We test if new hair dryers can blow the Dyson Supersonic off the top spot

FOR years the Dyson Supersonic has been the best lightweight high-performance hair dryer.

But can a couple of new dryers blow it off top spot? I try them out and compare them to the original . . .

BEAUTY: with Tara Ledden

Flower Ionic Pro Dryer (£79.99, boots.com): Talk about small but mighty – at 2,000 watts, it’s more powerful than either of the pricier options, but it also gets quite a bit hotter, which isn’t great for hair health, though it is a godsend if you’re in a rush.

This pop-art dryer weighs 390g, which is about half the weight of an average hair dryer, and considerably lighter than the Dyson, but the traditional shape means it somehow doesn’t feel as light as it is.

I was surprised by how much I loved the “wind wheel” function, which lets you select the speed on a continuous dial and customise it to the piece of hair you’re drying, as fine hair, fringes and second-day styles inevitably need less power than towel-dried hair.

MD London BLOW Hair Dryer (£195, mdlondon.co.uk): At a tiny 360g, it’s the lightest of the trio, and by far the smallest too.

In fact, it’s smaller than any travel hair dryer I’ve ever seen. It’s quieter as well, so you can hold a conversation at the same time – or avoid waking up the whole house if you’re washing your hair before work.

The barrel is the thinnest I’ve tried, which means you can get closer to the root – and it helps to tame flyaways around the parting, although the design is still top-heavy, which means it takes a while to get used to.

It comes with two smoothing nozzles – one that’s extra-wide so it should make blow-drying quicker, but the diffuser attachment costs an extra £25.

Unfortunately – and I can’t work out why – my blow-dry doesn’t seem to stay put with this dryer, even though it is responsible for Davina McCall’s glossy locks.

Dyson Supersonic hair dryer (£329.99, dyson.co.uk): Disclaimer: I am in a committed relationship with my Dyson Supersonic and have been for about four years, and it’s still by far my favourite.

At 680g it’s a lot heavier than the other dryers, but the weight is mostly in the handle, so it actually feels much lighter when you’re holding it above your head, and results in a much more comfortable blow-dry.

The noise level is on a par with the MD London, but slightly lower in pitch. It comes with five styling attachments, including the magical flyaway attachment, which makes even dull hair look shiny.

And the limited-edition Vinca Blue and Rosé version comes with a travel case, paddle brush and comb too.