Hairdryers: How we test
Different hair types require different treatment to get them looking their best, so finding the best hairdryer is not just a question of measuring which one dries the fastest.
Outlet temperature
Temperature probes measure the dryer's heat settings
We measured the air temperature at the lowest and the highest heat settings, to see which hairdryers offered a range of drying temperatures, and the best choice of a cool low heat and hot high heat.
Drying speed
We used a piece of cloth soaked with a known amount of water to calculate how quickly the hairdryers dried at the lowest and the highest settings.
Air-flow speed
We measured the air-flow speed on each of the settings to find the hairdryers that offered the widest range of choices and the most and least powerful setting.
Cool shot
In order to find the cool-shot button that gives the coolest temperature in the quickest time, we recorded the starting air temperature, temperature after 10 and 20 seconds, the lowest temperature reached, and how long the hairdryer took to reach it
Environmental impact
We considered three aspects of the hairdryers that would have an environmental impact:
- Energy use - How much electricity the hairdryer uses on high and low heat settings.
- Packaging – Whether the packaging is excessive or can be recycled.
- Durability - A long-lasting product that does not need to be replaced is better for the environment than one that breaks easily and is thrown away. We tested how well the hairdryer survived when it was dropped from a table and the durability of its attachments.
Noise
Our hairdryers get wired for sound
We measured the actual decibel level of each hairdryer, and also subjectively rated both their loudness and the ‘annoyingness’ of that sound.
Ease of use
We gave each hairdryer to three professional hairdressers who compared how easy they are to operate.
They considered the ease of assembly and using the heat and speed controls, turbo and cool-shot buttons. They also
considered the quality of the hairdryer’s lights, labels and instructions.
The hairdressers were largely in agreement with non-professional users, but they tended to be more accepting of heavier models.
User trial
Our testers braved bad hair days
Thirty-two women and one man bravely volunteered for the possibility of bad hair days when they took part in our 10-week user trial. Each person was given between 5 and 8 hairdryers to try for 2 weeks, or a minimum of 3 dries.
The testers were asked to use each hairdryer as normal, and to try all its attachments and features such as ionic buttons.
They completed a questionnaire detailing how they found the hairdryer to use, how it made their hair look and feel, and whether they were able to create a hairstyle that they’d be happy with for everyday, and also whether they could get their hair looking its best.