One of the biggest myths in the haircare world is that you have to spend a fortune to get great results. While it’s often true you get what you pay for, you don’t have to visit a salon or shell out hundreds every time you want beautiful hair. In fact, you can get salon-quality hair for less than you think … without even hiring professional help!

It takes a combination of the right tools and products to get your hair at its healthiest, shiniest, and bounciest. In this article, we’ll be talking about one tool in particular, and how it can help you achieve your hair goals without breaking the bank. Read on to discover our top 3 options for the best affordable hair dryers on the market today.

What To Consider When Buying An Affordable Hair Dryer: The Cost-Per-Use Principle

Affordability is a somewhat relative term, as everyone will have their own budget to work with. It also has a deeper meaning than numbers on a price tag.

It’s important to consider factors like quality and longevity, as they will affect the affordability of an item in the long run. For example, it’s easy to find a cheap drug store hair dryer for $30 or under, but a lower quality model will likely lose its power faster, therefore needing regular replacements that will cost you more over time.

However, that doesn’t mean you need to jump on the opposite side of the spectrum with a $500 luxury hair dryer. You can still find high quality hair dryers around the $100 - $200 mark — an affordable investment when you consider the cost-per-use principle. Laifen hair dryers have a service life of 9 years. This means if you break down the price of the hair dryer by use, the cost averages less than a dollar per use for someone who uses the hair dryer a few times a week over the course of 9 years.

With this in mind, here are our top budget-friendly hair dryers!

Best Affordable Hair Dryer Under $100

If you’re looking for the highest quality with the lowest investment, consider the Laifen SE Lite High-Speed Hair Dryer. As the name suggests, it offers ultra fast drying — perfect for anyone who wants to cut down their hair drying and styling time, whether you have long hair that takes a while to dry with a conventional dryer, or you just have a busy schedule. This hair dryer features a 100,000rpm brushless motor with a wind speed of 19m/s, which translates to a drying speed that’s three times faster than conventional hair dryers.

In addition to the speedy drying time, it also results in beautifully soft, frizz-free hair thanks to its ionic technology. It uses millions of negative ions to repel water and neutralize static electricity, preventing frizz and leaving a healthy natural shine. The dryer’s thermo-control technology assists in healthy, sleek end results by alternating hot and cold airstreams to prevent heat damage.

Other coveted features include the lightweight, ergonomic design and noise reduction technology. Weighing just under 1lb, the SE Lite is small and portable, making it perfect for travel or simply taking up less room in your home.

Users love it because:

• It cuts drying time in half
• The thermo-control technology prevents heat damage
• It reduces frizz
• It's quiet and great for travel

Suitable for:

• Long hair
• Curly hair
• Fine hair

Best Affordable Hair Dryer For Travel

Laifen’s Mini High-Speed Hair Dryer is the epitome of small but mighty. Whether you live a jetset lifestyle or you prefer tools that don’t take up too much space, this is the ideal hair dryer. It’s 33% smaller than Laifen’s standard models and weighs a mere 299g, making it just a bit bigger than a phone. And despite its size, it doesn’t compromise on performance, featuring Laifen’s signature 110,000rpm brushless motor, ionic technology for silkier hair, and smart temperature control to keep heat damage at bay. The noise reduction is also beneficial for those living or traveling in shared accommodations, or for anyone with sensory sensitivities.

Another special feature of the Mini High-Speed Hair Dryer is the child mode, which offers a gentler, child-friendly experience. It’s also a great option for those with fine hair, who may find regular settings too powerful.

Users love it because:

• It’s small and lightweight but powerful
  ● It has the same beneficial features as standard size Laifen hair dryers
• Child mode makes it convenient to dry kids’ hair

Suitable for:

• Fine hair
• Long hair 
• Curly hair
• Kid's hair

Best Quiet Hair Dryer On A Budget

Both our environments and our hair types play a strong role in shaping our hair care needs. Whether you need to be considerate of your family members or housemates, or you’re catering to your own sensory preferences, a quiet hair dryer is a game changer.

Laifen’s Swift Professional Dryer offers a whisper-quiet level of noise alongside its shine-boosting and frizz-reducing negative ion technology. The noise reduction features result in a total noise level of just 59 decibels per second at full speed — the same level of noise as moderate rainfall, or the hum of a refrigerator.

While you enjoy your quiet styling session, you’ll also be treated to ultra fast drying speeds and an innovative temperature cycling mode to prevent heat damage. The Swift Professional Dryer has three times the motor speed performance of a traditional dryer, allowing you to cut your regular drying time by a fraction.

Users love it because:

• It’s fast drying
• Offers salon-quality results
• It’s quiet and easy-to-use
• Compact size is comfortable to hold
• Gentle on hair

Suitable for:

• Wavy hair
• Thick hair
• Curly hair
• Long hair

Conclusion - The Best And Most Affordable Hair Dryer

Ultimately, the best and most affordable hair dryer will depend on your individual needs, preferences, and hair type. If you’re looking for a great all-rounder for under $100, you’ll love the Laifen SE Lite. Regular traveler, parent, or lover of all things compact? The Laifen Mini will be right up your alley. And if you prioritize speed and sound level above all, the Laifen Swift will likely be the best affordable hair dryer for you. Choose wisely, and enjoy the results!