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I have thick, wavy and extremely unruly hair that turns to straw with any form of heat styling. I had long ago given up hope that there could be a device that could rid me of my hair care woes. Then I met the Dyson Supersonic – a powerful, fast-working and damage-reducing hairdryer that transformed my unruly strands into soft, shiny and healthy locks for the first time in a decade – a feat I never thought possible. As it turns out, some things just keep getting better.
Dyson has launched a new smart version of its original Supersonic hair dryer in spring 2024 that’s even more impressive. The new and improved Dyson Supersonic Nural is packed with intuitive, smart features that protect hair and scalp, enhance shine, and most importantly, dry your hair in record time without damaging it. But is the nearly $500 price tag justified?
A few months after its launch, I was finally able to test the Dyson Supersonic Nural to see if it could tame my curls. You can find the results below.
What makes the Dyson Supersonic Nural unique?
Before I share my experience with the Dyson Supersonic Nural, it’s important to mention the key features and selling points of this hair dryer. The Dyson Supersonic Nural has three innovative styling features that set it apart from its predecessors: scalp protection mode, head learning, and pause detection.
Scalp protection mode: In Scalp Protection Mode, the Nural is designed to adjust and reduce its temperature setting as it gets closer to your scalp. This all works via an invisible Time-of-Flight sensor that measures the distance between the dryer and your scalp. By protecting your scalp, the dryer also preserves your scalp’s precious moisture, which contributes to overall hair health and appearance. It’s worth noting, however, that Scalp Protection Mode doesn’t work with all attachments, specifically the Flyaway attachment, Wide Tooth Comb, and Wave+Curl Diffuser.
Learning commitment: Nural’s learning attachment allows the dryer to remember the last heat and airflow setting you used with each styling attachment and automatically apply those settings each time you use the attachment. This consistency is worth its weight in gold.
Pause setting: Whether checking our phones or working through our skin and beauty routines together, we all need breaks when drying our hair. That’s why the Dyson Supersonic Nural’s pause setting is such a game-changer. When you turn the dryer off, the Nural turns down the heat and reduces airflow and noise, so you can take a sip of your morning coffee or apply your daily foundation. When you pick it up again, the dryer switches straight back to its last setting without interruption.
Incredible speed + damage-reducing technology
With thick curls like mine, it takes an average of 25 to 30 minutes for a conventional hair dryer to dry my hair, and then I go back in and finish it off with a curling iron or straightener.
If I want to dry super quickly and easily with the Dyson Supersonic Nural, I can do it in around 10-12 minutes on the high heat setting. If I take my time styling, it takes around 15-20 minutes to get my hair to salon quality.
I recommend the medium heat setting if you want to save time but still want to style your hair with a little patience and practice. It may take some time to master a system, but once you do, you’ll be able to get the drying done much faster than with a traditional hairdryer.
Next level shine
What impressed me most about the Dyson Supersonic Nural is that over the course of about a month, the health of my hair visibly improved. I went from a straw-like texture with brittle ends and flyaways to smooth, silky locks with locked-in moisture that I only needed to style every four to five days. Even my hairdresser was amazed at the improvement in my hair from one styling session to the next.
Suitable for curly hair
As someone who has walked around with waves that just looked flat and dull, I was hoping that with the Dyson Supersonic Nural, I would find an attachment that could liven up my mediocre waves and give them the bounce and fullness I hadn’t seen in a long time. The new Wave+Curl diffuser attachment that comes with the Nural is the answer to my prayers. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with diffusers in the past, but this easy-to-use attachment isn’t like other diffusers—it comes with two modes.
Dome mode, my favorite of the two, directs airflow away from the scalp and swirls air in and around the curls to create smoother, longer waves, curls, and spirals with bouncier, rounded, and shapelier ends. Regular diffuser mode helps add body and volume to your textured curls, which is typical of most diffusers. I found it to be great when used in conjunction with dome mode. In other words, you don’t have to choose between the two and they actually work great together to create volume, fullness, bounce, and definition.
Dyson Supersonic Nural hair dryer
I wish I could say I’m a natural when it comes to hairstyling, but for most of my life I’ve struggled to get the results I want unless I pay extra at the salon. Believe me, I long for the day when I can afford a blow-dry twice a week. Until then, I have to take care of my hair myself, but thanks to the Dyson Supersonic Nural, that task is now much easier.
What I liked:
- The design: As a ’90s kid who appreciated clear, see-through electronics, I loved the transparent back panel near the handle that illuminates each heat setting – a vibrant and welcome design addition. Plus, the Nural color palettes you can choose from, from a turquoise hue to rose gold to cobalt blue, make this hairdryer a pretty piece to add to any collection.
- The appendices: Let’s face it: the most important thing in a hairdryer is the attachments, and the Dyson Supersonic Nural comes with five attachments to suit a variety of needs.
- Healthier hair: I was impressed by how my once frizzy, flat hair regained bouncy, defined waves just by using this tool.
What I didn’t like:
- The price: There’s no getting around it: $500 is a lot of money to spend on a hair dryer. However, if you’re looking for an innovative appliance that meets all your needs and are willing to make the financial investment, you won’t find a better hair dryer than this one.
- Difficult to handle: The Dyson Supersonic Nural may look light, but its handle is quite heavy, which causes some fatigue when held for long periods of time.
The verdict
The Dyson Supersonic Nural is the best Dyson hair dryer we’ve seen on the market so far, including its comparable predecessor, the Dyson Supersonic. The combination of smart features and gentle, hair-conscious drying that promotes and protects scalp and hair health is unrivaled. If you’re someone who struggles with styling, this damage-free hair dryer will give you the results you want, with a slight learning curve that you’ll quickly overcome.
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