Why Our Beauty Editor Is Obsessed With Her Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
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Some products that we’ve tried have stood the test of time and remain our faves to this day. In our series 10/10 Would Recommend, we’re giving the final word on well-known products that we fully stand behind.
The Product
The Dyson Supersonic is a futuristic-looking hair dryer that costs around $400, making it the brand's most affordable hot tool. (Even though, yes, that's not exactly cheap.)
The Stats
The Price: $399.99
Year it came out: 2016
Reviewed by: Rated the “Best Luxury Hair Dryer” by Cosmopolitan; recommended by Allure; rated the “Best Professional Hair Dryer” by Good Housekeeping
How Did I Find It?
I first discovered the now-iconic Supersonic hair dryer because of YouTube, social media, and being an avid consumer of beauty news. Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin became a Dyson hair brand ambassador, and given her expertise and roster of social media famous clients, she received plenty of digital love.
While I was intrigued by the interesting-looking hair dryer, I was not willing to pull the trigger: After all, $400 is a lot of money to invest in a hot tool! At the time, I also leveled up from my now-$20 Conair hair dryer to the gorgeous mint green Harry Josh Pro Tools hair dryer. I wanted to get the most out of my new investment, and jumping on the Dyson wave wasn't something I was interested in pursuing.
So, how did I finally get my hands on the Supersonic? During the early days of the pandemic, I was covering Dyson gadgets regularly, and the brand kindly sent me the product. I've been using this hair dryer for 2 years, and after my positive long-term experience, I'd willingly pay $400 for this product. I highly recommend this hot tool to everyone, and have successfully converted friends, family, colleagues, and even my hairstylist to splurge on the Supersonic.
Why Do I Love It?
Pre-pandemic, I would regularly go to my local hair salon, but since COVID hit, I've had to relearn which at-home products work for my wash days and styling routine. One consistent item that I haven't been able to part with is the Dyson Supersonic. I'm obsessed with it for a seemingly infinite number of reasons.
Notably, it's the one beauty product that my mom and I both love, using despite having textures on the opposite ends of the hair spectrum. (I have thick 3C/4A natural hair, while she has fine, pin-straight strands.) In fact, the Supersonic is so great, my mom and I fight over who gets to hold onto the hair dryer when it's not in use! (So far, she's winning this never-ending battle.)
The Dyson Supersonic is incredibly effective for all hair textures because it's equipped with multiple heat settings, speeds, and attachments, allowing you to forgo your hair straightener or hot air brush with the right styling products.
With a nearly $400 price tag, the Supersonic is certainly a splurge, but honestly, as the beauty editor of Best Products, I can confidently say it's worth the high cost. Here's why.
Speed control
The Supersonic features three speed settings:
High for quick drying and styling.
Medium for everyday drying.
Low for diffusing your hair
I'm truly lazy with styling my hair at home, so I personally like the High speed because I want to finish getting ready ASAP!
Temperature
Max is 212 degrees Fahrenheit, and it's amazing at drying my hair quickly. However, since it's a higher temperature, there is a slightly higher risk of heat damage. My hack is to use this heat setting with my deep conditioner (more on this in a bit), and of course, never skimp on a heat protectant.
Medium is 176 degrees Fahrenheit, which feels like a normal range for a hair dryer. I typically teeter between Medium and Max, depending on how much time I have to get ready.
Low is 140 degrees Fahrenheit and feels relatively cool, but still gets the job done effectively — just at a slower speed.
There's also a cold shot (the blue button) that is 82 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps lock your hairstyle in place.
You have the flexibility to style your hair with the right temperature based on your personal needs. It's also one of the reasons why it works so well for various hair textures.
I've covered beauty for 5 years, and through my research, I've found that many cheaper alternatives only have two pre-set temperatures. You can expect to spend around $200 for a solid hair dryer with three temperature settings (like the DryBar Buttercup).
While someone with short, fine hair can get away with using a hair dryer with minimal heat settings, I find paying a premium for the four temperatures worth it because I can style my hair in 20 minutes. It would normally take me 40 minutes on a good day to create similar results with other hair dryers. Plus, with the right hairbrush and hair straightening products, I can skip using a flat iron ... which prevents my hair from getting fried at 450 degrees Fahrenheit!
Attachments
When you order a Supersonic, your hair dryer comes with multiple magnetic attachments. Here are my honest thoughts on those Dyson accessories, in order of my favorite to least favorite.
Wide-tooth comb: By far my most-used hair attachment, it's designed for curly and coily hair like mine. It helps detangle my natural hair and extensions with ease.
Smoothing nozzle: This is a great traditional option that works for my styling needs. I also don't mind the less concentrated airflow it provides because I think the larger opening minimizes my time under the dryer.
Flyaway: Dyson's latest accessory has a unique curved design that helps minimize flyaways during blowouts. To help lock in my hairstyle, I'll press the cold air button and run it over my hair — but only for special occasions.
Styling Concentrator: This is another classic hair dryer attachment, but with a smaller opening than the Smoothing nozzle. This gets you an even smoother look. I would rather use this one for special occasions when I need to pay a close eye to the details.
Diffuser: You'll need a diffuser on days when you want to enhance your curl pattern or waves. When I expose my hair to heat, I want a sleek, straight look, so I've never used the diffuser. I will say that the overall design and prongs seem functional for my natural hair, but the wide-tooth comb is my OG attachment.
How I Use the Supersonic Without Attachments
You can use the Supersonic without an attachment, too! I typically do this when I'm deep conditioning my hair. After shampooing with LivSo shampoo, I'll apply my Oribe hair mask and turn up the heat on my Dyson to help the product better penetrate my strands. You can use a shower cap to avoid your hair treatment from dripping onto your shoulders, but I don't find it necessary with this Oribe deep conditioner.
In our guide to the best products and tools for natural hair, multiple stylists also advise incorporating this practice into your routine to reap the most benefits from hair treatments.
Noise level
This hot tool features a noise level of 77 dBA, which is the equivalent of a passenger car driving 65 mph for 25 feet, according to data from Purdue University.
I previously interviewed a celebrity hairstylist who lauded the Supersonic for being relatively quiet. At the time, I never really noticed any noise difference until I hired my hairstylist for a house call and asked her to use my Supersonic.
During that styling session, we were in the living room because it's more spacious than my bedroom. The only problem? I had a roommate who was working from home. To respect our shared space, I asked my stylist to use the low airflow setting throughout the appointment, and I loved the results. Funnily enough, my roommate didn't even notice my hairstylist was blowdrying my hair until she came out for lunch! If that doesn't speak to the Supersonic's low noise capabilities, I don't know what does.
Comfort in hand
I originally didn't want this hair dryer to feel so comfortable in my hand. Why? I waited three years to splurge on the Harry Josh hair dryer, and was highly satisfied with the results it created. Although the Harry Josh is more lightweight (1.16 pounds) than the Supersonic (1.8 pounds), my arms felt less tired using the Dyson. The powerful Dyson motor genuinely helps cut down on my drying time, so the few extra ounces don't make a huge difference.
The Final Word
So, should you buy the Supersonic? Every human with hair can safely use this hair dryer. Your hair length, thickness, texture, and density won't hinder your ability to benefit from the Supersonic. Same with your skill set — seriously.
You can be a complete beginner or a professional hairstylist working on A-listers, and you'd still fall in love with this hot tool like I have. A bonus: I've previously interviewed a plethora of highly regarded celeb hairstylists not affiliated with Dyson, and they all have the Supersonic in their pro kits.
As long as you have the funds to invest in a hair dryer, the Dyson Supersonic will last you for years and simplify your getting-ready routine.
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