The hair dryers we *actually* use

First up, there’s a lot to love about the price of this hair dryer. While it may not have the ‘bells and whistles’ of the others in this list, it does everything you want from a hair dryer, and it does an exceptional job. It has a powerful 2400 watts motor (read: speedy styling) and it uses ionic technology, which means less frizz and more shine.

The review: “For hair dryers, I can’t go past the VS Sassoon range. My current model is the VS Sassoon Super Power 2400 Hair Dryer and I love how light and easy to use it is. It gives you that coveted, shiny 'salon finish' and it’s foolproof to use. With its rose gold-coloured details, it also looks super glam sitting on your vanity. The price tag isn’t bad either.” Isobel Larkin, Beauty Crew’s Beauty Assistant

Cost: $59.95

Using ionic and ceramic technology, this 2400-watt hair dryer is all about creating longer-lasting hairstyles. It releases 90 per cent more ions than Remington's other hair dryers, which results in less frizz and a coveted soft, shiny and smooth finish.

The review: “I love this as it dries my long, thick hair in minutes! I never had the patience for hairdrying until I received this one! It's also incredibly gentle with its ionic technology and helps tame frizz. Plus it looks absolutely gorgeous. Sleek black with beautiful rose gold trim.” Mandy, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $129

The ‘eco’ in the name is due to its low consumption and energy-saving benefits, and the fact that it is made with recyclable materials. But just because it only has a 1420-watt motor doesn’t mean it isn’t powerful. It easily rivals higher-powered hair dryers.

The review: “My favourite hair dryer would have to be the Parlux 1800 eco. It’s powerful enough to dry my hair without frizz, but has a low energy consumption. It’s light to hold. I love that it dries my hair quickly, too.” Dorota, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $149.95

Receiving a full five stars by our Review Crew®, what makes this blow-dryer so good is its digital temperature sensor that ensures a hair-friendly temperature of 70 degrees is constantly maintained. What does this mean? Less damage! It’s also ionic and distributes an airflow at 208km per hour. When used with the diffuser attachment, this hair dryer creates beautiful natural curls - our editor put it to the test and loved the results.

The review: “For a long time I was under the impression that a hair dryer is just a hair dryer, but after using this one for a few weeks I have to say that they aren’t all made equal. Besides being very lightweight, the Digital Sensor Hairdryer is a powerful little tool and I found that it dried my hair incredibly quickly, without leaving it looking fuzzy or feeling coarse and dry. It's a bit more of an investment than most hair dryers, but one I think you’ll be happy with in the long-run.” Carli Alman, Beauty Crew’s Editor

The review: “My hairdryer is without a doubt my most-used hair tool and I use it to create everything from a sleek ‘do to a bouncy blow-dry. And because I use it so often, I need one that’s going to get the job done quickly and efficiently without causing unnecessary damage. The best dryer I’ve come across for the job is VS Sassoon’s Intelligent Digital Sensor Hairdryer. It dries my hair in under five minutes and never exceeds 70 degrees, meaning my locks are kept looking great and feeling healthy.” Kate Niven, Beauty Crew’s Beauty Writer

Cost: $249.95

They make one of the best hair straighteners around, but how does their foray into hair dryers stack up? We reckon it's also up there as the best blow-dryer we’ve ever owned. The 2100 watt motor and ergonomic design makes for a speedy blow-dry, while the ionic technology minimises damage as you style.

The reviews: “This hair dryer is so powerful – it dries my hair SO quickly; it leaves my hair feeling soft not frizzy; and it’s lovely and lightweight to hold. When I want to actually blow-dry my hair and style it (rather than just dry it off), I just pop on the nozzle and turn down the power for a more precise finish.” Chelsea Tromans, Beauty Crew’s Contributing Editor

“Wow, the speed of drying hair with this machine...unbeatable! I have very long hair and air drying it takes about 1.5-2 hours; with this hairdryer, just 3 minutes (without styling). Never have I experienced this before. Hair does not get damaged as it dries hair so fast [without] exposing it to high heat for too long. And the shiny finish stays.” Jovanka, SUPERcrew member

“It's taken me a long time to save up for this but I finally bought a ghd hair dryer and it is brilliant for my dry hair. This hair dryer dries my hair quicker and I can feel the softness in my hair. The maximum heat is not as hot as other dryers that I have so this is wonderful for my hair. It is lightweight to hold.” Mandie, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $220

When Dyson launched this hair dryer, there was a lot a hype around its unique design. And it turns out, it was worthy of the accolades. Even with its hefty price tag. It is a top pick among professional hairstylists and besides its high velocity airflow that allows for a speedy drying time, what it does exceptionally well is it doesn't damage your hair (it does this by measuring the exit flow temperature 20 times per second to ensure it never goes above 150^oC). The fact that the motor is in the handle also makes this hairdryer one of a kind. Oh, and it’s a popular pick for a travel hair dryer - Zoe Foster Blake is a fan.

The reviews: “Besides its futuristic design, I really like that this tool can dry my hair quickly and make my hair look shiny and smooth, even without using the styling concentrator attachment.” Iantha Yu, Beauty Crew’s Beauty Editor

“Although an expensive splurge, the technology behind this hair dryer is really impressive. The design is futuristic and the weighting of the dryer makes it so much easier to dry your hair. The motor is in the handle, making it less tiring on your arms, and the added magnetic attachments are a dream to use.” Felicia, SUPERcrew member

“Dyson Supersonic hair dryer - a real game-changer. It is quicker, quieter and minimises heat damage through temperature controlling technology. The sleek innovative design makes it easy and comfortable to use to achieve professional results and the magnetic attachments are genius! I cannot go back to using a conventional hair dryer!” Carmen, SUPERcrew member

Cost: $499

Now that you have the best hair dryer in your kit, find out how to properly use each of its settings, depending on your hair type. 

What’s your favourite hair dryer? What do you love about it? Share your hair dryer reviews with us below.

Main image credit: Getty