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Whether you’re diffusing your curls, prepping your hair for straight styles, or going for a 90’s blowout look, a quality blow-dryer is a must-have tool. Just as we tailor our products to our specific hair needs, blow-dryers should also cater to your hair type to maximize results and ensure overall hair health. Quality blow dryers should allow you to customize heat and speed settings to suit you your unique hair type, which is especially important if you have a finer hair texture. “For fine hair, it is best to use a lower heat setting on your hair dryer to prevent damage and breakage,” says New York-based hairstylist and hair extensions expert, Ciara Harris. “Using a lower heat setting can help minimize the risk of overheating and frying your hair, help control frizz, and prevent your hair from becoming overly dry and brittle. It is also a good idea to use a lower speed setting to prevent tangles and minimize potential breakage,” she continues.
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If you happen to have finer strands, you’ve probably been told at one point or another that you should steer clear of heat tools at the risk of damaging your hair. While it’s important for people across the hair spectrum to use heat in moderation, finer textures shouldn’t have to miss out on all the fun. It takes just a bit of research to find the best tools to keep your hair looking healthy and strong. Luckily, you’ve landed here.
So, whether you dread the time spent in the mirror drying your hair or you use it as an opportunity to have your hair-blowing Beyoncé moment, I consulted hair experts and poured through customer reviews to bring you the six best blow dryers for fine hair. See the selection below.
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Best Overall
T3 Featherweight StyleMax Hair Dryer
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Best Overall
T3 Featherweight StyleMax Hair Dryer
Pros
- Multiple customizable settings
Cons
- Not the best for beginners
Known for its salon quality, this lightweight hair dryer is perfect for protecting your strands from unwanted damage. With five heat settings and three speed setting, you get up to 15 different airflow and heat combinations tailored just for you. It is also equipped with an ion setting to minimize frizz for visibly healthy and smooth results.
Hair type: All hair textures, fine hair
Included attachments: Two concentrated nozzles, comb, and diffuser
What else should you know? Ultra lightweight
Sephora rating: 4.7/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “This is my second t3 hair dryer over the years. The newest model is incredible! It dries my fine hair so quickly and leaves it soft and no frizz. It’s also super light! Would 100% purchase again.”
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Best for Curls
Pattern The Blow Dryer
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Best for Curls
Pattern The Blow Dryer
Pros
- Multiple attachments perfect for curls
Cons
- Some feel it doesn't get hot enough
Contrary to popular belief, having fine hair strands isn't singular to straighter textures. Hair density is defined by the thickness of individual strands, meaning that curly and oily textures can also have fine hair. Because of this, it's important to protect your curls when heat styling. The Pattern Beauty blow dryer is equipped with three heat and two speed settings to customize your experience. It also has an ion feature to smooth the hair cuticle for shiny strands.
Hair type: Curly and coily textures
Included attachments: Concentrated nozzle, wide tooth comb, brush, and diffuser
What else should you know? Utilizes ion technology to smooth frizz
Ulta rating: 4.1/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “I absolutely fell in love with this blowdryer the first time I used it. The different attachment made it so easy to smooth my curls in have the time it usually takes me to blow-dry. My hair also feels super soft after each use .” — Tasha Nicole Smith, beauty assistant
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Best for Travel
Harry Josh Pro Tools Women's Pro Dryer 2000
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Best for Travel
Harry Josh Pro Tools Women's Pro Dryer 2000
Pros
- Compact size
Cons
- Attachments sold separately
This little green gadget will be the envy of all of your hair tools. With eight heat, speed and ion settings, including a cold shot function, this dryer ensures quality results. The nozzle attachment is perfect for smoothing the strands from root to tip to prep your hair for any style.
Hair type: All hair types and textures
Included attachments: Nozzle, additional attachments sold separately
What else should you know? Has an airflow of 80 mph
Amazon rating: 4/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I love this dryer. As a hair stylist it’s the best, helps me get hair dry fast and a beautiful finish!! This is my second time buying one!”
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Best for Beginners
ghd Helios Hair Dryer
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Best for Beginners
ghd Helios Hair Dryer
Pros
- Easy to use and control
Cons
- Doesn't include attachments
How do you ensure a good hair day every day? Well, a ghd heat tool is s good place to start. The Helios Hair Dryer has an airflow of up to 75 mph and up to four customizable settings. along with a cool shot. Its bespoke, concentrated nozzle and ionic technology gives you ultimate control of the dryer and unbelievable shine.
Hair type: All hair textures, fine hair
Included attachments: Nozzle
What else should you know? Made to cut down on drying time
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “Who knew having a good hairdryer helps?! This is a great hairdryer my hair dries faster now and it's smoother. My hair looks shinier too.”
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Best for Hydration
Bio Ionic 10X Ultralight Speed Dryer
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Best for Hydration
Bio Ionic 10X Ultralight Speed Dryer
Pros
- Hydrates the hair
Cons
- Not great for volume
With an ultra lightweight design, this blow dryer actually moisturizes your strands as it styles. Using a mixture of volcanic rock and Bio Ionic’s signature mineral complex, this tool infuses and seals moisture into each strand to give you soft and smooth results.
Hair type: All Hair Types
Included attachments: Nozzle
What else should you know? Weighs less than one pound
Sephora rating: 4.3/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “This is the best hairdryer FOR multi use. If you have curly hair that you also blow out - I recommend this for both. It's a great tool. In fact I'm due for the newer model so I'm about to buy another.”
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Best for Smoothing
Shark Beauty SpeedStyle Hair Dryer
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Best for Smoothing
Shark Beauty SpeedStyle Hair Dryer
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Pros
- Time saver
Cons
- Some find the heat settings too strong
With two streams of high speed airflow and three heat speed settings, this wet to dry styler delivers high shine results. A great alternative to popular multi-stylers on the market, Shark's iteration comes equipped with three attachments to offer a bevy of wet-to-dry styles and a frizz-free finish.
Hair type: Straight and Wavy Textures
Included attachments: Brush, concentrated nozzle, and rapid gloss finisher
What else should you know? Gloss attachment smoothes frizzy strands for a naturally shiny finish
Sephora rating: 4.6/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “Love this hairdryer! I have very thick & curly hair that typically takes about an hour to straighten. This hair dryer has me out the door and ready to go in 20 min. Without using a straightener. Such a time saver!”
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What are some steps people should take to protect their hair from mechanical damage that and come from blow drying?
“To protect hair from mechanical damage there are important steps I suggest people follow like applying a heat protectant product before blow drying to create a barrier between your hair and the heat. This can help minimize damage and breakage," says Harris.
Technique is also important to note as you style your hair. “Keep the dryer moving! Avoid concentrating the heat on one section of hair for too long. Keep the dryer moving to distribute the heat evenly and prevent overheating. Also, allow your hair to partially air dry to minimize the amount of time your hair is exposed to heat. This can significantly reduce the risk of damage,” Harris continues.
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Do you have any techniques to help people with fine hair to achieve more volume?
“Use volumizing products like starting with volumizing shampoo and conditioner to add body and lift to your hair. Additionally, use a volumizing mousse or root-lifting spray before styling to add volume and texture," says Harris. “Also you can blow dry upside down. Flip your head upside down to lift the roots and create volume. Use a round brush to lift and smooth the hair as you blow dry."
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What tip would you give people with fine hair to maintain hair health when using heat tools?
“Use a heat protectant spray or serum before using any heat styling tools to protect your hair from damage. Also, try to avoid using high heat settings and limit the frequency of heat styling to prevent excessive heat damage. As well as make sure to regularly trim your ends to prevent split ends and keep your hair looking healthy," says Harris
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Why Trust ELLE Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE beauty assistant Tasha Nicole Smith consulted a hair professional and pored over dozens of customer reviews to find the six best blow dryers safe enough for fine hair.
