Dyson Supersonic hair dryer review: Expensive, but innovative

It’s like the mint with the hole, this fancy hair dryer from Dyson that has only recently come into India. As you hold it up, you’ll see a cut-out where other dryers have elements and wires encased. You normally wouldn’t see us reviewing hair dryers and the like on Technophile, but considering the Supersonic is such an interesting piece of technology, we decided it would be worth recounting the experience of using it. The thing spins at 110,000rpm and is still quiet enough to have a conversation over. For this device, Dyson uses its ‘air multiplier’ technology used in the company’s other products which is what helps it be ‘Supersonic’. 　

Now, I’m quite addicted to hair products. I’ve done my hair no good using them so much, but I can’t resist it. My go-to hair styler right now is a huge heated brush from Babyliss that leaves my hair straight and silky, though what happens to it in the long run is another matter. So that’s one thing that Dyson’s hair dryer is looking to prevent — damage from excessive heat. You can use it on very low heat or no heat at all. Three little lights next to its heat button indicate the level of heat on this gadget and you can adjust that any time you want. Not just that, using its intelligent heat control system, the dryer is supposed to sense heat coming out of 20 times per second and make sure it doesn’t go above the limit and will keep the temperature steady. Dyson says that over time, heat damages the cortex and weakens the hair, making it brittle, breakable and unable to reflect light and be shiny. Protection against this is the main aim of having created the Supersonic. 　

But let’s be clear, this isn’t a styler but a dryer. You have to hold a round brush in one hand and the dryer in the other and that can be cumbersome though it’s the case with any ordinary hair dryer that doesn’t have styling brush and comb attachments. Holding the dryer in my right hand, I did find it a bit difficult to use a brush with the left. But your mileage may vary. 　

Attachments

Speaking of attachments, the Dyson dryer has a set of them. These clamp on beautifully with a magnetic click. One is for diffused drying, such as for very curly hair. Another gives you a very narrow-focussed air stream for precision, and yet another has a wider nozzle for smoothening. That magnetic click gives you a clue as to how beautifully this hair dryer is constructed. First of all it looks like no other — it has a hole in the centre. On one side (bright pink, in this case) you have the controls for power, and quick access to cool air and when you move up a bit, you see two little buttons and lights for three heat and air flow settings. 　

The dryer looks ever so sleek and hi-tech. But contrary to what people say, I didn’t find it very light or anything, though it seems to be all evenly weighted. Its ‘mouth’ reminds me of a jet engine and the resemblance increases when you turn it on. You get a blast of air so powerful it’s surprising and seems out of proportion to its size. It could knock your breath back if you aim it at your face, which of course, you needn’t. 　

The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer

The powerful jet of air could dry your hair in minutes. Just swish it rapidly all around and your mane would lose all wetness the next minute. And that’s even with cool air. Anyone who’s worried about ruining their hair with overuse of regular hair dryers which use whatever amount of heating they like, should consider this. It’s even possible to do the initial drying and then move on to some styler of your choice.

The bottom part of the arm of the dryer has a grill that can be removed to allow the inside to be cleaned of any hair or fluff. But there’s really nothing to get your hair snagged into and no way of burning it. 　

The Supersonic hair dryer was created by an entire suite of in-house laboratories who had to study the science of hair, says the company. Apparently it took 1,625 kilometres of hair to understand it from root to tip. They figured that damaged hair doesn’t always look it, which is how they came to create a dryer that dries without damage. That may explain why it isn’t just another cheap hair dryer. But one might well ask why not use an ordinary hair dryer on cool.

Price : ₹27,900, ₹30,900 with leather case

Pros : Focussed on protection from heat, innovative premium sturdy balanced design, quieter than other dryers, powerful, easy to use, a good number of settings for heat and air flow

Cons : Very expensive, no brush or comb attachments, no pouch for travel (that’s an extra buy)

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