Height. I need height. As a 34-year-old man with rapidly thinning hair, I’ve never paid too much attention to the need for a good quality hairdryer. I’ve always been hesitant about throwing consistent billows of heat onto my already brittle hair, so it’s one of the things that most people used that I’ve never really bothered with. Dyson is good when it comes to targeting that crowd – the crowd that doesn’t really know they needed something until they get their hands on it, presenting the best version in various categories when it comes to taking care of business around the house.
The Dyson SuperSonic is already an acclaimed piece of tech, and is now one of the brand’s flagship products, having been in the market for a good few years now after making a debut in 2016. Almost every high-end hairdresser around the world will have one of these on display, and it’s actually on encouragement from my hair stylish (shouts to Unoit in Darlinghurst, Sydney) that I was finally ready to try out this thing. I hit up Dyson, they sent me this hairdryer, and every time I’ve looked in the mirror since I’ve felt a bit more confident, without paying someone else to give me some semblance of volume.
The first thing you need to know about the Dyson Supersonic is that it’s not cheap. The price tag will throw a lot of people off, but the investment is worth it if you’re someone like me who really can’t afford to damage their hair anymore. This is because the Dyson Supersonic flows with a gentler and more manageable burst of hot air to avoid extreme heat damage, something that is a big no-no when it comes to men with thinning hair.
Design
The Supersonic looks unlike any other hairdryer on the market, and you definitely know it when you see it proudly on display at your local hairdresser. It’s lightweight, easy to wield, and has been fitted under the hood with a powerful but quieter V9 motor that’s not as loud as I would have expected a hairdryer to be. Still, my housemates would definitely be able to tell I was using this in the bathroom upstairs if they were in the lounge room. And that still means it’s loud enough.
The futuristic face takes different magnetic attachments which are easy to slip on and off the hairdryer, turning it into a beauty tool that can be used for a variety of styles. You’ve got a smooth nozzle to dry hair with a more controlled and focused airflow; a styling concentrator to help with control and shine; and a big diffuser that disperses air evenly around the hair, making it more ideal for those with curly or wavy hair that want to maintain consistency. All of these attachments come with Dyson’s proprietary Heat Shield technology, keeping the surfaces nice and cool so you can remove them easily despite how long you have this heating up for.
On the body, you’ve got three different speeds – low, medium, high – and 4 temperature settings that include a cold setting to set hair after styling. I’ve found the medium speed and heat setting 3 work best for my hair, although of course, everyone is going to be very different. The fact that these settings are distinctive enough so you can experiment with what works best for you is a testament to Dyson’s design.
Performance
Dyson claims that the V9 is up to 6 times faster than any motor in competing hairdryers. I wouldn’t doubt it, and as such, you can dry your hair in record time with this thing when considered with the Air Multiplier technology, which shoots a more focused jet of air over the air for better precision.
But speed really isn’t the most impressive thing here, it’s how gentle the air feels and how consistent the temperature is, with the Supersonic detecting and automatically adjusting air temperature every 40 seconds to steer clear of excessive heat. Never once while flowing this over my dissipating hairline did I once feel like I was putting my head through more trauma than a smooth, non-flat head of hair would be worth. Each time I’d use it – albeit in conjunction with heat protector and texturing spray – my hair was noticeably smoother and more consistent, ironing out the kinks and keeping in place throughout the day.
Verdict & Value
At $599, you’re making a hefty investment with the Dyson Supersonic. As stated above, I’m approaching this review not only from the perspective of a guy with drastically thinning hair but as someone who really hasn’t paid much attention to their hair throughout their life. As the saying goes, you don’t know what you’ve got ’till it’s (almost) gone, so introducing the Supersonic to my regular grooming routine came with some nerves.
I can safely say that those nerves are gone. I no longer feel like I’m damaging my hair when I style it as much as I can with this hairdryer. I don’t use products, so using heat without fear of burning my scalp or causing further issues to achieve a more desirable look is ideal. I’d say that’s worth it, given you’re investing in confidence and you won’t have to keep paying the local stylist to take care of things for you.
Of course, anyone with thicker and more adaptable hair will get much more use out of this, which makes it even more worth it for anyone after a styling tool that represents the apex of design, efficiency, and versatility. The hype is real. Very real.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Reliable heat maintenance means less damage; distinctive attachments tools are easy to use for various needs; lightweight design, easy to hold; powerful and focused airflow.
Lowlights: Very pricey; large transformer can be too thick for a lot of two-plug outlets; still quite loud.
Price: $599
