Hair dryers & stylers
Dry faster, style smarter: choose by watts, weight and attachments.
Premium hair dryers, multi-stylers and diffusers compared on what the makers state: watts, weight in grams, cable length in metres and the attachments in the box. Plus the running cost of a blow-dry on your own tariff.
Our top picks
All buying guides- 1,300 WBest Airwrap-style multi-stylers
Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x: Gen2 motor, 6 attachments
- 6
- Conical and 40 mm
- Fast dryer 2x
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - 1,750 WBest Dyson Airwrap alternatives
Shark FlexStyle IonCurl: diffuser and 2 brushes
- 6 plus case
- 2 x 32 mm
- Twist-to-dry body
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - 1,750 WBest Dyson Supersonic alternatives
Shark SpeedStyle Pro: 5 attachments, Scalp Shield
- Not stated
- 662 g
- 5 plus storage bag
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - 1,700 WBest hair dryers with diffusers for curly hair
Dyson Supersonic r Curly+Coily: diffuser and comb
- Diffuser
- Curly, coily
- Wide tooth comb, concentrator
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
Running-cost calculator
Open the calculator →Running cost
- Energy per use
- 0.333 kWh
- Energy a year
- 86.7 kWh
- Cost per use
- enter your unit rate
- Cost a year
- enter your unit rate
Based on the rated watts. Lower heat and speed settings draw less, so this is an upper estimate. Type decimals with a point, for example 24.5.
The salon menu
Every topic on the site, from choosing a dryer to keeping it running.
- Choosing a hair dryerWatts, weight, motors, noise and heat settings: what separates one premium hair dryer from another.
- Airwrap-style stylersMulti-stylers that dry, curl and smooth with airflow, from the Dyson Airwrap to the Shark FlexStyle.
- Hair types, curls and diffusersMatching dryers, diffusers and nozzles to fine, thick, curly or long hair, plus blow-dry technique.
- Brands and modelsDyson, Shark, ghd and Laifen ranges explained model by model, with the differences that matter.
- Travel, watts and powerUK plugs, 230 V mains, fuses, kWh running costs and taking a hair dryer abroad or on a plane.
- Care and fixesFilter cleaning, cutting out, flashing lights and other common hair dryer and styler problems.
Common problems
Cutting out, flashing lights, clogged filters: causes and fixes.
- Lights, pauses or loose attachmentsShark FlexStyle not working right? What the lights usually mean, why it pauses mid-style, and how to fix attachments that will not click into place.
- Trips RCD or breakerHair dryer tripping the RCD or breaker? Learn the difference, the amps a 2000 W dryer draws on 230 V, the extension lead trap and when to call an electrician.
- Dead, cold or cutting outHair dryer suddenly dead or blowing cold? Check the socket, plug fuse, cable strain, thermal cut-out and lint build-up in this order before you replace it.
- Nozzle detaches during useWhy a ghd hair dryer nozzle detaches, how to seat it properly, how to clean the contact area and when it makes sense to order a replacement nozzle from ghd.
- Will not switch onDyson hair dryer dead? Check the socket, the 13 A plug fuse and the filter, then try the reset steps in your manual before you contact Dyson support.
- Cuts out or stops mid-useA Dyson hair dryer that keeps turning off is usually protecting itself from heat. Here is how to clear the filter, check the cable and know when to call Dyson.
- Airwrap won't start, cuts out or flashesDyson Airwrap not working? Checks for flashing lights, no power, cutting out and attachments not wrapping hair, before you make a warranty claim.
Calculators
Small tools that do the electrical maths for you.
Comparisons
- Shark FlexStyle vs SpeedStyleShark FlexStyle vs SpeedStyle Pro compared from the listings: curlers and twist hinge against a lighter dryer with Scalp Shield mode and auto-adjust tools.
- Shark FlexStyle vs FlexFusionShark FlexStyle vs FlexFusion: what the FlexFusion's heated ceramic straightening tool adds, and whether the original FlexStyle still covers your needs.
- Laifen vs Dyson SupersonicLaifen Swift Special vs Dyson Supersonic compared from the listings: 110,000 RPM motors, weight, attachments, heat control and warranty terms.
- Ionic vs ceramic hair dryers: what the labels meanIonic, ceramic and infrared hair dryer labels explained in plain English, what makers claim for each, and which premium dryers use which technology.
- Hot air brush vs straighteners: which is better for youHot air brush or straighteners? Compare finish, time, wet or dry use and heat, and find out when a multi-styler can replace your straighteners.
- Dyson Supersonic vs Supersonic rDyson Supersonic vs Supersonic r compared from the listings: 1,600 W ring design against the 1,700 W bent r, attachments and who each suits best.
Buying guides
Focused guides to one type of dryer or styler each, compared on what the listings state.
- Best Airwrap-style multi-stylers
- Best Dyson Airwrap alternatives
- Best Dyson Supersonic alternatives
- Best hair dryers with diffusers for curly hair
- Best hair dryers for fine hair
- Best hair dryers for thick hair
- Best hair dryers in the UK: premium models compared
- Best hair dryers under £300
- Best lightweight hair dryers for long blow-dries
- Best multi-stylers for long hair
- Best multi-stylers and hot air brushes for short hair
- Best quiet hair dryers
- Dyson Airwrap models compared: Origin, i.d. and Co-anda2x
- Dyson hair dryers compared: Supersonic, Nural, r and Origin
- Shark hair stylers compared: FlexStyle, Glam and SpeedStyle
Guides & advice
- Why a hair dryer has no earth wireWhy hair dryers do not need an earth wire: double insulation, the square-in-a-square symbol, and the 13 A fuse in a UK 3-pin plug and when it matters.
- What is an ionic hair dryer and how does it work?Ionic hair dryers explained without the hype: what negative ions do, what makers claim, whether they are worth it and which premium dryers include an ion generator.
- Using a UK hair dryer abroad: voltage, plugs and adaptersUsing a UK hair dryer abroad: 230 V in Europe, around 120 V in the US, plug adapters versus voltage converters, and how to check if a dryer is dual voltage.
- Can you take a hair dryer on a plane?Can you take a hair dryer or styler on a plane from the UK? Hand luggage and hold rules for corded dryers, cordless stylers and gas tongs, and what to check first.
- Is the Shark FlexStyle worth it?Is the Shark FlexStyle worth buying? What it does well, where it trails the Dyson Airwrap and which FlexStyle bundle suits your hair type and length.
- Is the Dyson Supersonic worth it?Is the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer worth the money? The motor, weight balance, heat control and attachments weighed against cheaper brushless dryers.