The Philips HP8108 is the entry point into the DryCare range, and the honest description is that it does one job well: light, everyday drying in a body you barely notice holding.

At 1000 W it is the least powerful dryer in this category, and we would rather say so than dress it up. If you have thick or long hair and want it dry in five minutes, the 1200 W BHC015/00 or one of the 1500 W Panasonics will serve you better. If you want something light for daily use, for touch-ups, or to keep permanently in a travel bag, this is the sensible choice — and it costs accordingly.

Two pre-selected settings pair speed and heat in fixed combinations, so you pick an outcome instead of dialling in parameters. There is a cool air setting too, which does double duty: the gentlest possible drying for fine or damaged hair, and a cool finish that helps a style hold as the hair cools.

The narrow concentrator is included and worth using. It focuses the airflow onto one section, which is what turns drying into styling — useful for smoothing a fringe or tidying one area without going over the whole head again.

The handle folds flat, so the whole dryer collapses into a shape that fits a shallow drawer or a packed bag, and the 1.5 m cord reaches comfortably around a bathroom mirror. In stock in Malé.