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It doesn’t take a long while to be amazed by all the gadgets and gizmos Dyson is engineering, producing and offering in the haircare space.
Still in peak popularity is the brand’s coveted Airwrap Multistyler Complete ($600), along with its brand-new Airstrait ($500) — the latest technology that’ll take your hair from wet to dry. (Related: Dyson Airstrait review).
So, of course, when Dyson shared the news of its newly minted Smoothing Nozzle that attaches directly to the brand’s Supersonic Hair Dryer ($430), I practically called the brand on speed dial to plan for this review. Naturally.
After testing the best blow dryers on the market for two years now (and, having my under-sink basket of haircare tools nearly overflowing), I decided to *finally* put the basic (but, in reality, not-so-basic) Dyson styler to the test — complete with review notes on its Smoothing Nozzle to match.
“The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is engineered to protect hair from extreme heat damage, with fast drying and controlled styling to help increase smoothness by 75%, increase shine by up to 132% and decrease frizz and flyaways by up to 61%,” Kate Craft, Dyson Reliability Engineer, exclusively told the New York Post. “It’s compatible with five attachments that attach magnetically and can be rotated 360 degrees, allowing for faster drying and maximum styling, all without sacrificing the integrity of hair health.”
What’s great about the Smoothing Nozzle is how it’s specially designed to help those tame and mitigate frizzy hair with consistent, proper use. But — as you can expect — you need the Supersonic Hair Dryer to use the new attachment, so you’ll find an all-encompassing review of each here.
Before hearing about all the Supersonic Hair Dryer has to offer, check out the new Dyson Origin — the new, simplified version of the beloved Dyson Supersonic, engineered for all hair types. It’s virtually the same product, but available in an exclusive black and nickel colorway and at a lower price point ($400) in a scaled-back set.
Launching August 16, the Dyson Origin includes the Supersonic hair dryer and universal Smoothing Nozzle attachment, making it the perfect option for travel, as well as simple styling for both men and women alike.
Click to jump to the review:
How we tested
DysonI’ve been testing the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer for two years, alongside the cherished Airwrap Multistyler Complete. For about two months or so, I’ve also been using the fresh-out-of-the-box Airstrait as well.
Before diving into the review itself and more on the Supersonic Hair Dryer’s benefits, here are some testing criteria I kept in mind to discern if it deserved all the hype it’s been getting:
- Ease of use: This is one of the most important features, in my opinion; if I’m going to need a PhD to finally understand how to work a hair styling device, we have a problem. Once I researched the Supersonic Hair Dryer for a good while, I took note of how much of a learning curve there was as I began using it.
- Versatility: If you’re going to be spending upwards of $500 on a hot new hair tool (possibly more, with the addition of the Smoothing Nozzle, which is sold separately), you want to make sure it’s not only ergonomic but comes in handy for styling.
- Time spent styling: While it’s easy to sit pretty at a salon for 30 to 60 minutes, it’s a bit more of a time-kill (and, not as fun, because you’re not sitting in a tufted salon chair) to tend to your hair yourself. Though time spent will depend largely on your hair type — more on that below — I compared it to the swift time spent using a blow-dryer brush and traditional blow dryer alike.
- Results: Of course, using the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer isn’t worth it if you’re not going to be pleased with your end result. I assessed shine levels, frizz levels, texture, the freshness of my ends and how long the style lasted before my next hair wash (read: best shampoos we reviewed).
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer 101: How to use, features and benefits
According to Craft on the Dyson team, you can use the Dyson Supersonic Origin just as you would with a regular Supersonic. “Depending on how wet your hair is, you’ll want to begin by selecting your heat and airflow settings before styling,” she instructs. “Once you have selected the appropriate settings, attach the Smoothing Nozzle and begin drying your hair. Depending on how your hair is you may want to section your hair to get your desired style.”
Ahead, here are the benefits of using the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer:
- Three precise speed settings: High – for fast drying and styling; Medium – for regular drying; Low – for diffusing
- Four precise heat settings: 212°F – fast drying and styling; 176°F – regular drying; 140°F – cooler drying and diffusing; 82°F – constant cold
- Cold shot function: 82°F cold shot, to set your hair after styling
- Magnetic attachments: The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer comes with magnetic styling attachments. This helps ensure easy fitting and rotation during styling.
The science behind the hair dryer, as described by the Dyson team
The Dyson Supersonic Origin features all the same technology as the original, beloved Supersonic including:
- Helps protect natural shine: Some conventional hair dryers can reach extreme temperatures, especially when held close to your head. This can cause extreme heat damage to hair. The Dyson Supersonic Origin has intelligent heat control, helping to ensure hair isn’t exposed to excessive heat and never goes above the temperature selected. A glass bead thermistor measures the temperature 20 times a second and transmits this data to the microprocessor, which intelligently controls the patented double-stacked heating element.
- Fast & focused: Traditional hair dryers can sometimes have a weak airflow, meaning they are slow to dry. Others can have strong airflow, but it is not necessarily controlled. The Dyson Supersonic Origin uses Dyson’s patented Air Multiplier technology to draw air into the motor and amplify it threefold to create a high pressure, focused jet of air, angled at 20° for controlled, precise drying and styling.
- Settings and attachments: The Dyson Supersonic Origin has four heat settings, three airflow settings, and a cold shot. Dyson engineers have created precisely engineered magnetic attachments, to further control this airflow, allowing you to effortlessly achieve a range of different styles.
- Using Heat Shield technology, Dyson has engineered each attachment to remain cool to the touch. Hot air is contained between sheets of cold air, meaning the surfaces of the attachment never get hot. Being magnetic, each attachment is also easy to remove and adjust.
How to properly maintain and care for your Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
The best way to care for your Supersonic Origin is just how you would care for the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, by maintaining the filter.
“Depending on the frequency of use of the Supersonic Origin, you should clean your filter weekly to month to ensure there is no dust or debris build up,” Craft notes. “This will keep the motor intact for longevity of the product. In addition, it’s not recommended to use your machine abroad as the voltage is too powerful and could ruin the machine, even if using a converter.”
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer Review#
Pictured left: my hair when wet and slightly frizzy/curly. Pictured right: my hair when fully dry and styled using the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer. Victoria GiardinaWhy the Dyson Supersonic is worth it for at-home styling
I used the styling concentrator attachment, mainly, to help target specific sections of my hair and to help mitigate frizz. Once my hair was nearly dry, I then swapped to the new Smoothing Nozzle. Though the Smoothing Nozzle came with a slight learning curve, I eventually loved how easy it was to help brush and tame flyaways at the top of my head and in hard-to-reach places, like the hairline below my ears (where my hair is typically more curly, frizzy and unpredictable).
Better yet, the Dyson Supersonic took me exactly 23 minutes to use on my medium-thick, naturally wavy and curly hair (yes, I timed it).
When testing, I didn’t use any other hair tools. Typically, I’d blow dry my hair and go over it once or twice with a hair straightener or curling iron, depending on my preferred style. What I like about the Superonic is its ability to forego other hair tools because of its smooth, healthy and bouncy result. Though I find using a blow-dryer brush to be a bit quicker and more convenient, I was more pleased with the results when using the Supersonic and Dyson’s new Smoothing Nozzle attachment thereafter.
How the Dyson Supersonic compares to the Dyson Airstrait
When my hair was fairly damped and after I applied my heat protectant and leave-in conditioner, I took hold of the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer and was ready to style. Unlike the Airstrait, the Supersonic isn’t heavy at all to hold and, because there’s less time spent straightening each section of hair, blow-dry time is a bit quicker.
Upon unboxing the Supersonic, you’ll not only find the blow dryer but also its six attachments and accessories: the presentation storage case, the flyaway attachment, the diffuser attachment, the styling concentrator (spoiler alert: my favorite), a wide tooth comb attachment and the gentle hair attachment.
Whether you purchase the Supersonic or the Airstrait is entirely up to preference. With the unique versatility Dyson Hair produces in each of its products, it can be a tricky decision, for sure. What I will say is this (and yes, I highlighted it for a TLDR comparison of Dyson’s hair products:
“The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer (original & Origin) is engineered to protect hair from extreme heat damage, with fast drying and controlled styling to help increase smoothness, increase shine and decrease frizz and flyaways,” Craft chimes in. The Dyson Airwrap is the brand’s multi-styler, which allows users to curl, shape, smooth, and hide flyaways without extreme heat (now available with re-engineered attachments for increased control). The Dyson Airstrait is the latest hair care innovation, engineered for wet to dry straightening with air and without hot plates or heat damage.”
Interestingly enough, both styles lasted for about three days max. I typically wash my hair every other day but, for the purpose of this review, I used dry shampoo and forced myself to refrain from taking the shower (you know, the one with your full lineup of haircare products and body lotions).
How the Dyson Supersonic compares to the Dyson Airwrap
IMHO (that’s “in my humble opinion,” for short, Dyson’s strategy with creating the new Smoothing Nozzle was to directly mimic the smoothing brush in the Dyson Airwrap Complete Styler bundle. In all honesty, I enjoy using the Airwrap’s smoothing brush more, simply because it feels more like a tangible brush with more discernible bristles, but the Smoothing Nozzle is a nice complement to Dyson’s traditional styler.
More on that note, it comes in handy when traveling; instead of lugging the mega-Airwrap set and its myriad attachments, simply travel with the Supersonic Hair Dryer and the compact Smoothing Nozzle for a fresh, virtually frizz-free blowout when on the go.
The bottom line
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer alongside the brand’s Airwrap and Airstrait.
“The Dyson Supersonic Origin is the same beloved Dyson Supersonic but at a lower price point with one universal styling concentrator, making it a perfect gift this holiday season!” Craft sums up. “Priced at $400, the tool is a great product for those who style minimally (whether men or women!) as it’s specifically engineered for all hair types and simple styling.”
Because the Supersonic is the most user-friendly and produces impressive, immediate results, it’s surely worth the splurge if you want a blowout that’ll last (and, minimize your trips to the salon).
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