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

Drybar Buttercup vs Dyson Supersonic

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

The short answer

Dyson Supersonic comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.7). The gap is mostly about Shoppers who want the fastest, most refined everyday blow-dry and will pay a premium for the lightest, quietest, best-balanced tool. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Fast-Drying Hair Dryers

Drybar Buttercup

4.4

$199as of Jun 7

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 and quiet, but reliability is the asterisk: a notable share of owners report units failing or overheating over time. Best for people who want a professional blowout feel at a mid-tier price.

Strengths

— Scored 76/100 in TechGearLab testing, with airflow rated 'quite fast, particularly at their higher settings'
— 1875W ionic motor delivers smooth, frizz-free blowouts that Drybar says take 20% less time than most pro dryers
— Light in the hand at just over 500g, making long blowouts comfortable

Watch-outs

— A meaningful number of customer reviews report units failing, overheating, or getting loud after months of use
— More expensive than budget dryers that dry nearly as fast
— No smart sensors or auto presets; it is a straightforward manual dryer

$199 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Fast-Drying Hair Dryers

Dyson Supersonic

4.7

$355.69as of Jun 7

The Dyson Supersonic is the benchmark fast-drying dryer and the dryer most others are measured against. TechGearLab scored it 86 out of 100, the top mark in their test group, praising its powerful, well-controlled airflow and handle-mounted motor. It is not always the single fastest in raw minutes, but its combination of speed, low heat damage, balance, and quiet operation is unmatched. The price is the only real barrier.

Strengths

— Highest-ranked dryer in TechGearLab's lab testing (86/100), with airflow that cut drying time roughly in half versus a standard dryer
— Digital V9 motor sits in the handle, so the tool is exceptionally well-balanced and light on the wrist during long blowouts
— Intelligent heat control measures air temperature many times a second to keep the dryer from scorching hair

Watch-outs

— Among the most expensive consumer hair dryers on the market at around $430
— In one head-to-head test it took 30 minutes to fully dry thick hair versus 20 for the Shark HyperAIR, so it is not always the literal fastest
— Replacement and accessory costs are high, and the proprietary attachments do not fit other brands

$355.69 · Check Price on Amazon Full 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.

Dyson Supersonic

Faster and quieter than the Conair InfinitiPro 1875W and substantially better controlled, but the Shark HyperAIR HD120 matched or beat its raw drying time in one direct test at half the price. Against the Shark FlexStyle HD440, the Supersonic wins as a pure dryer while the FlexStyle wins on built-in styling.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Drybar Buttercup	Dyson Supersonic
Wattage	1875W	1600W
Motor	Ionic	Dyson digital motor V9 (handle-mounted)
Heat/Speed Settings	6 (heat/speed combinations)	—
Cool Shot	Yes	—
Attachments	Narrow and wide concentrators	Flyaway, styling concentrator, diffuser, smoothing nozzle, gentle air
Weight	1.78 lbs	1.8 lbs
Cord Length	105 in (8.75 ft)	8.7 ft
Technology	Ionic, frizz-reducing	—
Heat Settings	—	4 (incl. constant cold shot)
Airflow Settings	—	3
Heat Control	—	Measures air temp 40x per second

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