Wattage isn’t the only measure of power, however. The latest “digital motors” (EC or Electronically Commutated motors, if you want to be fancy) allow increased air velocity with reduced heat, for amazingly efficient results without the damage associated with higher heat. 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. The Advanced Ceramic coated plates on these super smart straighteners are infused with Moroccan Argan Oil, a natural ingredient renowned for its shine enhancing properties, as well as Vitamin E, conditioners and moisturisers. When heated, these wonder Micro Conditioners evenly emit through the plates and on to your hair. Your tresses will be left looking intensely glossy and in 88%* better condition, softer and straighter. 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.

One of the easiest things to overlook when buying a hair dryer is how long the cable is. Some cheaper models come with relatively short cables, while pricier models often boast “salon-length” mains cables, which are as long as 4m. 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. Micro-Conditioners Enriched with Shea Oil - Micro-conditioners, enriched with Shea Oil are released into the airflow during drying giving you soft, sleek hair every time, you style.

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Shea Oil enriched Micro-Conditioners - The Advanced Ceramic barrel is enriched with Shea Oil to help your hair feel soft and create beautiful looking curls however you choose to style it Ionic Technology - The Shea Soft Hairdryer has been designed with Ionic technology which distributes millions of ions to combat frizz and static. 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 Many high-end hair dryers come with a gamut of fancy features that claim to boost results. The BaByliss 3Q, however, takes the basic features of hair dryers and absolutely nails them, giving you an effortless and fuss-free barnet without overcomplicating things. It has three control switches for speed, temperature, and a cool shot, plus two concentrator nozzles to deliver a good amount of control when blow-drying your hair. 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.

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 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.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. 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. Ultra glossy hair is all over the catwalks at the moment, so to achieve hair that positively shimmers and shines definitely recommend the Shine Therapy Straightener. With its whole host of sheen educing ingredients that Remington has infused in the plates, customers agree that it makes hair 94% smoother* and sleeker 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.