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7 Best Premium Hair Dryers Tested: Which One Is Actually Worth the Money?
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7 Best Premium Hair Dryers Tested: Which One Is Actually Worth the Money?
Writtten and Edited by: Benjamin White
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If you have fine or thinning hair and you’re searching for the best premium hair dryer, I tested seven bestselling blow dryers to find out whether they’re premium because of their price—or because of their performance. For this comparison, I tested the Ella Bella Ionic Hair Dryer, Shark SpeedStyle Pro, BaBylissPRO Volare, Elchim 3900, SRI Dry Q, Harry Josh Pro Tools Dryer, and Dyson Supersonic. I compared their weight, noise level, airflow speed, features, and how well they could dry wet hair in just three minutes. Let’s get into the results!
If you want to watch the video of me testing these dryers, watch here:
First up is the Ella Bella Ionic Hair Dryer, coming in at $149 on Amazon at the time of filming. This dryer includes multiple heat settings and intelligent heat control, so you can customize your drying experience to suit your specific hair type. Ella Bella claims it can dry your hair in record time, so we’ll be putting that to the test.
The weight of a blow dryer can definitely be a pain point, especially when you’re holding it over your head for an extended period of time. I weighed every dryer with my scale, and the Ella Bella came in at 334 grams.
Noise is also a deciding factor, so I measured every dryer with my sound level meter while it was running on its highest airflow setting. The Ella Bella stayed around 81 decibels.
Next up is the Shark SpeedStyle Pro, coming in at $169 at the time of filming. It has three speed settings and three heat levels for complete control over your drying experience.
It also has a Scalp Shield Mode, which instantly reduces the air temperature to a level designed for scalp comfort and root drying. This could be an interesting feature for people with fine or thinning hair who are concerned about using too much heat around the scalp.
The Shark weighed 390 grams, so it was a little heavier than the Ella Bella. As far as noise, it stayed around 87 decibels.
Next up is the BaBylissPRO Volare, coming in at $189 on Amazon at the time of filming. This blow dryer features six different heat settings and ionic technology designed to help produce smooth, shiny hair.
It weighed 534 grams, making it the heaviest dryer I had tested at this point. As far as noise, it stayed around 80 decibels.
Then we have the Elchim 3900 Hair Dryer, coming in at $220 on Amazon at the time of filming. On the side, it has two pull-press buttons that let you customize the speed and temperature. It also features a cold-air button to help lock in your style.
After weighing the Elchim, it came in at 578 grams. When it came to noise, the meter read approximately 83 decibels.
Then we have the SRI Dry Q, coming in at $299 on Amazon at the time of filming. This blow dryer has four buttons on the side that give you control over your drying experience.
What makes this dryer different from the rest is its advanced infrared light technology. The company says this feature can help reduce frizz and protect the hair cuticle for stronger, thicker-looking hair. That would require longer-term testing to verify, but it definitely makes the Dry Q one of the most interesting dryers in this comparison.
It also has a cool feature that allows you to twist and fold it in half, making it easier to pack for travel.
On the scale, the Dry Q came in at 386 grams, making it the second-lightest dryer tested. As far as noise, the meter read approximately 85 decibels.
Next up is the Harry Josh Pro Tools Dryer, coming in at $328 on Amazon at the time of filming. This dryer features eight heat, speed, and ion settings. It also has a cool-shot button for adding the finishing touches to your style.
On its highest airflow setting, the noise meter read approximately 86 decibels. On the scale, it came in at 540 grams.
Lastly is the Dyson Supersonic, which came in at $449 on Dyson’s website at the time of filming. It has buttons on the back that allow you to customize the airflow speed and temperature.
It also features a Scalp Protect Mode, which automatically adapts the heat and airflow to help protect the scalp and add shine.
On the scale, the Dyson came in at 464 grams. As far as noise, the meter read approximately 78 decibels.
After weighing and measuring the noise of all seven dryers, the Elchim was the heaviest, while the Ella Bella was the lightest. The Shark SpeedStyle Pro was the loudest, while the Dyson Supersonic was the quietest, sitting around 78 decibels.
Hair Dryer Weight and Noise Results
| Hair dryer | Weight | Noise level |
|---|---|---|
| Ella Bella Ionic Hair Dryer | 334 g — Lightest | 81 dB |
| Shark SpeedStyle Pro | 390 g | 87 dB — Loudest |
| BaBylissPRO Volare | 534 g | 80 dB |
| Elchim 3900 | 578 g — Heaviest | 83 dB |
| SRI Dry Q | 386 g | 85 dB |
| Harry Josh Pro Tools Dryer | 540 g | 86 dB |
| Dyson Supersonic | 464 g | 78 dB — Quietest |
Hair Dryer Airspeed Test
Now it’s time to test the airflow speed. I used an airflow meter and ran every dryer on its highest airflow setting.
First up was the Ella Bella. It reached 133 CFM and 1,544 feet per minute, which converts to 17.55 mph.
Next was the Shark. It reached 140 CFM and 1,630 feet per minute, which converts to 18.52 mph.
Then we have the BaBylissPRO. This dryer reached 132 CFM and 1,539 feet per minute, which converts to 17.49 mph.
Next up was the Elchim. It reached 140 CFM and 1,631 feet per minute, which converts to 18.53 mph.
The SRI Dry Q reached 123 CFM and 1,434 feet per minute, which converts to 16.30 mph.
The Harry Josh dryer reached 124 CFM and 1,444 feet per minute, which converts to 16.41 mph.
Lastly, the Dyson reached 119 CFM and 1,390 feet per minute, which converts to 15.80 mph.
Hair Dryer Airflow and Airspeed Results
| Hair dryer | Airflow | Airspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Ella Bella Ionic Hair Dryer | 133 CFM | 17.55 mph |
| Shark SpeedStyle Pro | 140 CFM | 18.52 mph |
| BaBylissPRO Volare | 132 CFM | 17.49 mph |
| Elchim 3900 | 140 CFM | 18.53 mph — Fastest |
| SRI Dry Q | 123 CFM | 16.30 mph |
| Harry Josh Pro Tools Dryer | 124 CFM | 16.41 mph |
| Dyson Supersonic | 119 CFM | 15.80 mph — Slowest |
The Elchim had the fastest airspeed, but the Shark was literally right behind it in second place. The difference between them was only 0.01 mph.
The Dyson had the slowest airspeed of the group. That was disappointing because it was also the most expensive dryer I tested.
Three-Minute Hair-Drying Test
Now it’s time to test the actual hair-drying capabilities. For this test, I wet a wig head and then performed a rough dry with a towel. I set a timer for three minutes and used each dryer to see how dry the hair would get.
I rated every dryer from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best.
Elchim 3900 Drying Test
Starting with the Elchim, I noticed that it did a decent job drying the hair after three minutes. However, the hair was still damp in some areas, so I gave it a 4 out of 5.
Ella Bella Drying Test
Then I tested the Ella Bella. After three minutes, the hair was still very wet at both the roots and the ends.
It was also difficult for me to turn the dryer back off. I kept holding the power button, but it wouldn’t immediately shut down. I gave the Ella Bella a 3 out of 5.
BaBylissPRO Volare Drying Test
Then I tested the Harry Josh dryer. After three minutes, I felt like it did a better job getting both the ends and the roots dry. I gave it a 4 out of 5.
Dyson Supersonic Drying Test
Next up was the Dyson. After three minutes of drying, I was impressed with how dry the hair felt. It was still a little damp, but the Dyson did a great job drying the ends. I gave it a 4.5 out of 5.
SRI Dry Q Drying Test
Then I tested the Dry Q. After three minutes, it also did a great job drying the hair.
As far as the user experience, it was very easy to use because of how light it felt. If you’re holding a blow dryer for a longer period of time, the lighter weight may also help reduce arm fatigue. I gave the Dry Q a 4.5 out of 5.
Shark SpeedStyle Pro Drying Test
Last up was the Shark. After three minutes, I was very impressed with how dry the hair was. It was still slightly damp, of course, but it was the driest the hair had felt throughout the entire test. I gave the Shark a 5 out of 5.
Three-Minute Hair-Drying Ratings
| Hair dryer | Drying rating | What I noticed after three minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Elchim 3900 | 4/5 | Decent drying, but the hair was still damp in some areas. |
| Ella Bella Ionic Hair Dryer | 3/5 | The roots and ends were still very wet. |
| BaBylissPRO Volare | 3/5 | The ends were still soaking wet. |
| Harry Josh Pro Tools Dryer | 4/5 | Did a better job drying both the roots and ends. |
| Dyson Supersonic | 4.5/5 | The hair was still slightly damp, but the ends dried well. |
| SRI Dry Q | 4.5/5 | Dried the hair well and felt lightweight and easy to use. |
| Shark SpeedStyle Pro | 5/5 — Best | Produced the driest-feeling hair in the test. |
Which Premium Hair Dryer Is Best?
So, which blow dryer is best? I have to say that the best overall is the Shark SpeedStyle Pro.
It produced the driest hair during the three-minute test, and it had the second-fastest airspeed—finishing only 0.01 mph behind the Elchim. I also like that it gives you multiple heat and speed settings, plus Scalp Shield Mode to help protect your scalp from excessive heat.
It was the loudest dryer I tested, but when it comes to drying performance, airflow, features, weight, and price, I think the Shark offers the best overall package.
Honorable Mention: SRI Dry Q
I also have to give an honorable mention to the SRI Dry Q. It earned a 4.5 out of 5 in the drying test, was the second-lightest dryer of the group, and its foldable design makes it convenient for travel.
I’d love to test the Dry Q over a longer period to see whether its infrared red-light technology actually helps hair look stronger and thicker. I also like that it dried the hair quickly. Spending less time drying your hair may help reduce unnecessary heat exposure, although temperature and drying technique also play an important role.
But which dryer do you think was best? Comment your pick below!
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the best premium hair dryer in this test?
The Shark SpeedStyle Pro was the best overall premium hair dryer in my comparison. It produced the driest-feeling hair during the three-minute test, earned a 5 out of 5 rating, and recorded the second-fastest airspeed.
Which hair dryer dried the hair best in three minutes?
The Shark SpeedStyle Pro performed the best in the three-minute hair-drying test. The hair was still slightly damp, but it felt drier than it did after using any of the other six dryers.
Which hair dryer had the fastest airspeed?
The Elchim 3900 recorded the fastest airspeed at 18.53 mph. The Shark SpeedStyle Pro finished just behind it at 18.52 mph—a difference of only 0.01 mph.
Which hair dryer was the lightest?
The Ella Bella Ionic Hair Dryer was the lightest dryer tested at 334 grams. The SRI Dry Q was the second-lightest at 386 grams.
Which hair dryer was the quietest?
The Dyson Supersonic was the quietest hair dryer in the comparison, measuring approximately 78 decibels on its highest airflow setting.
Which hair dryer was the loudest?
The Shark SpeedStyle Pro was the loudest dryer tested at approximately 87 decibels. Although it was the loudest, it also delivered the best result in the practical drying test.
Is the Dyson Supersonic worth the price?
The Dyson was the quietest dryer and earned a strong 4.5 out of 5 in the drying test. However, it was also the most expensive model and recorded the slowest airspeed. If quiet operation is your priority, it may still be worth considering, but the Shark offered better overall value in this comparison.
Is the SRI Dry Q good for travel?
The SRI Dry Q could be a convenient option for travel because it folds in half and was the second-lightest dryer in the test. It also performed well in the three-minute drying test, earning a 4.5 out of 5.
What is the best hair dryer for fine or thinning hair?
Based on this performance test, the Shark SpeedStyle Pro is my best overall pick and includes a Scalp Shield Mode for more comfortable scalp and root drying. The lightweight SRI Dry Q is also worth considering. However, this test compared drying performance and did not measure hair growth, hair loss, or long-term changes in hair thickness.
Does a higher airspeed mean a hair dryer will dry hair faster?
Not always. The Elchim recorded the fastest airspeed, but the Shark produced the driest-feeling hair in the three-minute test. Heat level, airflow pattern, attachments, technique, and how well the air reaches the roots and ends can all affect real-world drying performance.
