Best Blow Dryer for 4C Hair

There is a lot written online about blow dryers, but not much about blow dryers for kinky/coily hair textures, and certainly no reviews of the best blow dryers for 4C hair.

That changes today.

These are the top 10 blow dryers available on the market for textured hair. Keep reading to find out which is the best blow dryer for 4C hair.

Best Blow Dryer for 4C Hair Reviews

1. Bellforno 2200-Ionic Professional Hair Dryer

Product Highlights

This dryer is a ceramic tourmaline ionic blow dryer that comes with a diffuser and two concentrator attachments.

If you’re looking to straighten your hair via blowout using a round brush or vented brush, this blow dryer is a fantastic choice for you because of how narrow the concentrator attachments’ mouths are.

The narrow channel for air to come through the concentrator attachments will allow for very direct application of heat on each section of hair that you blow-dry and ensure that you end up with a sleek blowout with no frizz.

Features

• Built-in negative ionic generator
• Tourmaline/ceramic grill
• 2200W AC motor

What We Like About Bellforno 2200-Ionic Professional Hair Dryer

The Bellforno 2200-Ionic Professional Hair Dryer is of high quality, and it’s a high-performer. It’s super-powerful with excellent airflow and superb temperature control.

This hair dryer out-performs many of the luxuries blow dryers on the market at a fraction of the price. The blowout results it produces are unmatched; it leaves the hair smooth, silky, and soft.

This dryer dries hair in half the time of other hairdryers; it’s beautiful, professional, it even comes with its own dust bag.

What We Don’t Like About Bellforno 2200-Ionic Professional Hair Dryer

The Bellforno 2200-Ionic Professional Hair Dryer is not as lightweight as we would like it to be. When you have 4C hair, it takes a while to blow-dry your hair, and holding a heavy hairdryer up for that long is a pain on the arms and shoulders.
Also, with the way the manufacturer placed the speed and heat buttons, it’s easy to keep accidentally pressing them while you blow-dry your hair.

Related: Best Blow Dryer for Thin Hair

2. Wazor Professional Salon Negative Ionic Blow Dryer

Product Highlights

The Wazor Professional Salon Negative Ionic Blow Dryer is a fantastic blow dryer for diffusing 4C hair. The diffuser attachment that comes with this blow dryer has a sunken pit in the middle that allows lots of hair to fit inside. It also has many small holes, which allows for lots of airflow throughout the diffuser without making your hair frizzy.

This blow dryer will diffuse 4C hair quickly and flawlessly.

Features

• 1875W AC motor
• 2-speed settings and 3 heat settings
• Negative ion technology

What We Like About Wazor Professional Salon Negative Ionic Blow Dryer

The Wazor Professional Salon Negative Ionic Blow Dryer is a one-stop, one-shop blow dryer system; it comes with all the attachments anyone with 4C hair needs: a diffuser, a comb, and concentrators.

This blow dryer also has negative ionic technology that helps prevent heat damage, which is important for 4C hair.

What We Don’t Like About Wazor Professional Salon Negative Ionic Blow Dryer

This blow dryer is great for 4C hair as long as you’re wearing it in its natural state or just trying to stretch your hair; it’s not the best for straightening 4C hair types. It’s also a bit heavy, which is a bummer.

3. Kiss Red Detangler Dryer

Product Highlights

The Kiss Red Detangler Dryer can produce fantastic results with the right usage and the right techniques. Nowadays, not many blow dryers get manufactured with the specific purpose of keeping the hair detangled and performing blowouts, so this product is quite unique.

Features

• 3200W motor
• Tourmaline ceramic technology
• Hanger loop for storage

What We Like About Kiss Red Detangler Dryer

For the home-stylist who is knowledgeable about blow-drying techniques and hairstyling in general, this blow dryer is a steal. Home-stylists will produce salon-quality results for a fraction of the price due to their ability to use the equipment properly to its highest performance.

Get ready for blowouts that look like you paid big bucks at the salon.

What We Don’t Like About Kiss Red Detangler Dryer

This product is named the Kiss Red Detangler Dryer, but you should definitely detangle your hair before you use this blow dryer. It’s good, but it’s not that good.

With this blow dryer’s older style DC motor, it just doesn’t get as hot as we would like it to, and you have to be skilled in blow-drying techniques in order to get good results. Unfortunately, not everyone is a home-stylist and can achieve fantastic results with this blow dryer; it’s just not user-friendly.

4. HOT TOOLS Signature Series Ionic 2200 Turbo Ceramic Salon Hair Dryer

Product Highlights

The HOT TOOLS Signature Series Salon Hair Dryer delivers direct ionic technology to dry hair faster with maximum frizz reduction.

This dryer also has a diffuser design unique to the HOT TOOLS brand that will get deep down into the hair to dry and prevent frizz from the roots.

Features

• 1875W motor
• Infrared technology
• Direct ionic technology

What We Like About HOT TOOLS Signature Series Ionic 2200 Turbo Ceramic Salon Hair Dryer

The strange shape of the HOT TOOLS diffuser is fantastic for thick 4C hair. Rather than the diffuser being deep with short prongs, it’s relatively flat with long prongs. The extended prongs can probe deep down into the hair and dry the middle of the hair, as well as the roots.

The diffuser also has lots of holes that allow for a lot of airflow throughout the diffuser to dry the hair more quickly.

What We Don’t Like About HOT TOOLS Signature Series Ionic 2200 Turbo Ceramic Salon Hair Dryer

To put it frankly: uneven performance.

This should be a fantastic blow dryer, and it is. Most people get an excellent quality blow dryer and love it, but there’s a distinct possibility that you’ll be one of the unfortunate people who gets a lemon.

Good thing HOT TOOLS has a 5-year manufacturer warranty.

5. Infiniti PRO by Conair

Product Highlights

The Infiniti PRO by Conair is an incredibly unique blow dryer. The diffuser is a patent-pending design that circulates airflow to dry hair in the gentlest way possible and reduces frizz; this makes it a fantastic blow dryer choice for people with 4C type hair.

The diffuser is also large and deep, so it can fit a ton of hair inside, making the drying process quicker.

Features

• 1875W AC motor
• Ceramic technology
• Ionic technology

What We Like About Infiniti PRO by Conair

The diffuser on the Infiniti PRO is HUGE, and it fits firmly on the blow dryer and doesn’t get loose or fall off. It does a great job of keeping frizz at bay if you have the patience to use this blow dryer.

Get ready for major coil definition on your 4C hair; this blow dryer delivers on texture, big time.

What We Don’t Like About Infiniti PRO by Conair

The Infiniti PRO just doesn’t pack as much drying punch as we would like. It doesn’t get hot enough, and the amazing, unique diffuser diverts some of the hot air towards the handle, so you lose some of the heat that it does have.

While the diffuser design is fantastic, it does leave a few things on the wish list. It can have a hard time reaching down into the hair, so the roots and crown area are a struggle for this diffuser.

6. Tineco Moda One Smart Ionic Hair Dryer

Product Highlights

The Tineco Mode One is a high-tech blow dryer, to come right out and say it; it comes with an app and everything. It’s completely digital, so there will be no talk of how many speed and heat settings there are; you can set it to the exact speed and temperature you want it to be.

However, it has a cool feature in the app called Smart Moisture Detection; this is what the blow dryer considers its “auto” setting. With this feature activated, the blow dryer uses sensors to detect the moisture levels in your hair as you dry it and automatically adjusts the speed and heat to prevent heat damage, reduce frizz, and boost shine.

Features

• Advanced iLoop Smart Sensor Technology
• Connects to the MODA ONE smartphone app
• Attachments connect magnetically

What We Like About Tineco Moda One Smart Ionic Hair Dryer

The smart technology on this blow dryer is one-of-a-kind. The Tineco Moda One is the first blow dryer to auto-adjust speed and heat settings in real-time, based on the readings it’s picking up from the moisture levels in your hair.

Heat damage is something people with 4C hair are always trying to avoid, and a high-tech solution to that problem is a welcome change from spray products and manually controlling heat settings on hot tools.

What We Don’t Like About Tineco Moda One Smart Ionic Hair Dryer

The diffuser on this blow dryer is not ideal, and since it attaches to the blow dryer magnetically, you cannot just buy a universal diffuser to replace it.

Unfortunately, universal diffusers will not attach to this blow dryer. Even if they did, they would interfere with the sensors that control all of the smart technology that justifies this dryer’s price tag.

7. Abody 1875W Professional Hair Dryer

Product Highlights

The Abody 1875W Professional Hair Dryer is a budget-friendly option, but the manufacturer included some nice features for your money.

Thermo Protect reduces heat damage by regulating temperature in the air outlet, and heat is maintained to only remove water from the hair’s surface without stripping it of all moisture.

The hair dryer’s body is a special anti-heat material that keeps the surface from heating to the touch and burning you; this also extends the hair dryer’s service life.

Features

• 1875W motor
• Negative ionic technology
• Made of anti-heat material

What We Like About Abody 1875W Professional Hair Dryer

This hairdryer is lightweight and dries hair super fast. Drying time is an important factor when it comes to choosing a blow dryer for a person with 4C hair because the hair is usually very thick, which adds to drying time.

We also love the sleek futuristic design of this hairdryer. The geometric patterns with the diamonds and the hexagon on the back are a very nice touch on a blow dryer that is this affordable. The jewel-tone shade of navy is also absolutely gorgeous.

What We Don’t Like About Abody 1875W Professional Hair Dryer

The attachments don’t connect securely to this hairdryer, which is always a bummer. In fact, the comb attachment is entirely useless because it will not stay attached at all while combing through your hair.

The connection between the attachments and the blow dryer isn’t tight enough, and unfortunately, that eliminates parts of this blow dryer’s functionality.

8. Trezoro 2200W Professional Salon Hair Dryer

Product Highlights

The Trezoro 2200W Professional Salon Hair Dryer is a sleek, mini, ultra-lightweight blow dryer; it weighs about the same amount as a cell phone! It has a lot of cool, high-tech features like 0XY-ACTIVE technology, magnetic accessories, and multiplied airflow that they call the “venturi effect.”

Because of all the cutting edge technology jam-packed into this blow dryer, the motor is able to achieve 12,000RPMs with only 1200W. Now that’s power!

Features

• 12,0000RPM motor speed
• 0XY-ACTIVE technology
• Memory function

What We Like About Trezoro 2200W Professional Salon Hair Dryer

This blow dryer is small and portable, compact, and lightweight, so if you’re an on-the-go type of person, you can easily take this dryer with you to the gym, on trips, anywhere you need to go; this blow dryer can go with no problem. It’s not going to take up much room in your bag and it’s not going to be the item that makes your luggage too heavy.

We also like that for as powerful as this blow dryer is, it’s not too loud; it’s not whisper-quiet either, but the sound is just right.

What We Don’t Like About Trezoro 2200W Professional Salon Hair Dryer

Honestly, there’s not much we don’t like about this blow dryer. However, the shape of the diffuser is on the flat side. For kinky/coily hair types, we prefer a diffuser that is deeper to allow hair down inside, where the prongs can probe deep up into the hair. This dryer just doesn’t deliver on the ideal diffuser shape for 4C hair.

9. JOHN Blast Turbo 6900 Blow Dryer

Product Highlights

The JOHN Blast Turbo 6900 Blow Dryer is another great blow dryer for straightening hair using a round brush or vented brush.

This dryer has some very cool features. For example, its concentrator nozzles snap on so that they are secure and cannot fall off while you’re doing your hair—finally, a modern solution to an age-old problem.

This blow dryer is also impact resistant or heavy-duty, so if you drop it, it won’t break. And if you’re anything like us, you might drop it once or twice.

Features

• Snap-on nozzles
• Tourmaline ceramic ionic technology
• Impact-resistant
• Ergonomic switches

What We Like About JOHN Blast Turbo 6900 Blow Dryer

This blow dryer is very powerful, and it dries hair incredibly quickly; it has the ability to straighten 4C hair in a shorter amount of time than other blow dryers, which is a major plus in our book.

It’s also nice to have a heavy-duty piece of equipment with modern features like tourmaline ceramic ionic technology.

What We Don’t Like About JOHN Blast Turbo 6900 Blow Dryer

This blow dryer is extremely loud, and it’s heavy. Also, the way the manufacturer placed the buttons makes it easy to press them accidentally while you are doing your hair.

However, the biggest complaint with this blow dryer is that you have to be very technically skilled at blow-drying as fast as it dries hair or else you’ll end up with a frizzy mess. As we said before: unfortunately, not everyone is a home-stylist.

10. Drybar Buttercup Blow-Dryer

Product Highlights

The Drybar Buttercup Blow-Dryer is also fantastic for straightening hair using a round brush or vented brush. This blow dryer will get the job done 20% faster than other blow dryers with no frizz due to the negative ion generator.

This blow dryer is sleek and professional, lightweight, likely many peoples’ first choice when it comes to a blowout dryer; after all, it is a Drybar.

Features

• 1875W motor
• Negative ion generator
• 20% less drying time

What We Like About Drybar Buttercup Blow-Dryer

This dryer delivers smooth, straight, silky blowouts without damaging hair. It doesn’t get extremely hot, but it blows hard, and that’s the key to the magic. The forceful blowing power from the motor at a lower heat dries your hair quickly and without frizz but does not cause any damage because the heat is not too high.

We also think the Drybar Buttercup Blow-Dryer is absolutely adorable with its pastel yellow and gray design.

What We Don’t Like About Drybar Buttercup Blow-Dryer

To be this pricey, the Drybar Buttercup Blow-Dryer only has a 1875W motor. For this price, we would prefer a blow dryer to have a 2200W AC motor. No one expects to pay three times the price of some of the dryers on this list to get the exact same amount of drying power.

Also, we expect the diffuser and all accessories and other attachments to be included in the box for this price. Having to buy a diffuser separately after paying this much for a blow dryer is not what we would consider budget-friendly.

And if you want a comb attachment, you’ll have to buy a completely separate universal one because Drybar doesn’t even make a comb attachment that fits this blow dryer.

Related: Best International Travel Hair Dryers

Buyer’s Guide

Types of Blow Dryers

Based on technology, there are four types of dryers. They are ceramic, tourmaline, ionic, and titanium blow dryers.

• Ceramic dryers are distinguished by their even distribution of heat. This is gentler on the scalp and helps avoid hair damage, as too much heat can damage the hair.
• Titanium dryers also distribute heat evenly. However, they are usually lighter than ceramic dryers and tend to get much hotter for a faster dry.
• Ionic dryers emit negative ions. And since water ions are positively charged, the water droplets disperse more quickly, allowing the hair to dry faster with less heat.
• Tourmaline dryers are lighter than the others. They emit negative ions and infrared heat, sealing the cuticles and producing a shinier and less frizzy finish.

Heat and Speed Settings of Blow Dryers

Most blow dryers have six standard options. Three settings to control the heat temperatures and three to control the air’s speed.

• Low heat. This is suitable for fine hair, allowing you to control the texture and prevent it from going fluffy.
• Medium heat. Medium heat is suitable for fine to medium hair. This temperature will help you avoid over-drying and burning your hair.
• High heat. This heating temperature is often too hot for most scalps. However, it is suitable for thick hair.
• Low speed. Low speed offers you the most control in styling and is recommended for fine hair.
• Medium speed. This is suitable for medium to thick hair types and will help keep the curls in curly hair intact.
• High speed. This speed is recommended only for resistant hair.

Wattage of Blow Dryers

A blow dryer’s wattage refers to the maximum amount of power, in watts, that it can use under normal conditions. A blow dryer’s wattage impacts its performance, results, and running costs. The higher wattage of a dryer, the more electricity it can consume. A blow dryer’s wattage can be as low as 500W to as high as 3600W. However, the most common blow dryer wattage is 1875 W, and the more common range is between 1000W and 2100W.

Weight of Blow Dryers

Blow dryers usually weigh over two pounds. At first, the dryer may not feel heavy, and using it may not be a problem. However, your arms will tire after a few minutes of blow-drying your hair and holding the dryer over your head. For ease and comfort, some people go for a blow dryer that’s less than one pound.

FAQs

What is 4C Hair?

The hair is categorized into a four-type system. The 4C hair type is under the type 4 hair category. Referred to as Black or kinky hair, type 4 is categorized by its dense texture and natural lift. The type 4 hair category has varying degrees of curls, from 4A to 4C. 4C hair is the densest and most coily. It’s also the most fragile hair texture. The tight kinks and coils of 4C hair cause it to experience more shrinkage than the other hair textures. Although dense, 4C hair is prone to dryness, frizz, and breakage.

How to Dry 4C hair Properly and Safely

Warm and hot temperatures open the hair cuticles, making them more susceptible to factors that can cause hair damage. Consequently, it’s essential to rinse your hair with cool water after washing. Follow these steps to blow dry your 4C hair safely:

• Use a cotton t-shirt to dab dry your hair until it’s damp. Avoid using towels as they can leave lint in your hair, causing it to break.
• Use a heat protectant to prevent the heat from damaging your hair.
• Use the diffuser attachment until your hair is completely dry.
• Apply any moisturizer of your choice.

How to Choose a Blow Dryer for 4C Hair

When choosing a blow dryer for 4C hair, consider the following factors:

• Diffuser attachment. The diffuser spreads airstream over a wider area of your hair in a controlled manner. It helps to add texture waves to the hair when blow drying. It’ll be perfect for styling kinky and curly hair.
• Speed and heat settings. Ensure the heat levels of the dryer are high enough to completely dry your hair but not too high to burn or damage it.
• Motor and wattage. You want a motor that is 1800 W and above. The motor will determine the strength of the airstream and how quickly it can dry your hair.
• Lightweight. The blow dryer should not be so heavy that your arm starts to hurt after using it for a few minutes.

Final Verdict

The best blow dryer for 4C hair is number 2, the Wazor Professional Salon Negative Ionic Blow Dryer.

We selected this blow dryer because it’s the best blow dryer for diffusing 4C hair in its natural state and stretching 4C natural hair to prepare it for a protective style.

The Wazor Professional Salon Blow Dryer has a diffuser with the best design out of all seven on the list; it’s deep, it has lots of holes, and it has prongs that can reach down to the crown and roots. This blow dryer will diffuse 4C hair the most quickly and with the best results of all of the blow dryers we reviewed.

The comb attachment is also nice and sturdy, so you don’t have to worry about it breaking or falling off during use. This blow dryer’s accessories connect to the dryer securely.