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

Drybar Buttercup vs Shark HyperAIR HD120

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

Drybar Buttercup comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.3 vs 3.9). Drybar Buttercup is best for: Shoppers who want a lightweight salon-style blowout dryer and value smooth-finish styling over smart features or the absolute fastest drying. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Drybar Buttercup
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Fast-Drying Hair Dryers
Drybar Buttercup
2 sources$229as of Oct 31

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 →
Shark HyperAIR HD120
Ranked #5 in Best Fast-Drying Hair Dryers
Shark HyperAIR HD120
1 source$204.99as of Oct 4

The Shark HyperAIR HD120 is the value pick for people who care most about raw drying speed. In Reviewed.com's head-to-head it dried hair fully in about 20 minutes against 30 for the Dyson, at roughly half the price. IQ sensors set heat and airflow automatically based on the attachment, which keeps the experience simple. It is heavier and noisier than the Dyson, but on speed per dollar it is hard to beat.

Strengths
  • — In a direct test against the Dyson Supersonic it fully dried hair in about 20 minutes versus the Dyson's 30, making it one of the faster dryers reviewers have clocked
  • — Costs roughly half what a Dyson does while delivering comparable raw drying power
  • — Ionic output reduces frizz and adds shine, and the cool-shot seals the cuticle
Watch-outs
  • — Lacks the acoustic tuning that makes the Dyson notably quieter
$204.99 · 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.

Shark HyperAIR HD120

Matched or beat the Dyson Supersonic on raw drying time in a direct test while costing about half as much. Faster and more powerful for pure drying than the Shark FlexStyle HD440, which trades some airflow for styling versatility, and far quicker than the budget Conair InfinitiPro 1875W.

Specs side-by-side

SpecDrybar ButtercupShark HyperAIR HD120
Wattage1875W1600W
MotorIonic—
Heat Settings6 (heat/speed combinations)3
AttachmentsNarrow and wide concentrators2-in-1 concentrator, styling brush, curl-defining deep diffuser
Weight510 g (about 1.1 lb)—
TechnologyIonic, frizz-reducingYes (negative ion generator)
Voltage120V—
Dimensions10 x 4.5 x 12.5 inches; 3.33 pounds—
Airflow Settings—3
Material—Plastic
← See the full ranking of best fast-drying hair dryers