The 9 Best Hair Dryers for Curly Hair in 2026

If you have been blessed with a great mane of corkscrew curls, ringlets, or luscious waves, you already know how it’s both a blessing and a curse. Your hair can look glamorous if handled the right way, but maintaining it that can be tiresome.

Standard hair dryers are not suited for curly hair unless you‘re trying to straighten your hair. These devices can turn the curls into a frizzy mess, which we’re certain isn’t the look you want to sport.

Additionally, subjecting your hair to harsh heat can adversely affect its quality, dry out the delicate hair strands, contribute to heat damage, and promote frizz.

Purchasing the right hair dryer might seem like a straightforward process, but it really isn’t. You need to find the right tool that keeps your curls healthy and frizz-free. Along with a good hair care routine, your curly hair also deserves the best hair dryer there is.

This is why we’ve compiled a list of the best hair dryers that offer a combination of useful features. From ceramic technologies that add more shine, moisture, and volume to infrared heaters that prevent over-drying, we have reviewed them all.

So, let’s get started!

How to Choose the Best Hair Dryer for Curly Hair

“What is the cheapest hair dryer model that I can find?” – haven’t we all thought this before?

You see, whenever we set out to buy a styling tool, price is often our primary concern. However, this really shouldn’t be the case; and that’s especially true for hair dryers. The wrong hair dryer can cause damage to your hair that is costly and time-consuming to repair; investing in the right hair dryer from the start can actually save you money in the long run.

Instead, you’ll want to focus on these aspects, and not just settle for the least expensive hair dryer you can find:

Wattage

Wattage describes the electrical power of the hair dryer, measuring how fast the motor spins to produce warm air.

Typically, a hair dryer that falls within the 1300 to 1875 watts range is best suited for thin hair, but for thick curly hair, it’s better to opt for a device within the 1900 to 2200 watts range.

Always remember: the higher the wattage, the more expensive the appliance will likely be.

Technology

You should purchase hair dryers according to your hair type. After all, a single device cannot meet the needs of all hair types. For instance, a dryer meant for thick hair will not be as effective on thin hair and vice versa.

Similarly, these devices also include specific material types such as ionic, titanium, or ceramic. If you have thick curly hair, we would recommend using titanium hair dryers, whereas ceramic or ionic hair dryers work best for thin curly hair.

It’s your hair type that should be the most crucial deciding factor.

Speed and Heat Settings

Generally, hair dryers have three standard speed settings: high, medium, and low. Even for heat settings, the case is similar. The idea here is to use both the settings optimally to get the best results. For instance, if you have thick curly hair, you should use a high to medium heat setting set at high speed to dry your hair without creating any frizz.

A good rule of thumb would be to buy a device that allows more airflow at small or medium heat to keep heat damage to the minimum.

Design

Hair dryers for curly hairs are available in different designs. Some models have a thin stick-type structure, while others feature a huge bottom-holding stand. Always prioritize your convenience over style and choose a design that fits perfectly in your hand.

Cool Shot Button

Most hair dryers feature a cool shot/cool blast setting that allows you to add a finishing touch to your hair. Once you finish drying your hair, style it the way you want, and then use this cool shot setting all over for a long-lasting hairstyle.

Attachments

Several hair dryer models come along with different handy attachments such as a diffuser, straightening brush, or nozzle. A concentrated nozzle, for example, can be useful for directing the flow of air.

For curly hair specifically, we would recommend selecting models that have a diffuser attachment; it helps to spread out the airflow of the hair dryer by slowing down the drying process, helping to keep the curls intact.

Now that we’ve covered what you need to know to choose the right hair dryer for your curly hair, let’s take a peek at the best ones available in 2026.