I’m here to talk about the best hair tools on the market today, but first let me tell you a little bit about myself. Over the past 28 years my hair and I have been through a lot.
I had really thick naturally wavy hair when I was a kid, but I didn’t know how to style it. I started using bleach and hair straighteners when I was 16, and I can say that I hurt my hair pretty badly.
I got tired of my hair breaking all the time about five years ago, so I stopped using heat to style it. I didn’t completely stop using bleach but I did get a subtle blonde balayage twice a year instead of my usual bright blonde highlights every six weeks.
This made a big difference Today my hair is long thick and pretty healthy (let’s be honest it could always be better), so I’ve slowly started using heat styling again.
Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to get my hands on some of the best hair tools as a beauty editor. These include the famous Dyson hairdryer (yes it is one of the best hair dryers on the market), as well as hot brushes, hair multi stylers, and more.
I’ve tested more than 50 hair tools in my career but to be honest there are only a few that I would actually buy with my own money. So I figured it was time to tell you about them.
Here is my final tried and true list of the best hair tools on the market along with some very good runners up that I love.
The Best Hair Tools 2026: Tried and True
- Best Hair Dryer: Dyson Supersonic Nural (£400)
- Best Hair Straightener: GHD Chronos (£299)
- Best Curling Wand: BaByliss Style Secret Air Automatic Rotating Curler (£120)
- Best Diffuser: Curlsmith Defrizzion Dryer & XXL Diffuser (£159)
- Best Hot Brush: Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Air Styler (£70)
- Best Multi-Styler: Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler (£300)
The Best Hair Dryers
Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer
Main features: 5 attachments, adjustable heat and airflow settings, scalp protect mode.
This Dyson hair dryer is easily one of the most impressive tools I’ve ever used. The design alone feels incredibly premium and it comes with a stylish carry case and several attachments.
I have a lot of hair, and drying it usually takes over an hour. With this dryer it takes just 15 to 20 minutes.
The smartest feature is the scalp protect mode. The dryer detects how close it is to your scalp and automatically adjusts the temperature to reduce heat damage.
Runner-Up: GHD Helios Ionic Hair Dryer
This new GHD dryer surprised me with how fast and powerful it is. The airflow is incredibly strong and the lightweight design makes styling much easier.
Even on cooler settings my hair dries quickly and looks noticeably shinier.
The Best Hair Straighteners
GHD Chronos Hair Straightener
Key features: HD motion-responsive technology, ergonomic design, 185°C styling temperature, automatic sleep mode.
If you’re looking for a premium straightener this is the one I recommend most. The motion responsive technology adapts while you style so you can get smooth results in one pass.
The floating glossy plates leave hair looking incredibly shiny and the curved design makes it easy to create loose waves and soft curls too.
At-Home Eyebrow Tinting Made Easy With a Simple Step-by-Step Method for Soft Defined Brows
Runner-Up: Dyson Corrale Straightener
This cordless straightener uses flexible copper plates that bend around the hair for more control. The cordless design also makes it very convenient when styling.
The Best Curling Wands
BaByliss Style Secret Air Automatic Rotating Curler
Main features: Auto-curl technology, three heat settings, airflow mode, adjustable timer.
This curling tool does most of the work for you. With one button press the tool wraps your hair around the barrel automatically.
It took me a little time to get used to it but once I did styling became incredibly simple.
Runner-Up: GHD Chronos Curve Conical Wand
The tapered barrel creates relaxed beachy waves and the 185°C styling temperature helps keep hair looking healthy while holding curls longer.
The Best Diffuser
Curlsmith Defrizzion Dryer & XXL Diffuser
This diffuser is perfect for curly and wavy hair. The large diffuser bowl lets you dry bigger sections of hair at once which dramatically reduces styling time.
It also includes multiple heat settings and a cool shot to lock in your curls.
The Best Hot Brushes
Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Air Styler
This tool is one of the most popular hot brushes for good reason. The large barrel allows you to style bigger sections quickly while creating a bouncy blow-dry finish.
The ceramic coating also helps the results last longer while keeping hair smooth and shiny.
Runner-Up: Beauty Works XXL Volume Hot Brush
This hot brush is great for styling dry hair. The long barrel and flexible bristles make it easy to create soft volume and movement.
The Best Multi-Stylers
Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler
This is easily one of the most versatile hair tools I’ve ever used. It includes attachments for drying, curling, diffusing and blow-dry styling.
Unlike many multi-stylers the styles actually last for hours because the airflow and attachments are very well designed.
Runner-Up: Hershesons The Multi-Tasker
This styling tool includes a hot brush, curling barrel and wave attachment. It’s ideal for quick styling when you want different looks without carrying multiple tools.
Overall these tools are the ones I consistently reach for in my own routine. After testing dozens of products over the years these are the ones truly worth investing in.
