As someone with very thick hair, a powerful hair dryer is an essential part of my hair styling tool kit. Before finding the right hair dryer, I used to think creating a beautiful blowout could only be achieved in a salon.
However, no matter your hair type, it can be hard to know which one is right for you with so many amazing hair dryers on the market.
With that in mind, Beauty Space has rounded up and reviewed a list of top-rated tools to find the best hair dryer in Australia. Whether you have curly hair, straight hair, or anything in between, we’ve included suggestions for all hair types.
Best Hair Dryer Australia – 9 Tools for Every Hair Type
- Best Hair Dryer Overall: Parlux Advance Light Ionic & Ceramic Dryer
- Best Luxe Hair Dryer: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
- Best Budget Hair Dryer: Remington Aero 2000 Hair Dryer
- Best Hair Dryer for Travel: ghd Flight Travel Hair Dryer
- Best Hair Dryer for Fine Hair: Panasonic Moisture Infusion Nanoe Technology Advanced Hair Dryer
- Best Hair Dryer for Curly Hair: Phillips 2300W MoistureProtect Hair Dryer
- Best Hair Dryer for Frizzy Hair: Remington Advanced Coconut Therapy Hair Dryer
- Best Hair Dryer for Thick Hair: CLOUD NINE The Airshot Hair Dryer
- Best Hair Dryer Brush: Hot Tools Volumiser One-Step Blowout Brush – Dual Detachable Attachments
These hair dryers were chosen based on a combination of first-hand experience using them, customer ratings and reviews from eCommerce and review sites and overall brand quality and reputation.
Best Hair Dryer Overall: Parlux Advance Light Ionic & Ceramic Dryer
Kicking off our list for the best hair dryer to buy in Australia is the Parlux Advance Light Ionic & Ceramic Dryer. This top-of-the-line ionic hair dryer features a powerful K-Advance motor that provides superior airflow and drying power.
With four temperature levels and two speeds to choose from, you can customise your drying experience to perfectly suit your hair type and desired hairstyle. Plus, the instant cold shot button provides an extra blast of cool air to lock in your style. The Parlux hair dryer also features a lightweight design and an incorporated silencer for less noise. The ionic & ceramic technology helps protect your hair from heat damage, while the eco-friendly design makes this hair dryer a smart choice for the environment.
I found this to be the best hair dryer overall because it’s really suited to all hair types and is such a high-quality, well made and effective styling tool. Every time I use this hair dryer, I get a consistently shiny, bouncy, frizz-free blowout and always have people asking whether it was done in salon. While it’s not cheap (but still cheaper than the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer!), it’s absolutely worth the investment.
Watts: 2200 | Weight: 460g | Attachments: 2 concentrator nozzles
Best Splurge: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is the ultimate tool for achieving perfect hair and needs no introduction. This hair dryer is loved by beauty editors and hair stylists around the world. The price is the most obvious consideration when it comes to the Dyson Supersonic but once you use it, you will see what all the hype is about.
The Supersonic helps prevent extreme heat damage to your hair, protecting its natural shine. With air temperature being monitored 20 times every second, you can be sure that your hair won’t be damaged by overheating.
The powerful 1600-watt motor is ultra fast, making short work of even the thickest hair. The acoustically tuned motor produces one inaudible frequency for quiet operation.
You’ll love the included magnetic attachments – the Dyson smoothing nozzle, styling concentrator, and diffuser – which make it easy to get exactly the look you want.
Plus, the cool-to-touch technology means that you won’t have to worry about burning yourself on hot surfaces. With four precise heat settings and three-speed settings, this hair dryer has everything you need for fast drying and styling, regular drying, or gentle drying.
This hair dryer is well suited to all hair types; however, not all budgets, which is why we didn’t pick it for best overall.
Watts: 1600 | Weight: 560g | Attachments: 3 styling attachments – Concentrator, smoothing nozzle and diffuser
Best Budget Hair Dryer: Remington Aero 2000 Hair Dryer
If you’re looking for a hair dryer that can give you salon-quality results on a budget, then consider the Remington Aero 2000 Hair Dryer. Coming in under $20, this Remington Hair Dryer is considered on the best affordable hair dryers on the market.
Powered by a 2000W heating element, this hair dryer is ideal for those who want to achieve optimum drying and styling results every time. Additionally, the cold shot function helps to maintain your desired hairstyle.
With three heat and two-speed settings to choose from, you can easily tailor the Remington Aero Hair Dryer to your specific hair drying and styling needs. The included concentrator nozzle also allows you to target airflow directly onto certain sections of your hair for even better results.
Overall this is a great value hair dryer, and while it might not come with the advanced technology or bells and whistles of more premium tools, it’s easy to use, lightweight and most importantly, dries hair well.
Watts: 2000 | Weight: 600g | Attachments: 1 concentrator nozzle
Best Hair Dryer for Travel: ghd Flight Travel Hair Dryer
If you’re looking for a travel-friendly hair dryer that doesn’t sacrifice power or performance, look no further than the ghd Flight Travel Hair Dryer.
This 1400-watt hair dryer delivers 70% of the power of the full-sized ghd air professional hair dryer within a 50% lighter model. The precision nozzle ensures airflow is on point, and safeguard technology switches off the ghd Flight when held too close to the hair. Variable temperatures also cater to your hair type so that wherever you are in the world, you’re armed with reliable styling. The ghd Flight design also folds inwards for easy packing and comes with a protective dust bag which is why we consider it to be one of the best travel hair dryers.
We found this hair dryer is very lightweight and dries hair quickly, allowing you to spend less time styling and more time enjoying your vacation.
Love a discount? Grab a ghd coupon code to save on your next hair dryer.
Watts: 1400 | Weight: 422g | Attachments: 1 concentrator nozzle
Best Hair Dryer for Fine Hair: Panasonic Moisture Infusion Nanoe Technology Advanced Hair Dryer
If you’re looking for a fast, reliable hair dryer that will give you salon-quality results, look no further than the Panasonic Moisture Infusion Nanoe Technology Advanced Hair Dryer. This lightweight, easy-to-use hair dryer is packed with features that will make your fine hair look and feel its best.
The technology of this hair dryer is what makes it ideal for those with damaged, coloured, thin or fine hair. The Salon Quality Results mode delivers 360° moisturising care to your hair, scalp and skin, banishing dryness. And the high-tech Nanoe + Double Mineral technology infuses your hair with moisture deep down, giving you softer, shinier and more manageable locks.
The dryer comes with three pro-quality styling attachments; a concentrator nozzle for precision styling, a quick dry nozzle to shorten drying time (another important benefit for those with fine hair looking to avoid too much heat exposure!) and finally, a diffuser making it a great option for those with curly hair.
Watts: 1800 | Weight: 502g | Attachments: 1 concentrator nozzle
Best Hair Dryer for Thick Hair: CLOUD NINE The Airshot Hair Dryer
Our pick for the best hair dryer for thick hair is The Airshot from Cloud Nine.
This powerful little appliance has a 2000w motor for quick drying and a ceramic heating element for even heat distribution. We found it to be really effective in drying thick hair quick.
It’s designed with anti-static technology that helps to reduce frizz and flyaways and Tourmaline and Vitamin-Infused ceramic heating elements to minimise heat damage.
Use the cool shot button to set your style and the 2.7m swivel chord to move around with ease. The balanced weight makes it comfortable to use, and it works with 220-240v electrical outlets.
Watts: 2000 | Weight: 880g | Attachments: 2 concentrator nozzles
Best Hair Dryer for Curly Hair: Phillips 2300W MoistureProtect Hair Dryer
Our pick for the best hair dryer for curly hair is the Phillips Moisture Protect Hair Dryer. This is an ideal choice for those with curly hair as it comes with two attachments; a nozzle and a diffuser, so you can have versatile styling. Plus, the efficacy of the dryer when it comes to protecting and hydrating your curls.
This advanced hair dryer is equipped with an infrared sensor that measures your hair’s surface temperature 4000 times in one drying session and adjusts the heat to prevent moisture loss and cuticle damage. Featuring six speed and heat settings for the ultimate control, as well as a cool shot button, to set your style, this hair dryer lets you create an unforgettably beautiful blow dry that is healthy for your hair. With ThermoProtect temperature providing the optimal drying temperature and ionic conditioning to prevent static and frizz, you’ll love the way your hair looks and feels after using this hair dryer.
Watts: 2300 | Weight: -g | Attachments: 2 styling attachments – Concentrator nozzle and diffuser
Best Hair Dryer for Frizzy Hair: Remington Advanced Coconut Therapy Hair Dryer
Introducing the new Remington Advanced Coconut Therapy Hair Dryer! This amazing hair dryer uses advanced conditioning technology to help reduce frizz and static and offers 3 heat and 2 speed settings to suit all hair types and needs. It also comes with a concentrator and a diffuser for easy straightening or volumising and features a true cold shot setting to let you set your style with ease. Plus, the integrated sensor detects contact with your hair and automatically regulates the temperature to prevent risks of overheating.
Watts: 2300 | Weight: 1000g | Attachments: 2 styling attachments – Concentrator nozzle and diffuser
Best Hair Dryer Brush: Hot Tools Volumiser One-Step Blowout Brush – Dual Detachable Attachments
If you’re someone who loves a salon-quality blowout but has yet to perfect it with a normal blow dryer, then a hair dryer brush or “hot air brush” could be a perfect solution for you.
I absolutely adore hot air brushes because of how easy they are to use, and the Hot Tools Volumiser One-Step Blowout Brush is a standout styling tool. While the oval-shaped barrel is popular I actually prefer rounder, smaller barrels as they create tighter blowout curls. That’s why I loved the two detachable brush heads on the Volumiser, as you will be able to create different styles.
The Black Gold Titanium Micro shine plate surface ensures even heat distribution for perfect results every time. The brush also features 2™ bristles with Refresh3 Max™ technology that is great for tangle-free second-day hair. Plus, the rotating temperature dial makes it easy to adjust the heat to your desired level. With three heat/two speed settings, including a cool shot setting, you can easily create your perfect style. And the Cool Touch rubberised end cap ensures your safety while in use.
Watts: 820 | Weight: 313g | Attachments: 2 detachable heads – one large 71 x 45mm barrel and one small 61 x 40mm barrel
Guide to Buying a Hair Dryer
With so many different types and models on the market, choosing the right hair dryer can be a daunting task. To help you make the best decision for your needs, we have put together this guide to buying a hair dryer.
Material
When shopping for a hair dryer, the most important factor to consider is material. There are three types of hair dryers on the market: ionic, ceramic, and tourmaline.
Ceramic hair dryers use infrared heat to gently dry hair and protect against damage.
Tourmaline hair dryers emit negative ions and infrared heat to dry hair quickly and reduce frizz.
Titanium hair dryers distribute heat evenly and reach higher temperatures more quickly.
Technology
Ionic
Hair dryers use negative ions to dry hair quickly and reduce frizz and static. On top of that, they break down water molecules and cut blow-drying time. They also seal the cuticle and protect your locks from heat damage.
Dyson Intelligent Heat Control
The Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer uses intelligent heat control to maintain Dyson’s optimum temperature, helping to prevent extreme heat damage.
Wattage
Wattage refers to how much power the hair dryer is capable of. The amount of wattage you need depends on your hair type, length and texture.
If you have thick, coarse, or curly hair, you will need a hair dryer with at least 1800 watts of power. If you have thin or fine hair, you can get away with a lower wattage hair dryer of around 1300 watts of power.
Weight
Another factor to consider is the weight of the hair dryer. A heavier hair dryer will be more difficult to use and can cause arm fatigue, especially for those with long or thick hair.
Attachments
Hair dryers can come with multiple attachments, which can be beneficial depending on what your styling needs are. The most common attachments include a concentrator and a diffuser, but some hair dryers come with several attachments.
A diffuser is great for maintaining the texture of curly and wavy hair.
A concentrator will make smoothing down and styling the hair easier.
Ergonomic Features
An important factor to consider is ergonomic features that can improve the ease and overall styling process.
Some of the features to look out for include:
Cool shot button: to lock a hairstyle in place and seal the hair cuticle.
Swivel cord: you will want a swivel cord that’s at a minimum of 2 meters long so that you can style hair far from a power outlet.
Ergonomic handle and intuitive button placement: a curved, narrow handle is more ergonomic and better to hold than a handle that’s wide and straight. The buttons on the dryer should also be user-friendly, either lined up in front or on the back. They should be located in an accessible position but shouldn’t be too accessible that they can be pressed accidentally while styling.
Noise and Vibration
Noise can be a big factor for those looking to purchase a new hair dryer. The design of the motor can affect how loud it is. Regular dryers can be as loud as 250 decibels, but you can find quieter hair dryers around 70 decibels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ceramic or ionic hair dryer better?
Both types of hair dryers have their own advantages and disadvantages. Ceramic hair dryers are better for people with thin or fine hair because they use infrared heat to gently dry hair and protect against damage. Ionic hair dryers are better for people with thick, coarse, or curly hair because they use negative ions to dry hair quickly and reduce frizz.
Wrap Up
A great hair dryer can make all the difference in achieving beautifully blown-out hair and in keeping your hair healthy. We hope this article has helped you find the best hair dryer for your hair type and styling needs.
Recommended Reading
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7 of the Best Hot Air Brushes for a Salon Worthy Blowout
Beauty Space rounds up 7 of the best hot air brushes to buy in Australia for a Matilda Djerf-worthy blowout. Plus a helpful guide on what to look for when buying one.