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Head-to-head · Best Fast-Drying Hair Dryers

Drybar Buttercup vs Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.3). Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer is best for: People who want high-speed, low-frizz drying in a light dryer for well under Dyson money. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Drybar Buttercup
Ranked #3 in Best Fast-Drying Hair Dryers
Drybar Buttercup
2 sources$229as of Oct 16

The Drybar Buttercup is the salon-style pick, a 1875W ionic dryer built around smooth, fast blowouts rather than gadgetry. TechGearLab scored it 76 out of 100, calling its high-setting airflow fast, and Drybar claims a 20%-faster dry than most pro dryers. It is light, at 510g per Woman & Home, though Woman & Home says it is far from the quietest dryer. Reliability is the asterisk: a notable share of owners report units failing or overheating over time. Aimed at people who want a professional blowout feel at a mid-tier price.

Strengths
  • — Light in the hand at just over 500g, per Woman & Home, making long blowouts comfortable
  • — Doesn't generate excess frizz, per Woman & Home
  • — Scored 76/100 in TechGearLab testing, with airflow rated 'quite fast, particularly at their higher settings'
Watch-outs
  • — Heat output can be strong, so frizz-prone users need to manage settings carefully
$229 · Buy at sephora.comFull review →
Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Fast-Drying Hair Dryers
Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer
2 sources$169.99as of Oct 16

A light, high-speed dryer with a 110,000 RPM brushless motor that TechAdvisor gave five stars and TechRadar four. TechRadar dried thick, medium-length hair in just under seven minutes and TechAdvisor cut its usual 10 to 12 minute dry to seven or eight. Both note a short cord, and TechRadar misses a separate cool-shot button and a hanging loop.

Strengths
  • — Dried damp, thick, medium-length hair in just under seven minutes on its highest setting in TechRadar's test
  • — Cut TechAdvisor's usual 10 to 12 minute dry to seven or eight minutes, with no static or frizz
  • — Light at 0.89lb/407g without the cable, per TechRadar and TechAdvisor
Watch-outs
  • — Short 1.8m/5.9ft cord, flagged by both TechRadar and TechAdvisor
  • — No separate cool-shot button and no hanging loop, per TechRadar
  • — TechRadar found it quiet, but not as quiet as promised
$169.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Drybar Buttercup

Slower and less powerful than the Dyson Supersonic and Shark HyperAIR HD120, and without the styling versatility of the Shark FlexStyle HD440, but lighter and more blowout-focused than the budget Conair InfinitiPro 1875W with a more salon-style finish.

Laifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer

TechRadar timed the Dyson Supersonic at four and a half minutes on the same hair the Laifen Swift dried in just under seven, so the Dyson is faster, but TechAdvisor weighed the Swift at 407g against the Supersonic's 560g. Unlike the Conair InfinitiPro 1875W it uses a high-speed brushless motor with magnetic attachments.

Specs side-by-side

SpecDrybar ButtercupLaifen Swift High-Speed Hair Dryer
Wattage1875W—
MotorIonic110,000 RPM brushless
Heat Settings6 (heat/speed combinations)Three plus auto-cycle
AttachmentsNarrow and wide concentratorsMagnetic styling nozzle (diffuser and extra nozzle in the Swift Special bundle)
Weight510 g (about 1.1 lb)0.89lb / 407g without cable
TechnologyIonic, frizz-reducing—
Voltage120V—
Dimensions10 x 4.5 x 12.5 inches; 3.33 pounds15.35 x 7.56 x 6.46 inches; 2.93 pounds
Power—1600W (TechRadar)
Airflow—22m/s (TechRadar)
Speed Settings—Two
Cord Length—1.8m / 5.9ft
Cool Shot—No separate button
← See the full ranking of best fast-drying hair dryers