Buying guide
Best hair dryers for thick hair
Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
Top picks at a glance
Compare all picks
Closest match for the job
ghd Helios: 1875W brushless, 75mph airflow
States 75mph airflow from an 1875W brushless motor.
See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon
Most for the money on paper
BaBylissPRO Rapido: 2000W brushless at 0.91 lb
Diffuser included to define natural texture, per the listing.
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Most complete listing
BaBylissPRO Falco: 2000W, two concentrators, diffuser
An extra-large diffuser comes in the box, per the listing.
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Thick hair takes longer to dry because there is simply more of it, so the things that matter are airflow and focus. A strong motor moves more air, and a narrow concentrator puts that air on one section at a time instead of scattering it. Weight matters too, because a long drying session means holding the dryer up for longer. A poor pick for thick hair has a weak or unstated motor, a single wide nozzle and few heat steps. This guide ranks premium dryers by the airflow facts their listings state: wattage, motor type and airflow speed, the concentrators in the box, the number of heat and speed settings, and weight where the listing gives it. Values a listing leaves out are marked Not stated.
Compare the picks
- ghd Helios: 1875W brushless, 75mph airflow
- Power
- 1875W
- Motor / airflow
- Brushless motor, 75mph airflow
- Concentrators
- Contoured nozzle
- Heat and speed settings
- Variable heat and power, cool shot
- BaBylissPRO Falco: 2000W, two concentrators, diffuser
- Power
- 2000W
- Motor / airflow
- High-speed digital motor
- Concentrators
- Small and large
- Heat and speed settings
- Multiple (count not stated)
T3 AireLuxe: 5 heat, 3 speed, brush set included- Power
- Not stated
- Motor / airflow
- Digitally controlled heat, ion-rich airflow
- Concentrators
- Not stated
- Heat and speed settings
- 5 heat, 3 speed, cool shot
- BaBylissPRO Rapido: 2000W brushless at 0.91 lb
- Power
- 2000W
- Motor / airflow
- Brushless Italian motor
- Concentrators
- Small and large
- Heat and speed settings
- 6 heat and speed, cold shot
Bio Ionic PowerDiva Pro: 1875W, 14 heat and power settings- Power
- 1875W
- Motor / airflow
- Not stated
- Concentrators
- Not stated
- Heat and speed settings
- 14 heat and power settings
BaBylissPRO Dual Ionic: 1875W, 9 settings, 0.88 lb- Power
- 1875W
- Motor / airflow
- High-speed brushless motor
- Concentrators
- Small and large
- Heat and speed settings
- 9 heat and speed, cool shot
Dyson Supersonic Origin: high-pressure airflow, magnetic nozzle- Power
- Not stated
- Motor / airflow
- Air Multiplier, high-pressure high-velocity jet
- Concentrators
- Magnetic styling concentrator
- Heat and speed settings
- Not stated
| Pick | Power | Motor / airflow | Concentrators | Heat and speed settings | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ghd Helios: 1875W brushless, 75mph airflow | 1875W | Brushless motor, 75mph airflow | Contoured nozzle | Variable heat and power, cool shot | - | Amazon |
| BaBylissPRO Falco: 2000W, two concentrators, diffuser | 2000W | High-speed digital motor | Small and large | Multiple (count not stated) | - | Amazon |
| T3 AireLuxe: 5 heat, 3 speed, brush set included | Not stated | Digitally controlled heat, ion-rich airflow | Not stated | 5 heat, 3 speed, cool shot | - | Amazon |
| BaBylissPRO Rapido: 2000W brushless at 0.91 lb | 2000W | Brushless Italian motor | Small and large | 6 heat and speed, cold shot | - | Amazon |
| Bio Ionic PowerDiva Pro: 1875W, 14 heat and power settings | 1875W | Not stated | Not stated | 14 heat and power settings | - | Amazon |
| BaBylissPRO Dual Ionic: 1875W, 9 settings, 0.88 lb | 1875W | High-speed brushless motor | Small and large | 9 heat and speed, cool shot | - | Amazon |
| Dyson Supersonic Origin: high-pressure airflow, magnetic nozzle | Not stated | Air Multiplier, high-pressure high-velocity jet | Magnetic styling concentrator | Not stated | - | Amazon |
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · ghd
ghd Helios: 1875W brushless, 75mph airflow
See price on AmazonThe Helios is ghd's main dryer: an 1875W brushless motor, 75mph airflow, variable heat and power and a low-sound acoustic system. The best fit for most ghd buyers.
What the listing offers
- States 75mph airflow from an 1875W brushless motor.
- Bespoke acoustic system listed for low sound levels.
- Sold in several colors, so you can pick by price as well as finish.
Limits to know
- Not dual voltage per the listing, so it is not a travel pick.
- Only a contoured nozzle is included; no diffuser.
Pick 2 · BaBylissPRO
BaBylissPRO Falco: 2000W, two concentrators, diffuser
See price on AmazonThe Falco ships with an extra-large diffuser, a straightening comb and two concentrators on a 2000W high-speed motor. A good fit if you both diffuse and stretch.
What the listing offers
- An extra-large diffuser comes in the box, per the listing.
- A straightening comb is included for stretching curls between wash days.
- 2000W high-speed digital motor for faster drying of dense curls.
Limits to know
- The number of heat and speed settings is not stated.
- No weight figure, and a 2000W dryer may be more airflow than some curls want.
Pick 3 · T3
T3 AireLuxe: 5 heat, 3 speed, brush set included
See price on AmazonT3's AireLuxe has five heat and three speed settings, and its listing names the lower steps as gentle for fine or color-treated strands. A round brush and a paddle brush are included.
What the listing offers
- The listing specifically points fine or color-treated hair to its gentler settings.
- Five heat and three speed settings give fifteen combinations to find a low, slow mix.
- A 2.5 in round brush is included, which helps build lift at the roots.
Limits to know
- Weight and wattage are not stated on the listing.
- No concentrator is named in the set, which some prefer for smoothing.
Pick 4 · BaBylissPRO
BaBylissPRO Rapido: 2000W brushless at 0.91 lb
See price on AmazonThe Rapido includes a diffuser to define texture, two concentrators and six settings, and the listing names curly and textured hair. Light at a stated 0.91 lb.
What the listing offers
- Diffuser included to define natural texture, per the listing.
- Six heat and speed settings cover curly and textured hair by name.
- A stated 0.91 lb weight helps during long diffusing sessions.
Limits to know
- The straightening comb is compatible but not in the box.
- No smart heat sensing, so finding the right low setting is up to you.
Pick 5 · BIO IONIC
Bio Ionic PowerDiva Pro: 1875W, 14 heat and power settings
See price on AmazonThe PowerDiva Pro has 14 heat and power settings and a multi-speed dial, and the listing itself recommends low to medium for fine hair. It is 1875W with universal voltage.
What the listing offers
- The listing gives fine-hair guidance directly: use the low to medium range of the speed dial.
- Fourteen heat and power settings give the most steps at the low end of any pick here.
- Universal voltage and a compact body make it easy to travel with, per the listing.
Limits to know
- Attachments are not named on the listing, so check what ships in the box.
- No weight figure is given, only that it is lightweight and compact.
Pick 6 · BaBylissPRO
BaBylissPRO Dual Ionic: 1875W, 9 settings, 0.88 lb
See price on AmazonThe Dual Ionic includes a diffuser and comb, nine settings and a one-touch ion switch. The listing names curly and coarse hair, and its 0.88 lb weight is the lowest here.
What the listing offers
- Nine heat and speed settings, the most stated in this guide.
- The ion function can be switched on or off with one touch, per the listing.
- The lightest stated weight in this guide, at 0.88 lb.
Limits to know
- The diffuser is listed for styling versatility rather than described in detail.
- Its 50% faster drying claim does not state what it is compared to.
Pick 7 · Dyson
Dyson Supersonic Origin: high-pressure airflow, magnetic nozzle
See price on AmazonThe Origin is the core Supersonic without the Nural sensors. The listing names one magnetic Styling concentrator and negative ions. It suits buyers who want the Supersonic motor for less.
What the listing offers
- Air Multiplier technology and a small motor produce a high-pressure, high-velocity jet of air, according to the listing.
- The magnetic Styling concentrator uses Heat Shield technology, which the listing says keeps its surface cool.
- Negative ions are listed to help reduce static, and the motor is acoustically tuned to one inaudible frequency.
Limits to know
- Only one attachment is named, so diffuser and smoothing nozzle users may need to buy those separately.
- There are no sensor modes such as scalp mode or pause detect, which the Nural listing includes.
Read before you buy
- Ionic vs ceramic vs tourmaline hair dryersIonic vs ceramic vs tourmaline hair dryers: what each label means, how makers combine them, and which matters for frizz, heat and drying time.
- How to choose a hair dryer: watts, weight, motor and attachmentsHow to choose a hair dryer: what wattage, motor type, weight, heat and speed settings, attachments, ions, noise and voltage mean, and which matter for your hair.
- How to blow dry hair straight with a round brushBlow dry hair straight and smooth with a dryer and round brush: rough drying, sectioning, concentrator angle, brush size, heat settings and the cool shot finish.
- High-speed hair dryers explained: digital motors and airflowHigh-speed hair dryers explained: how brushless digital motors work, what rpm, watts and air pressure mean, Dyson Supersonic wattage, and who benefits most.
- How to diffuse curly hair with a hair dryerWhat a hair dryer diffuser does and how to use one on curly and coily hair: settings, the cup and lift method, hover drying and fixing frizz.
More guides: Hair dryers
Air & Barrel chooses every product independently from what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission from the links above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.