Laifen was founded in 2019 by Hongxin Ye, and the company's own history starts with a motor. The brand says it independently designed and manufactured a high-speed brushless motor capable of 110,000 rpm, and that motor powered the LF01, its very first dryer, in 2020. Laifen also says its products are in more than five million households and that one-third of its employees work in R&D, which are brand claims, not my numbers.

That 110,000 rpm figure matters because it is the same one Dyson's Supersonic advertises. TechRadar's 2023 comparison noted that both dryers also have magnetic attachments, which is why people line them up. What Laifen offers is a similar idea in more shapes. There is a standard dryer, a Lite version, a travel set with a bag and a Mini.

If you are new to high-speed dryers, here is what changes. The air comes out in a narrower, faster stream, so hair dries quickly with less heat on the strands. Less time under heat is the appeal for fine or color-treated hair, and a faster dry is the appeal for anything thick.

The first grid is eight dryers, five of them Laifen and three from rivals. The second grid is heat protectants, hot brushes and one salon dryer. My tip: always use a heat protectant, even with a fast, lower-heat dryer, and keep the nozzle a few inches off your hair.

Laifen SE is the 1400 watt high-speed dryer, and Laifen SE Lite is the one that comes with a single nozzle, in purple, pink or taupe. Laifen SE2 comes with three magnetic nozzles. If you do a lot of different styles, the extra nozzles are what I would look at, because the magnetic attachments swap quickly.

Laifen Swift Premium is the 1400 watt dryer with a travel bag and two magnetic nozzles, in blue. It is the one that gets compared to Dyson. Laifen Mini is the compact one with a bag and one magnetic nozzle, in green. New Beauty reported it launching January 5 with the same 110,000 rpm brushless motor, and it is the one for a gym bag or a weekend trip.

The three rivals are a different kind of tool. Shark Beauty FlexStyle is a dryer and multi-styler in one, so it suits straight and wavy hair when you want to dry and shape together. The T3 Aire IQ is a smart dryer that adjusts heat and airflow to your hair texture and the attachment, and a stand is included. Bio Ionic Smart-X comes with a diffuser, and the brand says it dries hair 75 percent faster than leading competitors. That is a brand claim, so I would treat it as a direction, not a promise.

What I would skip: the Mini as your only dryer if you have thick or long hair. It is small by design, so it will take longer.

A fast dryer is only half the routine, so start with the protectants. Moroccanoil Perfect Defense is a weightless dry spray that protects against hot tools. Bumble and bumble Heat Shield is a mist that also cares for damage and reduces frizz, and Drybar Hot Toddy leaves a smooth, satin finish. Ceremonia Guava Rescue is a four-in-one spray that detangles and protects from UV and heat, and JVN Complete Instant Recovery is a leave-in serum for ultra-damaged, over-processed hair.

I would pick by finish. Moroccanoil is the lightest, Drybar is the smoothest, and JVN is the richest.

For styling, there are two hot round brushes. Mane It's Giving Body is a thermal brush with one 355 degree temperature, and BondiBoost's heated round brush uses infrared technology for volume and bounce. These are for the blowout look after the dryer has done the hard part.

ghd Helios is the salon-style dryer in this edit. Its 1875 watt motor, ionic technology and finish in half the time are the brand's claims, and it suits all hair types.

What I would skip: a hot round brush on wet hair. Dry to about 80 percent first, then use the brush, which is easier on your hair.

I think Laifen makes the most sense if you want a fast dryer built around its own motor, in a shape for every kind of routine. Choose the Swift Premium if you want the brand's best-known shape, and the Mini if you travel. I would still add a heat protectant from the second grid and keep the dryer moving. A good dryer saves time, and a protectant looks after the hair over the years. Between the two, you can get through a wash day faster without asking your strands to pay for it. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Low Heat, Low Speed and The Dyson Travel Hair Dryer, Ten Years After Project Lion.