We chose the Curlsmith Defrizzion Dryer as the best overall dryer for natural hair because it met all of our requirements for a great dryer, and then some. It’s relatively quiet compared to other dryers on the market, and the selling point is the giant diffuser (eight inches in diameter) — so you can fit almost all your hair into the bowl and speed up your drying time. We also like ionic de-frizzing technology, the inclusion of two other attachments (a concentrator nozzle and a hair pic) and the three heat settings plus cool shot button.

What could be improved: This dryer has two speed settings, but for the price, it could have a third. The 2,000 wattage may also be too high for very fine or damaged hair, though we think the diffuser does a great job of distributing air flow and the temperature never gets too hot.

What the Conair Infiniti Pro does well: It’s excellent for a blowout! We love that this dryer is speedy (1875 watts cuts down drying time) and tamps down frizz. Plus, it’s lightweight, easy to maneuver, and has three heat and two speed settings, including a cool setting, not just a cool-shot button. The bottom line? It’s not bad at all for $40.

While the diffuser works well, it isn’t the best for curly hair, and it sometimes falls off the nozzle. Also, this dryer tends to get loud and the coloring sometimes chips off over time, especially around the handle.

Looking for the dryer to end all hair dryers? If so, the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is for you. It doesn’t have the highest wattage of all our recommendations (1,600 watts) but its V9 motor does the job by creating a fast, highly-precise airflow. Smart technology inside the dryer regulates temperature, so you never have to worry about it overheating. We love that this dryer has five magnetic attachments, four heat settings and three speed settings, so you can style your natural hair any way you like.

While the Dyson Supersonic is one of the top hair dryers of all time, its cost is prohibitive. The dryer itself is also very powerful, so it can take some time getting used to using it. We also wish the power cord weren’t so heavy and clunky.

If you want to support a black-owned business while achieving beautiful curls, the PATTERN Blow Dryer is the way to go. It comes with four different attachments — a diffuser, concentrator nozzle, brush nozzle and hair pic — and has three heat and two speed settings. We like that you can turn the ion “anti-frizz” technology off for more volume, and that the temperature never gets too hot.

However, the PATTERN is one of our more expensive recommendations. It’s also a little bulky when maneuvering around your head and the cord could be a little longer.

If you’ve struggled with regular hair dryers for most of your life, it might be time to leave the original dryer design behind. Enter Bellissima Italia, the Ionic Diffuser that is only a diffuser, so you can’t remove the attachment. The wattage is very low (600 watts), which means this dryer never gets too hot or too forceful, and the heat and speed settings are light and designed for delicate curls. Though it doesn’t feel like it’s doing much, it dries hair surprisingly quickly. We also like that it is lightweight and easy to maneuver.

However, the cord is a little clunky and often comes out of the wall if you move the diffuser around too much. The buttons take some time to get used to as well, and this product is no longer available on Amazon.

For a dryer that does it all, opt for the Shark HD435 FlexStyle Dryer. It comes with two auto-wrap curlers, which rotate left and right, two types of brushes, a concentrator nozzle and a FlexStyle Curl Diffuser. Plus, it has a rotating handle (which bends) if you need to reach your hair at different angles. At 1300 watts, it dries hair efficiently while reducing frizz.

What we don’t like: The handle is on the bulky side, and a few customers have received a faulty product. It’s also a loud dryer.

Looking for a Dyson dupe? We recommend the TYMO Hair Dryer. It has three magnetic attachments, including a diffuser, concentrator nozzle and hair pic, and a screen shows you the temperature reading on the back of the dryer (so you can make sure it never gets too hot). We love that it has four heat and three speed settings and anti-frizz technology.

The downsides? The buttons can be a bit awkward to find and press while using the dryer. This is also a little loud compared to the other dryers in our recommendations, and some buyers have found that the hair pic attachment doesn’t stay on.

Kinky hair, or type 4 curls and zig-zag patterned strands, can be difficult to style because it shrinks significantly as it dries. Whether you prefer to let your true curl pattern shine or you want to lengthen out your strands, the Conair INFINITIPRO can help. This 1,875 watt dryer comes with four attachments, including a diffuser, a concentrator and a hair pic, and it has ionic and ceramic technology to reduce frizz and heat damage. We also like that the filter is removable so you can easily clean it and extend the life of your dryer.

However, the diffuser isn’t the best and can extend the drying time. We also wish the cord were a little longer and that it didn’t unplug so easily from the wall.

If you have fine, delicate curls or waves that get blown around easily by hair dryers, the Featherweight StyleMax is a good option for you. It has custom heat automation, meaning it auto-adjusts heat and speed to your hair texture using smart technology. It comes with four attachments, including thick and thin concentrator nozzles, a hair pic and a diffuser. Plus, it has five heat and three speed settings, including a cool shot that stays on for long periods of time.

What could be improved: It’s easy to press the wrong settings on the handle as you hold it. While this dryer is lightweight, it is heavier than some of our lighter recommendations (like the Dyson).

Traveling outside the U.S.? Consider investing in a travel hair dryer for natural hair that can automatically change voltage. We like the T3 Afar Lightweight Travel-Size Hair Dryer because of its compact size, folding handle and smart technology that automatically changes voltage. It has three heat and two speed settings, and it weighs less than a pound.

However, the diffuser attachment is sold separately, which isn’t great when you consider the price tag. The design of the cool shot button could also be improved, as it reduces the dryer’s power when it’s on.

If you want the perfect dryer to prep your hair for braids, twists and more, consider the RevAir Reverse-Air Hair Dryer. It uses suction to elongate strands, and the design significantly reduces heat exposure to prevent long-term hair damage. Overall, its three heat settings create elongated, soft hair in an impressively short amount of time.

Unfortunately, the RevAir Reverse-Air Dryer is one of our most expensive recommendations. It also doesn’t allow for any other styles and the wand is heavy.

What makes the Revlon 1875-Watt Dryer our top recommendation for Amazon hair dryers? It comes with the two most essential attachments (a concentrator nozzle and a diffuser) and three hair clips. The ceramic coating helps reduce frizz, and it has two speed and two heat settings. All in all, it’s a great, affordable pick for natural hair.

At just $26, we’re willing to forgive the cold-air button for not having a long-lasting setting, but it’s something to keep in mind. A few customers have found that the concentrator attachment doesn’t stay on the nozzle, and others found that it wasn’t sufficient for very long or thick hair.

A hair dryer brush is an excellent tool if you need to straighten out and detangle your hair before braiding it, and the OMOteam Professional Brush is a great option. This 1,000-watt brush has three heat and three speed settings, soft bristles for detangling, a swivel cord for ease and a ceramic design to reduce frizz. A bonus: It has dual voltage in case you travel internationally.

Of course, this brush only allows you to dry your hair in one style, though we appreciate its simplicity. A few buyers felt that it didn’t get hot enough, and it’s easy to accidentally alter the heat setting on the dial button.

Looking for an alternative to the OMOteam Hair Dryer Brush? Try the Revlon One Step Volumizer PLUS. It’s a 1,100-watt dryer that has three combined speed and heat settings and one cool-blast setting, and the bristles are spread out to make it easier to gently detangle your hair. We also like that it has a swivel cord. Overall, this brush reduces the time you need to style your hair by combining drying and brushing.

However, this model is on the heavier side, and we wish that the speed and heat settings were separate. This brush also gets loud, and all the settings except for the cool setting are hot.