This Old School Hair Dryer Is My Secret Beauty Weapon

The Conair Yellowbird is a powerful corded hair dryer with four speed settings.

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Whether it be all-wood furniture, made-to-last vacuums or durable clothing, they just don’t make things like they used to. I feel most enthusiastic about this sentiment whenever I think of my old school hair dryer , which has been in my possession for nearly 15 years and still functions the exact same as the day I got it.

The canary-hued Yellowbird by Conair , a brand that launched in 1959 , is a bells-and-whistles-free hair tool that does just what it says it will: dries hair with reliable speed. And for someone like myself who typically doesn’t do much else with their hair except for blowouts, that’s all I really need.

Aside from a long life span and a distinctive appearance that screams “not of this era,” the corded dryer features 1,875 watts of power, a professional AC motor and a narrow barrel for increased air pressure. This thoughtful design element could be the reason why it manages to dry my hair so quickly, thus minimizing the amount of time my strands are exposed to potential heat damage.

It has both a heat and cool setting, each one capable of two speeds, and a performance that reviewers are calling “powerful,” “salon quality” and “the best hair dryer ever.” Also according to reviewers, this hair dryer is perfectly compatible with a variety of hair types, including naturally straight, super thick and 4C.

If you do want to achieve a bit more than just a standard blow dry, the Yellowbird does come with a comb-like attachment for rapidly straightening hair while drying, as well as an air-concentrator nozzle, which can be helpful for creating volume at the roots.

It’s unclear how long the iconic yellow dryer has been around for, though eagle-eyed movie watchers will have mostly likely spotted the lemon-colored hair gadg in the 1998 cult film “The Slums of Beverly Hills,” in which Natasha Lyonne ’s character dutifully transports her precious Yellowbird from apartment to apartment, each time she and her eccentric family must move.

Natasha Lyonne starred in the 1998 cult film "The Slums of Beverly Hills."

It’s possible you’ve read all you’ve needed to about this reliable hair dryer that will truly stand the test of time. But in case you haven’t, keep reading to some of the promising reviews ahead or explore other hair dryer options that we’ve reported on in the past.

Promising Amazon reviews:

“If you want to blow your hair straight this dryer is what you need. I use this when I want to get my natural hair straight and not want to use a lot of heat. This is the go-to dryer.” — Amazon customer

“I purchased this hair dryer because it was recommended by my stylist. She told me it is very powerful and dries hair fast. She was right!!!!!” — Annb

“After not owning a hair dryer for years, I needed one after a recent hairstyle change. This one looks and functions just like the ones my mom used in the 80s – so cool and not an over-designed wind-tunnel jellybean thing. As an object it’s just gorgeous, and though I’d probably have chosen a different color given the choice, the yellow is iconic and looks pretty great in person.
In terms of functionality, it’s very solidly built with a heavy plastic and thick, durable cord, and works beautifully – you get a strong, consistent stream of hot or cool air. And as an added bonus, the old-school 1970s switchgear is amazing both in looks and functionality for something that’s still being built.
My hair looks great. My bathroom looks a little cooler than before. I hope they make these old-school gems forever.” — Tag Christof

“ I swear this is the best hair dryer ever. A beautician used this to straighten my hair for a wedding and as soon as I got home I ordered 1. This is my 2nd dryer and I will continue to purchase this. I had to repurchase the dryer because i have a teenage daughter and for whatever reason when she uses my things they seem to break lol. I had my first 1 for 5 years. My hair is super thick and this gets my hair so straight that depending on the look I’m going for I might not have to use a flat iron. 10 out 10 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED” — Taneicia Hawkins

“ Salon quality blow dryer. I love this below dryer! It gets really hot but it will get even 4c hair straight blown out super quickly. It has cool settings as well. I highly recommend this hair dryer.” — Nesha

If the Conair Yellowbird doesn’t meet your needs, take a look at some other hair dryers and tools that stylists (and real people) say work on thick hair .