There are some potential downsides, though.
The cord is short and the fact there’s currently no compatible diffuser will frustrate curly haired customers.
It certainly looks cool, but it isn’t the most efficient way to convey information.
The Mini comes with a concentrator and carry bag
Those frustrations aside, this is a very strong addition to the Laifen lineup.
That’s the short version read on for my full Laifen Mini hair dryer review.
The new addition still has that streamlined shape with the weight in the handle and a minimal barrel.
It arrives with one styling attachment a concentrator that snaps on and off magnetically.
At 5.9ft / 1.8m, the cable is on the short side.
There’s a rubbery cable tidy for when you want to pack the dryer in its bag.
For reference, most full-sized dryers have a cable that’s around 8.5-10ft (2.5-3m) long.
Controls & modes
Controls are via two switches on the handle.
The second button is used to set the mode.
In terms of attachments, the provided concentrator snaps on and off easily and feels secure in use.
It also works effectively given the scaled-down size.
It’s just a shame there’s no compatible diffuser for curly-haired customers.
Modes in use
Let’s take a closer look at the operation.
You’re also slightly more limited than usual on temperature options.
Most dryers these days will come with three temperature options plus a separate cold shot button.
Here, you just have amedium, hot or coldtemperature mode.
The band around the barrel will glow yellow, red or blue respectively in these modes.
At the same time, the band will gradually transition from pink to red to purple to blue.
It took around two and half minutes to get my hair to 90 per cent dry in this mode.
In comparison, with the Dyson Supersonic Nural’s “auto” mode it takes around two minutes.
A new addition with the Laifen Mini is thechild mode.
Thisisn’ta child lock, but rather a mode designed for drying children’s hair.
I appreciate that Laifen is offering up more than just your standard modes here.
However, I do have a slight issue with the labelling or lack thereof.
Should you buy the Laifen Mini hair dryer?
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value
Mid-range dryer with a some advanced features and a high-quality feel.
4 / 5
Design
Compact and lightweight, with a stylish, modern look.
Cord a little short and controls lack info.
Performance
Comfortable to hold and powerful for a mini dryer.
Various modes all work, although remembering which is which is tricky.
All of these qualities make it a good choice if you’re short on dressing table space as well.
Read our fullDyson Supersonic Nural review
The T3 fit is another lightweight, travel-friendly option.
However, the cable is longer and there’s a compatible diffuser if you want one.
For reference, I have armpit-length, naturally wavy hair.
According to my hairdresser, the strands are fine but there are a lot of them.
I assessed how comfortable it was to use, and how straightforward the controls were.
