Glenn Kelly puts three hairdryers to the test to find out if the cost really reflects quality.
If you are a bit of a hair trend-setter, or a follower of your favourite celebrity's coiffure, you will require a few pieces of equipment to make your dream hairdo a reality.
A colour-protecting shampoo, perhaps? Check. A conditioner that will have your locks silky smooth? Got it. A hair dryer that does everything you want and makes your hair catwalk-ready? Well, here's where this review comes in.
For those interested in achieving a salon look, long gone are the days when a simple power switch was enough to do the trick.
Nowadays, fashionistas demand a number of features that a hair dryer must possess. Preservation of the hair is crucial. We don’t want to be blasted by air that seems to have erupted right out of Mount Vesuvius and will turn your strands into singed straw, or damage the shine and moisture you have worked so hard to achieve.
To get the best results, you will still need controlled power and ideally come with accessories that can both tame the frizz and smooth to perfection.
To help you decide, I have gathered three hairdryers from the top, middle and lower end of the budget spectrum to see which is best and to find out if it really is necessary to spend more for the ultimate blow dry.
Dyson Supersonic r™ hair dryer
€549.99 – Currys.ie
Likes
- Fast drying
- Comfortable to hold
- Accessories for all hair types
- Temperature monitored
- Not too loud
Dislikes
- Expensive
- Takes a bit of getting used to in the hand
If you are in the market for a premium hairdryer, look no further than the latest offering from chief technology inventors, Dyson.
Being a bloke with short back and sides, I enlisted the help of my daughter for the testing of the products. She has beyond shoulder-length hair that is straight and relatively fine.
From opening the box, everyone was impressed with the packaging and goods on display. The Supersonic came with five attachments as standard, including flyaway, concentrating, smoother, power and gentle nozzles, which offered more than enough choice.
First up, the Supersonic was easy to use, with well-placed power and heat buttons high up on the front, with "cool shot" on the rear within easy access. The shape of the dryer does take a bit of getting used to with its cylindrical shape if you have never had a Dyson before, and it almost feels like a heavier empty kitchen roll, but it is the lightest dryer ever made by the brand.
However, after a few minutes, I found that I was used to it. In fact, it was so efficient that a few minutes was all I needed. A few seconds short of five minutes was all it took to dry my daughter’s wet hair after a bath, a phenomenal performance. This was no doubt thanks to the Dyson Hyperdymium motor, which spins up to 110,000rpm, propelling high velocity airflow.
Despite the high power onboard the dryer, it never got unruly in terms of noise. Modern machines nowadays appear to emit a higher-pitched hum at a lower level than their more budget-friendly counterparts.
I was also impressed with the temperature control of the unit. The dryer never gets hot to the touch, and whilst you have full control over heat settings, you are reassured that the motor is constantly calculating the heat output to ensure hair is not damaged, something particularly important when using it on kids’ hair.
Overall, I was extremely impressed by the machine, its ease of use, with simple changing of accessories, and also its long cord for ease of access. A premium price, but a premium product.
Shark SpeedStyle Pro 3-in-1 High-Velocity Hair Dryer
€209.99 – Arnotts.ie
Likes
- Fast drying
- Compact
- Good value
- Looks premium
Dislikes
- May be too small for some hands
- Still costly for some
- Odd position of the power button
- Could be less efficient for those with thick hair
My slightly less expensive pick is from tech-savvy firm Shark, with their Speedstyle Pro offering.
Priced just north of €200, it certainly isn’t cheap, but with a number of similar features to the Dyson and under half the cost, I still believe this offers great value.
Like the Dyson, the Shark greets you upon opening with a variety of accessories to get the style of your hair just right, and the look of the unit itself screams premium.
It has a lovely, detailed look with curves carved out of the main head, and it looks every bit a €200 hair dryer. The build quality is also superb, and like most Shark products I have tested over the years, it looks like this is another that is built to last.
The unit itself is extremely compact. It is also light, weighing under 375g, and this makes it ideal for packing in your bag to take away for a weekend trip.
The Shark dried very effectively too, completing the job just nine seconds slower than the Dyson. A credit given the size difference and price points. The narrow aperture really concentrates a blast of air, and it isn’t too noisy either, very similar to the Dyson in fact.
The Speedstyle Pro also has frequent monitoring of temperature, and at no point did I feel the unit heating up excessively. The cooling button also assists this.
On the downsides, I felt the location of the power and control buttons at the bottom of the unit quite strange and would much prefer these at the top, which allows easier functioning while the dryer is in use.
The narrow, powerful design is also a double-edged sword. It was fine for my daughter’s straight, fine hair, but its lack of width may be troublesome to those with thick or curly hair who may require a wider spread of air to prevent a long session drying.
However, negatives aside, the Shark is a highly accomplished performer that, I feel, merits the price.
Tresemme Fast Dry 2000
€22 – Tesco.ie
Likes
- Budget-friendly
- Compact
- Powerful
Dislikes
- Hot
- Lacking in features
- Noisy
For those on a lower budget, you could do a lot worse than the Tresemme Fast Dry 2000.
This dryer costs little more than €20, sometimes even less if you can find it on sale, and for that bargain price, you get a powerful 2000-watt motor that blows a significant waft of air in your direction as it does its thing.
Drying time was nine minutes in my test, so somewhat behind the two more expensive models, understandably, but by no means shameful. Its compact size is great for bringing on a trip and will certainly best those nasty integrated dryers you often get in hotel bathrooms.
Unfortunately, there are a few downsides to the Tresemme. Firstly, this thing can get quite hot. There are "cool" settings, but inevitably, you will need the heat turned up to save time in the drying process and in doing so, I found that the handle and motor area became hot to the touch, so I had to be careful not to come into contact with my daughter's head when drying.
The dryer comes with a concentrator accessory, which does the job, but you won't find anything fancier in the box. Also to note is that this machine is noisy.
Early morning usage can create tensions and arguments in the house between siblings and spouse alike, particularly if one or the other is trying to enjoy a weekend lie-in - this is based on lived experience!
However, for €22, this dryer does the basics well and is great for a backup.
Final thoughts
Having looked at and used the three hair dryers above, should you rush out and buy the cheaper Tresemme? Save up for the Shark? Or ask Santa for the Dyson.
Well, the decision will come down to your budget and how obsessed you are with achieving the perfect hairdo.
The Dyson is the best overall dryer in my opinion. It is the quickest to dry (marginally), is the easiest to use and most comprehensive accessories, and it is well matched up to the app.
It is easy to hold and control, and leaves your hair feeling sleek with its ongoing temperature control. But it is expensive, and that will make it out of the reach of many people in the market for a new dryer.
Thankfully, that is where the Shark comes in. At under half the price of the Dyson, it fills the void of those wanting to have a premium dryer but without the high price. Yes, it is still expensive, but it is good value for money. It is extremely well made and only slightly less quick to dry than the Dyson.
It also comes packed with accessories. On the downside, I found the buttons to be in a fiddly location, and some of the accessories don’t quite work so effortlessly.
Finally, the Tresemme. Testing this unit against the other two might not seem fair given the vast price difference, but it shows how far these items have progressed over the past few years. It is limited in its capabilities and gets too hot. However, it is quite powerful and is a great choice for holidays at a bargain price.
So, the choice is yours. None of these hair dryers will fail to do what they are expected to, which is drying your hair. But depending on how deep your pockets are, it can be said that more expensive does mean better on this occasion.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
