BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Portofino Dryer

Bottom Line

The BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Portofino dryer is popular among reviewers, but it doesn't fare quite as well in lab tests conducted by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. It doesn't dry hair quite as quickly as other professional brands, and it's on the heavy side, but it does leave hair silky soft. It's the least-expensive professional dryer we found reviewed, so it might be a good starter dryer for someone looking to invest less than $200.

Performance

Leaves hair soft, but slow drying time. The BaByliss is a user favorite, but pros aren't as impressed. While Good Housekeeping's testers -- as well as many Amazon.com and Folica.com reviewers -- say the Portofino dried their hair faster than other dryers, lab tests show its speed is slightly worse than other models tested. On the other hand, many reviewers say it left their hair soft and smooth. Overall, its performance seems about average for a professional dryer, but it is the least expensive pro dryer we found reviewed. The BaBylissPro Portofino comes with a four-year warranty.

Ease Of Use

Weighty for a professional dryer. Many owners point out that this dryer is heavy, but they don't consider it to be a problem. Good Housekeeping testers found that the dryer doesn't get hot to the touch, preventing scalps and hands from getting singed. Testers also found the handle to be comfortable to grip, though one Folica.com reviewer says it can be easy to accidentally press the cool-shot button. The dryer comes with three concentrator nozzles and a diffuser for versatile styling.