The Best Hair Dryer in Australia for 2022
Or how to look salon-fresh without leaving the house.
Whether you’re a salon regular, or more of a yearly-trim kind of person, there’s no denying the feel-good factor of a professional blow dry. The best hair dryer is light yet sturdy, with a long cord and easy-to-use heat and airflow switches. We’ve looked high and low for Australia’s top hair dryers, and this is what we found.
How we picked
CHOICE is Australia’s biggest consumer advocacy group, and we began our research with their hair dryer reviews. To be sure we chose products rated by both experts and consumers, we cross-referenced our CHOICE picks with blow dryers that scored over 4 stars on ProductReview.com.au.
After checking in with major retailers to make sure our selections were readily available in Australia, we ended up with our list of Australia's top hair dryers.
The best for curly hair
Need a hair dryer that won't flatten your curls? We reckon the Remington Pro Air Turbo is the best hair dryer with a diffuser. Hair diffusers are funnel-like attachments that disperse airflow to leave you with soft, defined curls instead of flat, fried hair. We rate the 2400w Remington Pro Air Turbo because it combines a diffuser with ceramic and conditioning ionic technology to reduce frizz. It has 3 heat and 2 speed switches with a cool shot, and the filter is removable. This hair dryer also includes a concentrator attachment and round brush.
Aussies rate the Remington Pro Air Turbo just over 4 stars from nearly 90 reviews on ProductReview.com.au. It's reviewed by CHOICE, and curly-haired reviewers say the diffuser leaves bouncy, shiny curls. It may not be the best for children's hair, however, as several people say this hair dryer runs very hot. Others rate the black and rose gold design, as well as the ergonomic handle. While too much for some, we still think this is a great value hair dryer at around $50.
The best for fine hair
Dyson brings high-tech to hair care with their Supersonic Hair Dryer. This 1600w machine comes with four magnetic attachment heads for low-frizz drying: a gentle air attachment, diffuser, smoothing nozzle and styling concentrator, as well as a non-slip heat-resistant mat. While it's the most expensive on our list at around $550, the gentle hair attachment and lower wattage make it the perfect choice for those with fine hair.
Reviewers on ProductReview.com.au confirm, saying the Dyson Supersonic adds body without fly-away strands for soft, smooth hair. This blow dryer scores just under 4.5 stars from over 500 reviews on ProductReview.com.au, and is also reviewed by CHOICE. Some say it's 'a bit expensive for what it is,' while others have issues with overheating. Others are upset the filter replacements cost around $75. But if you've got the cash to splash, go for it.
The best for thick hair
With a grunty, high-performance AC motor, the 2300w Philips Prestige Pro hair dryer is our pick for those with thicker locks. This hair dryer blasts through wet hair with 6 speeds and heat settings, a 3m long cord, and a cool shot button to set your style. It's powerful, though one ProductReview.com.au reviewer says it's heavy. We also like that you can extend the 2-year warranty 3 extra years by registering online.
This blow dryer scores just over 4 stars from nearly 20 reviews on ProductReview.com.au. It’s also reviewed by CHOICE. At just under $150, we think this is an excellent mid-range hair dryer. Reviewers reckon it's strong and 'hot but not burning' while still being gentle enough to prevent frizz. Others rate the quality of this hair dryer, saying it produces the 'strongest wind among all the driers.'
The best for frizzy hair
Frizzy-haired folks will be delighted by the Remington Keratin & Argan Oil Nourish Hair Dryer. This blow dryer is designed to release (you guessed it) keratin and argan oil with its clever conditioning ring for strong, healthy-looking hair. At 2200w, this powerful hair dryer has a salon professional AC motor, with a trifecta of ionic, tourmaline and ceramic technologies for frizz reduction. It also comes with a 3-year warranty, 3 heat switches, 2 speed switches, and a cool shot.
The Remington Keratin & Argan Oil Nourish hair dryer scores almost 4.5 stars from a handful of reviews on ProductReview.com.au. It's also reviewed by CHOICE. Reviewers like the removable filter, saying it's powerful and quick, making thick and curly hair smoother. At around $80, we reckon it's one of the best hair dryers under $100.
The best for damaged hair
If your hair needs a little more TLC, we rate the Philips MoistureProtect hair dryer. It's our pick for dry or damaged hair because of its innovative MoistureProtect Sensor. This sensor uses infrared technology to continuously measure your hair's surface temperature, adjusting heat to stop hair drying out. It includes 3 heat and 2 speed settings with a cool shot button, and has an impressive 2300w motor to boot.
The Philips MoistureProtect is reviewed by CHOICE, and scores around 4.5 stars from just under 20 reviews. Most reviewers love this hair dryer, saying it 'really does leave your hair feeling softer.' Another Aussie says they can 'literally feel the moisture' in their hair after drying, too. One reviewer reports their element died within a few months, but for the most part, this classy-looking hair dryer ticks the boxes.
The best hair dryer brush
When time's not on your side, a hot air styler like the VS Sassoon Frizz Defense can be a real life-saver. This clever little tool is designed to give you a salon-style blowout at home, adding volume and shape without frizz or fuss. This model has forward, backward, hot and cool settings to style your hair while drying. It scores nearly 4 stars from over 50 reviews on ProductReview.com.au. While it can take a bit of practice to get it right, most say it gives a soft, natural result.
The best travel hair dryer
The Parlux 3500 SuperCompact is a top-tier ionic, ceramic hair dryer for seriously good hair. Hairdressers and salon-goers alike rave about these 2000-watt, 500g hair dryers, and they're made in Italy with a 2-year warranty. The Parlux includes 4 temperature and 2 speed settings for a range of hair types and textures, with an instant cold shot button and sturdy 3 metre cable.
The Parlux 3500 SuperCompact is reviewed by CHOICE, and scores just over 4.5 stars from nearly 30 reviews on ProductReview.com.au. One reviewer says they've dropped theirs 'several times' and it's still going strong. Another says it's 'nice and light' and 'travels well.' At just over $250, it's not the cheapest hair dryer you'll find, but in the words of reviewers, it's 'worth spending a little extra for the quality.'
The best value hair dryer
If you just want a simple, good-value hair dryer, you can't go past the Remington Aero 2000. Retailing at around $20, this 2000 watt hair dryer has 3 heat and 2 speed switches with a cool shot, concentrator and removable filter. It also has a 2-year warranty, which is impressive for the price. Aussies score it just under 4.5 stars from over 100 reviews on ProductReview.com.au, too. Reviewers say it's 'just as good as the more expensive models, if not better,' though one person finds the switches to be poorly placed.
The best lightweight hair dryer
Weighing in at just under 500g, the VS Sassoon Pro Dry 2300 is a lightweight hair dryer that doesn't compromise on power. This machine has a 2300w motor and 6 control settings, and the ergonomic handle also helps during longer styling sessions. It scores just over 4.5 stars from more than 15 reviews on ProductReview.com.au. They say it's 'not heavy and [is] comfortable to hold,' and several reviewers rate this blow dryer for long, thick hair. It's also excellent value at just under $30.
Loved by Aussies
If you're tired of replacing hair dryers, look no further than the salon-quality Parlux 385 PowerLight. Rated as one of the top hair dryers in Australia on ProductReview.com.au, this 2150w blow dryer uses ionic and ceramic technology to banish fly-aways and static. It has 4 temperature and 2 speed settings as well as a cold shot button to 'set' your hair.
We like that the Parlux 385 PowerLight comes with small and large concentrator nozzles. The Parlux 385 is made in Italy with a 2-year warranty. You can also buy diffusers and silencers, and it comes in a range of colours. Aussies are huge fans of this model, scoring nearly 5 stars from almost 120 reviews on ProductReview.com.au.
Reviewers say the Parlux 385 PowerLight is light, powerful, dries in minutes, and smooths out curly, thick, and coarse hair with ease. It's also lightweight and ionic, though some find the controls confusing. While it's one of the pricier hair dryers at just under $300, it's reviewed by CHOICE, and hairdressers rave about it. One reviewer even says it 'feels like my hairdresser [has] done it for me.'
Types of hair dryers
Hair dryers are packing different types of technology, including ionic, ceramic, or tourmaline.
Ionic technology is designed to reduce static and frizz with negative ions, generated by pushing air through an electric current. These negative ions help dry your hair by breaking down positively-charged water molecules. This helps your hair to dry faster at a lower temperature.
Ceramic is often used in smaller heaters as it heats up quickly and holds warmth well. Ceramic hair dryers use this material inside the machine to offer even heat distribution. This can help prevent you from frying your hair.
Tourmaline is a semi-precious stone used in hair dryers to amp up ionic technology by converting air moisture into negative ions.
What we looked for
Some hair dryers come with additional attachments. While there are a wide range, the two most common are concentrators and diffusers. Both are designed to clip onto the end of your hair dryer to change airflow and make styling easier. A concentrator is like a small funnel with a letterbox flap instead of a round chute. You can use it to create narrower, more powerful airflow for specific styling areas. A diffuser looks like a funnel too, but with 'fingers' around the widest part. Diffusers increase the spread of airflow, and sometimes have longer fingers to lift hair at the roots for more volume. More common diffusers have shorter fingers to gently cradle curly or wavy hair without flattening it.
Your hair dryer should have a cord of at least 2 metres to allow ample room between your hair dryer, your mirror, and the power outlet. Three-metre cords are the salon standard.
Hair dryers can suck up dirt and dust while turned on. This is often what causes the burning smell when you turn on an old hair dryer. Some of the more expensive hair dryers we found have removable or replaceable filters to catch debris and prevent it being sucked into the motor. This could make your hair dryer last longer, but may also cost more in the long run - especially if the filters aren't washable or reusable (here’s looking at you, James Dyson).
While weight isn't the most obvious feature to consider when buying a hair dryer, it's important for those with long, thick, or curly hair. If your hair takes longer to dry, a heavy hair dryer could be a literal pain. Most hair dryers are around 500g.
If your old hair dryer only has a single 'on / off' switch, you'll be pleasantly surprised by newer models which generally have separate switches for heat and airflow. This can be annoying if switches are awkwardly-placed, as you may find yourself nudging them as you dry. Both cheaper and pricier hair dryers include different heat and airflow settings, with most offering 2-3 options for heat, and similar settings for airflow. If you're using your new hair dryer on fine, dry, damaged or children's hair, look for a model with 2 or more heat settings. Lower, cooler airflow is ideal for styling, while higher, hotter air makes for better drying.
Sources
- 'Best Hair Dryers', ProductReview.com.au
- ‘Hair Dryer Reviews’, CHOICE
- 'Ceramic Versus Ionic Technology - Do You Know the Difference?', VS Sassoon
