Thick hair takes forever to dry. That's the core problem, and no amount of expensive shampoo or microfibre towels changes the fact that you've got more hair than the average person and it holds more water. A 15-minute drying session is the best case. Twenty-five minutes is normal for anything past shoulder length.

The dryer you use makes a genuine difference to how long you're standing there. Low-wattage dryers and weak motors turn a 20-minute job into 35 minutes of frustration. What thick hair needs is raw power — high wattage, strong airflow, and a motor that doesn't struggle when it's pushing hot air through dense hair.

This guide covers the three best hair dryers for thick hair in the UK right now, from a £25 budget option to a £400 Dyson with sensor technology. We've also included tips on technique, because how you dry thick hair matters almost as much as what you dry it with.

For a broader comparison covering all hair types, see our best hair dryer UK guide.

What thick hair actually needs from a dryer

Thick hair isn't just about volume. It's structurally different. Each strand tends to be wider in diameter, and there are simply more of them packed together. That means more water to evaporate after washing, more surface area for frizz to develop, and longer drying sessions where heat damage becomes a real concern.

Here's what to look for:

High wattage (2000W minimum). Wattage determines how hot the air gets and how fast it moves. For thick hair, 2200W is the sweet spot. Anything below 2000W and you'll notice the difference in drying time. The one exception is Dyson, which uses 1600W but compensates with a motor spinning at 110,000rpm — the sheer volume of air it moves makes up for the lower heat output.

Strong, consistent airflow. A dryer can have high wattage but poor airflow design. AC motors (found in salon dryers like the ghd Air) produce steadier, more powerful airflow than cheaper DC motors. That consistency matters when you're drying section after section for 20 minutes.

Ionic technology. Negative ions break water droplets into smaller particles on the hair shaft. Less water means shorter drying time. For thick hair that already takes ages, shaving off even three or four minutes per session adds up over a week.

A concentrator nozzle. This isn't optional for thick hair. The concentrator focuses airflow into a narrow stream that you direct at one section at a time. Without it, hot air goes everywhere and nowhere — you end up drying the surface layer while the hair underneath stays damp.

Weight you can handle for 20 minutes. This is the one people forget. A heavy dryer doesn't matter much when you're drying short, fine hair in five minutes. When you're holding it above your head for a quarter of an hour, every gram counts. The difference between 430g and 1,540g is the difference between a comfortable drying session and a sore shoulder.

1. Remington D3198 — Best Budget Hair Dryer for Thick Hair

The Remington D3198 costs about £25 and punches well above that price. At 2200W, it's got the wattage thick hair demands. Three heat settings, two speed settings, and a cool shot button give you enough control to work through sections properly without frying the ends.

For thick hair specifically, the combination of 2200W and ionic conditioning is what matters. The ionic function isn't a gimmick at this price — it noticeably reduces drying time versus non-ionic dryers and helps keep frizz under control on dense hair that's prone to it.

The D3198 comes with both a concentrator nozzle and a diffuser. If your thick hair is also curly, the included diffuser saves you buying one separately. The diffuser has decent-sized finger prongs that hold sections of thick curly hair in place while the warm air gets through to the roots.

The downsides are real but predictable for the price. The 1.7m cord is short — frustrating when thick hair means you need to move around and reposition frequently during a long drying session. At roughly 580g it's mid-range on weight; not the lightest, but manageable for 20 minutes. Build quality is plastic. It works, it just doesn't feel premium.

For the money, nothing else comes close for thick hair. Two thousand two hundred watts, ionic conditioning, diffuser included, under thirty quid.

Read our full review: Remington D3198 Review | Check current price

2. ghd Air — Best Professional Hair Dryer for Thick Hair

The ghd Air is the salon workhorse, and thick hair is where it earns its keep. The 2100W professional AC motor produces the most consistent airflow of any dryer on this list. Where cheaper DC motors can fluctuate in output, the AC motor in the ghd Air delivers a steady, powerful stream that stays constant for the entire drying session.

That consistency matters on thick hair because you're drying for 15-20 minutes minimum. You want the airflow hitting section four the same way it hit section one. The variable heat and speed controls (not fixed steps, but a proper range) let you dial in exactly what each section of your hair needs.

The 3m power cable is a genuine advantage for thick-haired users. Drying thick hair properly means working in sections, flipping your head, reaching around the back — and doing all of that for a sustained period. With a 1.7m cord, you're tethered to the socket. With 3m, you've got room to move.

Here's the honest trade-off: the ghd Air weighs 1,540g. It's heavy. Properly heavy. And thick hair means you're holding it for longer than someone with fine, short hair. Your arm will get tired. There's no way around it. The drying power partly compensates — stronger airflow means slightly shorter drying time — but you'll still notice the weight by minute twelve.

It doesn't come with a diffuser. If your thick hair is curly, you'll need to buy ghd's diffuser separately for about £29, bringing the total cost to around £130-150. Comes with a concentrator nozzle and a 1-year guarantee.

Check current ghd Air price

3. Dyson Supersonic Nural — Best Premium Hair Dryer for Thick Hair

The Dyson Supersonic Nural takes a completely different approach. Instead of throwing 2200W of heat at your hair, it uses a 1600W motor that spins at 110,000rpm. The idea: move more air, faster, and rely less on raw heat to do the drying.

For thick hair, this actually works. The V9 digital motor produces a volume of air that compensates for the lower wattage. Drying times are comparable to higher-wattage dryers despite the spec sheet looking weaker on paper. And because it's not leaning as hard on heat, there's less risk of damage during those unavoidable 20-minute thick-hair sessions.

The sensor system is where the Nural earns its money for thick-haired users specifically. It measures air temperature 40 times per second and adjusts automatically. When you're drying thick hair, you spend a long time with the dryer pointed at the same areas. Without sensors, that means inconsistent heat — too hot when you linger, cooler when you move quickly. The Nural evens this out. It won't let you overheat a section no matter how long you hold it there.

At 684g, it sits between the lightweight BaByliss and the heavy ghd Air. For a 20-minute drying session, that weight is manageable. The motor-in-handle design shifts the centre of gravity downward, so it feels lighter than the number suggests. Your arm doesn't fatigue the same way it does with a top-heavy dryer.

The 2.9m cord gives you nearly the same freedom of movement as the ghd Air's 3m. It comes with multiple attachments depending on the version (Straight+Wavy or Curly+Coily). Scalp Protect mode drops the temperature when the dryer senses it's too close to your head — useful during root drying.

At £399.99, it's expensive. But if you have thick hair and you're drying it four or five times a week, the combination of sensor protection, fast airflow, and manageable weight makes a noticeable difference session after session.

Check current Dyson Nural price

Also worth a look: BaByliss Midnight Luxe 2300

The BaByliss Midnight Luxe deserves a mention for thick hair even though it didn't make our top three. At 2300W, it has the highest wattage of any dryer we've looked at. That raw power translates to fast drying on thick hair.

At just 430g, it's also the lightest option here by a wide margin. For someone who dreads holding a heavy dryer for 20 minutes, that weight difference is substantial. Titanium-ceramic technology heats up quickly and distributes heat evenly, which suits thick hair that needs consistent temperature across long sections.

It comes with a 2.2m cord (a reasonable middle ground), a 3-year warranty, and costs between £27-35. The trade-off is build quality — it feels less robust than the Remington and significantly less solid than the ghd Air. The attachments are basic. But if your priorities are maximum wattage and minimum weight on a budget, it's the one to look at.

Tips for drying thick hair faster

The right dryer helps, but technique makes just as much difference. Here's how to cut your drying time without turning the heat up to maximum and hoping for the best.

Let it air dry to 80% first. This is the single biggest time saver. After washing, wrap your hair in a microfibre towel or cotton t-shirt for 15-20 minutes while you do something else. Getting rid of the bulk of the water before you even pick up the dryer cuts blow-dry time roughly in half. Going from soaking wet to fully dry with a dryer is the slow way to do it.

Section your hair with clips. Divide your hair into four to six sections using claw clips or sectioning clips. Dry the bottom layers first, then unclip and work upward. This stops you from repeatedly blasting the top layer while the hair underneath stays damp. It feels slower because of the setup, but the total drying time drops.

Use the concentrator nozzle. For straight and wavy thick hair, the concentrator focuses airflow onto one section at a time. Point it downward along the hair shaft, following the direction of the cuticle. This dries each section thoroughly rather than blowing hot air generally at your whole head.

Dry your roots first. Roots hold the most moisture on thick hair because the hair is densest at the scalp. Flip your head upside down and direct the dryer at your roots for the first few minutes. Once the roots are done, the mid-lengths and ends go much faster.

Don't skip the cool shot. Hit the cool shot button once each section feels dry. This closes the hair cuticle, locks in the shape, and reduces frizz for the rest of the day. On thick hair, sealing each section as you go prevents already-dried sections from reabsorbing moisture from the sections you haven't reached yet.

Best hair dryer for thick hair: comparison table

Our pick: The Remington D3198 for most people with thick hair. It's got the wattage, the ionic conditioning, and a diffuser in the box, all for £25. The ghd Air is better if you want professional-grade airflow consistency and don't mind the weight. The Dyson Nural is worth it if you dry thick hair daily and want sensor protection against heat damage during those long sessions.

Browse all hair dryers we track on blowmycash.com

Frequently asked questions

What wattage hair dryer is best for thick hair?

2000W or above is the minimum for thick hair. Anything less and you'll be standing there for 20+ minutes waiting for it to dry. 2200W is the sweet spot — the Remington D3198 and most mid-range dryers hit this mark. The exception is Dyson, which uses 1600W but compensates with a 110,000rpm motor that moves air fast enough to match higher-wattage dryers on drying time. Don't buy a 1400W or 1800W dryer if you have thick hair. You'll regret it.

How long should it take to blow dry thick hair?

With a decent dryer (2000W+), thick hair takes roughly 15-25 minutes depending on length. Shoulder-length thick hair is closer to 15 minutes. Waist-length, more like 25-30. If your dryer takes longer than that, either the wattage is too low or you're not section drying. Letting your hair air dry to about 80% before using the dryer can cut blow-dry time in half. Section drying (clipping your hair into four to six sections and drying each one individually) is the other big time saver.

Is a concentrator nozzle or diffuser better for thick hair?

Depends on your hair texture, not thickness. If your thick hair is straight or wavy and you want a smooth blowout, use the concentrator nozzle. It focuses airflow into a narrow stream that helps straighten and smooth each section. If your thick hair is curly or coily, use the diffuser — it spreads air gently to dry curls without blasting them apart and causing frizz. Either way, section your hair with clips and dry one section at a time. The concentrator comes with every dryer on this list. The diffuser comes with the Remington and Dyson, but not the ghd Air.

Does ionic technology help with thick hair?

Yes, and it makes more difference on thick hair than on thin hair. Ionic dryers break water droplets into smaller particles, which speeds up drying time. For thick hair that already takes ages to dry, shaving even a few minutes off matters. The anti-frizz benefit is useful too — thick hair has more surface area for static and frizz to build up, so ionic conditioning has more to work with. All three dryers in this guide have it, including the £25 Remington.