Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer Review & Photos
Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer ($399.00) is the first beauty offering from a brand that’s primarily known for their vacuums. I was both curious by my nature as someone who is devoted to reviewing beauty products as well as a fan of the Dyson brand in general (though I’m primarily a vacuum consumer of their products). I’ve been using it twice a week for the last month and a half.
The Dyson hair dryer is quiet, powerful, efficient at drying my hair, is comfortable to use, and seems well-made. I also like that the Dyson comes with both a smoothing and diffusing attachment, so at least you don’t have to immediately buy accessories!
Here’s the real test I gave myself to see if it was “worth it” to me: when I think about whether I’d use this or my prior T3 Featherweight, I’m not sure. I feel compelled to have to use the Dyson dryer, because it was extremely costly and it works as well, but I am not overly enthused or excited about it–because it really just doesn’t do a better job for me. I think that if your normal dryer takes you 30 minutes, and the Dyson can cut the dry time down to 15, the price difference could absolutely make it worth it for time-savings alone, but it’s really going to depend on what you have already (and how long that takes) compared to the Dyson (or any high-end dryer).
I think if you already have a high-quality, mid to high-end dryer, you may have a similar experience of just not being impressed enough for the price differential. If you’re someone in the market for a serious upgrade, it’s certainly a dryer worth considering, because I think it does an excellent job at drying the hair and is easy to use. For me, I am lucky to already have a really great blow dryer in my arsenal, so while nice, the Dyson Supersonic was definitely not necessary.
One additional thing I’d like to note is that based on various reviews I’ve read across platforms and retailers, those with finer hair seem the most frequent to write that the Dyson dryer made their hair feel like straw, but most reviews are positive across. Most retailers in the U.S. have good return policies, so if it doesn’t work out, it can always be returned–just make sure to keep receipts, the box, and any packaging for it.
Blowdrying
It felt like a powerful dryer, and the top speed setting certainly blew my hair around–I actually found it necessary to drop down a speed (and I almost always use high on a dryer) if I wasn’t using one of the attachments or else it felt a little like hurricane winds and my hair would tangle up easily. I primarily tested and used it with the smoothing attachment, which is the type of attachment I normally use with dryers. The sound it made was as loud as I’m used to with my T3, but it has a different sound–more whooshing and blowing and less the whir of a motor. Due to the way the dryer is built, I didn’t expect it to be an issue, but certainly worth mentioning that it didn’t suck my hair into the back of it and pull!
The Dyson 70% dried my hair (top layers were fully dry, some of the underlayers were damp, ends were mostly dry) in 5 to 8 minutes, and to fully dry my hair, it took 12 to 15 minutes. I have thick, long hair and a lot of it; just about every hairdresser I’ve ever had cut my hair has said, “You have enough hair for two people.” I rarely fully dry my hair, because mostly dry is enough for me. I felt like it was efficient and did a good job at drying the hair without overheating it, which is part of their technology: “the temperature is measured 20 times a second” to prevent overheating. The end of the dryer (or the attachments, smoothing or diffuser) get hot to the touch, but the rest of the dryer is just a little over room temperature and never felt too hot to handle.
To compare, my T3 Featherweight has presently been taking me between 5 to 8 minutes to dry (my hair is particularly long these days) for mostly dry and then 12 to 15 minutes for fully dry. As you can see, those are the exact same time ranges as the Dyson. One day, it might be slightly faster, and the next, it might be the same or even a minute or two longer. My guess is the variance is the result of how much water I’ve been able to squeeze out via towels; I used the same techniques and products across the two dryers. My other guess is that since I have so much hair, it just takes awhile to get to each layer, and I can only run through sections so fast!
The end result between the Dyson and T3 was similar; the only difference I could convince myself was really there was that I felt like the results with the Dyson were slightly smoother for that day, but my hair was frizzier the next day (after going to bed and waking up) compared to the T3, where my hair seemed to have the same amount of frizz/flyaways or less the next day. I felt like the shine was comparable between the two.
Weight
The way the weight is distributed differently than typical dryers, as the motor is in the handle. It took some getting used to, as it felt heavier initially to me, but after a few uses, I did not notice the weight distribution and only notice it when switching between my T3 and the Dyson. The way the motor is in the handle does make the dryer more prone to sliding off the counter, which is why the brand included a rubberized mat to place the dryer on.
The current T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i Dryer is 18.5 oz., and the Dyson weighs 28.8 oz. (per the brands), so depending on your needs, it’s not the lightest dryer out there. I think that the weight being closer to the hand actually makes it easier to hold for the long-haul, so even though it was heavier than what I’m used to, my arm didn’t ache or get tired using it.
Build/Packaging
The dryer has a really sleek look, and it definitely looks different from most dryers on the market, so if it’s your aesthetic, that might be a “wow” factor for you. I like that the attachments are magnetized, so they click on and come off really easily–no need to catch the corkscrews to screw it on, which also means that it is very easy to remove and change attachments on the fly (especially as they don’t get too, too hot, but while Dyson advertised “cool to the touch,” they felt warm to me). The buttons are right on the handle, so it took some getting used to ensure I wasn’t keeping my hand right over the controls. After a few uses, I did not notice the position of them in any positive/negative way. In many ways, I see how they reengineered the way the dryer looks and feels in the hand, but after using it for over a month, I’m not convinced one is better than the other.
The Dyson has three speed settings, four heat settings (including Constant Cold), which are located on the back of the dryer. There is also a filter in the bottom of the handle, which can be cleaned (and it’s pretty easy, though mine wasn’t particularly in need of clean when I looked at it). The cable is long enough (9 feet) to navigate through most situations, whether you’re in a hotel room or in a large bathroom.
The power cord for this is more industrial than any dryer I’ve encountered, with a large rectangular part towards the end, along with a very large plug. I expect that some of the weight of the cord also contributes to the dryer having a tendency to slip down the counter without using the no-slip mat (which is included).
It had a good feel and seemed well-made to me. There was nothing about it that seemed cheap, loose, or rickety in any way. The dryer comes with a two-year warranty, but for the price point, I’d like to see it push longer–after all, their vacuums come with a five-year warranty and are nearly the same price.
Supersonic Hair Dryer
PPermanent. $399.00.
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Damn, so it really is THAT good huh? 🙂 Good I guess, what with a price like that. I personally don’t use a hairdryer enough to really want it. Most of the time I let my hair airdry.
I do think it is a great dryer!
You are lucky you can let your hair air dry! 🙂
Having curly/wavy hair I air dry as well simply because traditional hair dries makes my hair frizzy…. and my hair never can decide if it wants to be curly or wavy. lol
That said I would consider using one of these driers at it takes time like 30-45min to get through all it. (Air drying takes 4 which is why it do that overnight. lol)
Thank you so much for reviewing this!! This product really intrigued me when it came out. I have only ever owned dryers around the $30 mark. I’m interested in buying a “nice” dryer but $30 to $400 is quite a leap. And I have fine-ish hair that dries in about 10 minutes, so this probably wouldn’t be a useful investment.
You know, Ginny, if your hair is already drying in 10 minutes… I would agree – I feel like the two pros/reasons to get it I saw throughout other reviews was that it cut down drying time and seemed to be smoother (but not smooth enough to skip flat ironing for some).
There are a lot of well-reviewed dryers for $200 or less, IMO – FHI, GHD, T3, Drybar, Solano, Sedu, Babyliss, Bio Ionic are just some of the ones that popped into my mind. Some of the brands like Solano, Sedu, Babyliss go on sale more often since they’re also sold at hair retailers like Folica (that run sales often, though I don’t follow them closely so maybe some are excluded from time to time).
But the question I’d ask is more what you don’t like about your current dryer or what you’d want a higher-end one to do better and go from there 🙂
We can talk in percentages, but to me, if it takes 10 minutes now and goes to 8 minutes (20% faster), that’s nice but doesn’t really change your day. You won’t set your alarm 2 minutes later, you know? But if it took you 45 minutes and it went down to 36 minutes (20% faster), saving 9 minutes every day can start getting impactful, especially if you do it every day or every other day.
What I have never been able to get from a hair dryer is smooth hair that doesn’t require a follow up with a flat iron. My hair has some stubborn waves and the ends look dry after I blow them (even using smoothing product and washing hair 2x/week). But, is this a fault of my cheap hair dryers, or is it simply the result of my poor technique? I have been drying my hair for almost 20 years and still don’t really have the skill down. I just brush n’ blow.
I appreciate your other recommendations, Christine! I will look into these brands. Thank you!!
I remember reading a few reviews where someone wanted that feature (no need for flat ironing) and said they still needed to use the flat iron but wasn’t “as bad.”
I’m like you, Ginny – I’m sure my technique could use improvement, lol!
If I’m careful and use the concentrated attachment on cool to set I can skip the iron for the first time ever! Yay! My technique sucks too ha.
I’m so with you on this. The warranting needs to be longer and for the price this needs to be wireless with a charging dock that can sit in the wanitity or be hoocked to the wall. I guess I want my cake and eat it too but I have their wireless vacuume so at least they can do is match that ;P
Yeah, I was surprised at the warranty period, given the price point and against their other products. T3 covers the majority of their dryers for 2 years as well, but their PROi ($350) is actually four years. Drybar only appears to have a one year warranty. GHD has one and two-year warranties. FHI seemed to have a 2 year warranty.
Without having to deal with the warranty process, one brand could be better than the other with replacing/repairing, of course. Like I’d expect Dyson to have a pretty good troubleshooting/customer service center due to their existing product range, and since they trade a lot off of name brand appeal, good customer service is likely a big deal to them as well.
I’m very intrigued! A friend of mine works in the Canadian office so I’m curious to see if I can play around with it first before splurging on one!
Hopefully you can!
I’m still on the fence (bc of the price).
I adore my Drybar but have my eye on the Dyson. Unfortunately, it’s even more expensive ($500) in Canadian dollars.
I’m also curious about the next generation as it’s supposed to be wireless!!! (That’s the rumour).
I wonder if they will upcharge for wireless, or if it will be a standard feature, if that is the case!
Another reader mentioned wishing it was wireless – I think for me it does not matter, since I store mine under the sink (and have no desire to keep it on my countertop, lol, I have enough trouble keeping the area clean and tidy as is!). I could see that being great for someone who is short on outlet space or is in a tighter area where cords would be annoying, though!
I looove mine. I’ve had it since the VIBR sale so I could get it for less than 400. For reference, my hair is fine and delicate as it’s bleached 3A-C curly hair. My mom has also tried mine a bunch and she has fine 2A hair. We both love it. I wasn’t expecting to think it’s worth it for me but I do. It’s made both of our hair softer and styles last much longer (2-3 more days).
For me it cuts about 15 minutes off. Because I have EDS/hypermobilty which causes severe chronic pain and random shoulder dislocations, the main selling point to me was the motor being in the handle which vastly limits my pain and subluxations. I love that I can talk with my roommate over it because it’s so quiet. I’ve used a variety of pro and consumer dryers and I love it.
What other dryers have you used for reference, Celia? I love hearing stories of people being happy with their big splurges 🙂
Before I bought it I made my mind up that if I just liked it and it wasn’t different enough from a normal blow dryer for me I’d absolutely return it. So I was surprised by how much I liked it! Since I get my hair styled at work so often it’s been through the ringer of blow dryers but at home I’ve mainly used the same T3 as you, a few other T3 models as well, all kinds of ConAir (I like their attached brush ones), Sedu, and Turbo Power Turbo 1500. I have lots of hair, but because of work and bleaching it’s definitely way more delicate than it would be unbleached/with a different job ha.
Definitely think it’s a great investment for disabled people and stylists since stylists often develop repetitive stress injuries from dryers and the motor change-up REALLY helps. It’s been popular with stylists backstage.
Oh and definitely agreed that the worst part is the warranty. I would VASTLY prefer something longer for the price and the fact that it’s Dyson. I think Dyson and Clarisonic both need to work on their warranties for such major, high-end, innovative brands. I don’t necessarily expect the same warranty as a vacuum but something longer would be nice.
IMO, between Dyson being a premium brand, them selling it as a massive redesign/re-engineering of the blow dryer, and it being their first entry in the beauty market, I was genuinely surprised they did not beef up their warranty.
I agree that I’m not sure five years is appropriate, but two years definitely seems pretty common, especially at the $300+ mark for a dryer!
Your experience with this product sounds similar to my own, Christine! The main thing I would add is that the weight distribution on the dryer is ideal for my rotator cuff problems, making it possible for me to hold the dryer long enough to dry my hair completely, which does make a difference for my hair. I also have another high-end dryer (Bio-Ionic 10X) that’s lightweight, but the length of usual nozzles means I have to hold my arm out too far away from my body for comfort, so I could never get my hair all the way to completely dry (aggravating my rotator cuff can lead to days of pain and going to the doctor for injections). So, I especially recommend it for people who have medical issues that make it difficult to hold a dryer long enough to get good results. My hair is less thick than yours, but longer, and parts of it are extremely non-porous and can take 24 hours to air-dry on a humid day; I can dry my hair completely in 20 minutes with the Dyson, even on an extremely humid day. The other thing I’ve noticed is that it can make it possible to get good anti-frizz results with less product than usual, depending on your hair type. It seems like people with fine hair in particular should try using less product and lower heat to avoid the straw-like effect (which I haven’t experienced, but my hair is in the middle in terms of both fine/coarse and thick/thin, and very slightly wavy, but very frizz- and tangle-prone, and I do find that I get better results with less product than usual). Also, I think that the Dyson is meant to be used with one of the three attachments, hence the difficulty people have with their hair blowing all over the place when attempting to use it without one. I agree with you about the length of the warranty — it makes me wonder a bit if maybe they don’t have as much confidence in the dryer as they do in their vacuums!
Yes, I think the weight being in the back actually works when you get into body mechanics and definitely reduces aching arms (I think I mentioned this part). I was initially worried that it would be a problem for my wrists, but surprisingly, they seemed OK. I agree that it is better with one of the attachments than on its own!
I had the same concern re: warranty. I don’t know whether they went with two years, because that seems like an industry average for blow dryers, or if they actually felt less confidence about the life of the dryer vs. vacuum. I mean, given that they are the same price in some cases, that’s why it threw me off. I also think that with all of the engineering they did and features they claim, it makes me feel like, “Oh, this is first generation, there may be some kinks still!” and you don’t really get the benefit of an extended warranty for that.
My sister recently bought one and let me take it for a spin a few times. Overall I found that my Sedu 4000i (this is the same hair dryer as the Harry Josh one, FYI) actually performed better both in dry time and smoothness. Not a bad hair dryer by any means but I personally didn’t find it to be spectacular.
Good to know that the Sedu 4000i is doing such a great job, Ashley! What is the drying time for you with the Sedu?
About 12 minutes! My hair is medium-long and pretty thick. I use it with the Olivia Garden thermal round brush.
Dyson customer service…awhile ago…for the handheld vaccum…was ok, but there was one major caveat. No one, I mean no one, repaired it. You ordered a component from Dyson and put it back together yourself. I had dropped it, due to arthritic hands. They said to order X part, and basically diy. That would not be good for the mechanically challenged. Plus, how do we know teleservice is actually correct in pinpointing the problem? It gives them a lot of room to upsell replacement parts that may not actually be needed. Thank god you can’t drop an upright. I found it very odd, esp for an HE product. I wonder if any local service exists now? Somehow doubt it, sounded like a corporate policy. That said, I was never less than pleased with the operation of either unit. Thank god i don’t need this hairdryer. Totally low maintenance in that dept.
Oooh, that is a bummer to hear, KJH. I have a Dyson vacuum from six years ago, and I haven’t had any issues with it so have never had to reach out to Dyson for service before.
Thank you so much for your in-depth and informative review, Christine! I do not see myself throwing down $399. (or even over $50!) on a blow dryer anytime soon, if ever. But this one certainly *looks* different enough! It is actually quite beautiful to look at, I know that’s a very peculiar thing to say about a hair dryer, but it’s true.
I’ve got an old Conair Pro Infinity that I bought around 5 years ago, it works FAST. My own hair is past my strap, very thick, yet fine, wavy/curly in texture. I dry the bulk of it with my head held upside down with a huge hollow duo bristle round brush, then flip my head back up to do the more intensive shaping and drying top of my head, where pulling it straight is more work. Takes about 20 minutes to do my whole head.
Before suffering a major loss of hair 7 years ago from being put on Remicade, I used to get told that about my hair being enough for 2! And also being charged extra for spiral perms or anything more than a trim. I miss my old hair! Btw, it DID grow back in from being literally half-bald, but not with its previous mass.
I like that they really thought about the process, current technology, design, and so forth – I think that’s really neat. I like the approach, and I think it is a great dryer. I just honestly can’t say that it’s blowing (ha, ha) away my current dryer either!
It sounds like we dry our hair the same way, Nancy! For some reason, I find upside to be easier, LOL.
The price is a like ‘ What the hayle” lol. Not a chance but I also have naturally curly hair that I always air dry and I have like two inches of hair on my head so not needed. Nice to know it holds to its price.
Definitely not going to be worth it if you air dry normally!
It takes all day to fully dry if I let it air dry, and it’s SOOO heavy initially. I usually spend 5-10 minutes drying and then let it air dry for the rest of the way.
Oh wow, didn’t know about this thing! Thanks for reviewing. I also have the T3 Featherweight.
I am surprised you didn’t touch on 2 factors here:
1. The Dyson dryer looks to have a shorter barrel than conventional dryers, which might make maneuvering it much easier, especially when straightening hair.
2. This dryer also has a hole in it, haha. Which means it doesn’t need to be cleaned out like normal dryers that accumulate dust and hair where the fan is.
Hi Zoe!
I touched on 2 actually – I mentioned that the filter is in the base of the handle instead of the back, and it can be removed to clean 🙂 I’m sorry I did not mention the barrel length – I expected that to be noticed via photos as a design feature but I’ve never had a moment where I’ve felt like the length of a dryer was too long so it did not occur to me to speak on it specifically! I’m very sorry that the review disappointed you!
Christine, I am in no way ever disappointed by your reviews! Please never think that.
I think I accidentally skimmed over some parts on my initial read-through. My apologies if I came off any particular way. I was trying to keep it light!
I’m so sorry again for overlooking what was an important feature for many!
I was excited about this when I first heard about it for one reason: One time, on a very hot Summer’s day, I was standing in line with the Mr. at Best Buy. They had one of those bladeless Dyson fans going and I was being a goof and sticking my head in it. When I left that store, my hair was softer and smoother than it has ever been in my life.
When I saw the news about this product coming out, I figured that maybe other people had noticed this effect. But now it seems to be another hair dryer, along the lines of ones that already exist.
So, based on my experience, I’d say that if you want a great hair from a Dyson product, just invest the money in one of their fans. 😀
I have definitely seen reviews mention smoother/shinier! I feel like I had less flyaways than usual, but for me, the next day seemed a little worse (it made me wonder if it was drying out my hair at all, since some mentioned “straw-like” as a complaint, but I don’t think so).
I’m thoughtful about dryers, as I have a torn shoulder rotator cuff as well as very fine hair. However, I manage fine with my current dryer, and what with that and the considerable cost, I can pass, for now at least. Good to know about though.
Another reader said it helped her with her rotator cuffs, so if yours ever becomes an issue, maybe this will help 🙂
So, I got mine on Sephora’s VIBR Sale and I am happy with it. I had a Harry Josh dryer, which is really good (and I got for $150, half off when it was $300 a couple of years ago). I was very upset with my Harry Josh for two reasons. First, two heat settings. One was not hot enough and the other burned my scalp. I used the hotter one a bit farther grom my head and got great results, but my shoulder kills me after. Second, I dropped it once, the back cover broke and I once hot my hair caughy in the motor. I endedp up with a lot of breakage.
I have fine curly hair that I blow dry straight and, due to the Super Silk Smoothing treatment, I could do it 15 minutes with my Harry Josh. I get the same result with my Dyson in 5. For me, that is game changer.
Regarding the fine hair problem, the first time I used it, I felt my hair a bit weird, not completely straw-like but messy. So I read a few reviews at Sephora and one person mentioned she called Dyson’s customer service and was advised to put less product on the hair before drying and use the low/medium heat setting. It worked for her and it worked for me. My hair looks great each time I use it and no more scalp burns. Also, I read about how the dryer is resistant and how they threw it on the floor, stepped on it and all, just to make sure it’s resistant. And the fact that there is no open access to the fan makes me happy. I’ll never get my hair caught on it again.
I’m so glad this is working well for you, Camila!
It sounds like the Harry Josh dryer was just awful! 🙁
Oh, wow — that is one HEAVY dryer!
I have been so curious about this dryer since it launched, but it is way out of my price range, so I really appreciate your thorough review. (Thanks, Christine!) As glorious as it would be to have a Dyson-made dryer, I think I can comfortably give it a pass without feeling like I’m really missing out.
I was surprised at the weight! I think the way it is balanced makes it harder to notice after using it a few times, but I thought it would be a lighter dryer (overall).
sigh…I can’t justify getting this, since I almost always let my hair air-dry and only end up using a dryer maybe once a month, but I really want it just for the shape. My arms are short, and I find normal hairdryers to be really unwieldy. When you add the length of the attachments to the length of the dryer, I just can’t maneuver it. I can’t hold it far enough from my head. This one seems like it would be so easy to manage, and I love the magnetic attachments, too.
It sounds like this would, at least, be better for your body/needs, Lisa, but I tend to agree – once a month is going to make it harder to justify such a costly purchase! I mean, I guess the good news is that it would probably last forever? Hopefully? LOL!
I air dry my hair too, or I get it blow-out. With the weather being cold, I finally thought this was deciding factor in trying the Dyson. As I said in my comment, I have keratin in my coarse, colored hair, so the heat makes it straight. It pays for itself by not either catching cold from air drying or getting a blow-out (at least for me).
I was interested in this hairdryer because I thought it would be a nicer (size/shape) for traveling with but the price is high even if I used it everyday so I talked myself out of it as easily as I talked myself into it! Right now I’m happy with my full sized Drybar buttercup hairdryer but next time I’m in the market for one I might consider the Dyson amoung other brands. If there isn’t a huge difference between the Dyson and other mid to high end brands then I don’t see a huge need for it unless you are already in the market for a new hairdryer or like you said moving from a lower end brand up to a higher end brand. Thanks for the indepth review!
If you’re happy with your Drybar, I’d probably stick with it 🙂 The Buttercup isn’t cheap!
I saw this on QVC for days I thought maybe Bed Bath and beyond would allow the use of their 20% off Coupons like they do on their Dyson vacuums but not on the Dryer. Maybe in the future they will. I am glad it got a good review but I don’t style my hair with a blow dryer I will let it dry natural or if I want it to dry fast I just turn my head upside down and dry it without styling it at all. My hair is long and straight if I want the ends curled a little I will use the Calista Perfector which is just a curling Iron with a round brush at the end instead.
Sephora let VIBs use their 20% off on it, though they did 1 per order. Otherwise, I have not seen it discounted – I know Ulta’s coupons have specifically excluded it thus far!
I too have two T3 featherweights, the full size and the folding travel size. My hair is very straight, fine, but thick and about 4″ past shoulder length. My drying times are similar to yours Christine. I’ve wondered about the Dyson but am happy with my dryers. I had a Dyson vacuum but had problems a after about 18 months. When I called customer service, I had the same issues as one of the commenters today. First, one part was “normal wear and tear” but we couldn’t access the area to install it. We had to take it to a Dyson repair service. The cost for the part and repair was 20 x what a regular vacuum repair would cost. This experience has made me hesitant to debut the brand. One caveat, this vacuum experience was well over 15 years ago.
Here’s hoping they have since improved their customer service, Susan! 🙁
I found this to be life changing. Did not make my hair coarse or straw like but I have a keratin treatment. The big difference for me was that it’s like a jet engine and dried my hair so nicely and quickly—like minutes, and goof proof. Worth every penny!
Glad you’re enjoying your dryer, Lulu!
Thanks for such a thorough review. I was really intrigued with this dryer when I saw it at Sephora 2 months ago. But instead, I bought the DryBar Buttercup when Drybar had a sale over Thanksgiving. There definitely is a big difference in high end blow dryers than ones in the $30 range. And not just in final performance/finish of my hair, but how well my hair holds up the next day. The Buttercup really made a big, positive difference in styling my hair. I just found out I will be getting the Dyson hair dryer from a giveaway (which I’m so thrilled about!). So I look forward to comparing it to the Drybar Buttercup. Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
Congrats on winning one! 🙂 Definitely let us know how the two compare. I have not tried the Buttercup myself!
Christine, have you ever had problems with getting your hair caught in any of the dryers you have tried? That is the main reason I am looking to replace my Conair. $400 is a bit much for me to spend on a dryer….
I had that problem with a Conair (I reviewed it somewhere on the blog) – it was a more expensive Conair, too! It was a total deal-breaker for me. I haven’t had that issue with the other ones I’ve tried, though.
I definitely think you can find a dryer that won’t do that that is somewhere between your Conair and $400 though 🙂
I’ve been deciding which dryer to invest in. I’ve been considering the T3 and Dry Bar. What do you think? Are they very similar?
I haven’t tried Drybar, I’m so sorry!
Really interesting review! I usually let my hair air dry as it’s fine and too much heat frazzles it especially as it’s coloured. But if I had hair like yours I’d definitely be interested in investing in one! Btw your hair is gorgeous ?.
Thank you, Claire! 🙂
i love my dyson! i also was using the T3 featherweight luxe 2i, and it’s certainly been a good dryer, but i like the dyson more. i have very long, slightly wavy hair, and lots of it. i don’t use any of the attachments, just the dryer on upside down hair while moving it constantly. it’s a windtunnel! it dries in no time, and straightens it a bit too. all i have to do is use a round brush on the ends to smooth them and i’m done. i like the balanced feel with the motor in the handle, and while it does make noise, i find it less annoying than other dryers.
that said, i think if the price is a stretch for you, i wouldn’t buy the dyson. it’s a great dryer, but it’s a dryer. it doesn’t trim, color, or style your hair all by itself. it’s not a miracle! stick with a good, more reasonably priced dryer and spend the money elsewhere. and if the next one is wireless, i’m going to be very very angry, because i would love to walk around doing other things with my free hand, and i doubt they will offer a trade-in deal.
You never know about the trade in situation – I know that if you’re a vacuum customer, and you upgrade, they have a discount available (though you can save more sometimes with whatever is the general discount).
It is really strong without an attachment! I tried that the first time, but I spent a half hour combing tangles out of my hair, lol.
I’m soooo intrigued by this! I wish I could just try it without having to buy it. Just to see! Lol.
I have an Elchim dryer which I LOVE. It’s changed my life. I have thick, very curly hair that I like to blow out pretty much. I do it about every 5-7 days. (I’m like you, hairdressers always comment on my hair and I always need like 2-3x times the amount of chemicals when coloring lol). I’ve gotten my routine down to about 30ish mins (sometimes faster). Which to me, is great lol. I don’t know how much faster I could actually get just given the amount of hair I have…. but I’d like to see! And I’d be curious to see if the Dyson would make it even smoother and shinier!
I got my Elchim at Ulta when I was working there and used my points so I ended up paying only $30, but damn I’d have to earn a TON of points to get the Dyson for free lol. I doubt I’ll buy it as long as my Elchim is still working (and I just plopped down $600 on a Dyson vacuum this week as it is)… but yeah, I wish I could just use it once just to see!
Happy to hear that the Elchim is working well for you, Becca!
That’s how I feel… I do not think I could physically work through all my hair much faster than I do, so getting the drying time down more might not matter!
Which vacuum model did you get? Haha, I actually just upgraded for my household over Black Friday. They totally got me.
i have fine hair that’s wavy/curly so I like that it comes with accessories. I haven’t blown my hair out myself in probably 4 years, so I’d skip it. I’d rather pay someone else $50 bucks to do it if I really want shampoo commercial hair for an event. That’s probably rarely going to happen at my current level of lifestyle!
I like the effect of a good blow out, but man, I cannot sit there for that long. I get soooo bored!
I know someone with noise-induced hearing loss who says the Dyson is worth it for the lower sounds levels; she’s very passionate about the amount of noise we’re all exposed to on a daily basis and tends to preach (for good reason, I suppose) about the importance of exposing ourselves to fewer decibels at every opportunity. I have no opinion — just passing that along.
Thank you so much for sharing, Alecto! 🙂
Hi Christine,
I am curious, how do you think this compares to the ELCHIM 3900 Titanium Ionic-Ceramic Dryer (retail price
$209.00). Both seem to have equal ratings on ulta.com but I was curious as to your opinion. TIA! 🙂
x
Ava
Sorry, I have not tried that.