Discover the best blow dryers for natural hair to save time on hair wash day. Learn everything you need to know about the most effective blow dryers for natural hair to invest in this season.
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What to Look for in a Blow Dryer for Natural Hair
From complex ceramic technology to air setting, finding the perfect blow dryer can be a challenging task. Although many blow dryers seem identical, there are subtle differences in the heat technology and air options that make them different. Discover how to identify these differences and find the perfect dryer for your hair type.
Longevity & Wattage
Power is one of the biggest selling points of a good blow dryer and one of the most difficult to determine. You don’t necessarily need a blow dryer with a high wattage for it to be effective. The average blow dryer lasts 800 hours, (800 hours equates to approximately 33 days of continuous usage).
“In fact, it’s an industry myth that wattage directly correlates with performance.”
Volo
Technology
When you’re shopping for a blow dryer, you will likely see blurbs about the dryer’s technology. Ceramic, ionic, and touramaline technology are some of the most common types.
Blow dryers with ceramic technology use clay to help the dryer hold and distribute heat evenly. This is designed to be healthier for the hair shaft.
“It [ceramic technology] creates a far infrared heat that penetrates the hair shaft, preserving hair’s natural moisture and luster.”
VS SASSOON
Ionic technology is used to dry hair quickly without causing frizz. Blow dryers with ionic technology use metal to distribute heat. According to Glamour, “Ionic dryers shoot negative ions, water’s ions are positively charged. That’s the science behind why an ionic dryer is much more effective at busting up and scattering water droplets on the hair shaft.”
Cool Setting
Some curly-haired individuals have sworn off heat because they feel the hair does not respond well to it. If you have curly hair which is prone to dryness, or just choose not to use heat as part of your hair routine, you can look for a dryer with a cool setting.
Some dryers are designed to only emit cool air. However, you must be cautious to choose a dryer specifically made to emit cool air. I know from experience, that some dryers’ cool setting feels warm. It’s best to look for a dryer with a cool, warm, and how setting.
Affordability
Although some dryers are affordable up front, it is important to look for what you will get out of your money in the long run. If you have to continuously replace your dryer, then you might not be saving as much money as you think.
Attachments
Attachments are critical for drying curly hair without causing frizz. If you have a dryer, you need to make sure the attachment fits around the circumference of the dryer head. Even if the attachment is universal, it might not fit your dryer.
There are several types of attachments to invest in: collapsible attachments, diffusers, combs, and air concentrators.
Top Picks: Best Blow Dryers for Natural Hair
Below are some of the best, most affordable blow dryers for natural hair followed by top rated alternatives. The results you achieve will depend on the quality of your hair tools and your technique for blowing your hair.
Best Travel Dryer: Conair Worldwide Travel Dryer
The Conair Worldwide Travel Dryer uses ionic technology to mediate the airflow and three heat settings for all hair types: cool, warm, and hot. The dryer has a high and a low air flow setting. If you use the high setting, be sure to use a diffuser attachment. The travel dryer also can be used as a heatless blow dryer due to it’s cool setting and is perfect for a heat-free naturally curly routine. The dryer comes with an attachment and can be folded in half for traveling to make it more compact for storage.
This dryer is perfect for taking on flights, traveling on road trips, or for every day use. The ability to fold it in half makes it very easy to store. For my naturally curly 3C/4A hair, I find it is the perfect blowdryer for every day use. My wash and go has lasted up to a week while using this blow dryer.
Best Ceramic: REVLON Turbo Fast Dry Hair Dryer
The Revlon Turbo Fast Dry Hair Dryer uses ceramic technology, meaning it distributes heat evenly to dry hair more effectively. The dryer has a cool, warm, and hot setting to allow for a low heat routine. The dryer works very quickly and great for all hair types due to multiple heat settings and speed.
This dryer is unique because it has a Turbo setting for maximum speed. This is perfect if you’re running late on busy mornings, or need to do your hair quickly. The shock setting releases cool air to seal in the style and get rid the hair cuticle of any excess heat.
Best Blow Dryer Comb Attachment: Collapsible Silicone Hair Dryer Diffuser
Diffuser attachments work well. Before you buy an attachment, please be sure to check the size guide to determine whether or not it will fit on your dryer. Collapsible attachments are extremely convenient, but you don’t want to order an attachment that is too small for your dryer. You can find the diffuser attachment I use linked here, and there is a very similar one linked below.
Top-Rated Alternatives: Blow Dryers for Natural Hair
If you didn’t find what you were looking for above, here are some top-rated alternatives to the blow dryers I use. Feel free to save the image below to Pinterest if you need to refer to the article later on.
Best for All Hair Types: InfinitiPro BY CONAIR 1875 Watt Salon Performance AC Motor Styling Tool
The Infiniti Pro by Conair is best if you have wavy or curly hair, and are looking for a blow dryer that comes with several attachments. The product uses ceramic technology to distribute heat evenly. The Infiniti Pro “includes 3 heat, 2 speed custom dryer settings for different hair types.”
Cool Shot Function: Conair Worldwide Travel Dryer
If you use heat on a regular basis and only occasionally use a cool setting, 
Best Splurge: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson’s Supersonic Hair Dryer is well-known for products that come with a variety of attachments for different hair styles. The brand claims its products dry the hair quickly without the use of heat.
Blow Drying Natural Hair Techniques
Whether your hair is curly, straight, or wavy, your technique matters when blow drying your hair. For curly hair, it’s best to use a diffuser. If you have an air concentrator, try to angle the concentrator down in the same direction your curls fall to prevent causing frizz.
You can try flipping your head upside down, but this will create volume. The way you dry your hair will depend on how much volume you want on your day one wash day hair.
For straight hair you can flip your hair upside down to create volume as well. However, using a diffuser may not be as necessary.
Do You Need a Heat Protectant?
If you are using high heat on your hair, it’s usually best to use a heat protectant. However, some find that a leave in conditioner protectants curls. You can experiment with this if you would like.
If you are doing a blow out, then you will need a protectant. Usually for wash and go products, drying on low heat is sufficient.
If you’re using a DIY heat protectant, please be cautious with oils. Olive oil does not protect your hair from heat.
Recap: Finding A Natural Hair Blow Dryer
Finding a natural hair blow dryer is easiest when you know what to look for. Consider longevity, wattage, technology, air settings, affordability and attachments carefully before making a purchase.
{Related Post: 7 Smart Strategies to Bring Out Natural Curls }
