The 2,000W motor is powerful enough to dry hair fast and with a minimum of fuss, and the dryer comes with a concentrator nozzle to direct airflow. The long barrel also helps make it easy to direct airflow where you want it, and there are two speed and three heat settings for drying flexibility, plus a cool shot to set your finished style. If you’re on a budget, this is an excellent alternative to some of the pricier products reviewed above. Be careful not to let the nozzle touch your hair. Hold it a few millimetres away to protect your hair from damage and breakage, plus you will get a smoother result that lasts longer.' Always angle your hair dryer down the hair shaft even when you want to create body. This action smoothes hair cuticles giving you healthier and shinier hair.' The Nanoe also has an innovative alternating hot and cold mode, which blasts hot air along the hair shaft to flatten and style, followed automatically by cool air to seal the cuticle and set the style. A scalp mode gently dries the roots and scalp at 50˚C, and is particularly good for dry and sensitive scalps. The dryer is lightweight and has a foldable handle, making it neat to store at home and perfect for travel. Some models come with a concentrator nozzle, designed to make it easier to direct the airflow accurately onto a section of hair. These nozzles are great if you blow-dry around a round brush for a salon-style blowout.

The cold air setting can also be used to effectively spread anti-humidity, shine or hair sprays through the hair, offering different finishes, textures and results. Do you need a hair dryer with ionic technology?No nozzle:'This is best for hair that is naturally smooth and sleek and achieves a natural result with texture and body.' When testing, we time the speed of drying from freshly washed hair to fully dry (noting the hair length and texture we test on); and evaluate the overall ease of use, noise, and the finish and feel of the hair after drying. Using equipment such as anemometers, infrared heat sensors and sound level meters allows us to directly compare the speed, heat and noise levels of different dryers. We also note how well curls, waves and straight styles last in a typical day of wear. Finally, we confirm the weight and dimensions of the tool. Despite the smaller number of settings, it’s the drying power that sets the Helios apart from the rest: the 2,200W motor rivals the Dyson Supersonic in its drying time and ability to deliver a frizz-free finish, which is no easy feat for a hair dryer that costs half the price. That’s thanks to GHD’s AutoPrecis technology creating a blast of focused air that travels at 75mph, as well as the concentrator nozzle that precisely directs airflow for a smooth blow dry. It comes with a brilliant range of features, which include two speeds, three heat settings and a cool shot button. These give it enough control for controlled round-brush styling, as well as gentle diffusing. Pair this with the diffuser and concentrator nozzle that securely clip onto the front of the dryer, and you’ve got a relatively faultless dryer that is a great option for a wide range of hair types and textures.

Key specs – Heating element: Ionic; Temperature settings: 4; Power: 1,600W; Speed settings: 3; Cable length: 2.7m; Cold shot button: Yes; Accessories: Concentrator, diffuser and smoothing nozzles; Weight: 690g The Keratin Protect is a slim, sleek-looking dryer that doesn’t weigh an awful lot, and its cable is long enough for even the largest of bedrooms. The minimum wattage I recommend is 1800 W as anything below this will struggle to give you the power you need for a successful blow dry,' advises Burnett, 'most professional hair stylists will use a hairdryer with watts ranging from 2100w to 3600w.' Is it important to have a cool setting on your hair dryer? Key specs – Heating element: Ionic; Temperature settings: 3; Power: 2,200W; Speed settings: 3; Cable length: 3 metres; Cold shot button: Yes; Accessories: Concentrator nozzle; Weight: 768

The main bit of praise I have for this dryer is that it really does help to keep excess frizz to a minimum –and I say that as someone with a naturally curly hairstyle that is very prone to frizz. When I dried my hair using the concentrated nozzle it yielded a nice smooth finish, even when I dried it somewhat roughly to then style using other tools later on. Yes. Low-budget dryers might not use up-to-date ionic technology, so this will slow down the blow-drying time and limit the control you have. They also often have too wide nozzles, making it impossible to control fly always.' Do hair dryers damage your hair?

Invest in a good quality dryer, heated styling tools and the right styling products and remember hair health should be your main priority. Healthy hair is easy hair!' Overall, with the GHD Helios, you can expect your hair to be dried in record time with natural volume, stunning shine and a smoothness like no other. Its price point places it firmly in the premium hair dryer category, but it’s an investment your hair will thank you for.The magnetic concentrator and diffuser attachments fit on, and can be removed, without too much force; the magnets also mean the attachments stay put while drying instead of turning and moving. Other features of the Supersonic include flexible speed and heat settings, and thermal sensors to prevent the unit or attachments getting too hot.