Why Dyson's Supersonic dryer could be the next big thing in hair care
Over the last few years, the consumer tech business has been on the upswing. Though not in the same league as the glitzy money-spinning smartphone industry, consumer tech industry has still managed to come up with some products that have disrupted the market space and wowed people across the globe, solely based on their untamed innovation.
One name that has been behind many such products is British consumer tech giant Dyson. The company, to its credit, has products such as the Pure Cool Link air purifiers, and a range of vacuum cleaners that look straight out of an HG Wells novel. And recently, it added another impressive product to the list, the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer.
What is the Supersonic hair dryer all about?
Announced almost two years ago, the Supersonic hair dryer caught the fancy of bloggers and journalists with its uncanny design, and now that the gadget has finally been announced for the Indian market, it's worth exploring in detail the promises it makes.
Priced at approximately Rs 30,000, the device comes with a tag that's mighty rich for a hair dryer – the most affordable ones can be purchased for as low as Rs 500 from stores or online.
But, there's a reason why the Supersonic is just so expensive.
Produced at an investment of over $100 million, by a team of 103 engineers after rejecting 600 prototypes over a span of four years, the Supersonic is unlike any other hair dryer out there. It tackles the two biggest issues that modern hair dryers face as it comes with the promise of considerably cutting down the amount of time spent on blow-drying one's hair, and also significantly reducing the damage to hair follicles while doing so.
The dryer does so with a combination of innovative design and state-of-the-art technology. First, let's talk about the design.
As opposed to conventional hair dryers that come fitted with bulky motors on the device's crown, the Supersonic comes with a head that has a cylindrical hole running through it. So where is the motor you ask? Hidden neatly inside the handle of the device.
The powerful motor, which clocks 1,10,000 revolutions per minute, being placed inside the handle not only makes it aesthetically pleasing, but also helps the Supersonic feel like a more balanced device in terms of weight in real-world usage, thus making it more suitable for prolonged use.
From the engineering point of view, a major fallout of placing the motor in the handle of the dryer is managing the heat. In normal dryers, with the head holding the motor, the handle remains cool while the top does get a little hot while prolonged usage. With the Supersonic, Dyson has cleverly layered the body with a protective coating which not only keeps the handle super cool but also ensures the head doesn't heat up.
What makes it special?
Despite being a breakthrough device from the engineering point of view, it's the state-of-the-art technology behind the device that truly makes the Supersonic special. There is no denying that its futuristic see-through head design and the powerful motor help the device's appeal.
However, its the use of a glass bead thermistor and a microprocessor for powering sophisticated technologies that help the device measures air flow and temperature 20 times a second and produce a high-pressure, high-velocity jet of air that can blow-dry in as little as five minutes is what sets it apart.
The Supersonic also promises you a damage-free hair drying session. As is well-known, blow drying hair comes at a cost. In the short term, it can lead to dry, frizzy and lifeless hair, while in the long term, it can even cause permanent damage.
As Dyson found out during their research, "at temperatures of 150 degrees upwards, the structure of hair's cortex slowly gets weaker and less elastic over time" leading to split ends, occasional breakage and a general lacklustre vibe. So first things first, the sophisticated temperature monitoring technology inside the Supersonic always keeps the temperature below 150 degrees.
Secondly, the low temperature, on for a short burst of 5-10 minutes, Dyson claims, leads to no damage to hair because of the Supersonic.
Is it worth it?
Well, based on what the technology promises, it is. In a sea of hair dryers that offer little in terms of innovation and technology, Dyson's offering truly stands out. At Rs 30,900 for the hand-finished leather case variant and Rs 27,900 for the normal variant, the Supersonic is not cheap.
Yet, what it promises to save you in terms of time and more crucially hair damage does justify its steep price. The multiple hair styling attachments that Dyson ships in the box with the Supersonic also adds to the value. However, in a price sensitive market like ours, it's difficult to recommend a hair dryer that costs around Rs 30,000 to everyone.
Despite being an engineering marvel and a technological breakthrough for hair dryers, the device is not for everyone. Not with this price tag at least.