Tell most hair-care fans you wish to improve your hair dryer, and I’d wager good cash you’ll be requested, “Will you purchase a Dyson?” That might have been a ridiculous query greater than a decade in the past when the model specialised in vacuum cleaners, however not because it took the luxurious hair-care market by storm in 2016 with its Supersonic hair dryer.
The Supersonic ripped up the hair-dryer rulebook, with its distinctive design, light-weight really feel and quiet operation. Eight years after the unique, Dyson launched the Supersonic Nural: an upgraded model with new methods up its sleeve.
Upgrading to among the finest hair dryers remains to be one among my high magnificence ideas: they’re higher at controlling warmth ranges and dry hair quicker. All the identical, is there actually any must spend as much as £400?
Having put the Supersonic Nural hair dryer by its paces and in contrast it with 19 different hair dryers that I examined, I used to be principally impressed. Nonetheless, a number of niggles guarantee it’s not a advice with out caveats.
How I examined
Over the month I examined the Supersonic Nural, I took be aware of the look, really feel and end of my hair. I timed how lengthy it took to rough-dry hair and obtain a clean blow-dry, and judged the effectiveness of the scalp-protect mode, in addition to the flexibility and intuitiveness of the controls for extra exact styling.
I additionally used the entire attachments. In every case, I hoped to dry my hair shortly, leaving it with minimal frizz and feeling wholesome. Consolation was additionally an element: I didn’t need my arms to ache or to really feel any wrist pressure in use.
For extra quantitative take a look at outcomes, I used an anemometer to measure the Supersonic Nural’s high wind velocity, plus a sound meter to evaluate noise ranges from 15cm away. I popped this knowledge into my comparability spreadsheet to see how the hair dryer measured as much as the competitors.
What it’s essential to know
Dyson hair dryers are notoriously costly. Costs begin at £219 for the unique Supersonic with its concentrator nozzle attachment, and climb to £450 for the most recent Supersonic R hair dryer – the smallest, lightest and strongest mannequin that Dyson affords.
Sitting barely under the Supersonic R is the £400 Supersonic Nural. As with its stablemates, it comes with clever warmth management to forestall the extreme temperatures that may harm hair, and makes use of Dyson’s patented Air Multiplier expertise to attract in surrounding air by the ring form, for a claimed thrice extra airflow over fashions with a standard form.
The Nural makes use of the Dyson Digital Motor V9, the identical motor as the unique Supersonic. That is marginally heavier and fewer highly effective than the Hyperdymium motor within the model’s Supersonic R hair dryer, however nonetheless spins at a whopping 110,000 RPM. That’s lots quick sufficient for most individuals.
On a primary stage, the Nural has three velocity ranges, three warmth settings and a steady cool shot. All these will be managed by small buttons on the rear of the dryer, alongside a button that turns scalp-protect mode on and off. On the deal with, there’s a devoted cool shot button and an influence swap. It has a 2.62m wire, which is ideal for residence use.
Essentially the most tangible distinction between the unique and the Nural is its scalp-protect mode. This sees the gadget regulate the temperature of the air primarily based on the dryer’s proximity to the scalp: the nearer it will get, the decrease the temperature goes. This implies you by no means burn your scalp or frazzle any of the fragile new strands as they develop. Dyson claims this strengthens the scalp barrier, balances oils on the scalp, and reduces seen flakes and shedding.
One other intelligent addition is pause detect, which mechanically slows the dryer down when it’s positioned on a floor. That is ideally suited for many who part their hair whereas drying, or place the dryer down throughout a round-brush blow-dry.
Dyson affords eight totally different magnetic attachments for the Nural. Whether or not you purchase the model for straight and wavy or for curly and coily hair, you’ll discover 5 attachments within the field, with others that can be purchased individually.
All of the Nural’s attachments have RFID tags which can be programmed with the best warmth and velocity settings, eliminating any guesswork on the consumer’s half. For those who want to tweak the settings, it’ll then keep in mind these the following time you utilize that attachment.
That, alongside the high-end design, is without doubt one of the major causes to put money into a Dyson hair dryer over different high-end choices. Most of its opponents solely embrace a concentrator nozzle and diffuser, with the closest equal in attachment vary being the £220 Shark SpeedStyle Professional. The Shark additionally includes a Scalp Protect mode, but it surely’s not computerized or proximity-based just like the Nural’s. As an alternative it’s activated by way of a button on the deal with (so no totally different from merely lowering the temperature on any outdated dryer).
Specs
Energy: 1,600W
Motor velocity: 110,000 RPM
Temperature settings: three, plus a chilly shot
Velocity settings: three
Attachments:
Straight + Wavy model: diffuser, flyaway smoother, smoothing nozzle, mild air attachment, concentrator nozzle
Curly + Coily model: mild air attachment, wave+curl diffuser, wide-tooth comb, flyaway attachment, concentrator nozzle
Weight: 485g (with out wire)
Most wind velocity (examined): 29.2m/s
Quantity vary (examined): 75-81dB
What we love
There’s a lot to love concerning the Supersonic Nural. Its design is enticing – it’s created from a lightweight-but-sturdy plastic, with a metallic end that screams high-end. I examined the Nural within the limited-edition Amber Silk color, but it surely’s additionally accessible in blush pink, navy or darkish blue. There have been varied limited-edition colors, too, so it’s at all times price checking the Dyson web site before you purchase.
Its vegan leather-based presentation case – which is free in some restricted editions, however prices £60 individually – is one other luxurious. It homes all of the attachments – bar one, which I’ll moan about momentarily. For those who want to ditch the case, the dryer is compact sufficient to slot in most self-importance drawers.
The Nural is staggeringly quiet, with quantity ranges ranging between 75 and 81dB in my exams. That makes it the second quietest hair dryer I’ve examined, only a contact louder than the Cloud 9 Airshot Professional on its quickest settings.
I adored the scalp-protect mode, which made drying my hair comfy and allowed me to disengage in the course of the course of. This isn’t a luxurious I get with most hair dryers, which require me to manually decrease the temperature on the scalp, or endure the results.
The dryer took about seven minutes to rough-dry my hair, which is a couple of minutes slower than essentially the most highly effective hair dryers I’ve examined. Nonetheless, my hair was left feeling clean and wholesome, with the flyaway attachment shortly dealing with any rogue hairs for an easy end that lasted till my subsequent wash. The magnetic attachments have been simple to swap, and the automated settings meant I may profit from them with out faff.
I’m not a fan of doing round-brush blow-drys: I haven’t fairly bought the knack of utilizing a spherical brush, so I’m usually left sweating profusely, with my arms feeling as if I’ve performed 40 reps by the tip. However the Supersonic Nural’s light-weight, evenly weighted design made positive my arms and wrists didn’t really feel the pressure, even when tackling the difficult spots on the highest of my head. And when sectioning my hair, the pause detect was a useful little luxurious that I’ll miss after I’m utilizing a special hair dryer.
The outcomes from the blow-dry have been superbly clean, with loads of quantity the place I needed it. The Dyson’s velocity settings offered further management when styling the shorter hairs that body my face, and the cool shot set the model shortly. My hair felt noticeably smoother than regular, because of having been dried with extra mild warmth.
What we don’t love
Let’s begin with the apparent: the Supersonic Nural is pricey. At full value, you’ll be forking out about £400 (though you would discover one for about £300 on the time of writing). There’s undoubtedly no must spend that a lot, with loads of equally highly effective choices accessible for much less in our take a look at of the perfect hair dryers.
In case you have a delicate scalp and are uninterested in unintentionally scorching it, no different hair dryer affords the identical automation as Dyson’s scalp-protect mode. That stated, the sensor isn’t flawless. Throughout testing, it might generally decrease the temperature when there was no must. Mercifully, it by no means incorrectly elevated the temperature in my exams, however I discovered the random decrease temperatures barely irritating, since this added to total drying occasions. You possibly can simply disable scalp shield mode, in fact, however you’d be lacking out on one of many key promoting factors.
One other gripe was that the presentation case – as attractive because it seems to be – didn’t have sufficient house to retailer all of the attachments. Irrespective of how a lot rejigging I did, I couldn’t get the diffuser attachment to suit, that means I needed to let it collect mud on high of the case. For a case this costly, that isn’t ok.
Lastly – and that is nitpicking – after I unboxed the hair dryer, I used to be prompted to obtain the MyDyson app. Now, I’m not a fan of getting random apps clogging up my cellphone, however I might be completely satisfied to take action if helpful options are on supply. Sadly, all you get with the Supersonic Nural is styling and upkeep recommendation – which is offered on-line. For those who purchase the Nural, do your self a favour and skip the app.
Guarantee and repairs
All Dyson hair-care merchandise, together with the Supersonic Nural, are coated by a two-year guarantee. Throughout that point, Dyson will restore or change your hair dryer if it stops working. You can even purchase spare components and substitute attachments from Dyson, which arrive with a one-year guarantee.
As with all Dyson hair stylers, the Nural has a filter that wants cleansing as soon as a month, or once you see the LED cleansing mild swap on. That is simple to do: take away the filter cowl on the backside of the hair dryer’s deal with and gently filter any mud with a small cleansing brush. If vital, you should use soapy water, however you’ll want to attend for the filter to totally dry earlier than reassembling. Full cleansing directions will be discovered within the instruction handbook or on Dyson’s YouTube channel.
You can even discover product-specific troubleshooting tips about the Dyson assist web page, which is strictly the place you’ll be directed should you obtain the app, so I like to recommend skipping the intermediary. Dyson additionally has a helpline (0800 298 0298) the place you’ll be able to ebook a restore in case your mannequin is underneath guarantee.
In case your Dyson kicks the bucket after its guarantee expires, all isn’t essentially misplaced. Secondhand websites comparable to Promote My Dyson will purchase outdated Dyson hair dryers, to cease all of the components from going to waste.
Ought to I purchase the Dyson Supersonic Nural?
There’s no getting previous it – the Supersonic Nural is an excellent hair dryer that’s nicely suited to folks with delicate scalps. Scalp burn and frazzled hair might be a factor of the previous; it’s staggeringly quiet with a pretty design, a intelligent pause-detect characteristic and an excellent vary of attachments. It’s a transparent lower above hair dryers of outdated. Whether or not that’s price £400 will, in fact, rely in your price range.
I’m not satisfied. The truth is, you will get an excellent hair dryer for much much less. For lower than £150, you should buy the Head Jog Futaria hair dryer, which is lighter and quicker. Or you would go for the dependable Hershesons hair dryer, which is my high choose for most individuals. Nonetheless, if you wish to splash out on a luxurious hair dryer and you’ve got a delicate scalp, you definitely gained’t remorse shopping for the Supersonic Nural.
For extra:
The very best hair dryers for clean and speedy styling
The very best sizzling brushes for a salon end at residence
The very best hair straighteners for foolproof styling
Sarah Matthews is a shopper journalist who specialises in well being and sweetness opinions. In her 4 years of product testing, she’s labored her manner by numerous hair styling, hair removing, mild remedy and skincare instruments. Exterior work, you’ll discover her screaming from the rooftops concerning the significance of utilizing warmth-protection spray each time you dry your hair
