The Parlux ALYON’s patented Hair Free system traps stray hairs before they enter the motor, increasing the dryer’s lifespan. It also features low profile soft-touch switches and includes two concentrator styling nozzles allowing you to style with freedom. Ionic: These dryers use negatively charged ions to break down positively charged water molecules in hair to cut down on drying time and minimize frizz. Drybar’s tools were specifically created to produce the ultimate blow dry, so we’re excited to see their instantly recognisable buttercup yellow hair dryer in a convenient travel size. This model uses negative ion technology to seal hair cuticles, which produces smoother, shinier-looking hair. Plus, it features an impressive wave heater, which helps to evenly distribute the heat all over the hair, making for an overall faster drying process. Our verdict The Airwrap Complete comes with six attachments that cover almost everything you can imagine doing with your 'do: a dryer attachment that essentially turns it into the Supersonic Dryer (minus the styling nozzles); 30mm and 40mm barrels to create waves of varying degrees of tightness; a round volumizing brush; plus firm and soft smoothing brushes. Standard Features: In terms of features, Michael Dueñas, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Veluer Creative, lists a cool-shot button, adjustable temperature, adjustable airflow, a large mouth nozzle, a slim mouth nozzle, and a diffuser as “must have” features.

A diffuser is key to distributing heat slowly and evenly through curly hair, while variable heat settings and ionic technology will help to protect afro hair from breakages. A cool shot setting will set curls in place, too. How we test

Recommended For You

If you're thinking there's something familiar-looking about this vacuum company's first foray into the hair dryer market... you're probably not the only one. But physical and pedigree similarities aside, the Shark Style iQ Hair Dryer & Styler is no Dyson dupe. The Shark Style IQ aims to merge drying and styling together into one session through two clever attachments. One is an adjustable concentrator nozzle that you can use for both rough and focused drying with a brush, the other is a diffuser with adjustable prongs that can cradle the hair to protect and enhance curls while drying. When testing, we found these both uniquely useful for creating defined styles and leagues above the usual nozzles found in the hair dryer box. Give you — and your hair — the best experience possible whilst travelling, with a specially designed travel hair dryer, tailored to your hair type. As well as three heat and two speed options, there’s a cool shot and a booster button that ramps up the airflow for fast rough drying. We did find this makes the dryer noisier, but not to the extent that we felt the need to apologise to our neighbours. It comes with two styling nozzles and one diffuser – generous considering the price –and yielded a nice daily blow-dry in as much time as you would expect from any dryer. If you have curly hair, yes, a diffuser is a good idea (although some would argue that curly hair types should avoid using a dryer.) Nonetheless, many people find that the air-drying process is neither practical nor enjoyable a lot of the time. Knowing how to use a diffuser will allow you to cradle hair as it gently blow dries, rather than forcing the cuticle this way and that, and destroying your lovely natural movement. Create gorgeous waves and enhance your natural curls with a diffuser or style a straight, sleek and smooth look with a concentrated nozzle. Adjustable heat and speed settings allow you to choose the perfect setting for your hair type and specific needs.

Look for a long cord if you like to hold your hair dryer up to a mirror as you style. Power cords range from less than two metres to almost three metres. Never wind the cable around your hair dryer for storage, as this can damage the internal wiring and create a fire risk. Some hair dryers have a retractable cord. Removable air inlet Anna Kimble, director of events and education at Drybar, recommends spending the most time on your roots (as they usually take the longest to dry), less time on the mid-shaft section of the hair, and the least amount of time on your ends to minimize heat damage. We also advise working in four or more sections to maximize the impact of your blow-dry. Can you explain the difference between ionic, ceramic, and tourmaline hair dryers? Technology that cares for your hair's health is very beneficial, while multiple speed and heat settings, including a cool shot, are key for styling, says ghd's Global Ambassador Adam Reed. "Dry your hair on a low heat and only use the hotter setting for the finishing touches, Once you're done styling, seal the hair using the cool setting for a super smooth look." Extra attachments, like narrow nozzles or the best diffusers and comb attachments, are also pro points. Ceramic: Contain a special ceramic coating to help distribute heat more evenly to hair while avoiding damage.

Products

As a general rule, the more powerful a dryer is, the hotter the element will get and the faster it can blow-dry your hair. However, this doesn't take into account technology, such as airflow concentrators and brushless motors, plus extreme heat causes damage, so bigger isn’t necessarily better when it comes to power. As a general guide, the best hair dryers have more than 1500W of power, though some high-tech options cut this right down. In terms of popularity, hair dryers arguably beat the best hair straighteners as the ultimate hair tool we'd invest in. But with such a wide range of options, from simple, "gets the job done" tools to powerful, high-spec options like the Dyson Supersonic, where do you start? With an incredible 2250 watts of power and a revolutionary K-Advance Plus motor, the Parlux ALYON offers a massive 84m3/h of perfectly aligned airflow. As a result, hair dries faster and also more smoothly, giving a finish that is truly unparalleled.