What is the best soft bonnet hair dryer?

If you’re after portability and easy storage of a soft bonnet dryer, you’re in the right place. Although a hard hat dryer can give you a salon-like experience, they are big, clunky and those table-top ones can sometimes fall in your face. If you’ve had enough of that or just wants something you can easily bring along with you, then getting the best soft bonnet hair dryer is a must.

African-American hair needs particular care when it comes to drying and styling it. Black hair needs a wide tooth comb for detangling and a soft bonnet hair dryer. The latter is probably the holy grail of ethnic hair care to maintain health of black hair. A soft bonnet hair dryer is an effective tool for drying black hair because of its constant, evenly-distributed heat throughout, minimizing the potential for hair damage.

Additionally, they can stretch out natural hair that has tight curls and prepare it for straightening with a flat iron. Soft bonnet hair dryers are inexpensive as well and will last longer if stored properly in a drawer when not in use. If you are looking for the best bonnet hair dryer for black hair, here are five of the best brands that you may to consider:

Gold ‘N Hot GH3984 Ionic Soft Jumbo Bonnet Dryer

The GH3984 from Gold ‘N Hot offers you the option of how much drying power you want for your hair with two settings each for heat and speed. The flexibility of the 40” hose allows you to move around while drying your hair. And the large bonnet gets on over even jumbo-sized rollers conveniently and easily. Plus, this model comes in a case that has a retractable handle for portability and quick storage.

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The bonnet is extra large but you don’t have to worry about it not drying your hair properly if you don’t use rollers. It has a draw string so you can adjust it to fit your head. It’s a compact carry case makes it easy to transport. The only major drawback is that the attachment connecting the hose to the bonnet tends to give out after a few good uses. So if you intend to use it regularly (like weekly or so), I suggest you get the Laila Ali instead. Or if you’re into DIY, you can stuff the hose into the coupling and carefully stitch the coupling in to the bonnet for reinforcement.

Video: Rollerset and dry under the Gold ’N Hot Soft Bonnet Dryer

Andis Professional Bonnet Hair Dryer

Manageable and soft hair is what you get from the Professional Bonnet Hair Dryer from Andis. This model has ionic technology that holds heat for consistent hair drying to reduce heat and frizz. Perfect for use with pin curls, deep hair conditioning treatments, roller sets, and waves. Two settings each for heat and speed give you styling flexibility and the 40” hose can be conveniently stored with its accompanying case.

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Take note that it doesn’t have a cool setting, only low and high. The hose is detachable from the hood making it easy to clean.

If you find it hard to sit still under a hard hat dryer, this is a good alternative. However, despite manufacturer’s claims that its ionic technology helps dry hair quickly, customers have reported longer drying times compared to an average dryer. Thick medium length hair with rollers can take about 40 mins up to 2 hours to dry, taking into account other factors such as hair type.

Conair Soft Bonnet Hair Dryer

Quick and even hair drying comes from Conair’s Soft Bonnet Hair Dryer with its 400 watt power and attachments for two drying options. The four-foot hose is flexible and has an easy-to-follow lock/release system. This Conair model can accommodate jumbo rollers and lets you choose warm, cool, hot, and low for your preferred heat setting. Affordably priced, the Conair Soft Bonnet Hair Dryer can be easily stored.

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A small portable hair dryer for roller sets, it’s very lightweight. Perhaps the only complaint users seem to have is that the heat is not powerful enough. At 400 watts, your average handheld blow dryer (with a wattage of over 1000) is much more powerful than this. For people with thick hair, this may not be for you. However, if you’re looking for gentle heat that will slowly dry your hair, then this is a good choice.

Revlon RVDR5041N1 Intensity Soft Bonnet Dryer

Although most soft bonnet dryers have been proven to do the job, their looks are more equipment than vanity accessories. Not Revlon’s RVDR5041N1 Intensity Bonnet Dryer; this one has the looks of a thin, sleek, miniature case. But don’t let its appeal fool you. This soft bonnet hair dryer has heat, speed, and cool setting and ionic technology design to dry and smoothly style hair without damaging it.

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At 800 watts, this thing can really heat up high so exercise caution when using it. Be sure to put a towel behind your ears and around your neck to protect yourself from burns. On a positive note, you can dry your hair fast with this model. As for the noise level, some find it quite noisy while others say they can watch TV just with the volume turned up.

Hot Tools Professional 800-watt Ionic Soft Bonnet Dryer

At 800 watts, the Hot Tools Professional is “the most powerful” of soft bonnet hair dryers. Its ion technology helps reduce flyaways and bring shine and softness to hair. It has three settings for heat and speed and comes with a large bonnet that can fit rollers of all sizes and allow better circulation of air to quickly dry hair.

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Similar to the Revlon, the Hot Tools gets hot very quickly so it dries hair half the time it takes the other lower wattage models. You have to be mindful when using it though, as the hose can easily detach from the bonnet while in the middle of drying your hair.