Remington Damage Protection Hair Dryer, Ceramic Ionic Technology

The Remington Damage Protection is one of the best-selling hair dryers on Amazon. It costs about $23 and has a 4.6-star average from roughly 49,800 reviews. That's a big sample, and a high average, for a $23 dryer.

What's in the box

The dryer, a diffuser and a concentrator nozzle. Getting a diffuser at this price is the part that matters most. The ghd dryers that cost ten times as much don't include one. If you have wavy or curly hair, our how to use a hair dryer diffuser guide covers the technique.

The specs, in plain terms

It runs at 1875W, which is as high as standard US hair dryers go. A typical 15-amp bathroom circuit at 120V doesn't leave room for more, so a $300 dryer won't beat this one on raw wattage. Our hair dryer wattage guide explains why.

You get three heat settings, two speeds and a cool shot button. The barrel combines ceramic, ionic and tourmaline. Remington says the coating gives "3x more protection" and credits its Micro-Conditioner technology for healthier hair. Note that the comparison is against a standard Remington dryer, not against rival brands. Our what is an ionic hair dryer explainer covers what ions do and don't do for frizz.

The rear air filter comes off for cleaning. Remington mentions this more than once in the listing, and with good reason: a clogged filter is the most common cause of a cheap dryer running hot or cutting out. Clean it every few weeks.

Who it's for

• Anyone who wants a dependable everyday dryer and doesn't want to spend much
• Curly or wavy hair, since the diffuser is included
• A first dryer for a teenager, a spare for a guest bathroom, or a replacement after the old one died

Who should skip it

People who dry long, thick hair every day and want it done faster. Since every US dryer tops out at 1875W, the premium models compete on motor design and airflow instead. Our AC vs DC motor piece explains what that buys you.

Alternatives

The ghd Helios is the step up. It has the same 1875W rating but a brushless motor, 75 mph airflow and a 9 ft cord, for about $280. It has no diffuser and a lower 3.9-star rating. For more options under $50, see our best budget hair dryer roundup.

The full Remington Damage Protection review has more detail.