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

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.

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.