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This hair dryer is so good it’s replaced my Dyson supersonic – and it’s £100 cheaper

There’s something about this beauty gadget that stands out among a sea of samey styling products

Sarah Jones
Thursday 19 October 2023 10:57 EDT
It’s quiet, quick and did an impressive job at taming my post-partum flyaways
It’s quiet, quick and did an impressive job at taming my post-partum flyaways (The Independent)

Not so long ago, the only way to a achieve glossy, voluminous blow dry was to sit in a salon chair for what felt like hours while the pros worked their magic. But now, thanks to an influx of innovative technology, it’s never been easier to replicate your stylist’s bouncy finish from the comfort of your own home.

In recent years it seems like there has been a constant stream of new hair tool launches designed to take all the hard work out of hair styling, which I am all for. While I’m the kind of person who would never leave the house without giving my locks a quick zhuzh, I want it to be exactly that, quick.

The trick here, I believe, is to make sure you’re using the right equipment. After all, “a man is only as good as his tools”, as the old adage goes, and it remains true to this day, especially when it comes to getting salon-worthy hair.

A man who knows this all too well is Michael Douglas, a professional hairstylist who has styled the locks of Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and Yasmin Le Bon (to name a few). With more than 30 years of experience under his stylist tool belt, it’s fair to say that Douglas knows his stuff, which is why the launch of his own haircare brand, mdlondon, really caught my attention.

Taking on the big guns, including Dyson and ghd, of which I am a die-hard fan, is no mean feat but, nonetheless, mdlondon is giving it a good go with its latest range of hair tools. First up is the incredibly lightweight and versatile strait hair straightener (£109, mdlondon.co.uk), which has an impressive 11 heat settings, making it a great buy for almost any hair type. And then there’s the innovative blow hair dryer (£195, mdlondon.co.uk), which, despite its small size, packs a surprising amount of power. As someone who reviews hair tools for a living, it can often feel like I’ve seen and tried it all but there’s something about this brand’s tools that stands out among a sea of samey styling products.

How we tested

(Sarah Young)

Transforming my home into a hair salon, I’ve been testing mdlondon’s hair dryer for the past four weeks to see how it fares against my go-to tool – Dyson’s supersonic (£329.99, Johnlewis.com). For reference, my hair is fairly long and prone to being frizzy with stubborn post-partum flyaways. It’s also bleached, which can make it feel a little lacklustre.

I used the hair dryer every time I washed my hair and assessed the tool on its size, weight and usability, as well as its speed and temperature settings and, most importantly, how well it dried and styled my hair. Keep reading for the full lowdown.

mdlondon blow hair dryer

mdlondon hair dryer.jpg
  • Colours available: Olive green, casal blue and blush
  • Weight: 360g
  • Heat settings: Four
  • Speed settings: Three
  • Attachments: Two nozzles, diffuser (optional extra)
  • Why we love it
    • Lightweight
    • Compact
    • Quiet
    • Adds shine and volume
    • Tames flyaways
  • Take note
    • Expensive

Design

Ever since the launch of the Dyson supersonic, a number of beauty brands have pushed the boundaries when it comes to design and, while many could be accused of just being a gimmick, the T-shaped composition of mdlondon’s blow dryer is about much more than just good looks. That being said, it is a stunning hair dryer, which comes in three Farrow and Ball-inspired hues that will make you want to take it to the nearest B&Q to get colour matched, including olive green, casal blue and blush pink.

The T-shaped design might seem unusual but it actually serves an important purpose as it provides space for the powerful motor and filter. Both the front and back are almost identical in length too, which makes the hair dryer feel well-balanced and comfortable in your hand.

The position of the handle and placement of buttons also make this hair dryer feel super intuitive. The cool shot button is positioned at the top of the handle, while the four heat and three-speed controls and the power button sit flush on the side, making it easy to switch between modes while you’re styling.

Weight-wise, it is incredibly compact and light. Weighing in at 360g (without the cable), it’s notably lighter than Dyson’s supersonic, which comes in at 560g. Don’t be fooled by its small size though, as the blow dryer’s power is boosted by a mighty 1600W motor that uses DC-brushless technology. Essentially, this means there are fewer moving parts inside the dryer, which means less wear and tear, and less energy consumption.

Finally, the dryer comes with two attachments, including one small nozzle and another that’s large and wide. Both connect magnetically to the front of the barrel, however, if you have the olive green version, you get the pro version of the nozzles, which slip over the end of the tool and push in. You can also buy a diffuser as an optional extra for £25.

Performance

My usual hair dryer is the Dyson supersonic, which has become the benchmark against which I assess all other hair dryers. Before testing mdlondon’s dryer, I was sceptical as to whether it would be able to compete given its small size but I was surprised to discover that wasn’t the case at all. It’s quiet, quick and did an impressive job at taming my post-partum flyaways, leaving my hair feeling and looking healthier than ever.

Firstly, the hair dryer is a joy to use as it’s incredibly lightweight, meaning anyone with thick locks won’t be left with an armache mid-styling session. This also makes it ideal for taking away with you, as it takes up very little space. Plus, it’s impressively quiet at just 71 dB, even more so than the supersonic which operates at around 77 db, allowing you to simultaneously hold a conversation or avoid waking up the rest of the house if you’re an early riser.

Despite its compact design, it packs a real punch thanks to the 1600W motor and I found the power to be outstanding. Drying time was speedy, taking just 5 minutes for a rough dry and 15 minutes for a beginner blowout. I also really enjoyed being able to adjust the heat and speed settings, something Dyson’s supersonic lacks. Blasting my hair at the highest temperature can exasperate frizziness, so it was a real treat to be able to take things down a notch, especially when using the nozzles, which help to create a smoother finish. Speaking of which, it was very quick and easy to swap between the attachments when necessary, and they stayed firmly in situ during styling. I was really impressed by the results – my hair was left smooth and soft without much effort at all and I even saw some added shine.

There are a few other key features that make this hair dryer stand out which I have to share. The first is its self-cleaning function. Yes, you read that correctly. Gone are the days of manually picking out dirt, dust and debris, the hair tool does all the hard work for you – simply hold down the cool shot button for five seconds while the tool is off and the motor will automatically reverse for 20 seconds, sucking air in a reverse way and blowing away any built-up grime. The 3m cord length is also super-helpful when it comes to manoeuvrability, as it means you don’t need to stretch to see in a mirror.

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The verdict: mdlondon blow hair dryer

Over the last four weeks, my trusty Dyson supersonic has been stowed away in the back of my wardrobe and, despite the testing period coming to an end, it remains there, having been replaced by Mdlondon’s model for the foreseeable. It has impressed me more than I thought it would. The hair dryer is lightweight yet feels luxurious; it’s compact yet powerful; and it gave my long, sometimes limp hair the shine and volume it needs while also helping to reduce frizz. There’s no denying though that this is a premium beauty buy and, while it might be more than £100 cheaper than its Dyson counterpart, it’s still a hefty price to pay. That being said, I think it’s worth the investment should your budget stretch. Plus, Christmas is coming, so if you’re looking to upgrade your hair dryer, add this one to your wishlist, pronto.

Looking for more recommendations? Read our review of the best hair dryers

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