Dyson
Supersonic Hair Dryer
- Bottom Line
-
Based on our testing, this is the fastest drying hair dryer without extreme heat.
- Pros
-
We found that this hair dryer really worked to help give our hair that "salon feel". We also really liked the attachments that it comes with. It decreases the chances of frizz and flyaway hair while drying.
- Cons
-
The attachments tend to overheat a bit.
About the product
We tested the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer and here’s what we found
The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is beloved by hair stylists and beauty obsessives alike. It claims to dry hair faster without causing damage, leaving hair smooth and shiny as a result. However, at $430, the price is quite steep even for a high-end hair dryer.
The BestReviews Testing Lab ventured to find out if this product is worth the splurge by conducting tests focused on all key product claims. We also consulted Irinel De Leon, Dyson Global Styling Ambassador, about the best ways to use each of the attachments.
After trying the Dyson Supersonic, we were very impressed with the quality of the hair dryer and definitely recommend it for anyone who is comfortable splurging on a high-end beauty product.
What is the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer?
Product specifications
Heat Settings: 4 | Wattage: 1,600 | Attachments: 5 | Cold Shot: Yes | Power Source: Corded electric
At first glance, the Dyson Supersonic looks nothing like a traditional hair dryer. Rather than having a short handle and long barrel, it has a long handle and a short barrel. In total, the hair dryer is 9.6 inches long, which might look uncomfortable to hold, but it isn’t. The motor is in the handle, which makes it less top-heavy and easier to hold than a traditional hair dryer.
With 1,600 watts of power, the Dyson Supersonic has four heat and three speed settings, allowing for extensive customization in your blow-dry. Its digital motor spins up to 110,000 rotations per minute, propelling 13 liters of air to the amplifier every second. The Dyson Supersonic has a bladeless design, which will be a relief to anyone who’s gotten their hair stuck in a hair dryer’s fan. Rather than using fan blades to draw in air, it takes in air from all sides, then forces it through the center of the ring in a powerful blast. The result is controlled, high-velocity airflow that leads to a shorter drying time.
To prevent hair damage while drying, the Dyson Supersonic uses intelligent heat control that measures airflow temperature over 40 times per second. It uses negative ions to help reduce static.
The Dyson Supersonic can be used on its own or with one of the five magnetic attachments included. It has four heat settings (ranging from 82 to 212 degrees) and three speed settings. It has a sound level of 77 decibels.
Pros
- Non-damaging: It doesn’t damage hair thanks to special technology that protects hair. It is engineered to increase smoothness and shine while drying hair.
- Fast: It dries hair quickly even on lower heat settings.
- Blade-free design: The design won’t pull in and trap hair while blow-drying.
- Plenty of settings: Three airflow settings and four heat settings allow for a lot of customization to get the perfect combination for your hair.
- High-quality attachments: Five attachments help you find the best product for your hair type. The magnetic attachments stay put and are super easy to attach and remove. They can also be rotated a full 360 degrees.
- Lightweight: At 1.8 pounds, this hair dryer is lightweight and easy to hold.
- Ergonomic: A short barrel allows you to keep the dryer close to your head and causes less stress on the arm. The motor is in the handle rather than the barrel, which also makes it easier to hold.
- Quiet: It’s relatively quiet compared to other hair dryers.
Cons
- Pricey: At $430, this hair dryer is quite expensive even for a high-end model.
- Not suited for international travel: It is not a dual-voltage device. It’s only meant to be used in the country where it is sold.
Who is it for?
This hair dryer is best for people who blow-dry their hair frequently and would like to minimize damage as much as possible. If you’re able to splurge on a luxury item, this is the product we recommend.
How we tested
We tested this product on a reviewer who has fine, thick hair about 22 inches long. The hair was first washed using shampoo and conditioner. After washing, the hair was wrapped in a towel for approximately five minutes to absorb excess water, then towel-dried (using the same towel) while separating the strands with the head upside down.
We sprayed the hair with a few spritzes of Biolage Styling Smooth Shine Milk, a moisturizing product. We combed the product through the hair and parted the hair. We air-dried the hair for about 10 minutes, which greatly cuts down on blow-drying time and leads to less hair damage overall.
Before blow-drying, we sprayed the hair liberally with TRESemmé Heat Tamer Spray and combed the product through the hair to protect the strands from heat damage.
We began with the gentle air attachment on low speed and medium heat. When the hair was about halfway dry, we switched to the Styling concentrator nozzle and finished blow-drying the hair on medium speed and medium heat. Finally, we used the Flyaway attachment to smooth out any loose hairs. The whole process took about 15 minutes, and we were able to do this without using either the high speed or high heat setting, which is pretty impressive, especially on thick, long hair.
Price and where to buy
The Dyson Supersonic retails for $430. This price includes the hair dryer, five attachments and a travel case. You can purchase the item from Dyson, Amazon or a variety of beauty retailers, including Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Saks Fifth Avenue and BlueMercury.
If you’re really interested in this hair dryer but price is a concern, or if you’re happy using one basic attachment, we recommend the Dyson Supersonic Origin. This hair dryer comes with a single attachment — the Styling concentrator — and is therefore $100 cheaper than the full-package model. If you want to upgrade later, additional attachments can be purchased separately.
How noisy is it?
Compared to many other hair dryers, the Dyson Supersonic is relatively quiet with a sound level of 77 decibels. The sound is more like a gentle whir reminiscent of white noise rather than the loud noise that many hair dryers make, which can rival a vacuum cleaner in decibels.
Attachments
No matter what your styling preference or hair type, the Supersonic comes with a range of five different attachments to suit every need.
So, what does each one do exactly? Dyson’s De Leon broke it down this way: “The Styling concentrator has a wide and thin design for precision styling, perfect for blowouts. The Diffuser attachment evenly dries waves, curls and coils to define your natural texture. The Wide-tooth comb attachment helps shape and lengthen textured hair as it dries. The gentle air attachment is fast yet gentle styling for fine hair and sensitive scalps. Lastly, the Flyaway attachment harnesses the Coanda effect to hide flyaways.”
Design and weight
All of Dyson’s products are uniquely designed to look and function like no other, and the bladeless Supersonic is no exception. About the Supersonic, De Leon said, “It has intelligent heat control that measures the temperature of the airflow multiple times a second, always ensuring the dryer is set to the temperature selected. It’s also engineered to have the motor in the handle, so it’s ergonomically designed to not be top-heavy.”
Our tests confirmed that this ergonomic design makes it one of the most comfortable hair dryers to use. We especially loved the 3.8-inch barrel, which made it very easy to get close to the hair without straining the arm too much. Because it has a bladeless design, there was no risk of getting hair stuck in the fan when the hair dryer was close to the head. At 1.8 pounds, it is fairly lightweight and didn’t strain the arm during use.
How to use the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer
Using the Dyson Supersonic is simple. Plug in the hair dryer. Turn it on by flipping the power switch on the handle to the On position. You can increase heat or airflow by pressing the two buttons on the top of the hair dryer. The button with an image of a fan increases the airflow, while the button with a red dot increases the heat. The Cold Shot button has a blue dot and is located on the handle.
The attachments snap in place easily and magnetically when held close to the barrel. They come off with a gentle pull.
Gentle air attachment
We especially loved using this attachment for a quick initial dry when the hair was wettest. While doing this can tangle hair by blowing it around too forcefully, this attachment helped disperse the air and didn’t create tangles in the process.
To use it, De Leon says, “Attach the gentle air attachment and hold the dryer about 6 to 12 inches away from the scalp and move the dryer in a back-and-forth motion until the roots are dry.”
Styling concentrator attachment
De Leon says that the Styling concentrator attachment is meant to be used with a brush: “Direct the dryer toward the brush and move slowly to dry the hair. Make sure to take clean sections to stay organized and move throughout the head. I like to take sections that are 2 inches wide and long.”
Diffuser attachment
“The Diffuser attachment is meant to mimic natural drying style and really enhance waves, curls and coils,” De Leon said. “I suggest using the Diffuser on low airflow and low heat settings for the best results. These settings are very gentle on natural hair and dry the hair with no frizz. Just make sure your hair isn’t frizzy before you begin drying. You can do this by ensuring you’re using products based on your hair type.”
Wide-tooth comb attachment
This attachment is meant for use on wavy, curly or coily hair. “[It] can be used to dry and stretch the hair,” explained De Leon. “I like to keep the dryer on high airflow and heat settings and start at the root and work your way downward toward the ends. Make sure to point the dryer downward so the hair cuticle isn’t being disrupted.”
Flyaway attachment
To use the Flyaway attachment, “point the curved edge downward and move slowly,” advised De Leon. “You don’t want to press down into your hair too much; you want to be able to see the hair lifting and tucking into itself as you’re moving down.”
We noticed a substantial decrease in the number of flyaway hairs after using this attachment. It helped to create a smoother and more polished look overall.
Does it damage hair?
The Dyson Supersonic claims that it won’t damage hair. It uses intelligent heat control to measure airflow temperature over 40 times per second to prevent extreme heat damage. It uses negative ions to help reduce static.
After thoroughly testing this product, we have not noticed any hair damage based on use.
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer review: Should you get one?
If you are comfortable splurging on a top-quality hair dryer and willing to pay top dollar to get the best of the best, this is the hair dryer we recommend. It’s especially worthwhile if you blow-dry your hair frequently and want to prevent hair damage.