Professional Hair Dryer
A practical hair dryer (2400W, ionic) for quicker, kinder drying at home.
Can a Hair Dryer Damage Your Hair?
Blow-drying is quick and convenient, but does it wreck your hair? Here's what actually happens and how to dry safely.
Quick answer
Yes, a hair dryer can damage hair if used on high heat, too close, or on soaking-wet hair - excessive heat dries out and weakens the hair, causing frizz, breakage and split ends over time. Used correctly, though, with lower heat, some distance and heat protection, blow-drying causes little harm.
How heat damages hair
Very high heat removes moisture from the hair shaft and can damage the outer cuticle, leaving hair dry, brittle and prone to breakage. Drying hair that's dripping wet for a long time, or holding the dryer too close on maximum heat, is where most damage comes from.
How to dry without the damage
Towel-dry gently first (blot, don't rub), apply a heat protectant, use a medium heat rather than the hottest setting, keep the nozzle around 15cm away and keep it moving, and finish with a cool shot. Ionic and well-designed dryers help by cutting drying time. Letting hair air-dry most of the way, then finishing with the dryer, reduces heat exposure.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
TRESemme Fast Dry
A practical hair dryer (2000W) for quicker, kinder drying at home.
#3 
BaByliss Rose Gold
A practical hair dryer (2100W, ionic/ceramic) for quicker, kinder drying at home.
Frequently asked questions
Is it bad to blow-dry your hair every day?
Daily high-heat drying can gradually dry and weaken hair. If you dry daily, use lower heat, a heat protectant and keep the dryer moving to minimise damage.
How do I protect my hair from heat damage?
Use a heat-protectant spray, dry on a medium rather than maximum setting, keep the dryer around 15cm away and moving, and finish with a cool shot to seal the cuticle.
Is air drying better than blow drying?
Air drying avoids heat, but leaving hair very wet for a long time has its own downsides. A good middle ground is to air-dry most of the way, then finish on a lower heat setting.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Professional Hair Dryer (our score 9.6/10) - A practical hair dryer (2400W, ionic) for quicker, kinder drying at home..