Professional Hair Dryers

The best pro hair dryer gets kudos from both pros and amateurs

Professional dryers often have all the bells and whistles: ceramic and tourmaline heating units, ionic technology, multiple heat and speed settings and high wattage. Though a salon-quality dryer isn't a necessity, there are many cases where it can be a plus. For example, professional hair dryers tend to be lighter and quieter than cheap hair dryers. Some also offer exceptional warranties and service. Finally, some subjective reviews suggest professional dryers improve hair's quality more than consumer dryers -- though this is difficult to test.

All of the professional dryers included in this review claim to speed up drying time, and for the most part reviewers agree that they do. Of course, this makes us wonder what these users and testers are comparing against, and this isn't always clear. Overall, we found that if you use your hair dryer very frequently or have especially hard-to-manage or damaged hair, it may be worth investing in a high-end model.

Among the pricier professional models, the T3 Featherweight 2 (Est. $200) is recommended by most beauty experts, and it is our Best Reviewed pick. T3 claims the dryer cut drying time from 30 minutes to about 7, something pros and owners confirm. Moreover, reviewers say the Featherweight 2 lives up to its promise to improve hair's texture, leaving hair silky-smooth long after drying. In terms of weight, some owners find the dryer to be a bit heavier than expected for a "lightweight" model, but that's not to say the dryer is actually heavy.

It is worth noting, the T3 Featherweight 2 used to be sold as the Featherweight. The new model is only slightly updated with three heat settings instead of two, a cool-shot button and cosmetic changes to its appearance; the primary features are the same. When it came to professional reviews (which are completed far less frequently), we considered reviews for both the Featherweight and Featherweight 2. The T3 Featherweight 2 has three heat settings, two speeds, a cool-shot button and comes with a two-year warranty.

Another popular option -- and big name in the hair-styling market -- is the CHI Rocket Hair Dryer (Est. $175) . Like the Featherweight 2, reviewers say this dryer significantly cuts down their drying time and reduces frizz. However, it lacks the pro recommendations of the Featherweight 2. Owners praise its two styling attachments (comb/pick and concentrator), but the CHI Rocket doesn't offer multiple heat settings. It has only one button, which toggles between high and low settings.

Despite its popularity and exceptional performance, the CHI Rocket had the least impressive warranty of any pro dryer we found reviewed. CHI does not honor the warranty when sold through unauthorized retailers (including Amazon.com), but when dryers are purchased through licensed retailers, they're only covered for one year. Plus, the process of returning a dryer is complex; the owner must retain the warranty card included in the original packaging.

The Solano 3300 Xtralite 1,800 Watt Professional Dryer (Est. $160), offers the best warranty of any dryer we found. All Solano dryers come with a two-year warranty -- the product must be registered in order to validate the warranty. If the dryer does malfunction, Solano promises to repair and return it within 48 hours at no cost. If desired, the warranty can also be extended by two years at a time indefinitely for $30 per renewal. For repairs not covered under warranty, owners can still have their dryers repaired for a service fee of $30.

Like its competitors, the Solano promises to dry quickly and tame frizz, something editors at Allure, InStyle, Vogue, Redbook and Harper's Bazaar all confirm. However, it lacks the critical mass of consumer reviews that dryers like the Featherweight 2 have attracted. Without sufficient consumer reviews, it's nearly impossible to gauge how easy the Xtralite is to use. The reviews we did find often point out design flaws like inconveniently placed buttons or faulty attachments.

While it seems that most pro dryers all perform at the same level, we did find one dryer, the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Portofino Dryer (Est. $130), that wasn't as well reviewed. Good Housekeeping editors found that it dried pretty slowly and was otherwise only average. It's also a bit heavier than its high-end competitors. However, the Portofino does leave hair soft, according to users, and the lower price may be incentive enough for some owners to choose it. The BaBylissPro has one of the longest warranties -- four years. Our Best Reviewed pick, the Featherweight 2, has a two-year warranty.

Best Diffusers

The best diffusers help maintain sculpted, frizz-free curls

Diffusers are a must-have attachment for women whose curly hair takes a long time to dry. A diffuser blunts the dryer to prevent curls from getting blasted with too much hot air all at once. This, in turn, dries hair without causing frizz. A diffuser should hold snugly to the end of the dryer when in use, yet still slip on and off with relative ease.

Unlike hair dryers, diffusers are not reviewed very frequently, as there's not much to differentiate them. For the most part, diffusers are pretty universal, though you will still need to know the diameter of your dryer. Some owners like a diffuser with "fingers," but we didn't find any pro recommendations for these over other models.

To use a diffuser, TotalBeauty.com recommends starting with a leave-in conditioner and a defining cream. To dry, simply flip all hair to the side and direct the air flow at the roots. Continue, flipping occasionally until roots are dry. It's essential not to touch hair while drying. When roots are dry, simply let hair dry naturally.