14 best hair dryers for every type of hair, tested by a panel of 350 women

Dry hair, already?! The BaByliss proved super-speedy in action, meaning you won’t have to hog the mirror at the gym for too long. Our panel found it comfortable to hold and manoeuvre around their heads, leaving long-lasting results.

It took a while to reach its maximum temperature in the lab, but it left our testers with softer and shiner strands.

You may want to drop some not-so-subtle birthday hints about this one. It’s certainly at the top end of what we’d be prepared to spend on a hair dryer; however, having tested it, we can attest to the Dyson Supersonic’s greatness.

The blade-less design constantly monitors the temperature to ensure hair doesn’t overheat, and there’s a selection of magnetic nozzles to cater for every hair type. We suggest leaving this link open somewhere someone might see it...

Oh-so-quiet and satisfyingly sleek, the T3 doesn't come cheap but boy does it deliver. The volume booster is our favourite function, which worked a treat, but the extensive heat and speed settings allow complete personalisation, whatever your hair type. Well-balanced, with a slim handle, the testers couldn’t have been happier with their soft, shiny hair.

Yes, prolonged use of hair tools can damage our tresses, but this dryer seemed to do the opposite. Impressively, our testers said their locks looked healthier, softer, smoother and less frizzy after using it.

Those with afro hair were delighted by how effectively it straightened their hair and appreciated the cool shot function for keeping natural curls frizz-free. Most found it comfortable to hold but — minor niggle alert! — its long nose was quite tricky to angle.

It’s never been easier to toss your hair dryer into your gym bag and dash out the door than with this compact styler. Compact and lightweight, it proved comfortable to hold and straightforward to use.

It gave our testers silky-soft, static-free strands but its small size meant it wasn't the most powerful model on test, so drying took slightly longer. Still, if you're a regular traveller, it's unbeatable.

Standing out from the crowd, our testers appreciated this aesthetically pleasing 'bright, eye-catching design' from Hollywood actor Drew Barrymore's hair tool brand.

It got the thumbs up from our testers with curly hair, reducing frizz for them. Those with afro hair were especially pleased with how speedily it dried their 'do, leaving it iron-smooth.

Everyone agreed that it didn’t dry out their locks and wasn’t too bulky to use, and were happy with how much it boosted volume. It gave softer strands, too — essentially, here's a trusty, powerful dryer for under £80.

Want the luxe look without the hefty price tag? This is your guy. Our panel was pleased with the quick drying time, with testers admiring their shinier hair.

It could have been more ergonomic to hold, but nobody needed to so much as a glance at the instructions to figure out how to use it (yes, it's that easy) and its concentrator nozzle helped deliver a sleek, polished finish. It didn't do much for volume but it did leave our testers with improved softness. In short, it's a steal.

ghd’s first ionic hair dryer is still just as impressive as it was when it was first released. It’s super-speedy, compact and light as, er, air.

The concentrator nozzle allows for precise airflow, leaving hair so smooth you may not bother with the brand’s straighteners.

For those with curly hair, a hair dryer with a deep bowl diffuser is a must. This one helped distribute airflow gently and evenly, and there are a further two concentrator nozzles for effective styling.

Using ionic technology, this clever machine has two modes. Press the ‘smooth’ button to emit negative ions, or ‘volume’ to boost body.

Don’t let that strange little mini tank thing put you off — it contains argan oil for spritzing hair as you dry it, leaving your tresses looking hydrated and shiny. Our panel didn’t find it the best at banishing frizz, but it left testers with moisturised, healthy-looking ends and all agreed that it added volume around their roots.

Designed to transform dull, damaged hair into a sleek masterpiece, our panel was particularly impressed with how it eradicated flyaways. The auto-adjusting hot and cold mode was great for afro hair and there’s a gentle scalp setting to protect your skin (it’s a game changer for doing your fringe!) The folding handle also means you could legit pack this one in your gym bag for gorgeous hair on the go.

Similar to the ghd Air (above), albeit a little lighter and even quieter, the Helios is a good-looking machine, with impressively fast airflow for speedy drying. Available in six colours, testers loved the matte body and metallic details, but most importantly, their hair was left soft, shiny and smooth.

Say goodbye to arm ache with our lightest dryer on test. Not only does it weigh next to nothing, it dries hair quickly too, even on the lowest heat and speed setting.

Relatively quiet, given the power, our panel particularly liked the cool shot button, which, unlike most other machines, doesn’t need to be held down to work. The only downside is you may need to do a few extra reps on arm day.

Save yourself some precious minutes in the morning with this speedy rose gold machine. The majority of testers said the powerful airflow dried hair quickly, and the diffuser emphasised curls while reducing frizz. Overall, a well-balanced machine, offering sleek results at a great price.