BaBylissPRO The Portofino Hair Dryer, Italian Motor, 1875W, 4 Attachments

Why it's worth it

This is the salon-counter staple: an Italian AC motor, six heat and speed combinations, a nano titanium ionic generator and a cold shot. It's built to run all day, and if you keep it off the hottest setting, it gives fine hair a proper blowout for a fraction of the Dyson's cost.

The motor is the reason this one keeps going. BaBylissPRO uses a long-life Italian AC motor, the same kind of part that stands up to back-to-back clients in a working salon. AC motors hold their output as they age instead of gradually weakening, which matters more than it seems — a dryer that loses airflow over time quietly pushes you toward higher heat to compensate.

Six heat and speed combinations let you find the setting fine hair actually wants. That's medium heat with high speed, and you need enough granularity to hit it rather than jumping between extremes. Cheaper dryers give you two vague options. Here you can dial in one combination, learn it, and use it every time.

From our review of 5 hair dryers for fine hair, by Sarah Wright, Editorial Associate

What we like

• +The motor is the reason this one keeps going
• +Six heat and speed combinations let you find the setting fine hair actually wants
• +The nano titanium ionic system is aimed squarely at static and flyaways
• +A removable filter keeps it running properly

What to know

• –It's the heaviest pick here, and you'll feel it
• –Nothing protects you from the top setting
• –It looks and sounds like the tool it is