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Which type of hair dryer is best for you? Maybe it’s the light-powered Zuvi, a favorite of Robb Report staff, or any of our favorite supersonic hair dryers. Or maybe you have a particular need—an even-keeled, low-force, all-over drying, which results in a much more “set” hairstyle. You could be a candidate for a hooded dryer, then (assuming you’ve got some extra space for one in the house, that is).
You recognize hooded dryers (often called bonnet dryers) from the salon. Picture it: Flipping through a magazine, post haircut and wash, maybe gossiping about the Millers or the latest episode of The Brady Bunch. Ha—only joking, but yes, these are the same hooded dryers you have in mind from the salons of yore. And the salons of today. You don’t need all the real estate for that entire salon chair, though, as there are a few at-home options that take up less space.
“Hooded dryers deliver a more even amount of heat to the hair,” says Vaughn Acord, stylist and co-owner of Mizu Salon in NYC (as well as the founder of V76 by Vaughn hair products). “They put minimal pressure on the strands, mitigate heat damage and as such also prevent frizzing, splitting and fraying.” Furthermore, he adds that these devices are perfect for deep-conditioning treatments, since they allow the product to more thoroughly penetrate the hair and for its nutrients to absorb.
You don’t need to have your hair in curlers to benefit from these dryers, either, despite that image you’ve got in mind. Instead, all you need is a spare 15-20 minutes of time (about the same amount of time you’d spend blow-drying and correcting a style otherwise).
And while it may seem outlandish to bring this salon-caliber treatment into the home, isn’t that exactly in line with other beauty and grooming treatments, like laser caps for hair loss (which save you thousands of dollars in the long run) or LED infrared anti-aging masks, as well as laser hair removal devices?
If you’re considering at-home hooded dryers, then here are seven great options.
Tasalon Ionic Hooded Hair Dryer
This might be the most adjustable hooded dryer out there, for many reasons. Not only does it swivel into any corner of your home, but you can adjust its height (30 to 55 inches) as well as its ventilation level and heat settings (three heat options) and switch on its ionic abilities (which we’d recommend for a truly safe, effective drying session). Its transparent visor allows you to watch your favorite show while it works, and you can pop the visor up to automatically deactivate the dryer.
Andis Ionic Professional Bonnet Hair Dryer
Andis’ portable hooded dryer is easy to tote and use around the house thanks to its 40-inch hose and carrying case. It has two different speeds and heat levels, and sends a hair-sensitive ionic warmth throughout all of your strands. This one is easy to tuck under the bed or into the bathroom closet between uses.
Conair Ionic Bonnet Dryer
We trust the Conair name with all things hair drying, and this hooded dryer is no exception. It has two power settings and delivers safe ion-charged heat into your strands for perfect uniform drying as well as effectively absorbed conditioning treatments. It folds neatly down onto itself, with everything tucking up into the extra-wide dome.
Red by Kiss Professional Hood Dryer
Kiss by Red’s hooded hair dryer features ceramic tourmaline technology that dries hair to a frizz-free, sleek finish in no time. It comes equipped with four different heat settings and works especially well with hot treatments, color processing, drying, and more. Thanks to its compact size, the dryer can be easily folded up and stored after use.
Nova Microdermabrasion Professional Hooded Dryer
Nova Microdermabrasion’s free-standing hooded dryer is akin to the high-tech models found in fancy salons. It is one of the more powerful models available for at-home use, and is thus great for hot perms, hair drying, and conditioning treatments. It can roll into any position and be adjusted based on your height needs. Its timer can also be set up to 60 minutes, which means you can kick back, relax, and finish that book.
Gold ‘N Hot Professional Hooded Dryer
There’s nothing worse than getting irregular bursts of heat when drying your hair. Fortunately, Gold ‘N Hot’s professional dryer sports double vents under the hood for even and steady airflow. It has three different heat and speed styling settings, its height can be adjusted, and it also folds down into itself for easy shelf storage.
Hot Tools Ionic Soft Bonnet Hair Dryer
This dryer eschews a hard hood in favor of a soft bonnet that offers more flexibility. With three different heats and speeds, it delivers a balanced, ionic airflow. The compact design can be packed away neatly after use and doesn’t take up too much space.
