Do you need a quiet hair dryer? If you’re somebody who ends up showering either very late at night or very early in the morning, you’ll know the struggle of trying to dry your hair without disturbing other household members.
What makes a hair dryer quiet or noisy?
All hair dryers use hot air that is directed onto your hair to speed up the evaporation of water. They suck in room temperature air, pass it across a heating element, and blow the hot air out onto your hair.
In order to carry out this process, hair dryers use a high-speed fan, and the fan requires a motor in order to work. These two components produce all that noise.
To remedy this issue, manufacturers add extra blades to the fan and use faster motors, and some may also insulate the motor to further isolate the noise. All of these elements help reduce the noise level.
Aside from producing less noise, quiet hair dryers aren’t too dissimilar to regular dryers. They still feature high and low speed modes and offer a multitude of heat settings (usually 2-3).
Many hair dryers will also have a cool air button to add shine and lock in your look when you’ve finished drying your hair.
These dryers will often still come with attachments such as a concentrator for blowouts and straightening hair, and sometimes a diffuser which is used to dry curly or wavy hair without frizzing it up.
In fact, perhaps more of us should consider switching to a quiet hair dryer, seen as they’re considered pretty loud in terms of their decibel rating.
Generally, sounds less than 75 dB are unlikely to harm hearing, but a typical blow dryer has an intensity of around 85 dB.
While this is unlikely to damage hearing if used only for brief periods, it’s still a concern, especially if you blowdry your hair daily.
Long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dB can cause issues with your hearing, and the louder the sound, the quicker the damage.
So, with this in mind, let’s take a look at our reviews ofthe best quiet hair dryers on the market…
OUR TOP PICK
If you're looking for the quietest hair dryer decibels count. This Jinri hairdryer is around 76 dB - that’s quieter than a phone dial tone!
Equipped with a professional DC motor, this 1875w dryer will blast your hair with ultra-strong wind to dry it within minutes while keeping noise at a minimum.
It uses Negative Ion Tourmaline technology to smooth hair and lock in moisture, helping to increase shine and minimize frizz.
This dryer features 3 heat settings and 2 speeds, as well as a cool shot button for finishing your look.
With a high-quality matte design and an ergonomic handle, this lightweight dryer is easy and comfortable to handle and comes with 2 attachments (diffuser and concentrator) for ultimate flexibility.
We should also mention that this dryer comes with a very budget-friendly price tag, further adding to the list of reasons why we’re featuring it in our list.
Pros
- Very quiet hair dryer
- Powerful motor helps dry hair quickly
- Negative Ion Tourmaline technology to smooth hair and minimize frizz
- 3 heat settings/2 speeds and cool shot button
- 2 attachments
- Budget-friendly price tag
Cons
- Buttons are extremely responsive meaning you can easily press them by accident while drying your hair
EDITORS CHOICE
Featuring 2000-watts of power, the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Hair Dryer features nano titanium ionic technology which means hair dries faster, with less frizz.
The lightweight body is easy to handle and has an ergonomic design to reduce hand fatigue.
The dryer features six heat and speed settings, plus a cool shot button and a concentrator nozzle to provide a wide range of styling options.
The removable filter makes cleaning easy to prolong the lifespan of your dryer, and, all in all, this dryer combines power and lightness to reveal shiny, healthy hair, but does so with less noise than other dryers.
Pros
- Nano titanium ionic technology dries hair quickly
- Lightweight body and ergonomic design
- Six speed and heat settings
- Removable filter
- 2000-watts of power
Cons
- Nozzle flies off easily
BEST VALUE
With a powerful 2200W DC motor this Bellforno hairdryer provides powerful airflow and fast drying. In spite of the power this is one of the quietest hair dryers on the market.
With advanced ions and turbo speed, this dryer provides 10x more ions and helps remove static and minimize frizz.
Hair is left soft and smooth to the touch thanks to the ceramic tourmaline technology, reducing the need for further hair styling.
With 3 heat settings and 2 speeds, as well as two different concentrator nozzles, this dryer is able to accommodate a variety of hair types.
It also has a premium soft-touch body and a comfortable non-slip handle to reduce the strain on your hand and provide better control while you dry. The detachable rear filter also allows you to easily clean the dryer.
Pros
- Quietest professional hair dryer
- Powerful 2200W DC motor
- 10x more ions to remove static and frizz
- 3 heat settings and 2 speeds
- 2 nozzle attachments
- Non-slip handle
Cons
- Doesn’t dry hair as quickly as some other dryers
RUNNER UP
True to its name, this Bio Ionic dryer is whisper-quiet (well, it's around 72 dB, so not quite) and is super lightweight, weighing just 2 lbs. That makes it one of the quietest hair dryer models on the market.
Described as “an ultra-light and extremely quiet conditioner with a cord” by its manufacturers, this dryer uses exclusive NanoIonic Hybrid Mineral Technology to emit Natural Negative Ions and Far Infrared Energy which hydrates and seals the cuticle.
Not only does this result in a reduced drying time, but the micronized water molecules penetrate hair for extreme hydration leaving it feeling silky and smooth.
This means that 1400W of power dries hair quickly without damaging it as much as other dryers, all the while increasing shine, manageability and helping to reduce frizz and static.
Pros
- Lightweight and quiet hair dryer
- Conditions and hydrates hair as it dries
- Reduces frizz and static
- Infrared technology reduces drying time
Cons
- Not as powerful as some other dryers
RUNNER UP
We’ll admit that it comes with a very steep price tag, but we couldn’t resist including the Dyson Supersonic in our quietest hair dryer list.
Dyson’s digital V9 motor spins up to 110,000rpm, propelling 13 liters of air up to the amplifier every second, which is the main reason why this acoustically tuned dryer is one of the quietest hair dryers we've reviewed.
The super fast and powerful motor also results in a high-velocity jet of controlled air, allowing faster drying and more precise styling.
The dryer also protects hair from extreme heat damage and helps boost shine with its intelligent heat control which measures the air temperature over 40 times a second, to prevent extreme heat damage.
The super lightweight feel and groundbreaking design of this dryer also make it a breeze to handle, and the magnetic attachments mean you can adjust and adapt the dryer quickly and easily.
Pros
- V9 motor means faster drying and less noise
- Protects hair against extreme heat damage
- Super lightweight and balanced feel
- Boosts shine
- Precise styling
Cons
- It’s extremely expensive for a dryer
RUNNER UP
With a 1875-watt AC Motor, this MHU professional dryer not only reduces drying time but also ensures lower noise and less vibration.
It has 2 speeds and 3 heat settings and uses Far-infrared heat and Negative Ion Technology to minimize frizz and cut drying time by up to 50%.
Thanks to Infrared technology, this dryer doesn’t overheat and won’t feel hot on your scalp, therefore eliminating burns and hot spots as well as reducing heat damage to the hair and scalp.
It comes with an airflow concentrator and diffuser for maximum versatility, and a removable lint filter to provide easy cleaning and maintenance to prolong the lifespan of your dryer.
Pros
- Removable lint filter
- Cuts drying time by 50%
- Infrared technology reduces heat damage
- 2 attachments
- 2 speeds, 3 heat settings
Cons
- It’s a little heavy for some people
Who are quiet hairdryers for?
One of the most obvious users of quiet hair dryers are hair stylists. Think about it: if you’re working in a small salon and several people are having their hair dried at once, that’s going to sound pretty loud - and it’s not a great experience for your clients.
Secondly, if you’re a parent, you can definitely benefit from a quiet dryer, especially if you have young children, as you’ll know full well the struggle of getting them to sleep - and keeping them asleep. So why run the risk of disturbing them with your hairdryer?
If you wake up very early in the morning or go to bed very late, you’ll also benefit from a quiet dryer, especially if you live with other people.
Loud noises can also be very aggravating and upsetting for those with autism, and seen as regular dryers fall into the “loud” bracket when it comes to noise, a quiet hair dryer will be the only option for many people with autism who get upset by the alarming sound of a hairdryer.
Best Quiet Hair Dryer Buying Guide
Heat and Speed Settings
While you’ll want to find out the dB rating of the dryer if possible, it’s worth paying attention to the speed and heat settings, as having a low-speed setting can help keep the noise down on your dryer. (The same fan speed principle applies to choosing a quiet range hood.)
When it comes to heat, you should think about the damage you’ll be inflicting upon your hair. If your hair is particularly fine or fragile, this should be an even bigger factor, and you’ll want to ensure the dryer has a range of heat settings.
Many dryers today utilize ionic technology or “negative ions”, and these essentially convert positive ions found in humid areas into negative ones, resulting in shinier, sleeker hair.
Infrared technology is also popular in the latest dryers, as these offer a gentler and more concentrated airflow than traditional hairdryers, which minimizes damage to your strands by creating a protective layer around them.
Drying Time
You’ll also want to consider the length of time the dryer will take to dry your hair, particularly if you have very long and thick hair.
Cutting the drying time will also reduce the risk of the noise waking up any other fellow household members, plus it’s generally a good feature in a hairdryer because - let’s face it - drying our hair can be a laborious process!
The easiest way to figure out how quickly a dryer will dry your hair is by checking its wattage, a higher wattage means a more powerful dryer, which means it’ll likely dry your hair faster.
Just bear in mind that a more powerful dryer often means more noise. If it's shifting air like your air compressor it's going to be noisy. It also depends on the design of the dryer and a few other factors.
Design
When it comes to design, comfort is usually the biggest factor to consider, especially if you have long hair and drying it tends to take a while.
Consider things such as the weight of the dryer, the shape of the handle and how easy it is to grip, as well as the length of the cord, as a long cord can come in handy if your power outlet isn’t situated as close to your mirror as you’d like.
Also think about things such as the shape and placement of the buttons and how secure the nozzles are. Reading reviews are usually a good way to pick up small details like these.
Attachments
While you can buy universal attachments, it’s always good to have specific ones designed to go with your dryer, and most dryers come with at least a concentrating nozzle, which is ideal for creating smooth blowouts.
If you have curly or wavy hair, you’ll want to look for a dryer that has a diffuser so you can gently dry your curls and waves without causing frizz.
Final Say
What is the quietest hair dryer on the market?
If money was no object then we'd probably go for the Dyson Supersonic quiet hair dryer.
If you find that you’re often disturbing your family members when drying your hair in the early hours or late at night, a quiet hair dryer could be a game-changer for you.
Thankfully, there are plenty of options to choose from, but remember that not all quiet dryers label themselves as so, and the same goes for noisy dryers claiming to be quiet.
The quietest hair dryer models in our reviews above will all do a great job of drying hair without the noise.