The 15 Best Hair Tools We Tested This Year
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Not all hair tools are created equal—some can feel like they're scorching your hair, take forever to do anything, and leave your hair a frizzy mess. But the best styling devices work quickly, keep your hair protected, and are made with all textures in mind. Unfortunately, gadgets like these can be few and far between.
That's why, as we researched ELLE's 2026 Tools and Treatments Awards , we tested as many hair tools as we could get our hands on. These ranged from straighteners and multi-stylers to blow dryers made for curly hair and at-home hair color gizmos. In the end, we whittled down our list to 15 hair products that truly stood out. Our favorites include a travel blow dryer that works just as well (if not better) than a full-sized one; a curling wand that mimics your unique coil pattern; and a thermal brush that makes it look like you just got an in-salon blowout. Below, find every tool that ELLE editors can't stop using on their own hair.
SEE EVERY WINNER FROM THE 2026 TOOLS AND TREATMENTS AWARDS
Dyson Supersonic Travel
This travel blow dryer packs all the classic Dyson technology into a vessel that is 32 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter than the original, for glossy results on the go. Our tester isn't normally fond of using suitcase space for a hair tool but found that this one was worth it because it worked with multiple outlets, was reasonably light, and smoothed quickly.
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Interchangeable Curling Iron
Yes, it is possible to maintain healthy curls while heat styling. Try this versatile curling iron, which comes with three tourmaline ceramic barrels to evenly distribute heat. Our tester loved the adaptability of this tool. When her hair was long, she used the medium-sized wand to achieve effortless deep waves. Once she cut it, the smaller wand attachment made curling her pixie cut a breeze.
Mane It's Giving Body Thermal Round Brush
This barreled brush heats to 355°F, emits negative ions to reduce frizz, and features tangle-free bristles for salon-like results in 10 minutes flat. Our tester found that this brush worked best in small sections, but even so, it worked quickly. She recommends going slowly and gently pulling for tension to make it look like you just got a salon blow-dry.
T3 Aire IQ Intelligent Hair Dryer Set
Our tester called this a "pretty, powerful, quiet smart hairdryer." When you first use this tool, you will be prompted to input your texture—fine, medium, or coarse—using the built-in smart touchscreen located on the back. Then the blow dryer uses something called Heat ID technology to automatically tailor a heat and speed setting (there are five different temperatures and three speeds). The brand's patented SoftAire technology also funnels the airflow through a wide cone to softly and evenly distribute heat for fast results that don't compromise moisture and health. Our tester's thick shoulder-length hair dried in just five minutes, and it normally takes up to 20.
Amika Blowout Babe Thermal Round Brush
Using far-infrared heat rather than traditional mechanisms like coiled wires, which can cause heat damage, this blowout brush warms the cuticle from the inside out, evenly distributing heat in half the time of conventional hot-air tools. With a 1.5-inch barrel and nylon bristles, it also uses an ionic generator to neutralize static for frizz-free results. Our tester said that it was easy to use and left her with a subtle curl. "I love this tool! Super easy for faking a blowout," she said.
Laifen High-Speed Hair Dryer SE Lite
Dry your hair in five minutes or less, depending on your length. With 10 heat and speed settings and a sleek, lightweight design, it's perfect for quick styling and on-the-go touch-ups. According to our tester, the tool was comfortable to hold and impressively lightweight, and it smoothed her hair despite the quick results. "Before using, my hair looked a bit flat and slightly frizzy, with uneven texture that felt hard to manage. After drying, it looked noticeably more polished, with a healthy shine."
Shark Beauty Glam Hair Styler
This versatile tool easily transforms from a classic blow dryer to a round brush and even a straightener for salon-quality results at home. Using a combination of powerful high-speed airflow and heat-controlled ceramic, the styler works for all hair types, particularly curly and coily textures. The strong airflow made the tool easy to use without any tugging or pulling, per our tester. "I was really impressed by how powerful the Shark was compared to other hairstylers and blow-dry brushes. It has a strong air current and significant heat, and cut my blowout time for my very long hair to just under 15 minutes from wet to fully blown out. My hair was full, soft, and bouncy, and the flatiron attachment worked great."
Curlsmith Defrizzion Curl Reviving Wand
The Curlsmith team doesn't want to hide your unique curls; in fact, the brand created this interchangeable wand to enhance them. With four ceramic attachments, this one tool can give the perfect coils, bouncy ringlets, and loose waves. The curler also has 13 heat settings. Our tester noted that the different wands offered her endless styling options to choose from. "The curl definition that this gives is insane. I used this in hot, humid, Italy for a party and my style lasted for days."
Revair Reverse-Air Dryer
The tool uses suction technology that draws hair inside it to stretch and smooth coils and curls. Equipped with seven tension settings and internal heat sensors, it is also great for protective styles like braids and twists. "When I have braids it can take hours for them to fully air-dry and using a standard blow dryer gets water all over my bathroom," our tester said. "I love that this dryer is mess-free and dried my braids in about 20 minutes."
GHD Speed Hair Dryer
With purported wind speeds of up to 119 miles per hour, the blow dryer boasts the fastest dry time on the market right now. Besides the high velocity, the heated air from this dryer is surrounded by an orb of cool air, which lets you get close to your scalp without burning it. Our tester was amazed that drying only took her 90 seconds per side and liked how close she was able to get to her roots. "It doesn't leave my hair in a tangled nest like some other quick dryers I've used."
FHI Heat The Versasphere Pro Air 6-in-1 Multi-Styler
This brand earned a patent for its "HydraHeat technology," which combines even heat distribution with negative ion emission to smooth and hydrate. With six included attachments, this styler offers a range of styling options, from blowouts and barrel curls to defined coils. Our tester noted that the dryer was fast and left her hair feeling sleek and tangle-free. "I really like how small, and packable this tool is. The smoothing attachments definitely work, and the curling and diffuser options will be fun to play with this summer."
DevaCurl DevaDryer & DevaFuser
Designed specifically for curly hair textures, this dryer and diffuser combo delivers shiny, frizz-free ringlets and coils. The lightweight dryer uses 360-degree airflow to surround the curls with air to easily target the roots for a faster blow-dry. The unique hand-shaped diffuser attachment also helps to define ringlets by mimicking a scrunching motion. Our tester enjoyed the size of the large diffuser attachment, noting that it quickly and gently dried her thick curls.
L'Oréal Paris Colorsonic
At-home box dyes can often leave you with uneven results. The L'Oréal Colorsonic offers an easy solution. Simply pop in a dye cartridge and the tool will automatically mix the color and developer for you. Then glide it through your hair like a brush; the oscillating bristles will part the strands and distribute the color. Our tester, who usually uses box dyes to touch up her color between professional appointments, liked that the tool did most of the work for her without making a mess.
Shark SilkiPro Wet-to-Dry Hair Straightener
"Oh man, I was not expecting to love this thing, but I love it," our tester enthused. With multiple comb attachments that easily click into place, plus manual and intuitive heat settings, it works well as both a blow dryer and wet-to-straight straightener. Our tester added, "It's extremely easy—you use it just like you would a regular straightener. With only a couple of passes, it completely dried and straightened my thick, wavy post-shower hair."
GHD Chronos Flat Iron
Our testers have hair types ranging from 4B curls to 2A waves, but the Chronos worked well across all of them. It's motion-responsive, meaning it doesn't clamp down on hair and straightens in just one pass. The floating ceramic plates keep a constant temperature of 365°F, ensuring less heat damage. One tester, who has thick, long 3A hair that typically takes up to 30 minutes to straighten, found that it cut her straightening time down to 15 minutes.
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