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Buying guide

Best hair dryers under £300

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

Note: This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Top picks at a glance

Compare them all

  • Best overall

    Shark SpeedStyle Pro: five attachments and bag

    Five attachments, including a diffuser, which the base Supersonic does not include.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Best value

    Panasonic EH-NA9N: nanoe with diffuser, 500 g

    Two built-in sensors adjust settings, similar to Dyson's intelligent heat control idea.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Most features

    ghd Helios gift set: diffuser and radial brush

    Curly hair is listed among the hair types in the specs.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Spending serious money on a dryer only makes sense if you get something a supermarket model cannot offer. That usually means a high-speed brushless or digital motor, better temperature control and attachments that suit your hair. Every dryer here is under £300, and most come in well below the full Dyson line-up. We compared the motor details each maker states, airflow figures where given, weight, wattage and what is included. Some brands publish airflow in litres per minute, others in metres per second or cubic metres per hour, so we quote each in the maker's own terms rather than convert. Missing figures are marked as not stated. The list starts with the strongest overall case for the money and ends with a classic high-wattage option.

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 · Shark

Shark SpeedStyle Pro: five attachments and bag

The closest match to the Supersonic's attachment approach, with five IQ tools that auto-set heat and airflow and a Scalp Shield mode for root drying.

In its favour

  • Five attachments, including a diffuser, which the base Supersonic does not include.
  • Scalp Shield mode lowers air temperature for the roots, similar in idea to Dyson's scalp mode.
  • 1,750 W rating is above the Supersonic's 1,600 W, per the specs.

Good to know

  • Motor speed and airflow are not published, so power is hard to compare.
  • At 662 g it is heavier than the Laifen and Elchim alternatives.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Shark SpeedStyle Hair Dryer, High-Velocity Lightweight Dryer for All H...

No. 2 · Panasonic

Panasonic EH-NA9N: nanoe with diffuser, 500 g

Panasonic's answer to the sensor-led Dyson, with two sensors that adjust heat, nanoe and mineral ions and a folding body.

In its favour

  • Two built-in sensors adjust settings, similar to Dyson's intelligent heat control idea.
  • Lighter than the Supersonic at a stated 500 g, and it folds.
  • Diffuser and concentrator both included.

Good to know

  • Warranty is 1 year, against 2 years on several Dyson listings.
  • No motor speed or airflow figures are given.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Panasonic EH-NA9N-H895 Hair Dryer with Diffuser nanoe & Mineral Ions, ...

No. 3 · ghd

ghd Helios gift set: diffuser and radial brush

An Amazon exclusive set with the 2,200 W ghd Helios, a ghd professional diffuser and a size 2 ceramic radial brush.

In its favour

  • Curly hair is listed among the hair types in the specs.
  • The professional diffuser is included, unlike the standard Helios.
  • 2,200 W gives strong airflow to dry dense curls.

Good to know

  • Only two speeds and two settings are listed for this set.
  • The ceramic brush suits short to mid-length blow-dries rather than curls.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: ghd Helios Hair Dryer, More Shine, Lightweight, Ultimate Styling Contr...

No. 4 · Dyson

Dyson Supersonic Origin: V9 motor, concentrator

The original Supersonic with the V9 motor, quoting 13 litres of air per second at 3.5 kPa. A styling concentrator is included for sectioned drying.

In its favour

  • Dyson publishes both airflow and pressure figures.
  • Styling concentrator focuses airflow for smoothing thick sections.
  • Glass bead thermistor checks exit temperature 40 times a second.

Good to know

  • 1,600 W is the lowest wattage in this guide.
  • No diffuser in the box for curly thick hair.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Dyson Supersonic Origin Hair Dryer – Fast Drying Blow Dryer - Nickel/C...

No. 5 · Laifen

Laifen Swift Premium: 22 m/s, wall mount included

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. 6 · Parlux

Parlux Digitalyon: 2,400 W, 3.3 m cable

A professional Italian salon dryer with a digital motor, 88 m³/h airflow and a slim straightening nozzle. Built for long, frequent blow-dries.

In its favour

  • Highest wattage in this guide at 2,400 W.
  • A 3.3 m cable is stated, giving room to move while styling.
  • Hair Free System at the intake helps keep the dryer clean, per the listing.

Good to know

  • The listed 1.32 kg looks like a packed weight, so the dryer's own weight is unclear.
  • Only two speeds and four temperatures, with no diffuser in the box.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

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

No. 7 · Elchim

Elchim Anemos: 290 g, 110,000 rpm brushless

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...

Read before you buy

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.