Dyson has been making vacuum cleaners since the early 1990s, and they later went on to make air purifiers and fans as well. The whole company centers around key pieces of technology that enhance airflow. In 2012, the company began to take on a long overdue makeover for the traditional household hair dryer. They discovered if “air was taken into a motor and accelerated over an annular aperture,” they could achieve surprising drying power with less heat. Dyson also mentions this is the reason behind the Dyson hairdryer’s unusual yet unmistakable circular appearance. With several signature features under its belt, it is famous within the hair care industry. Some say the price can’t be justified, but if you read a little bit more into the history yourself, you might find that this onion has many layers (maybe even more than your stylist gave you).
The Dyson Supersonic Vs The Dyson Airwrap
The Dyson Supersonic was the most awarded hair dryer of 2021, based on industry-recognized awards, according to the Dyson site. As a high-level overview, the Dyson Supersonic is a hair dryer predominantly, with a variety of hand attachments to deliver various results. From demonstrations on YouTube, it can be determined that the dryer is powerful yet relatively quiet. A few more important things that may affect your decision-making process include the following:
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The cord is just over 8 feet long.
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3 Speed Settings
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Four heat settings are available to choose from for the perfect “dry.”
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Cold shot (to lock in style)
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Lightweight at 1.82 pounds.
Most importantly, the Dyson Supersonic protects hair from extreme heat damage by utilizing intelligent heat control. Regardless of being dyed or natural, the heat regulation preserves hair color. The product also claims to increase smoothness by 75%, shine by up to 132%, and decrease frizz and flyaways by up to 61%. So if your hair type is any of the just mentioned, maybe this one deserves a second look. Specifically, there is the Coanda effect Flyaway attachment. “The Coanda effect is an aerodynamic phenomenon. Air, when propelled at the right speed and pressure, naturally follows an adjacent surface, pulling in the surrounding air” — Dyson.com.
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Pros: Some of the most helpful rated reviews mentioned that the Dyson Supersonic does not cause hair to hold heat. This is a good thing, resulting in users being less sweaty than after using a conventional hairdryer.
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Cons: Reviews are overwhelmingly high for the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, but we want to highlight some of the negative feedback. If there is an issue with the dryer, some customers expressed frustration over trying to get the product repaired, stating either expensive parts or customer service issues.
The Dyson Airwrap dries hair as well, but it also is designed to create more detailed styles. The tool can be used to curl and wave tresses while using brushes to control and shape them. So if you love a more dimensional look rather than a salon fresh blowout alone, this could be a good option. The drying function still seems quite optimal on the Airwrap, which smooths and hides flyaways. If you want to get a better idea of the type of curls the larger and smaller barrel can deliver on either long or short hair, you can look up demonstrations on YouTube—there are quite a few. Below are some essential things to mention:
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Three heat and speed settings have been incorporated.
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Cold shot locks in style.
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Features an 8.5 cord length.
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Weighs 1.5 lbs.
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Has a 4.1-star rating on Ulta.
With all of the different attachments, the Dyson Airwrap can be used on virtually all hair types. However, we did see it mentioned that it’s ideal for hair that’s chest-length or longer. But on the contrary, you can find tutorials of the product functioning beautifully on shorter hair. This one also protects against heat damage, which is beneficial to all hair types. It “intelligently” controls the heating element to keep the temperature under 302°F. The Coanada effect is also utilized in the Airwrap, making the two, so far, similar, except when it comes to styling capabilities.
Both the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer and the Dyson Airwrap use a fast-drying Dyson digital motor V9 with an impressive 13-blade impeller that spins at up to 110,000rpm. Apparently, this is pretty awesome because reviews on both praise the ultra-fast drying effect. Drying hair may take far less time than with a traditional dryer, and maybe most evident to those with extra thick hair.
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Pros: Reviews detailed excitement over the shine, health, and bounce or movement after styling. From what we observed, using the tool looks relatively simple and kind of fun!
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Cons: Similar to the Dyson Supersonic, there were complaints about hair texture after using the Airwrap. We are assuming this has something to do with the technology.
Cost
Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer Cost
Priced at $429.99 on Dyson.com and Ulta, at the time of publishing.
The price tag includes five attachments:
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The flyaway attachment.
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Styling concentrator for precision styling.
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Diffuser which reduces frizz and defines natural curls and waves.
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Gentle air attachment for the styling of fine hair. This is good if the skin on your scalp is extra sensitive as well.
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Wide-tooth comb.
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Detangling comb.
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Lovely rose-hued paddle brush.
Attachments are magnetic, so it’s easy to swap them out as needed. Folks also mention that Dyson is good about making newer attachments compatible with older dryer models.
Dyson Airwrap Cost
Priced at $599.99 on Dyson.com and Ulta, at the time of publishing.
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New Coanda Smoothing Dryer.
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1.2″ Airwrap Long Barrel
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1.6″ Airwrap Long Barrel
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Soft Smoothing Brush
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Firm Smoothing Brush
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Round Volumizing Brush
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Storage Case
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Filter Cleaning Brush
On older Airwrap models, the barrel would have to be completely changed out when needing to switch rotation direction, when styling on the opposite side of the head. Now, this can be done with the flick of a switch, making it way easier.
Conclusion: It Depends On Your Goals
After comparing the two, we determined that both had similar benefits and features, but it really comes down to your styling goal and preferred attachments. Do you want curls or waves? Are you more interested in a smooth “fresh out of the salon chair” blowout? These are questions you’ll have to ask yourself.
Dyson hair products are designed to minimize heat damage while retaining moisture, shine, and even color. But in general, heat can put stress on our hair. Additionally, working with anything that heats up can result in injury, so always take precautions to protect yourself and your home.
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Use a protective serum or spray to shield hair from heat when styling.
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Consider purchasing a pair of heat-protecting gloves, which will help prevent fingers from getting burned.
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Always unplug your hot tools when not using them. You can stay up to date on product recalls by referring to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. But as a rule of thumb, when I’m not around, I always unplug those hot tools.
