The humble blowdryer is the unsung hero of your fall hair routine. Sure, softening shampoo, hydrating conditioner, and a good curl mousse can help in styling. But if your dryer is heavy and wheezing and you lost the diffuser attachment, a blowout can feel like a painful bicep workout — and you're tempted to just skip it and step out with dripping-wet hair to run the risk of a rough hair day and possible pneumonia.
See, that whole narrative changes when you invest in a nice blowdryer; one that's lightweight, speedy, and leaves your hair so warm and shiny that you actually semi-enjoy the process of blowing out your hair. Ahead, a few of Refinery29's resident beauty editors break down the hair dryers they can't live without, all of which make a worth-it splurge this fall if you like soft hair, faster blowouts, and, if nothing else, bone-dry hair during flu season.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer 2000
"I will sacrifice shoes and outfits to fit this blowdryer in my carryon when I travel. Nothing dries my thick, waist-length hair faster, and I rarely have to follow up with an iron for smoothness or shine. It has cut my drying time in half — which means more exploring, and less bathroom time, on vacation." — Cat Quinn, beauty director
Harry Josh Pro Tools Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer 2000, $, available at DermStore
T3 Cura Luxe
"I have been loyal to T3 blowdryers since my mom got me one for Christmas when I was 19 years old. It was a splurge then and, to be honest, it's still a splurge now, but I can't imagine using anything else. It gets my hair dry without frizz or arm pain, but the best part is that it leaves my hair healthy and smooth without any damage, which is all I really care about when it comes to my long, bleached hair." — Lexy Lebsack, senior beauty editor
T3 T3 Cura Luxe Hair Dryer, $, available at Ulta Beauty
Dyson Supersonic
"As editors, we have access to some of the best products and tools, but I never allowed myself to sip the Dyson Supersonic Kool-Aid, because multiple hundreds of dollars on a blowdryer seemed like a stretch to me. That was until a hairstylist recommended it to me for my curly hair journey and, well, now I’m sipping hard. While I prefer to air-dry my curls, sometimes I don’t have the time to wait, and the Supersonic dries my hair faster than I ever could've imagined and leaves me with zero frizz. The diffuser attachment sticks to the dryer magnetically, so I don’t have to worry about it slipping off or having to adjust it mid-drying. This is definitely an investment, but a worthy one." — Thatiana Diaz, beauty writer
Dyson Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, $, available at Dyson
NuMe Signature Hair Dryer
"After a sweaty workout, I need a blowdryer that gets super hot fast so I can dry my roots and be out of the door. This one gets the job done — plus it's cute!" — Aimee Simeon, beauty writer
NuMe Signature Hair Dryer, Turquoise, $, available at Amazon
Drybar Baby Buttercup Travel Blow Dryer
"Drybar's travel version of its Buttercup blow dryer is a total must-have tool for me whenever I'm traveling. While it's not equally as powerful as the full-size, it still quickly gets the job done when I'm DIY-ing my blowout. Plus, the foldable design takes up minimal room in my luggage, and compared to hotel room dryers? Well, there's no comparison." — Karina Hoshikawa, beauty and wellness market writer
DryBar Baby Buttercup Travel Blow Dryer, $, available at Amazon
Bio Ionic Whisper Light Pro-Dryer
"I dare you to not get your whole head dry in under 20 minutes with this dryer, which has a long nozzle that makes it easy to control for a rough dry or full blowout look. It always seems to make my hair so much shinier than it would be straight out of the shower, and I love that even though I’m heat-styling my strands, the dryer never makes them look damaged." — Samantha Sasso, beauty writer
Bio Ionic Bio Ionic® WhisperLight 1400W Professional Hair Dryer, $, available at JCPenney
ghd Air Hair Dryer
"I am utterly hopeless when it comes to styling my own long, wavy hair, but earlier this year I got a fringe that needs to be blowdried after every wash or else I look like a brunette Nick Carter circa 1999. This dryer is perfect for my one and only need, which is to successfully dry my hair without leaving it dry or frizzy. I've also dropped it a fair few times and it still works and looks great!" — Rachel Krause, senior beauty editor
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