Best Ionic Hair Dryers

There are few hot tools as prolific as the hair dryer. Found in almost every home bathroom cabinet and hotel bathroom, if someone owns a hair tool, it’s likely a hair dryer.

But not all hair dryers are the same. Famously, some cause significant heat damage over time, causing breakage, frizz, and a decrease in shine and overall hair health.

Luckily, as the years have gone on, hair-drying technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. Among the best innovations is the use of ionic drying technology.

At A Glance

Best Overall: Ella Bella Ionic Hair Dryer
Best Frizz Control: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Dryer
Best for Curly Hair: ghd Air Hair Dryer
Best for 3 and 4 Type Hair: RevAir Reverse-Air Hair Dryer
Most Versatile: Shark SpeedStyle Pro Hair Dryer
Best Splurge: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Best Budget: Revlon One Step Hair Brush Styler

What Is an Ionic Hair Dryer?

First off, let’s address what “ionic” even means. Here’s your chemistry lesson for the day.

Water molecules in wet hair are polar, meaning they have a slight separation of charge thanks to the combination of oxygen (partially negatively charged) and hydrogen (partially positively charged) atoms.

Ionic hair dryers use technology to create negative ions to break apart those water molecules, and the smaller molecules take less time to dry, speeding up the hair drying process while locking moisture into the cuticle instead of drying it out.

Traditional dryers simply blow hot air into hair (damage central), and ionic hair dryers use chemistry to actively break down water molecules instead of just blasting hot air to speed up evaporation and dry hair (less frizz, damage, and TIME).

Benefits of Ionic Hair Dryers

Faster Drying- Because the water molecules are quickly broken up into particles that are so small, evaporation takes a significantly shorter amount of time, reducing how long you have to wait for dry hair.
Less Damage- Faster drying means less heat exposure which means less damage. You’ll notice overall healthier hair when switching to an ionic hair dryer instead of a traditional one.
Frizz Reduction- Neutralizing the positive ions in water reduces flyaways and frizz, making hair smoother and easier to manage and style.
Better Results for Thick, Curly Hair- Traditional ceramic hair dryers take forever to dry curly or thick hair and sometimes they don’t even finish the job. Ionic hair dryers are able to penetrate the layers of thicker and curly hair, fully drying it in no time with

How I Picked the Best Ionic Hair Dryers

Hair Type: I wanted to find options for every hair type, including every texture from 1a to 4c, with options for fine to super thick, curly hair.
Adjustable Settings: All of these ionic hair dryers had to offer different temperature and airflow settings to suit different occasions and needs.
Price: I wanted to keep these hair dryers reasonably priced with options for every budget, so you’ll find options under $100 and a few splurges.
Attachments and Accessories: Versatility was another important consideration, so I looked for options that gave you options, whether that be diffusers for curly, thick hair, or concentrated nozzles for precision styling.
Reviews: Last but certainly not least, I looked at what people who bought and used these ionic hair dryers had to say.

Best Overall: Ella Bella Ionic Hair Dryer

First up and best overall, the Ella Bella Ionic Hair Dryer is right at the sweet spot of price and performance.

This sleek, lightweight ionic hair dryer delivers professional-grade results for a fraction of the price of salon tools. It uses over 500 million negative ions to dry hair quicker and without causing damage, offering a smooth, shiny finish that’s frizz-free.

You can toggle between three different heat settings and rapid drying air speeds, with intelligent heat control to automatically adjust temperature, preventing damage. The Ella Bella also comes with three magnetic attachments, including two different-sized nozzles for concentrated drying and styling, and a large diffuser, perfect for thick, curly hair and reducing heat damage.

The design is super chic and also lightweight, featuring a slim barrel design that’s easy to wield. You won’t be getting an arm workout or carpal tunnel from using this hair dryer.

I personally own this one and can confirm that it’s super easy to use, cute as heck, and dries my shoulder-length straight hair in about 4 and a half minutes on the medium settings. At $199, this dryer takes first place.

Best Frizz Control: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Dryer

If frizz is controlling your life, control your frizz back with the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Dryer.

This powerful dryer is a favorite among stylists, reducing frizz like nobody’s business, using advanced Nano Titanium technology to minimize damage and leave you with a polished, sleek look.

It comes with 6 different heat and speed settings for perfect styling and versatility. The ergonomic design fits perfectly in your hand, allowing for easy, pain-free maneuvering.

What really set this one apart in the reviews that I saw, though, was its longevity. Some reviewers claimed that they’ve owned the same hair dryer for 10, 15, or even 20 years, with the dryer performing just as consistently well as it did the day they got it. That’s not something I see a lot in reviews.

At $114.99, it’s extremely reasonably priced when you consider that it will outlast probably many of your other electronic appliances.

Best for Curly Hair: ghd Air Hair Dryer

Curly girlies to the front! Grab a ghd Air Hair Dryer for seriously salon-quality ionic drying power.

This hair dryer’s claim to fame is a professional salon-strength motor that delivers high-pressure airflow that dries hair twice as fast as regular consumer hair dryers. This makes it great at getting deep into those thick layers of curls to dry fast.

Thanks to advanced ionic technology, this seriously powerful dryer is able to dry thick, curly hair fast and without damage, leaving you with locked-in moisture instead of dry frizz and flyaways.

It is on the pricier side at $239, and some reviewers say it’s a bit heavier than they would like. Still, the overall response to this hair dryer is a positive one, with hundreds of five-star reviews from curly-haired folks who swear by the dryer.

Best for 3 and 4 Type Hair: RevAir Reverse-Air Hair Dryer

If you have 3 or 4 type hair, the RevAir Reverse-Air Hair Dryer has been recommended just about everywhere I’ve looked.

The name is short for “Reverse Air,” meaning this revolutionary hair dryer uses gentle vacuum suctioning to actually draw water from the follicles in the direction of growth, allowing users to dry, smooth, and stretch all at once. It’s able to do all of this in around 30 minutes, depending on your hair type, which is half the time it would take to use a blow dryer and comb.

While it’s suitable for all hair types, the design is created specifically to preserve the natural curl pattern and provide salon-quality drying without damaging or breaking hair. It works on not only natural, unstyled hair, but is safe to use on extensions, twistouts, braids, locs, and wigs, so no matter what style you have going on, the RevAir has you covered.

The obvious downside here is pretty significant… this fancy hair dryer is going to cost you $459. Still, so many people talked about this investment being worth it that I had to put it on this list.

Most Versatile: Shark SpeedStyle Pro Hair Dryer

If you need an all-in-one tool that has attachments for the whole household, look no further than the Shark SpeedStyle Pro Hair Dryer.

This crazy versatile hair dryer comes with a FrizzFighter™ Finishing Tool, a QuickSmooth Brush, and a Turbo Concentrator for a variety of hair drying and styling experiences.

The thing that I (and many reviewers) really love about it, though, is the scalp shield technology. It uses intelligent heat control to reduce heat at the scalp, protecting 100% of fragile new growth. It’s also super lightweight and easy to use.

Unfortunately, some reviewers claim it’s pretty loud, and it is on the pricier side at $229.

Best Splurge: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

If you’ve got the money, I really do personally recommend the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer.

I know, I didn’t want to like it, either. $400 for a hair dryer is insane. But if you want to spend that kind of money, the Dyson will be worth it. It looks like it’s straight out of the future with a big open loop (I’m genuinely not sure where the air is coming from), but it dries my full head of hair in about 2 minutes on the lower settings.

It reduces frizz via intelligent heat control that automatically adjusts heat based on how close the dryer is to your hair and how dry your hair is already to prevent overdrying and heat damage. Over 25,000 reviewers say it leaves their hair sleek and smooth, providing a gentle lift for added volume.

The downside is obvious. At $419, it’s very high-end, and it isn’t the most lightweight on this list. Still, it’s great, and it would feel wrong to leave it off this list.

Best Budget: Revlon One Step Hair Brush Styler

For affordable styling that’s quick and damage-free, try the Revlon One Step Hair Brush Styler.

This is a one-stop shop for drying, detangling, and styling. It detangles as it dries, which cuts drying time in half compared to a regular blow dryer and brush. It also makes it easy to straighten, smooth, and create volume.

Even though it’s significantly cheaper than many on this list (coming in at just under $60), it’s able to provide the quick drying and damage protection that any ionic hair dryer can.

This one is also often recommended for 3 and 4-type hair, so it’s a versatile pick for anyone looking for a cheaper option to anything else on this list. There are thousands of reviews from people who love this one and use it every single day.

Which Is The Best Ionic Hair Dryer?

When it comes to choosing the best ionic hair dryer, the best one for you depends on your preferences, hair type, and budget.

For the best experience overall, the Ella Bella Ionic Hair Dryer delivers powerful performance at a reasonable price point. The BabylissPRO offers unmatched frizz control while the ghd pick is great for folks with thick, curly hair.

For type 3 or 4 hair, try the RevAir or the Revlon One Step for a more affordable option. And for a splurge, the Dyson Supersonic Origin is worth the price.