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Buying guide

Best fast-drying hair dryers

Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick

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Top picks at a glance

Compare them all

  • Best overall

    Dyson Supersonic r: Dyson's most powerful dryer

    Dyson describes it as its most powerful hair dryer, with a 1,700 W rating.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Best value

    Dyson Supersonic Origin: 13 litres of air per second

    One of the few listings to give real numbers: 110,000 rpm, 3.5 kPa and 13 litres per second.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Most features

    ghd Speed: ghd's fastest motor, high-pressure air

    ghd says this is its fastest next-generation motor, producing a high-pressure airflow.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Drying time comes down to how much air a dryer moves and how hard it pushes it, not just how hot it runs. High-speed brushless motors spinning at around 110,000 rpm have changed what a compact dryer can do, while salon dryers still lean on high wattage and big airflow figures. This guide compares seven dryers whose listings focus on fast drying, and lines up the numbers that drive it: motor speed, the stated airflow or air pressure, wattage and the weight you hold for the whole session. Makers measure airflow in different units, so we quote each figure as given rather than convert claims into drying times. Where a listing does not give a figure, we say it is not stated. Long or thick hair will benefit most from the top picks.

All products compared

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

The products in detail

No. 1 · Dyson

Dyson Supersonic r: Dyson's most powerful dryer

Dyson calls the Supersonic r its most powerful yet lightest hair dryer. It is rated at 1,700 W and comes with a powerful air attachment and a professional concentrator.

In its favour

  • Dyson describes it as its most powerful hair dryer, with a 1,700 W rating.
  • A powerful air attachment is included specifically for fast drying.
  • Four heat and three speed settings let you rough dry fast and then switch to styling.

Good to know

  • The listing does not give motor speed or airflow figures to compare.
  • At 790 g listed weight it is heavier than the Laifen or Elchim.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Dyson Supersonic r™ Hair Dryer

No. 2 · ghd

ghd Speed: ghd's fastest motor, high-pressure air

ghd's ultra fast drying dryer, powered by what ghd calls its fastest next-generation motor, with a halo of cooler air around the heated core.

In its favour

  • ghd says this is its fastest next-generation motor, producing a high-pressure airflow.
  • Halo dual-airflow surrounds the hot core with cool air, so you can dry close to the roots.
  • Four speed options and four heat settings.

Good to know

  • No motor speed, airflow or wattage figure is given to back up the speed claim.
  • Only the halo concentrator is included; other attachments are sold separately.
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Listing title: ghd Speed Ionic Hair Dryer, Ultra Fast Drying, Power with Control

No. 3 · Dyson

Dyson Supersonic Origin: 13 litres of air per second

The original Supersonic with a Dyson Digital Motor V9 at up to 110,000 rpm. Dyson states 3.5 kPa of pressure and 13 litres of air per second.

In its favour

  • One of the few listings to give real numbers: 110,000 rpm, 3.5 kPa and 13 litres per second.
  • Four heat and three speed settings, with a smoothing nozzle in the box.
  • A glass bead thermistor measures exit temperature 40 times per second.

Good to know

  • Only a smoothing nozzle is included, so there is no diffuser for curls.
  • Cable length is not stated in the listing.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Dyson Supersonic Origin Hair Dryer – Fast Drying Blow Dryer - Prussian...

No. 4 · Parlux

Parlux Digitalyon: 2,400 W and 88 m3/h airflow

A salon dryer from Parlux with a digital E-LYON motor, a 2,400 W rating and an 88 m3/h airflow rate, plus a 3.3 m cable.

In its favour

  • The highest wattage here at 2,400 W, with a stated 88 m3/h airflow.
  • A 3.3 m cable suits long sessions on long or thick hair.
  • Air Ionizer Tech is listed to speed up drying times.

Good to know

  • Only two speed settings are listed, fewer than the Dyson or ghd dryers.
  • The hand-held weight is not clearly stated.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Parlux Digitalyon Hair Dryer. Lightweight 2400 W Blow Dryer (Grey)

No. 5 · PHILIPS

Philips 8000 Series: dries in 3 minutes or less claimed

Philips' fastest dryer, with a brushless DC motor at up to 110,000 rpm. Philips claims drying in 3 minutes or less and a weight of 395 g.

In its favour

  • Philips claims fast drying in 3 minutes or less with its brushless DC motor.
  • At 395 g it is Philips' lightest high-speed dryer, per the listing.
  • An auto-clean mode is listed for easy maintenance.

Good to know

  • At 1,400 W it has the lowest wattage of the dryers in this guide.
  • Only an 8 mm styling nozzle is included, and the specs list just two settings.
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Listing title: Philips Hair Dryer 8000 Series, with ThermoShield Advanced, Ionic, Bru...

No. 6 · Laifen

Laifen Swift Premium: 110,000 rpm and 22 m/s

Laifen's Premium gift box with a 110,000 RPM motor, 22 m/s airflow and LED heat display. A lower-cost route to a Supersonic-style dryer.

In its favour

  • Stated 22 m/s airspeed and 110,000 RPM motor.
  • Heat is monitored 100 times per second, per Laifen.
  • Magnetic wall mount included for tidy storage.

Good to know

  • Only one nozzle, the smooth nozzle, comes in this box.
  • Warranty is listed simply as 2, with no detail.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Laifen Swift Premium High-Speed Hair Dryer Royal Blue Gift Box

No. 7 · Elchim

Elchim Anemos: 1,000 L/min at just 290 g

An Italian professional brushless dryer that matches Dyson's quoted motor speed while weighing far less, with a published noise figure.

In its favour

  • 290 g is less than half the weight of the Supersonic Origin.
  • Published 1,000 L/min airflow and under 69 dBA noise.
  • 1,800 W rating, above the Supersonic's 1,600 W.

Good to know

  • The listing does not say which attachments are included.
  • Heat settings and temperature control are not described.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Elchim Anemos Digital Sonic Micro-brushless Black Hair Dryer - Profess...

More buying guides: Choosing a hair dryer

Blow and Barrel chooses every product independently, based on what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission on purchases made through the affiliate links above. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.