If you have read a few of my other reviews, if you've learned nothing else you might have got the impression that I'm really quite lazy about a lot of things. My hair being one. Until quite recently I had really long hair, and its length usually reflects whether or not I can be bothered to go get it cut.

Now for some reason, I didn't have a hairdryer, I would always just let it dry naturally. I guess in my bone idle state of mind I told myself that it was better for my hair, less heat damage and all that. Here's the really weird part...due to my work patterns I'd often either go to bed with wet hair (yuck) or tie it back wet and go to work...and yet it never occurred to me to BUY A HAIRDRYER!

Anyway, when my mum found out I didn't have one she was horrified, and slightly confused as was I as to why I didn't just buy one if it bothered me so much to have wet hair at annoying times of day. So on Christmas this was a very welcome present!


DESIGN AND FEATURES
The Babyliss 2000 is, quite unsurprisingly, a 2000 watt dryer. I quickly checked out other dryers online (due to my complete ignorance) and this seems to be standard of pretty decent competing models. It has two heat/speed settings, and "heat balancing ceramic techology". This and the "slim concentrator nozzle" promise to be beneficial for straight styling. Can you tell that this is really all Greek to me? The dryer weighs 0.42kg which is pretty light and comes with a three-year guarantee.

I think it looks quite nice, I mean hairdryers are never going to be the prettiest of things but the dome at the end is electric blue which I really like. It's not too bulky and has a "hanging loop" on the handle, although I really cant see anyone trying to hang it from this. I'm not sure what hook is going to fit through it easily enough for you to be able to get it back off again. Babyliss seem proud of it though and boast it on the box.


PUTTING IT TO THE TEST
My hair is currently just past shoulder-length but very thick. I was able to dry it in five minutes, and this from me, a rookie hairdryer user! I prefer to use the concentrator nozzle and it actually really did help to make my hair straighter. Obviously it would be a lot better if I had run the GHDS over it (I know, they are totally wasted on me) but that's a little too much effort. Baby steps. I'm not always happy to wear my hair down unless I've straightened it since the hairdresser did a crappy job last time and, guess what, I WAS TOO LAZY TO GO BACK AND GET IT REDONE, but it actually looked really nice. Result!


I found the dryer light to use and at the highest heat setting it wasn't so hot I could feel it burning my head! Best of all it is very quiet even at the highest setting.

My one quibble is that the cord isn't all that long, definitely shorter than on my GHDs. I couldn't reach the mirror which isn't a huge problem for me, but if you're wanting to style your hair and like to see what you're doing, unless you have a mirror near a plug you might not like this!


VERDICT
I'm really glad I got this dryer. Obviously, any would have improved my situation but I'm really happy with this model. If it can dry my hair in five minutes and make it look sleeker and straighter, I can't really see anything to complain about. I'm a reformed character, and perhaps one of my New Year's resolutions should be to make more effort with my hair!


PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
You can pick the Babyliss Turbo Dry 2000 up at Argos for £11.69. I feel this is pretty good value, especially as it comes with a three-year manufacturer's guarantee. There is also a version for curly hair, with an extra attachment, which sells for £14.69. I believe you can buy Babyliss dryers at Wilkinsons as well and most likely department stores/larger chemists too.