Checklist

Using a diffuser

Here's what to consider when you're choosing a hairdryer.

• A hanging loop lets you hang the dryer on a hook, away from wet bathroom surfaces.
• Separate switches for heat and air-flow give you more control than a single (combined) switch does. Fast-flow high-temperature settings are useful for quick drying; but slower cooler settings on slightly damp hair are best for styling.
• Cool shot helps set the style in place.
• A concentrator focuses the stream of air on a particular section of hair.
• A diffuser (volumiser) gives volume to fine hair and to curly or permed hair without making it frizzy. This should only be used on the lowest setting.
• Ionic hairdryers produce negatively charged ions which, the manufacturers say, reduce static and frizz leaving hair shiny and smooth. A test by the UK consumer organisation Which? found that the ionic function reduced microscopic signs of hair damage … although it also found that drying your hair on low power and low speed achieved the same effect.

Concentrator

Buying tips

• Pick up the hairdryer in the shop, to test its weight and balance. Remember that holding a hairdryer for any length of time can be tiring.
• Check the controls: they should be accessible and easy to operate.
• For precision drying, make sure the dryer has a concentrator.