Why we like it: I love the Shark Ionic's IQ SpeedStyler accessories, and have been testing them out for several months. I have thick, wavy hair, and to enhance the curl, I use the diffuser attachment with expandable arms for wavy or naturally curly hair. But if you want to straighten your hair, it can do that with its brush roller attachment, which gives a straight finish with a slight curl at the ends.

It comes with a rapid gloss finisher that only takes a few strokes to minimize flyaways. The dryer also has a cooling function to help set your style and minimize heat damage. It's not as loud as other hair dryers I've owned over the years, and it dries faster than products I've used before.

Who it's best for: I'd recommend the Shark Ionic dryer for all hair types, but particularly those that are difficult to style. I've tested it on my hair and my sister-in-law's hair. Her hair is very kinky and coily, and she tells me only a hot flat iron has been able to tame it. We used the straightening brush attachment and a dime-sized amount of first-softening balm. We were both impressed with the results. I successfully straightened the kinky curls and used less direct heat than with a flat iron.

Who shouldn't buy it: It's on the pricier side at a full price of $230 when compared to your run-of-the-mill hair dryer. But my experience with other Shark products tells me it will last a long time. It's also worth noting that its biggest competitor, Dyson, has hair dryers that cost at least $290 more than the Shark.

I also wouldn't recommend the Shark Ionic if you don't blow-dry your hair that often. A cheaper $50 hair dryer can do that with a round styling brush and some heat. But for long-term heat styling and a variety of styles (curly and straight), this hair dryer is worth its price tag.

-- Katie Collins, director of content

Why we like it: This hair dryer means business. Whenever I want my hair to look professionally done, I grab my Twin Turbo 2600 since the power behind it is on another level. It has the kind of airflow you expect at a salon. No other hair dryer I’ve tried gives my hair the same movement this one does. It’s also incredibly durable. I’ve had mine for over 10 years, and it has survived multiple cross-country moves and falls -- its construction is meant to last.

Who it’s best for: I would recommend this hair dryer to people who want a true salon-quality blowout and have thick or dense hair that needs serious power to style smoothly. It’s also worth noting that getting the most out of this hair dryer requires some technique (knowing how to section your hair, using a round brush and directing airflow properly) to make a real difference in results.

Who shouldn’t buy it: If you’re a casual user who wants a tool to dry your hair quickly, the Turbo 2600 might be too much dryer for your needs.

-- Nasha Addarich Martínez, managing editor

Why we like it: I love that you can use the Shark FlexStyle for so many different things. Not only can you dry your hair, but you can also use the same air technology to give yourself a blowout and even curls. It has various heat settings to help prevent heat damage, plus a cool setting to lock the hair in. I've been testing it on my 2A wavy hair for several months and love it.

Who it's best for: The FlexStyle is best for anyone who wants a hair dryer specifically for styling their hair. It comes with four attachments, including auto-wrap curlers that curl your hair using air technology -- not heat, minimizing damage. Plus, you get a styling concentrator for drying and two brushes: a paddle brush and an oval brush.

Who shouldn't buy it: It's a little expensive at a full price of $350, but well worth it for not just its drying capabilities, but all the different styles it allows you to create.

-- Aashna Gheewalla, associate writer

Why we like it: As someone with high-maintenance curly hair, I’m always looking for ways to spend even less time styling it. Air-drying? Sadly, not an option. That’s why a good diffuser is non-negotiable. My hairstylist had been telling me to buy this dryer for years and, naturally, I ignored him. Fast-forward to my old diffuser suddenly dying on me, and I gave in and bought it. I literally can’t imagine doing my hair without it now, and have been using it devotedly for 2 years. I’ve become a little (very?) attached, and I bring it with me on every trip.

Who it's best for: The Supersonic comes with five attachments: a flyaway attachment, a styling concentrator, a diffuser, a gentle air attachment and a wide-tooth comb attachment. To prevent heat damage, it also uses intelligent heat control that measures air temperature at least 40 times per second. For these reasons, I think the Supersonic would be great for any hair type and for those who want to minimize damage, but I especially recommend it for curly hair types.

Who shouldn't buy it: Because I'm such a fan, I hate traveling without it, but it takes up quite a bit of suitcase space. For that reason, I wouldn't recommend it to someone specifically looking for a travel hair dryer.

-- Danielle Ramirez, director, editorial project management

Why we like it: My 2C hair is very long, very wavy and very difficult to tame. Conair's Ion Shine 1875 has been my trusted hair dryer for years (seven years, to be exact), and its reliability is unmatched. I'm not a needy person who needs an eight-part hair dryer kit -- I just need something that works and works well. Conair is that for me. It's not anything fancy, but I love it.

Who it's best for: The Conair Ion Shine 1875 is great for anyone who doesn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a hair dryer and wants to learn how to do a blowout themselves with a round brush. Best savings hack ever. It also comes with two attachments: a diffuser and a concentrator. Out of the dryers on this list, it's the most powerful at 1,875 watts.

Who shouldn't buy it: The newer versions of the Conair Ion Shine 1875 aren't as powerful, but they still work fine.

-- Katelyn Chedraoui, writer

Why we like it: This is the hair dryer I keep coming back to for a great blowout without heat damage. After using this tool exclusively for a few weeks, I can really feel how much stronger and healthier my hair is. The device uses controlled airflow rather than extreme heat, and its built-in sensors regulate temperature to minimize heat damage. Similar to the Airwrap i.d., the Co-anda2x is significantly gentler than traditional hair dryers, but it offers better airflow and pressure than the i.d.

Who it’s best for: This tool is great for anyone who wants a multi-styler but hasn’t found one that works for thick hair without sacrificing hair health. It can dry, curl, smooth and volumize, and will work great for wavy to curly hair types.

Who shouldn’t buy it: This is probably the priciest hair tool I’ve ever tested at $750, so it only makes sense if you have thick hair and would use a multi-styler frequently. There’s also a learning curve with some of the attachments, so if you’re a lower-maintenance person who won’t take the time to learn how to use the attachments, you might not get the full value. It’s also worth noting that the Airwrap i.d. attachments aren’t compatible with the Co-anda2x.

-- Nasha Addarich Martínez, managing editor

Why we like it: My hair has a wavy/curly texture and is high porosity, meaning it soaks up moisture like a sponge. That mix typically equates to frizz, so when a hair dryer can tame it, I take notice. The Shark Glam is a multi-styler that smoothes my hair in a way I wasn’t expecting. I’ve tried plenty of hot hair brushes that fail to straighten my roots the way a traditional blow dryer would, but the Shark Glam delivers. It also comes with five attachments so you can style your hair in different ways, including super straight with the Silki straightener or curly with the coanda curlers or diffuser.

Who it’s best for: This tool is great for anyone with wavy or frizzy hair who wants a tool that can do it all -- smooth, curl and diffuse. If you’re someone who likes to experiment with different hair styling techniques, this is just the tool for that.

Who shouldn’t buy it: It’s hard to find a reason not to get this device, but if you’re looking for a tool just to dry your hair, then the extra cost for the attachments probably isn’t worth it for you.

-- Nasha Addarich Martínez, managing editor

Why we like it: As someone with really long hair that also happens to be thick, dense and wavy, I’ve truly put this hair dryer through the trenches. The thing I like most about it is the drying time -- it reduced my average drying time from 1 hour to about 40 minutes. That’s 40 minutes of carrying and lifting the dryer, so I truly appreciate how lightweight it is. Holding a traditional dryer over a full head of thick hair can be a workout, and this dryer helps minimize arm fatigue.

Who it’s best for: This is a dream tool for anyone with thick or long hair like me who dries their hair frequently and wants to cut down on drying time. I would also recommend this to anyone who frequently has to dry multiple heads of hair, like salon owners or moms.

Who shouldn’t buy it: If you’re on a budget, it's hard to justify the $650 price tag. I also don’t think it’s worth it if you don’t blow-dry your hair often enough that weight is an issue.

-- Nasha Addarich Martínez, managing editor

Why we like it: I love the Shark Flex Pro because when I want my curls to be amazing and voluminous, it cuts down on the time needed to dry them. I also notice it doesn't damage my hair as much, so when I air-dry after blow-drying, my curls are still super strong. If I want to do a blowout, a rough dry is also quick.

Who it’s best for: I'd recommend the Flex Pro to anyone looking to cut down on the time it takes to do their curly hair routine. As the Flex Pro has scalp shield and IQ styling, both of which adjust speed and heat based on the attachment or how close the dryer is to your scalp, this hair dryer is also great for anyone looking to avoid heat damage.

At a lightweight 1.63 pounds and with a foldable handle that folds it to half its size, the Flex Pro would be perfect for those who want to travel with it.

Who shouldn’t buy it: I got the Pro version, so all normal hair dryer attachments don't work with it, which is annoying. The cord organization can also be difficult to manage, as I haven't quite figured out how to organize the long, twisty cord and the big block.

-- Alexandra Able, senior director of CNET Group social

Tested on thick hair, we recommend the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x for thick, frizzy hair. It uses controlled airflow and built-in sensors to minimize heat damage and reduce frizz, and its various attachments are great for styling thick hair.

For curly hair, we recommend the Dyson Supersonic, which has an amazing diffuser attachment and cuts down on the time it takes to go through a curly hair routine.

The best hair dryer for damaged hair would be one that uses heat sensors to regulate temperature for different attachments and based on how close the dryer is to your scalp. For example, the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x or Shark Flex Pro.
If you use attachments like curlers, you may also want to consider a dryer that uses air technology instead of heat -- like the Shark FlexStyle or Co-anda2x.