New York Post may be compensated and/or obtain an affiliate fee if you click on or purchase through our hyperlinks. Featured pricing is topic to change.
In New York City, a good blow dryer has to do more than merely flip moist hair dry.
Bathroom counter house is valuable, mornings are rushed, and humidity can undo a polished model before you’ve even left the home. For New Yorkers navigating packed subways, Citi Bikes, lengthy bus rides and unpredictable climate, a dependable hair device helps preserve your model intact on the go.
That made NYC the excellent backdrop for testing the greatest blow dryers and air stylers for New York Post’s Made It Here Awards. After more than 5 years of testing a whole bunch of magnificence merchandise for the Post, I know what separates a genuinely helpful hair device from one that merely has an spectacular characteristic checklist.
See our full testing standards
Our testing crew put 5 standout hair dryers and air stylers through their paces, with testers bringing completely different hair varieties, textures and styling wants to the course of. We evaluated how straightforward each device was to use, how successfully it dried and styled hair, the end it delivered, which improvements felt genuinely helpful and whether its efficiency justified the worth.
The end result was a prime three that stood out for very completely different causes. Together, these picks proved they could deal with the calls for of a real-world New York routine — from humidity and hectic mornings to lengthy commutes and everything in between.
Read on for the blow dryers and air stylers we’d belief in the Big Apple (and anywhere else).
Tamara Beckwith/ New York Post
Pros:
Cons:
The Glossi combines airflow and heated ceramic plates in a single device, taking damp hair and creating a polished blowout in mere minutes.
“For me, Shark was the clear winner — my hair rarely ever holds its shape after blow-drying,” Miska Salemann, commerce reporter and blow-dryer tester, shared. “But the Shark proved to be powerful, and the slightly more compact design made styling feel much easier and more intuitive. The heat settings were spot-on, and somehow my hair felt smoother and looked shinier after a morning blow-drying session.”
Its teardrop-shaped head is designed to get nearer to the roots, while Wet Mode handles the preliminary drying. Its Dry Mode can be used to refresh already-dry hair. Shark also says the gadget measures temperature 1,000 instances per second to regulate warmth, conserving your hair from getting fried in the styling course of. It’s the preferrred device for the particular person who desires a professional-grade blowout with out extra styling instruments.
Power: 1,300W | Attachments: Integrated styling head; no separate attachments | Cord size: 72 inches | Weight: 1.63 kilos | Cool shot: No devoted button | Ion expertise: Yes* | Travel case: No | App: No | Number of warmth/pace settings: 3 warmth / 3 pace | Warranty: 2 years
Tamara Beckwith/ New York Post
Pros:
Cons:
While its price ticket may make it really feel like a luxurious merchandise, the AirLight Pro is the clear selection when innovation is involved.
Its headline characteristic is infrared gentle, which L’Oréal Professionnel says works alongside air and warmth to goal water molecules and pace evaporation. The firm reports up to 21% quicker drying, 55% more hydration locked into hair and 19% less vitality consumption in its testing.
The expertise doesn’t cease there. The AirLight Pro has a built-in LCD, three warmth settings, three airflow settings and a cool-shot perform. Its related app customizes temperature and airflow and accesses presets, including Sleek, Curly and Coily, but it’s non-compulsory.
“This is high-tech and high-performance, for sure,” Brooke Parker, commerce partnerships affiliate and blow-dryer tester, shared. “It dried my hair fast while keeping the heat consistent, leaving it super shiny and surprisingly sweat-proof after my signature ‘I’m going to be late’ walk-run to the train. I love that the attachments automatically adjust the heat and air settings for you, but the body of the dryer definitely felt a little top-heavy after holding it for a while.”
It also feels impressively gentle for a professional-style dryer. L’Oréal lists the U.S. model at about 1.7 kilos, with a 9-foot shopper wire.
Power: 1,875 W (U.S.) |Attachments: 2 magnetic nozzles; detachable/washable filter | Cord size: 9 toes | Weight: approx. 1.7pounds | Cool shot: Yes | Ion expertise: No — infrared expertise instead | Travel case: No | App: Optional | Number of warmth/pace settings: 3 warmth / 3 airflow settings, plus customizable Pro modes | Warranty: 2 years
Tamara Beckwith/ New York Post
Pros:
Cons:
The new-generation Aire 360 robotically adapts to completely different voltage techniques worldwide, so it can be taken overseas with a plug adapter instead of worrying about whether your U.S. hair device will work at your vacation spot. T3 also redesigned the gadget with a shorter deal with and lighter base particularly to make it more travel-friendly.
It’s a full air-styling system with two curling attachments, an oval brush and a GentleAire drying concentrator. The ceramic curling barrels use T3’s CeraGloss ceramic, while the oval brush is designed to easy and raise.
That versatility is what makes it compelling for journeys. Rather than packing a dryer, curling iron and brush individually, customers can consolidate several steps into one system.
“The T3 is for the fine hair or naturally straight hair baddies,” Michelle Moezam, senior commerce social advertising supervisor and blow-dryer tester, said. “It’s great for long hair as the long handle can really get the parts of the back of the head that I normally struggle with.”
T3 lists three warmth settings, three pace settings, a cool shot and a 9-foot swivel wire. It also contains a storage tote, which is precisely the variety of small but significant element I need from a travel-oriented magnificence device. It’s considerably more compact than the first-generation mannequin. T3 says the new model has the shortest deal with and lightest design in its lineup, while TechRadar measured the up to date mannequin at about 1.3 kilos.
Power: 1,200–1,400W | Attachments: 2 curling attachments, oval brush, GentleAire drying concentrator, storage tote |Cord size: 9-foot swivel wire | Weight: approx. 1.3 lbs. | Cool shot: Yes | Ion expertise: No devoted ion generator listed | Travel case: Yes, contains storage tote | App: No | Number of warmth/pace settings: 3 warmth / 3 pace settings | Warranty: 2 years
Pros:
Cons:
The Dyson Supersonic Nural has a modern Ceramic Pink and Rose Gold design, plus sensible expertise that adjusts the warmth based mostly on how shut the dryer is to your scalp. Its Scalp Protect mode helps preserve the temperature comfy, while clever warmth management helps stop extreme warmth publicity.
The attachments are where this dryer actually stands out. It comes with 5 magnetic attachments designed for completely different hair varieties and styling wants, including a diffuser for curls and waves, a styling concentrator for easy appears to be like, a light air attachment, a wide-tooth comb and a flyaway attachment. The dryer can also acknowledge which attachment you’re utilizing and bear in mind your most well-liked settings. There’s even a Pause Detect characteristic that reduces airflow when you put the dryer down. It’s a lot of expertise packed into one device, but that’s the purpose it appeals to many consumers.
Olmeda checks how the Dyson does against her curls.Georgie Olmeda
Georgie Olmeda
We did discover drawbacks during testing; primarily that it didn’t work as effectively on testers with thicker, curlier hair.
“The Dyson offered a solid drying experience, but on my thick, curly hair, it didn’t deliver the same level of shine or volume as the Shark or Laifen,” Georgie Olmeda, commerce partnerships supervisor, shared after testing. “It was also noticeably heavier than the other dryers, making it less comfortable to maneuver through a longer styling session.”
Power: 1,600W | Attachments: 5 magnetic attachments: Wave+Curl diffuser, styling concentrator, Gentle air attachment, wide-tooth comb and Flyaway attachment | Cord size: 8.6 toes |Weight: approx. 1.8 kilos. | Cool shot: Yes | Ion expertise: Yes, damaging ions | Travel case: Not listed | App: No | Number of warmth/pace settings: 4 warmth / 3 pace settings | Warranty: 2-year restricted
Pros:
Cons:
If your arm begins feeling like it’s getting a exercise midway through a blowout, meet the Laifen SE 2. At just 0.8 kilos, this dryer is impressively gentle with out giving up energy. Its 108,000-RPM motor delivers quick airflow to assist dry hair shortly, while its compact design makes it straightforward to transfer around your head with out the normal arm fatigue.
Its Temperature Cycling Mode robotically adjusts the warmth to scale back extreme warmth publicity, while a three-LED temperature ring reveals the warmth degree. It also makes use of negative-ion expertise to scale back static and frizz. With 10 drying settings, you can modify the dryer to go well with your hair and styling routine.
Two magnetic attachments are included: a diffuser for curls and waves and a smoothing nozzle for creating a sleeker end. The diffuser is helpful for enhancing pure curls, while the smoothing nozzle helps direct airflow for a smoother look.
“The Laifen had a noticeably powerful airstream, which helped dry my hair fast,” Salemann shared. “This is the brush I would probably use if I were rushing out the door in the morning. I also appreciated the fact that it seemed a bit quieter (or somehow less annoying-sounding) than the other brushes, which made the blow-drying process a little more pleasant.”
Power: 1,400W/120V, not twin voltage, 108,000-RPM brushless motor | Attachments: Magnetic diffuser and smoothing nozzle | Cord size: 8.2 toes | Weight: 0.8 kilos. | App: No |Number of warmth/pace settings: 2 pace ranges, 10 drying settings, Hot/heat/chilly temperature settings, Temperature Cycling Mode | Negative-ion expertise: Yes | Cool shot: Yes | Travel case: Not listed as included | Warranty: 1-year
Hair Dryers in contrast
Blow DryersPriceStandout optionsBest general: Shark Glossi$179.99Heated ceramic plates plus airflow, no app, moist and dry modesBest luxurious innovation: L’Oréal AirLight Pro$475.00Infrared gentle expertise, customization via app Best for Travel: T3 Aire 360$349.99Multiple warmth settings, compact deal with, cool shotBest with attachments: Dyson Supersonic Nural$449.99Smart warmth controls, contains 5 attachmentsBest light-weight: Laifen SE 2$149.99Reduces frizz and static, light-weight, magnetic attachments
How we examined
For three months, 5 members of the New York Post crew blow-dried their hair recurrently, placing our narrowed-down checklist of top-performing blow dryers through real-world testing. We rotated the dryers among testers to get a vary of hair varieties, styling habits and experiences, then evaluated each mannequin against the standards under.
We weren’t just wanting for a dryer that could get hair dry shortly. We wished to know how each one carried out over time, how straightforward it was to use, how effectively it managed frizz and, most importantly, whether it could produce a recent blowout that could survive a day in New York City.
Our testers adopted the same testing standards all through the three months, including judging warmth and airflow efficiency, ergonomics, attachments, noise, cool-shot effectiveness, upkeep and end high quality. We also put each blowout through morning and night real-world testing, exposing hair to NYC’s humidity, wind, sweat and speedy indoor-to-outdoor temperature adjustments.
At the finish of testing, we in contrast notes and outcomes across the crew to decide which dryers constantly delivered the strongest efficiency. Three fashions earned the prime spots based mostly on their mixture of efficiency, usability and endurance.
Tamara Beckwith/ NY POST
Testing Criteria
Tamara Beckwith/ NY POST
Which is price it? Final verdict
There isn’t one blow dryer that is excellent for every New Yorker, which is precisely why we gave these three instruments completely different awards.
The Shark Glossi is our Best Overall because it makes the primary blowout simpler. Its 2-in-1 design combines airflow and heated ceramic styling, and its Wet and Dry modes imply I can use the same device to model freshly washed hair or refresh a dry look.
The L’Oréal Professionnel AirLight Pro is our Best Luxury Innovation because it is the most technologically bold of the three. Its infrared gentle expertise is designed to speed up evaporation, while the LCD controls, three warmth and airflow settings and non-compulsory app give me an unusually customizable drying expertise.
And the T3 Aire 360 is our Best for Travel because it solves a downside that most premium hair instruments merely don’t: worldwide voltage. Its dual-voltage system is paired with a shorter, lighter physique, a number of attachments and a journey tote.
In other phrases, all three made it here for completely different causes — but they all met the standards I cared about: efficiency, ease of use, considerate expertise, versatility and practicality.
For a New Yorker, that’s the actual take a look at. A hair device has to earn its place.
Our testers
Tamara Beckwith/ NY POST
All testers under used each blow dryer for at least three months, following our testing standards for each mannequin.
Victoria McDonnell, commerce & content material technique reporter
Victoria McDonnell
I’m a massive fan of blow-dryer brushes (and Shark merchandise), and the Glossi won by a landslide for me. It was extraordinarily straightforward to use, didn’t go away the ends of my hair crunchy and was versatile on both damp and dry hair.
Michelle Moezam, senior commerce social media advertising supervisor
Michelle Moezam
“The T3 is for the fine hair or naturally straight hair baddies,” Moezam said. “It’s great for long hair as the long handle can really get the parts of the back of the head that I normally struggle with.”
Georgie Olmeda, commerce partnerships supervisor
Georgie Olmeda
“The Shark was a standout for its powerful airflow and super fast drying time,” Olmeda shared. “It cut my usual 2.5-hour curl-to-straight routine down to about 75 minutes on my first test and 70 minutes by my third. It left my hair shiny, smooth, and with sealed-looking ends.”
Brooke Parker, commerce partnerships affiliate
Brooke Parker
“Instant LOVE and undoubtedly the winner for me,” Parker highlighted. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen my hair shiner or smoother — and it only took about 8 minutes every time. It was simple to use from the second I turned it on, and the glossy finish results held up the entire day.”
Miska Salemann, commerce reporter
Miska Salemann
“The L’Oréal brush didn’t necessarily exceed my standards, but it still worked well for my relatively thin, straight hair,” Salemann shared. “I appreciated the fact that there were multiple heat settings, and the magnetic attachments made it easy to switch between them.”
This article was written by Victoria McDonnell, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent numerous hours researching, testing a whole bunch of merchandise and evaluating the newest make-up, skincare, hair and magnificence objects and traits to decide what’s actually price your hard-earned money. She evaluates formulation, textures, components and more, in addition to consulting medical and business specialists. Some of Victoria’s newest conquests embody testing the greatest sheet masks on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat overview of the greatest shampoos for all hair varieties and budgets. Victoria, who obtained a magnificence business necessities certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating purchasing guides for the New York Post since 2021 and beforehand held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.
Source hyperlink
