This is why you should spend the money on a professional hair dryer

A good blow dry is the foundation to a good hair day. The fanciest hair straightener or curling wand in the world won't do you much good if your hair was singed with a crappy blow dryer beforehand. That's that on that.

It's common knowledge that pressing hair onto a sizzling hot flat iron or curling iron isn't great for it. We're quick to blame those tools for split ends and frizz, but less often, we consider that part of the problem may be the way the hair was dried in the first place. If your lifelong dream has been to give yourself the same glossy blowout that you get at the salon, your skills might not be totally to blame — your stylist's professional blow dryer is a lot better than your drugstore one. Read more...

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BEST FOR DAMAGED HAIR

Dyson Supersonic

Prepare to be *blown* away by Dyson's bladeless dryer that uses high-velocity air jets and keeps damage to a minimum.

• Power: 1,600 watts
• Heat settings: 4
• Speed settings: 3
• Attachments: Diffuser, concentrator, smoothing nozzle

$399.99 from Amazon

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COOLEST FEATURES

T3 Cura Luxe

The chic design is a selling point on its own, but this dryer's unique functions make self-styling easier than it's ever been.

• Power: 1,875 watts
• Heat settings: 5
• Speed settings: 2
• Attachments: Drying concentrator and styling concentrator

$285 from Ulta

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QUIETEST HAIR DRYER

Harry Josh Pro Dryer 2000

The tool that Dermstore calls "the most iconic hair dryer of all time" cuts drying time in half with 80 mph airflow.

• Power: 1,875 watts
• Heat settings: 3
• Speed settings: 3
• Attachments: Narrow and wide nozzle concentrator

$249.99 from Walmart

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BEST FOR FRIZZY HAIR

ghd Air

Anyone who has given up on silky hair will find the ghd Air's frizz control to be a godsend — and it'll last for years.

• Power: 1,600 watts
• Speed settings: 2
• Heat settings: 3
• Attachments: Concentrator nozzle

$199 from Amazon

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BEST FOR COMBATTING WRIST FATIGUE

Sam Villa Light Ionic Dryer

Styling shouldn't feel like a workout, so Sam Villa put the wattage of a full-sized dryer into a body weighing less than a pound.

• Power: 1,750 watts
• Heat settings: 3
• Speed settings: 2
• Surface material: Ceramic and tourmaline

$189.95 from Amazon

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BEST FOR UNDER $100

BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Hair Dryer

If you're tired of your thick hair not holding a style, this badass titanium build offers the controlled heat that unruly hair needs.

• Power: 2,000 watts
• Heat settings: 3
• Speed settings: 3
• Attachments: Concentrator nozzle

$79.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Ulta

BEST FOR CURLY HAIR

DevaCurl DevaDryer

The DevaFuser is the ultimate helping ~hand~ in keeping your curls' natural shape, but the dryer itself is nothing special.

• Power: 1,600 watts
• Heat settings: 3
• Speed settings: 2
• Attachments: DevaFuser

$159 from Ulta

via Tingle Tech