molecules in your hair, ensuring you can dry it quickly, and preventing flyaways. Positive ions, on the other hand, help to boost volume, to give you that fresh from the salon look.
- Accessories: Included attachments are often helpful, particularly if you have a certain type of hair. Diffusers are great for curly and textured hair, while precision nozzles give you more control when smoothing or blowing out your hair.
- Ease of use: Ultimately, the perfect hair dryer shouldn’t be complicated to use. It should make your life easier, with a convenient, ergonomic, and lightweight design. It’s also worth looking for a longer cable, so you can sit comfortably in front of your mirror while you work.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, the best hair dryer for your needs will depend on your specific hair and what you want to achieve. If you’re looking for the perfect combination of speed and power, the Dyson Supersonic is definitely our top pick. If you’re looking for an easy to use option that also protects your scalp and prevents exposure to excess heat, go for the Panasonic Nanoe.
Alternatively, if you just want a convenient dryer you can take with you on the go, you can’t go wrong with the GHD Flight+.
