I tested this Dyson dupe on my thick curly hair — and I'm genuinely impressed

If you have curly hair, you'll know that finding the right hair dryer isn't just about speed or price. It's about trust.

Trust that your waves and coils won't emerge from a drying session looking like a frizzy cloud, that your arms won't ache from holding a heavy appliance above your head for twenty minutes, and that the heat blasting your strands isn't undoing the curl pattern you've worked to protect.

Dreame has been steadily building a reputation as a serious player in the hair tool space, and the Glory is arguably its most well-rounded dryer yet. It promises powerful airflow, ion technology, a featherlight build, and precise temperature control — and for the most part, it delivers.

For thick, dense hair types, drying time is always the enemy, and while Dreame's claim of a 2-minute dry (based on testing in a controlled environment) didn't line up for me, the Glory still makes a real, noticeable dent compared to a standard dryer

It also looks the part. The finish makes it feel considerably more expensive than it is and it's the kind of dryer I wanted to display rather than tuck away in a drawer.

Dreame Glory: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A lightweight, high-performance hair dryer with ion technology, four temperature modes, and magnetic attachments
• Who is it for? Anyone with thick, curly, or frizz-prone hair who wants faster drying, real heat control, and a dryer light enough to handle more involved styling techniques
• What does it do well? Powerful airflow, impressively quiet operation, a genuinely light build, and leaves hair smooth, shiny, and frizz-free
• What are its weaknesses? The cord is on the shorter side, and the diffuser attachment can feel slightly wobbly during more vigorous styling

Dreame Glory: Specs

Dreame Glory: Price & availability

The Dreame Glory Hair Dryer costs $94 in the U.S., £89 in the UK, and AU$299 in Australia. To be frank, a hair dryer at that price delivering this kind of performance is impressive.

The Glory sits in that sweet spot where the price feels accessible without the product feeling cheap, and when you stack it up against the Dyson Supersonic, the value case makes itself pretty quickly. You're getting ion technology, multiple heat modes, and a seriously powerful motor for a fraction of what Dyson asks for the privilege.

For curly hair owners specifically, it's worth noting that it ships with both the concentrator nozzle and diffuser. The Glory is available through Dreame's website and Amazon in most markets, though checking availability is always a must.

Dreame Glory: Design

Pick up the Dreame Glory and the first thing you notice is how light it is. For those who spend ages hovering the dryer over sections, flipping it upside down, working side to side — that lightness is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade. Arms tire. Wrists ache. The Glory takes the edge off both, and its slim, compact shape means you can get into tricky angles without fighting the dryer to do it.

Controls are straightforward and easy. A sliding switch on the handle moves between Low and High speed, making it simple to use mid-style without shifting your grip. Temperature modes cycle via a button on the rear, which takes a little getting used to, but you quickly learn to navigate by feel.

The magnetic nozzle attachments click into place satisfyingly and swap out easily — a small but genuinely appreciated detail if you're switching between the concentrator and diffuser mid-session.

Dreame Glory: Performance

This is where the Glory earns its rating. The combination of strong airflow and ion technology does something you can actually see and feel — less frizz, more defined curls, and hair that looks healthy rather than heat-blasted.

Ions work by smoothing the hair cuticle and reducing static, and for curl types that puff up at the first sign of humidity, that difference is real and lasting.

The four temperature settings give you genuine flexibility. The 57°C Constant mode is the workhorse. It's warm enough to dry efficiently without overdoing the heat, which makes it ideal for more fragile curl patterns.

The Hot/Cold Cycle, which alternates between bursts of warm and cool air, took a little longer than I liked, but it made made my hair noticeably smoother and gave it a healthier-looking finish over time. And the Cold mode is brilliant: an actual cool blast that sets styles, locks in curl definition, and meaningfully extends how long your hair holds its shape throughout the day.

Then there's the noise, or rather the lack of it. The Glory is strikingly quiet for how powerful it is. I was able to hold a conversation at normal volume while using it, which is a game-changer when you've spent years shouting over a standard dryer.

Dreame AirStyle Pro review: The Verdict

👍 Thumbs up

Surprisingly quiet. Coming from a regular dryer, the difference in noise is immediately noticeable — calmer, less fatiguing, and genuinely more pleasant to use.

Lightweight enough to change how you style. Techniques that would leave your arms burning with a heavier dryer feel comfortable and manageable here. It makes a real difference across longer sessions.

Exceptional value against the big names. You get all the features that matter: ion technology, multiple heat modes, and a powerful motor without the premium price tag that usually comes with them. It's the kind of upgrade that doesn't require a deep breath before checkout.

👎 Thumbs down

The cord is a little short. At 1.8m it's workable, but if your mirror isn't close to a socket you'll feel the restriction. A little more length would go a long way.

The diffuser can feel slightly insecure. The magnetic attachment system is great overall, but the diffuser occasionally has a subtle wobble during more enthusiastic styling. It won't detach, but a more confident click would be reassuring.

It's worth noting that I had a similar gripe with the Dreame Airstyle Pro (though that was considerably more pronounced), so this may just be something to get used to across the Dreame range rather than a Glory-specific issue. Either way, it's a minor niggle rather than a dealbreaker.

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!