Abstract: A surface-mounted hair dryer is described which contains a turbine as the motive power for the air flow, incorporates means for minimizing drawing moisture into the unit when it is being used in a humid environment, provides for automatic and positive means of turning the unit on and off and can optionally provide alternate modes of operation including heating of the air to greater or lesser degrees, use of the air blowing feature without the heating or variable speeds of the turbine and resultant differences in air flow rate.