Best hairdryers under £50: tried and tested
WHEN it comes to hair wash day, a good hairdryer is an essential part of the process.
Whether you’re looking for a speedy, powerful model to dry your hair quickly before the morning commute, or a compact hairdryer to pack away for holidays, there’s something for everyone.
Thankfully, investing in a good hairdryer doesn’t have to be a splurge, and there are many affordable options from top brands.
I have tested and reviewed five hairdryers under £50 to find out which ones I think are worth buying right now.
Best hairdryers under £50 at a glance:
- Best overall: Revlon AirFlow Control Dryer
- Best value: Tresemme Keratin Smooth Blow Dry Collection Set
- Best for travel: Bellissima B-Travel Hair Dryer
Revlon AirFlow Control Dryer
Revlon AirFlow Control Dryer, £27.99 from Amazon
Pros: Quick-drying, powerful, moveable head for directional drying, plenty of heat/speed settings, diffuser attachment
Cons: No cons
Rating: 5/5
The new addition to Revlon’s range is the stylish red and black Airflow Control hairdryer, which on first impressions would look good on any dressing table.
Initially, I wasn’t sure how precise the drying would be nor how powerful the dryer would feel, as the shape and size are quite different to common hairdryer designs, however for such a small-looking device it really packs a punch.
I was also intrigued by the rotating concentrator, and found it to be really helpful, as I was able to rotate the nozzle by 90 degrees, which is particularly useful for drying the back of the head.
I would recommend the hairdryer overall, and found it powerful, stylish and effective, with a good choice of heat settings and speeds for personalised styling.
- Settings: Three heats, two speeds and a cold shot
- Accessories included: Diffuser attachment
- Alternative: Remington ONE Dry and Style hair dryer, £65 at Amazon
Remington Shine Therapy D5216 Hairdryer
Remington Shine Therapy D5216 Hair Dryer, £25.99 (was £37.99) from Currys
Pros: Plenty of heat/speed setting options, includes diffuser for curly hair
Cons: Wasn’t the most powerful top speed/heat, slightly heavier than other hairdryers
Rating: 4.5/5
Remington is one of the most familiar brands for hair tool users, and offers an ever-growing range of affordable hairdryers, straighteners and curling tongs.
The Shine Therapy range is one of the brand’s most popular, and when putting the hairdryer to the test, I thought it was a solid option for its price point.
The range of settings was up there with the most you would find on a hairdryer, offering three heat settings, two speeds and a cold shot.
It dried my hair evenly and effectively, but I found the top heat and speed settings were not quite as powerful as those on the Revlon Airflow Control hairdryer; the Remington dryer also felt slightly heavier to use.
However, at this reasonable price, there’s not much to complain about and it’s perfectly fine for drying hair, just without any particularly unique features.
- Settings: Three heat settings, two speeds and a cold shot
- Accessories included: Diffuser attachment
- Alternative: Wahl Ionic Smooth hair dryer, £24.99 from Currys
Tresemme Keratin Smooth Blow Dry Collection Set
Tresemme Keratin Smooth Blow Dry Collection Set, £25 (was £45) from Argos
Pros: Good value for what’s included, lightweight
Cons: Three settings plus cold shot, but can’t vary between heat and speed
Rating: 4.5/5
This Tresemme set offers undeniable value for money, and includes everything you could need for safe and healthy styling.
Most importantly, the hairdryer is effective at drying hair quickly and evenly, and would work for any hair length or type.
It’s a bonus to get so many extras included for under £50, and the diffuser, heat defence spray, paddle brush, clips and rollers are handy for creating various different hairstyles.
There are three settings to choose from plus a cold shot – however it’s worth bearing in mind that you can’t vary between heat and speed.
Overall, this is a very good budget option, the hairdryer is powerful, effective and sleek, and the set avoids buying separate accessories.
- Settings: Three combined heat and speed settings and a cold shot
- Accessories included: Diffuser attachment, heat defence spray, paddle brush, two sectioning clips and two rollers
- Alternative: Mark Hill Style Addict Perfect Blow Dry Kit, £23.32 from Boots
BaByliss Midnight Luxe 2300 Hairdryer
BaByliss Midnight Luxe 2300 Hair Dryer, £30 (was £40) from Argos
Pros: Three heat settings and two speeds plus cold shot, and a classy design
Cons: No unique features or added accessories
Rating: 4/5
This hair dryer had one of the highest wattages of the options I tested, with 2300 watts of power to dry hair quickly and effectively.
For those looking for value for money and a hair dryer that simply works well, this is a great budget option that is exactly what you’d want for daily use – quick and effective.
The design is pretty standard but perfectly functional, and features three heat settings and two speeds, plus a cold shot, which is always useful to set the hair in place.
As an everyday hair dryer, this a high-performance, low-cost option that does what it promises to and is powerful and effective at drying hair.
- Settings: Three heats, two speeds and a cold shot
- Accessories included: None
- Alternative: Remington Botanicals hair dryer, £34.66 (was £51.99) from Boots
Bellissima B-Travel Hairdryer
Bellissima B-Travel Hair Dryer, £39.99 (was £49.99) from Boots
Pros: Super compact, ideal for travel, includes storage pouch, lightweight and easy to use, dual voltage for using abroad
Cons: Only two settings and no option to alter just heat or just speed individually
Rating: 4/5
It may not be a household name in terms of hair brands just yet, but Italian-founded brand Bellissima is now stocked in Boots, Argos and other major high-street retailers.
Created to be neat and compact for travel, Bellissima’s B-Travel hair dryer definitely fulfills its purpose.
The dryer folds up to fit into the gold pouch that’s included, and once folded it’s by far the smallest hairdryer I’ve come across.
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For those who travel often, myself included, this is ideal for taking up minimum space in hand luggage or a gym bag, plus the voltage can be changed from 110-120V to 220-240V when using abroad.
The size also means that it’s super lightweight, requiring little effort to use, and it could replace a regular sized hairdryer depending on how quickly your hair dries.
There are also only two settings to choose from, and there’s no way to alter heat and speed individually, so it’s either low speed and low heat or high speed and high heat – plus there’s no cold shot.
Although not as powerful as some models, the B-Travel hairdryer is a great option for holidays and weekend breaks, with the impressive compact size being a standout feature.
- Settings: Two combined heat and speed settings, no cold shot
- Accessories included: Storage pouch
- Alternative: TRESemmé Salon Professional 2000 Travel Dryer, £24.99 from Superdrug
How we tested these products
All hair dryers have been used separately on freshly-washed hair and the ratings and comparisons take into consideration ease of use, value for money, how powerful the heat and speed settings are, and any unique features.
Where to buy hairdryers in the UK
There are many retailers to buy hairdryers from, including:
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