Dyson’s new Supersonic r dried my long hair in 5 minutes – but do you need a professional hairdryer at home?
I FIRST tried the Dyson Supersonic r hairdryer over a year ago – but at that time, it was only available for professional hairdressers in salons.
I’d been invited to try the new tech – which initially launched in February 2024 – and left very impressed, and to be honest, equally as annoyed that I couldn’t take the hairdryer home with me.
I wouldn’t normally admit this, but I was half an hour late to my appointment (I’d even offered to forgo it completely), but the team were so confident they’d be able to wash and dry my waist-length hair in the remaining time slot, that I had to see it for myself.
Often, when I get a salon blow-dry, I end up with two stylists drying my hair at the same time to speed things up, as my hair is so long.
Despite my misgivings, 40 minutes later I left the salon with freshly washed and styled – by one person – shiny, bouncy hair swishing behind me.
But the true test is how it works at home.
How I tested Dyson’s Supersonic r hairdryer
If there’s something you need to know about me – I’m lazy when it comes to my beauty upkeep.
Sure, I’ve got a solid skincare routine, and spend 20 minutes each day applying make-up, but if I find a faster way to do things, I will.
This is why I endeavour to spend the least amount of time possible drying my hair.
I’ve tried countless products that promise to fast-track the hair-drying process and every single hack out there – from wrapping my hair in an old T-shirt to sectioning my lengths so I only pass each once, and using a wide-tooth comb to separate strands for better airflow.
Spoiler alert: they don’t work.
Dyson Supersonic r hairdryer, £449.99
But – to my delight – the Dyson Supersonic r hairdryer has managed to more than halve my drying time.
I’ve had it for a few weeks, and have alternated it with the Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer, £399.99, which I’ve been using for the past year, timing how long it took to style my hair.
I’ve even sectioned my hair down the middle and used each dryer on half of my head to see if it made a difference.
How does the Dyson Supersonic r compare to previous Dyson hairdryers?
There are three different air-flow settings, and four different heat options on the back of the hairdryer, plus a cool-shot button on the front.
It’s 20% smaller and 30% lighter than the original Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, £329.99 – which I’ve used pretty much since it launched nine years ago.
It’s also more powerful, too – which might all sound like marketing jargon you wouldn’t notice in real life, but I promise you do.
Dyson Supersonic Nural hairdryer, £399.99
It’s noticeably lighter in my hand – technically, it weighs 680g but it feels about as heavy as holding a can of cola, because of the design.
It also feels hotter than the Dyson Supersonic Nural (without the scalp-protecting sensor turned on), yet still promises zero heat damage and has an in-built sensor to stop the temperature getting too hot.
Plus, the styling attachments are so effective at directing the airflow, it never feels like it’s burning my scalp.
It’s certainly more powerful, too – I can hold the Supersonic r at arm’s length, and it’ll still blow-dry my hair effectively.
What’s new about the Dyson Supersonic r?
It looks nothing like a traditional hairdryer – instead, it’s shaped like a lowercase “r” (hence the name) – which makes it incredibly nimble, and makes drying the back of my head way easier.
Even though it doesn’t look like any hairdryer I’ve ever tried before, it’s completely foolproof to use – I didn’t once look at the instructions or watch a tutorial before switching it on.
My favourite thing about the design of the Supersonic r is how close you can get to your roots.
My hair grows quickly, which means I’ve constantly got a halo of baby hairs, so being able to guide them along my parting and disguise them among my longer hair means I don’t have to use extra products once my hair is dry.
If you have curly hair that you straighten regularly, it’ll be even more beneficial, as you can get right to your scalp to iron out texture.
What comes in the Dyson Supersonic r box?
The new attachments are genius and are one of the most underrated things about Dyson‘s hair tools.
The Flyaway attachment has long been my secret to sleek, shiny hair as it completely eliminates frizz in one pass.
Dyson Supersonic r Straight-Wavy Bundle, £449.99
There are two different Dyson Supersonic r bundles – a straight-wavy and curly-coily set – both of which come with the flyaway attachment, as well as the pro-concentrator nozzle, and the attachment that increases the speed of the air coming out of the dryer.
The straight-wavy bundle also includes an attachment that spreads the airflow evenly so it’s more gentle on the scalp, and a smoothing nozzle that has a zig-zag design to deliver more negative ions to the hair for a sleek finish – it diffuses the airflow more than a traditional concentrator nozzle, making it kinder to your hair.
Dyson Supersonic r Curly-Coily Bundle, £449.99
The curly-coily set has a traditional-looking diffuser (as opposed to the dual-purpose wave and curl diffuser that comes with the Nural), and a wide-tooth comb to complete the five-strong line-up.
All the attachments are magnetic, which makes switching them over between styling easier than having to screw or click them into place.
They are also fitted with RFID technology, which remembers the heat and power settings last used and automatically changes it on the dryer – don’t worry if you’re not sure what’s best, they’re pre-programmed, so start there!
Dyson Supersonic r drawbacks
Still, for all its brilliance, there are a couple of cons that I’d want to be aware of if I was spending this kind of cash.
Dyson Supersonic r hairdryer, £449.99
First, the plug is huge – I imagine it’s what enables the actual hairdryer to be so streamlined and lightweight.
It’s not a problem at home, but if you were hoping to travel with the Supersonic r, the plug and dryer combined will weigh similar to other lightweight dryers.
Plus, it’s not dual-voltage either, so won’t work everywhere – although that’s the same for all Dyson hair tools.
Second, the attachments get hot – so if, like me, you interchange them during the styling process, be careful where you’re putting your fingers to avoid burning yourself!
Dyson Supersonic r: the verdict
It's undoubtedly the best hairdryer I've ever used, but at close to £500, is it worth the spend?
If your hair is easy to dry, and you don’t feel like you struggle with your current hairdryer – whether that’s the time it takes, the finish you get, and whether it’s too heavy for you to hold for the duration, then no, it’s probably not worth spending that kind of money (book yourself a holiday instead!).
However, if you want to cut down on drying time, find your arm aches when you dry your hair currently, or you struggle to reach the back of your head, then it’s absolutely worth the splurge – if you have the money to spare.
Yes, you’re paying for all the tech that’s enabled it to be so light and nimble, but you’re also paying for the attachments, which actually make a difference to the style and condition of your hair, unlike many others on the market.