The 5 Best Bonnet Hair Dryers – [Reviews & Rankings]

A bonnet hair dryer, also known as a bonnet dryer, or hooded dryer, is a type of hair dryer that features a cap to put over your hair to evenly distribute heat. The best bonnet hair dryer will be portable, affordable, and feature multiple heat and speed settings.

Anyone who has ever used a blow dryer knows that you run a real risk of burning your hair if you get too close, or hold the blow dryer on the same area for too long. Bonnet hair dryers present an advantage over using a blow dryer in that they provide a safely controlled amount of heat, making burning your hair less likely (Source).

There are two main types of bonnet hair dryers. Soft bonnet hair dryers are best suited for coarse hair, whereas people with straight or thin hair will get better use out of a hard bonnet hair dryer. This is because the soft bonnet type more evenly distributes heat (Source).

With many different brands, models, and options available on the market, finding the right bonnet hair dryer can be a confusing and difficult job. Before you buy a bonnet hair dryer, consider the cost, weight of the bonnet, and portability. It’s also important to consider it’s feature-set, such as a cooling setting, and the number of heat and speed settings.

In this list, we will examine all the top-rated bonnet hair dryers. All of the bonnet hair dryers in this write-up will dry hair evenly and quickly, whether you are looking for the most economic option or a top-of-the-line model.

What Is A Bonnet Hair Dryer?

Bonnet, or Hooded, hairdryers have been in use since the 1940s. These hair dryers designed to evenly distribute heat to prevent drying out or burning your hair from direct heat.

Hard Bonnet hair dryers are made of hard plastic and have a dome that fits over a person’s head and emits heat. These dryers are more common in hair salons, as they are too heavy and bulky to be portable.

A flexible hose extends from the bonnet to a small hooded dryer unit or attaches directly to a hand-held blow dryer. These dryers are more portable and easier to store. They are ideal for home use.

What Does a Bonnet Hair Dryer Do?

A bonnet hair dryer comes with a cap and a dryer unit that’s connected to the power. After turning the unit on, hot air is flowing through the cap and the heat is distributed across your hair. A bonnet hair dryer doesn’t just dry; it is used as a hair treatment solution and roller styling (Source).

Comparing The Best Bonnet Hair Dryers 

1. Laila Ali LADR5604 – The Best Bonnet Hair Dryer

A simple, portable, aesthetically appealing and highly functional design is what you need in a soft bonnet hair dryer. If you are shopping for the best hair dryer for use at home, the Laila Ali LADR5604 Ionic Soft Bonnet Dryer offers such attributes and much more. In addition to being portable and lightweight, the product is packed with an array of efficiency features.

In its functioning, the LADR5604 bonnet dryer applies ion infused airflow to dry hair. The ion infused airflow technology is an innovative, highly-efficient hair drying technology being used by the leading hair dryer manufacturers today. Over the years, this technology has been proven to be very fast at drying different hair types and textures.

With regard to versatility, the product may be used to dry braids and roller sets. Additionally, the hooded hair dryer has also been proven to be useful in conditioning and chemical hair treatment applications. The innovative technology used by the manufacturer in this product also helps retain hair moisture. This not only prevents hair breakage, but it also leaves your hair looking healthier and shinier.

You will also find the LADR5604 bonnet dryer customizable. In this regard, the product offers 3 speed and heat settings. This allows you to adjust the unit to your preferred hair drying and styling conditions. Unlike many other dryers within this range, this Laila Ali dryer offers cooling settings as well. You may use the cooling setting after drying your hair to help set the style. The product is large enough to accommodate jumbo rollers, allowing you to comfortably create loose curls.

2. Adjustable Stand Up Hood Floor Hair Bonnet Dryer – Professional Salon Quality Bonnet

If you are looking for simplicity, functionality and affordability, this adjustable hair bonnet dryer is the way to go. With regard to performance, the product was awarded the NaturallyCurly Editors Choice Award in 2015 for being the best styling tool. As such, you can rest assured that you are investing in a proven product.

You will find this bonnet dryer convenient and fast at drying and styling hair. The product may be used with rollers, velcros or curliformers. In this regard, you only need to place the bonnet over the rollers, curl formers or velcros and secure it in place by pulling the drawstrings and fastening the adjustable chin strap. The unit offers adjustable heat settings and has been proven to dry hair in 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Conair Pro Style Collapsible Bonnet Hair Dryer – Most Portable

The Conair Pro Style Collapsible Bonnet Hair Dryer is rated the best travel hair dryer for a reason. The unit features a compact and lightweight design. Although the drying hood of the unit is relatively large, it is also collapsible for easy storage and transportation. With regard to performance, this product has a horde of fascinating features to offer.

To begin with, it features 2 heat settings. The low heat and speed setting of the dryer is rated 900 Watts and has been proven to be very gentle. In this regard, the low setting of the unit is best suited for drying synthetic and natural hair safely. The high speed and heat setting of the dryer, on the other hand, is rated 1,875 watts.

4. Tourmaline Tools 1059 by Hot Tools Professional Tourmaline Ionic 1875 Watt High Heat Portable Salon Dryer – Lightweight Design

Although priced a little above $100. This product is worth every penny. From a lightweight design to adjustable heat settings and versatility, the Tourmaline Ionic bonnet dryer has the features you need. As compared to other units available today, this product will cut down your drying time by about 50 percent without damaging your hair in the process. High power is another thing its users love.

In this regard, the dryer delivers a maximum power output of 1875 watts. Additionally, this unit has 4 heat settings and 2 separate speed settings. This will give you the flexibility you need whenever you are styling or drying your hair. In its functioning, the Tourmaline tools 1059 use both ionic nano and tourmaline technologies. No wonder it is so effective at what it does.

5. Babyliss Pro Ionic Hard-Hat Dryer– Best for Salons

If you are looking for the best bonnet hair dryer for your professional saloon, the Babyliss Pro Ionic Hard-hat Dryer will do. As one of the best hard hooded hair dryers, this model offers the power and flexibility you need for professional applications.

For a faster and safe drying experience, the product is equipped with a 2000-watt brushless motor. Despite having such a powerful motor, the product is very quiet in operation. It also features an AUX input that connects to any MP3 player of phone. This will entertain your clients as they have their hair done.

How Does a Bonnet Hair Dryer Work?

Bonnet hair dryers are designed to evenly distribute heat throughout a person’s hair.

Bonnet dryers work similarly to hand-held blow dryers. A fan pulls air into the dryer and is heated as it passes a hot metal coil. The heated air is blown through the flexible tube from the dryer into the bonnet.

By sealing the soft bonnet around the top of the head to completely cover the hair, the heated air is held inside the bonnet, maintaining a uniform temperature throughout a person’s hair.

The dryers have a built-in thermostat that will control the heat so that the motor does not burn out. This thermostat can be also adjusted to keep the air from becoming too hot and burning a person’s hair or scalp.

Why Use a Bonnet Hair Dryer?

Bonnet hair dryers are faster and more efficient at drying hair, without the potential danger of burnt scalp or hair.

These dryers have customizable heat settings, making them versatile for different types of hair and textures. This is convenient for use in a professional hair salon or at home if a person wants to try different hairstyles or hair treatments.

Bonnet dryers are more comfortable, as the flexible tube allows a person to move around during the drying process. The user does not have to be still and sit in one position or worry that the top cover will come off.

These dryers are typically compact and lightweight, while the soft bonnets are collapsible and foldable, allowing for greater portability and requiring less storage space.

How to Use a Bonnet Hair Dryer

Whether you are using a bonnet hair dryer attachment for a hand-held dryer, or a bonnet with a built-in dryer unit, this type of dryer is very easy to use.

First, unfold the bonnet to ensure that the flexible tube will allow airflow. Then make sure that the tube is securely attached to the dryer unit or hand-held blow dryer.

Place the bonnet over the head and tuck your hair fully inside. The bonnet is large enough to be worn with any hairstyle and can be used with any type of rods or rollers. Tighten the rim of the bonnet around your forehead using the built-in drawstring.

The time it takes to dry your hair will depend on the length, thickness, and condition of your hair. While these dryers help prevent burnt scalp or hair, it is always best to start with a low heat setting. This is especially true if you will use the dryer continuously. Take time to dry your hair so you don’t damage it.

Things You Need to Know Before Choosing a Bonnet Hair Dryer

How much do you know about hairdryers? If you are shopping for the best unit for your salon or just for use at home, you need to know what to look for.

The best of these units are designed to dry out your hair without using direct heat. As such, you will not end up damaging your hair or burning your scalp. However, you must have realized that there are numerous Bonnet hair dryers in the market.

Whether it is for your salon or for use at home, you must ensure that you have bought the right unit. Basically, these products differ in design, size, power, and technology.

As such, not all the bonnet hair dryers available today are best suited for your application. In order to choose the best bonnet hair dryer for your intended application, here are some of the considerations you should make.

1. Type of Bonnet Hair Dryer

The various bonnet hair dryer models available today may be categorized into two main groups.

Before choosing the right product for home or salon, you first need to ascertain which of the two types will work best for you. In this regard, these are the two bonnet hair dryer types you should consider:

• Hard Bonnet Hair Dryers

These are relatively bulkier and heavier and often attached to a seat. As such, they are best suited for salon applications.  Since they are meant for use on different people with different types of hair, such models are known to be very flexible. However, hard bonnet hair dryers are less portable and are comparatively expensive to buy.

• Soft Hair Dryers

If you are looking for a portable bonnet hair dryer or a model that is best suited for use at home, you should get a soft bonnet hair dryer. As compared to the hard hair dryers, the soft dryers are comparatively smaller and more portable. In most of the leading soft dryer models, the bonnet is foldable for easier transportation or storage. Again, these products are more affordable, as compared to the hard bonnet dryers.

2. Flexibility

How flexible should your preferred hooded hair dryer be? Well, this will mainly depend on the intended application. For home applications, you do not need a model that is so flexible. For commercial applications, though, you need a product that is very flexible. You will be receiving different clients with varying hair needs in your salon every day. As such, you should go for a product that is scalable to different hair drying requirements.

If the dryer is for use at a home, your need to consider your hair type. In this case, you can just go for a model with the right features for your type of hair.  Since the unit will only be used by a few people, flexibility may not be a key consideration here.

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3. Customizable Heat Settings

With regard to flexibility, this is one of the aspects you need to consider. As you may be aware, different hair styling and textures require different heat settings. If you own a saloon, this will be very important as you will be using the product on different people. Most of the leading bonnet hair dryers have adjustable heat settings. As such, you should go for a heat setting range that you find appropriate. Again, the heat setting should be conveniently accessible and easy to adjust.

4. Ionic Technology

Different hair dryers work differently in drawing water molecules from the hair. Most of the modern hooded hair dryers use ionic technology, in this regard. Using this technology, such products have been proven to be more efficient at breaking water molecules into smaller units. This, in turn, makes hair drying relatively easier.

Again, this technology is useful at sealing off the cuticles and protecting the hair from damage by heat. This is one of the primary advantages of the bonnet hair dryers over other types of hair dryers in use today.  Another feature you should consider, in this regard, is tourmaline. This infrared heat technology has been proven to dry the hair faster and thoroughly.

Ready To Buy The Best Bonnet Hair Dryer?

Whether it is the budget, portability, functionality, or simply the budget, different people have varying preferences when it comes to hair dryers.

If you are looking forward to drying and setting your hair safely and fast, you should consider investing in the right bonnet hair dryer. With so many hooded hair dryers to choose from today, the choice boils down to the features you need in your dryer.

Are you worried about the messy-chic hairstyle? Want to swap one barrel out for another to create different styles? Consider also buying top-rated interchangeable curling wands.