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Best Hair Dryers Under $100 – Don’t Break Your Bank for A Good Hair Dryer

Looking for a good hair dryer that’s also cheap may seem like a simple task, but it can quickly become overwhelming with so many on the market.

You can easily spend hundreds of dollars on a hair dryer, sometimes even close to a thousand dollars, but not all of us want to spend that kind of money on a beauty tool.

Lucky for us, there are cheap hair dryers on the market today for less than 100 USD that still deliver salon-quality hair. Our list of the 10 best hair dryers under $100 will leave you feeling like you just stepped out of a salon, without the high price tag.

Here is a glance at the list, but be sure to read on for a description of each of them.

ImageTitleEditor's RankBuy
Product ImageTopRemington D3190 Damage Protection Hair Dryer with Ceramic + Ionic + Tourmaline TechnologyBest OverallSee Price
Product ImageTopConair John Frieda Frizz Ease Full Volume Hair DryerBest For Frizzy HairSee Price
Product ImageTopREVLON 1875W Lightweight + Compact Travel Hair DryerBest For Basic TravelSee Price
Product ImageTopBaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Travel DryerBest For International TravelSee Price
Product ImageTopRUSK Engineering W8less Professional 2000 Watt DryerBest LightweightSee Price
Product ImageTopRevlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer Hot Air BrushBest With Built-In Hair BrushSee Price
Product ImageTopConair 1875 Watt 3-in-1 Styling Hair Dryer and 3 AttachmentsBest DetanglerSee Price
Product ImageTopInStyler TURBO MAX Ionic DryerBest For All Types of HairSee Price
Product ImageTopConair 1875 Watt Cord Keeper Hair DryerBest Cord KeeperSee Price
Product ImageTopElchim Classic 2001 Hair DryerBest For Thick HairSee Price

Best Hair Dryers Under $100

1. Best Overall: Remington D3190 Damage Protection Hair Dryer

The Remington D3190 Damage Protecting Hair Dryer wins best overall on our list of the best hair dryers under 100 dollars for its consistency.

With more than 20,000 Amazon reviews, this hair dryer rates 4.5 stars. Most of the positive reviews are due to the dryer’s power, with many saying they can quickly dry their hair in half the time of other dryers without even needing to use the highest heat setting.

The hair dryer uses a proprietary micro conditioning technology to deliver three times less damaged hair than other hair dryers. It has three heat settings, two speeds, and a cool shot button. Plus, it comes with two attachments: concentration and diffuser.

The Remington D3190 Damage Protecting Hair Dryer also cuts down on frizz and delivers shiny hair by using tourmaline ceramic plates. This technology is proven to seal in moisture to prevent frizz.

2. Best For Frizzy Hair: John Freida Frizz Ease Full Volume Hair Dryer

Women with curly, thick hair praise the John Freida Frizz Ease Full Volume Hair Dryer for taming frizz with ease. The hair dryer uses advanced ionic technology to tame unruly frizz.

Ionic technology uses negative ions to trap in moisture, leaving the hair hydrated. Hydrated hair is less likely to break and frizz.

John Freida Frizz Ease Full Volume Hair Dryer has three heat settings and two speeds. It also comes with two concentrator attachments for styling hair and one diffuser to enhance hair’s volume. The hair dryer is also lightweight with easy to reach buttons.

3. Best For Basic Travel: Revlon 1875W Lightweight & Compact Travel Hair Dryer

Don’t want to bring your more expensive hair dryer with you when you travel? At around $10, the Revlon 1875W Lightweight & Compact Travel Hair Dryer is the perfect addition to your travel beauty routine.

You’ll be impressed by this hair dryer’s power and performance without having to break the bank for a second hair dryer.

The Revlon 1875W Lightweight & Compact Travel Hair Dryer has two heat and speed settings, a cold shot button, and a removable filter for easy cleaning.

You’ll appreciate the durable ring for easy storage and the fact that it’s compact. At only seven inches and one pound, this hair dryer won’t take up a lot of room in your suitcase. Plus, it comes in three fun colors!

4. Best For International Travel: BaByliss ProNano Titanium Travel Dryer

There is so much to say about this small but mighty hair dryer. Most importantly for international travelers, the BaByliss ProNano Titanium Travel Dryer has dual voltage so that you can use it anywhere in the world.

It comes with two speeds and heat settings that use nano titanium and ionic technology to dry hair quickly while minimizing frizz.

Perhaps the best feature of the BaByliss ProNano Titanium Travel Dryer is that it has a foldable handle, making it the perfect travel companion.

When it’s folded, the hair dryer is about the size of a soda can, meaning it will not take up precious space inside your luggage. Plus, it’s less than a pound, so it won’t weigh you down either.

5. Best Lightweight: RUSK Engineering W8less Professional 2000 Watt Dryer

The RUSK Engineering W8less Professional Dryer weighs only a pound, but with 2,000 watts, this little guy will dry your hair super fast. This hair dryer gives off infrared heat waves, which penetrate the hair’s cuticles’ outer layer.

The heat waves essentially dry the hair from the inside, significantly cutting down on drying times. This unique feature is combined with ceramic and tourmaline technology to cut down on frizz. This means you’ll have smooth, shiny hair in half the time.

With seven heat and speed settings, there are many drying options with the RUSK Engineering W8less Professional Dryer. Women with curly hair specifically love this hair dryer for its lightweight design, meaning their arms don’t hurt while trying to achieve straight, shiny, and non-frizzy hair!

6. Best With Built-In Hair Brush: Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Styler

Tackle two activities in one shot with the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Styler. Using this styler and dryer in one allows you to get closer to the scalp to achieve more volume.

The rounded brush allows you to style and smooth hair while you dry. Doing both at once minimizes damage because you’re only using one hair tool, as opposed to a dryer, plus curling iron or straightening iron.

The round brush is easy to grip and has tufted bristles to tackle tangles with ease, surrounded by air vents for fast drying.

The Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Styler has two heat settings and a cold button, and with ionic technology, this styling tool leaves hair shiny. Plus, it comes in six colors, including its newest color: hot pink!

7. Best Detangler: Conair 1875 Watt 3-in-1 Styling Hair Dryer

The Conair 1875 Watt 3-in-1 Styling Hair Dryer makes the list because it delivers so much for under $20! This hair dryer comes with three attachments to ensure you get salon-quality even for the toughest hair.

The detangler comb attachment can tackle unruly, hard to brush hair with ease and comfort. The thermal bristle brush attachment helps make hair wavy, whereas the straight comb attachment is for achieving perfectly straight hair.

The Conair 1875 Watt 3-in-1 Styling Hair Dryer has two speed and heat settings, plus a cold shot button. It has dual voltage so that you can use it in other countries. The attachments are easy to take off and on, making this dryer and styler easy to use, even for the hardest hair types.

8. Best For All Types of Hair: InStyler TURBO Max Ionic Dryer

Do you have fine hair, damaged hair or thick and curly hair? This hair dryer tackles them all. The InStyler TURBO Max Ionic Dryer is on our list because of its versatility.

In addition to having three-speed settings, this hair dryer also allows you to control the air flow based on your hair’s needs. Switch to turbo ion for thick and curly hair, or move it to the low ion setting for dry and damaged hair.

Having different airflow and ion emission settings allows you to customize your hair drying experience. Controlling the amount of negative ion emission helps customize frizz control. The hair dryer also comes with two attachments for even more concentrated styling and control.

9. Best Cord Keeper: Conair Cord Keeper – 1875 Watt Hair Dryer

Not having to deal with a pesky cord is what lands the Conair 1875 Watt Cord Keeper on our list of 10 best hair dryers under $100. The five-foot cord retracts inside the handle of the hair dryer with one simple push of a button. A retractable cord means less clutter and less stress.

The Conair 1875 Watt Cord Keeper Hair Dryer delivers power, as well as convenience. With three heat and two-speed settings, plus a cool shot button, the hair dryer uses ionic technology to control frizz and leave hair shiny.

It comes in two colors, and the best part – the hair dryer is so easy to store once you’re done with it!

10. Best For Thick Hair: Elchim Classic 2001 Hair Dryer

The Elchim Classic 2001 Hair Dryer is the most expensive one on our list, but when you are dealing with extremely thick hair, it’s worth the investment.

Coming in at exactly $100, this hair dryer is consistently highly rated for its salon-quality results, even for thick, hard to manage hair.

If the price still scares you, you should note that the Elchim Classic 2001 Hair Dryer comes with a sturdy motor guaranteed to last 2,000 hours. That means this Italian beauty will last you for a long time, making your 100 dollar investment even worthier.

The hair dryer has five temperatures, two speeds, a cold shot button, plus infrared heat emission to dry hair evenly and without damage.

The cord is long, so you have room to move around, and the included attachment will help concentrate heat on specific sections of the hair for more intense drying.

How to Choose A Hair Dryer

tips to choose a hair dryer

The top priority when choosing a hair dryer is your hair’s specific needs. Is your hair dry and damaged? Is it curly and frizzy? Or is it flat and needs volume? Identifying your hair’s characteristics and needs will help you narrow down the list of potential hair dryers.

While you can spend hundreds of dollars on a hair dryer, the constant strides in technology make professional-quality hair more affordable.

You can easily find a hair dryer that will last and leave your hair shiny, healthy, and less frizzy without having to spend hours drying your hair or emptying your wallet. Affordable professional-quality hair is achievable!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best hair dryer for thick hair?

The following products work best for thick hair:

– Revlon 1875W Infrared Hair Dryer with Hair Clips
– Universal Hair Diffuser Hair Dryer Attachment
– Remington Damage Control Ion Ceramic Hair Dryer
– Revlon 1875W Infrared Hair Dryer
– MDH Ceramic Lightweight Hair Dryer
– Hiveseen Professional Salone Hair Dryer
– Waybo Hair Dryer for Travel and Home

Can I find a quality hair dryer for under $100?

Yes, you can, but it may take some time. When trying to find a hair dryer on a budget, consider the following attributes.

Your blow dryer should be 1875 watts or higher. A lower wattage may take your hair longer to dry.

While there is a debate as to whether high heat and short dry time or long dry time and a low wattage are best, the decision will ultimately be up to you. A high-wattage hair dryer may cost extra on your energy bill, but a low wattage will cost you time.

You will need one with various speeds and temperatures. You will need to control how hot the blow dryer is for different hair types. Also, dryers with only one setting tend to overheat, or not become hot enough to dry your hair adequately.

Look for a tourmaline dryer, ionic hair dryer, or ceramic hair dryer. These will help prevent hair damage, and blow dry your hair quicker over regular hair dryers.

An infrared heat hair dryer works well on thick hair as it dries hair faster while preventing dryness. A blow dryer with a negative ion will have the same effect.

If you are traveling, you may want to consider a travel hair dryer with a dual voltage. These are more compact, so they travel well. However, some of them tend to be a lower voltage.