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Buying guide

Best lightweight hair dryers for long blow-dries

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

    Laifen Swift Special: 407 g, three nozzles

    Stated motor speed of 110,000 RPM matches Dyson's V9 figure.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Best value

    Panasonic EH-NA9N: 500 g with diffuser

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

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Most features

    Shark SpeedStyle Pro: 662 g, 3 attachments

    Scalp Shield mode lowers air temperature for root drying, the listing says.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

If your arm aches before the back of your head is dry, weight is the spec to look at first. A difference of 200 or 300 grams sounds small, but over a twenty minute blow-dry on long or thick hair it adds up. This guide ranks dryers by the weight each maker states, lightest first, and then checks whether the low weight comes with enough power to finish the job. Some Amazon spec tables quote a packed weight in kilograms; where the listing text gives a lighter product figure, we use that and note the conflict. We also flag folding handles for travel and say where the maker states the motor speed. Balance matters too, but none of these listings says where the motor sits, so we have not guessed.

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 · Laifen

Laifen Swift Special: 407 g, three nozzles

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.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Laifen Swift Special Hair Dryer High Speed 200M Ionic for Fast Drying

No. 2 · Panasonic

Panasonic EH-NA9N: 500 g with diffuser

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 · Shark

Shark SpeedStyle Pro: 662 g, 3 attachments

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.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

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

No. 4 · Dyson

Dyson Supersonic Origin: 640 g with V9 motor

The original Supersonic design in Prussian Blue with a smoothing nozzle. Heavier than the Panasonic and Laifen picks but backed by detailed motor figures.

In its favour

  • Dyson states 13 litres of air per second at 3.5 kPa from the V9 motor.
  • Smoothing nozzle is included for polished blow-dries with volume.
  • Four heat settings including cold shot, and three speeds.

Good to know

  • At 640 g it is over twice the weight of the Elchim Anemos.
  • No diffuser in the box, and no folding handle for travel.
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Listing title: Dyson Supersonic Origin Hair Dryer – Fast Drying Blow Dryer - Prussian...

No. 5 · Laifen

Laifen Swift Premium: 600 g, 22 m/s airflow

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 · Elchim

Elchim Anemos: 290 g with 1,800 W

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...

No. 7 · Panasonic

Panasonic EH-NA7M: 490 g folding 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.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Panasonic EH-NA7M-P895 nanoe Hair Dryer for Shiny Hair, Foldable Handl...

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.