Hair dryer holder, stand or hands-free dryer? The honest comparison
You searched for a hair dryer holder because you want to put the dryer down and use both hands. There are three ways to get there. Two of them are accessories you add to the dryer you already own. The third is a dryer that holds itself. Here is how they compare, without the sales pitch until the end.
Why people buy a hair dryer holder in the first place
A holder solves one thing: the dryer stops living in your hand. That matters more than it sounds. Holding 500–700 grams above your head for ten minutes tires your shoulder, it forces you to style with one hand, and if you have a sore shoulder, a wrist in a brace, or you simply want to brush and dry at the same time, it makes the whole routine slower. A holder also keeps the dryer off the sink and out of the drawer.
What a holder does not solve: the dryer still has to be pointed at your hair. Most brackets hold the dryer in one fixed position, so you move your head to the dryer instead of the dryer to your head. That is the difference between "parked" and "hands-free".
The three options side by side
| Wall bracket | Stand / tripod for an existing dryer | HandsFreeDryer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you buy | A bracket or ring for the wall | A stand with a clamp or cradle | A complete 1200 W dryer with its own tripod and wall mount |
| Fits which dryer | Most, if the barrel diameter matches | Depends on the clamp; slim dryers slip, wide ones don't fit | Only itself: it is the dryer |
| Drilling | Usually yes; adhesive versions exist | No | Wall mount: fixed installation. Tripod: no |
| Set the angle | Fixed or one hinge | Limited; the clamp is the weak point | Ball joint: set once, let go |
| Both hands free while drying | Partly: you move to the dryer | Partly: the stand is often too low | Yes: the dryer is aimed at you |
| Travel | No | Bulky | The tripod folds into the travel capsule |
| Typical price | €10–40 | €20–60 | See current price on the product page |
Option 1: a wall bracket for your current dryer
The classic bathroom holder. It is cheap, it keeps the dryer next to the mirror and, if you drill it into tile, it will hold anything. Two things to know before you buy one. First, "no-drill" adhesive brackets carry a light dryer on clean tile and very little else; on painted plaster they let go within weeks, usually at night. Second, a bracket holds the dryer parked. If you switch it on in the bracket, it blows in one direction, at one height, and you bend to it. Fine for a quick fringe, tiring for a full head of hair.
Option 2: a stand or tripod for an existing dryer
A stand with a clamp gets you closer to hands-free drying. The catch is the clamp: it has to grip a barrel that was never designed to be gripped, so slim dryers rotate under their own weight and wide ones do not fit at all. Table stands are also low: you end up seated, leaning towards the airflow, and the cable hangs across whatever you are doing. It works, but it is a workaround.
Option 3: a hair dryer that holds itself, the HandsFreeDryer
The HandsFreeDryer is not a holder for your old dryer. It is a full 1200 W hair dryer, and the tripod and the wall mount are part of the kit, made for it. The dryer clicks on magnetically, sits on a ball joint, and stays exactly where you aim it. You set the angle once and let go. Then you dry with a brush in one hand and your hair in the other, or with both hands free to shape your curls.
- Folding tripod for the vanity, the desk or the hotel room. No drilling, folds into the travel capsule.
- Wall mount for the bathroom. Install it once next to the mirror; from then on the dryer clicks in and out in a second.
- A real dryer in the hand when you want one: brushless motor with more than 100,000 rpm, ionic airflow, four heat settings, three speeds and a cold shot.
- Nothing else to buy. Dryer, tripod, wall mount, travel capsule and cable are in the box. Four anodised colours, same kit in each.
Two-year guarantee, 30 days to return it, free shipping from our warehouse in Europe or the United States.
Which one is right for you?
- You just want the dryer off the sink and you are happy with the dryer you have: a wall bracket, drilled, not glued.
- You want to try hands-free drying for very little money and you own a dryer with a plain, round barrel: a clamp stand, and lower your expectations about the angle.
- You want to dry with both hands free every morning, set the angle once, and travel with it: HandsFreeDryer.
Questions we get about holders and the HandsFreeDryer
Does the HandsFreeDryer wall mount or tripod fit my Dyson, Philips or Babyliss?
No. The mount and the tripod are made for the HandsFreeDryer's magnetic base. The HandsFreeDryer is a complete hair dryer, not an accessory for another one.
Do I have to drill?
For the wall mount, yes: a dryer vibrates while it runs, so we want it fixed. If you cannot drill, use the tripod: it needs no installation and folds away.
Can I still use it as a normal hand-held dryer?
Yes. Pull it off the magnet and it is a normal 1200 W dryer with four heat settings, three speeds and a cold shot.
Is a no-drill hair dryer holder reliable?
On clean tile with a light dryer, adhesive holders often last. On painted walls, or with a heavier dryer, they tend to let go. If you go that route, mount it on tile and wipe the surface with alcohol first.
More answers on the FAQ page.