Buying guide
Best hair dryers and stylers for men
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 allBest overall
Dyson Supersonic Origin: concentrator and V9 motor
The styling concentrator focuses airflow exactly where you need it, per the listing.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate linkBest value
Laifen Swift Special: 407 g, listed for men and women
Stated motor speed of 110,000 RPM matches Dyson's V9 figure.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate linkMost features
Shark SpeedStyle Pro: Scalp Shield and concentrator
Scalp Shield mode lowers air temperature for root drying, the listing says.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
Most men with short hair do not need a big dryer with a bag of attachments. What helps is a light, compact dryer that dries quickly, a narrow concentrator or styling nozzle to push hair into shape, and a low heat or gentle setting so you are not blasting the scalp. A folding handle or a small body also helps if the dryer lives in a gym bag. This guide compares six dryers whose listings fit that brief, from Dyson's original Supersonic and its travel model to light high-speed dryers from Laifen and Philips. For each one we pulled the stated weight, the nozzle in the box, any low heat or scalp mode, the wattage and whether the handle folds. Where a listing does not say, we mark it as not stated.
All products compared
- Dyson Supersonic Origin: concentrator and V9 motor
- Weight
- 640 g
- Styling nozzle
- Styling concentrator
- Low heat mode
- 4 heat settings
- Wattage
- 1,600 W
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Laifen Swift Special: 407 g, listed for men and women
- Weight
- 407 g
- Styling nozzle
- Concentrator
- Low heat mode
- Warm and cool settings
- Wattage
- 1,600 W
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Shark SpeedStyle Pro: Scalp Shield and concentrator
- Weight
- 662 g
- Styling nozzle
- Turbo Concentrator
- Low heat mode
- Scalp Shield mode
- Wattage
- 1,750 W
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Philips 8000 Series: Gentle mode for the scalp
- Weight
- 395 g
- Styling nozzle
- 8 mm styling nozzle
- Low heat mode
- Gentle mode
- Wattage
- 1,400 W
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Dyson Supersonic Travel: 330 g with a concentrator
- Weight
- 330 g
- Styling nozzle
- Concentrator
- Low heat mode
- Not stated
- Wattage
- 1,220 W
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Panasonic EH-NA7M: foldable 490 g nanoe dryer
- Weight
- 490 g
- Styling nozzle
- Concentrator
- Low heat mode
- Not stated
- Wattage
- 1,600 W
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
| Product | Weight | Styling nozzle | Low heat mode | Wattage | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyson Supersonic Origin: concentrator and V9 motor | 640 g | Styling concentrator | 4 heat settings | 1,600 W | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Laifen Swift Special: 407 g, listed for men and women | 407 g | Concentrator | Warm and cool settings | 1,600 W | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Shark SpeedStyle Pro: Scalp Shield and concentrator | 662 g | Turbo Concentrator | Scalp Shield mode | 1,750 W | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Philips 8000 Series: Gentle mode for the scalp | 395 g | 8 mm styling nozzle | Gentle mode | 1,400 W | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Dyson Supersonic Travel: 330 g with a concentrator | 330 g | Concentrator | Not stated | 1,220 W | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Panasonic EH-NA7M: foldable 490 g nanoe dryer | 490 g | Concentrator | Not stated | 1,600 W | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
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 Origin: concentrator and V9 motor
The original Dyson Supersonic, with the V9 motor, intelligent heat control and a styling concentrator for directed airflow. Four heat and three speed settings.
In its favour
- The styling concentrator focuses airflow exactly where you need it, per the listing.
- Four heat settings give a low option for quick drying of short hair.
- Exit temperature is measured 40 times per second to prevent extreme heat.
Good to know
- It does not fold, so it takes more space in a bag than the Panasonic.
- Cable length is not stated in the listing.
Listing title: Dyson Supersonic Origin Hair Dryer – Fast Drying Blow Dryer - Nickel/C...
No. 2 · Laifen
Laifen Swift Special: 407 g, listed for men and women
A high-speed brushless dryer that matches the Supersonic's stated 110,000 RPM motor speed, with magnetic nozzles and a lower weight on paper.
In its favour
- Stated motor speed of 110,000 RPM matches Dyson's V9 figure.
- Diffuser, smooth nozzle and concentrator come in the box.
- 59 dB stated noise level is a published figure Dyson does not give.
Good to know
- The spec table says 2.24 kg against 407 g in the bullets.
- Hottest setting is 176°F (80°C), cooler than Dyson's 100°C top step.
Listing title: Laifen Swift Special Hair Dryer High Speed 200M Ionic for Fast Drying
No. 3 · Shark
Shark SpeedStyle Pro: Scalp Shield and concentrator
Shark's dryer for straight and wavy hair with Scalp Shield mode and three IQ attachments. A simple way to get auto-set heat for each attachment.
In its favour
- Scalp Shield mode lowers air temperature for root drying, the listing says.
- FrizzFighter finishing tool targets flyaways, a common problem with fine hair.
- Heat and airflow auto-adjust for each attachment, so less guesswork.
Good to know
- Temperatures for each setting are not published.
- No diffuser in this version, and it weighs 662 g.
Listing title: Shark SpeedStyle Hair Dryer, High-Velocity Lightweight Dryer for All H...
No. 4 · PHILIPS
Philips 8000 Series: Gentle mode for the scalp
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.
Listing title: Philips Hair Dryer 8000 Series, with ThermoShield Advanced, Ionic, Bru...
No. 5 · Dyson
Dyson Supersonic Travel: 330 g with a concentrator
Dyson's compact travel dryer, 32% smaller and 25% lighter than the full Supersonic according to Dyson, with a concentrator and voltage that adapts abroad.
In its favour
- At 330 g it suits short hair that needs a quick dry and shape.
- The voltage adapts to your destination, according to the listing.
- It can share attachments with a full-size Dyson Supersonic.
Good to know
- The listing gives no heat or speed setting details.
- At 1,220 W it is the least powerful dryer here.
Listing title: Dyson Supersonic Travel™ Hair Dryer, Ceramic Pink/Rose Gold
No. 6 · Panasonic
Panasonic EH-NA7M: foldable 490 g nanoe dryer
A light folding nanoe dryer with a built-in quick dry nozzle and concentrator. A simpler, lighter choice for fine hair that dries quickly.
In its favour
- Nanoe ultra-fine water particles are aimed at shine and frizz control, per Panasonic.
- 490 g with a folding handle, so it is easy to control on short sessions.
- One-button thumb control keeps adjustments simple.
Good to know
- No dedicated scalp or gentle mode is listed.
- Warranty is listed as 1 year and heat steps are not described.
Listing title: Panasonic EH-NA7M-P895 nanoe Hair Dryer for Shiny Hair, Foldable Handl...
More buying guides: Choosing a hair dryer
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