Best Viral Blow Dryer for 4c Hair
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Blow Dryer
Revlon One Step Hair Dryer and Styler
RevAir Reverse-Air Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer
Revlon One Step Volumizer Hair Dryer and Styler
InfinitiPRO By Conair 3-in-1 Styling Hair Dryer
Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher and High-Velocity Dryer
T3 Featherweight Stylemax
Heat and speed settings
To prevent unwanted heat exposure or damage, look for a blow dryer with adjustable heat and speed settings. As hairstylist Amy Abramite previously told Cosmo, "Hair that's finely textured, compromised by chemicals, or already damaged may not be able to handle hot temperatures." Adjustable settings will allow you to customize the dryer to work with your hair.
Attachments
Frizz is normal, especially if you have 4c hair, however, sometimes it may not be your jam. If you're looking to smooth out your hair, make sure you get a dryer with a concentrator nozzle, which "can control the direction of airflow, pointing downward, so you are encouraging the cuticle to lay down flat," as Aaron Grenia, co-founder of IGK Hair, previously told Cosmo.
While diffusers are great for defining or drying curls, the most effective tool for stretching and straightening is a comb attachment. Similarly effective attachments include a blow dryer brush like the one included with the Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher and High-Velocity Dryer.
Wattage
When choosing a blow dryer for your 4c hair, opt for one that can handle a higher wattage. A higher-wattage dryer will be more powerful and dry your hair faster. Above, I've included options between 800 and 1,875 watts, so there's a range of power. Just note: If you're going higher in power, ensure the temperature is adjusted slightly lower to avoid extra damage.
Ionic technology
Not all blow dryers use ionic technology, but it's a great feature to have if you can. Here's the TL;DR: Ions, aka the invisible particles around us, can be positive or negative. Positive ions aren't kind to our hair and often lead to static, frizz, or flyaways. Blow dryers with ionic technology release negative ions that neutralize the positive ones. The result? Faster drying, as negative ions break down water molecules, and smoother hair with reduced frizz and fewer flyaways.