I’ve ummed and ahhed over buying a Dyson hair dryer each time the brand has held sales in the last few years. I know they’re good: I’ve borrowed my mum’s, used one in a bougie gym changing room and left haircuts with sleek blowouts wondering if I could be “that girl”.
I was just about ready to commit to the purchase when an email popped into my inbox announcing an updated model was about to be released.
The Supersonic Nural officially launched about a month ago, eight years after the original Supersonic was added to the brand’s hair category.
I got my hands on a test unit just as the weather turned from air-drying to hair-drying temperatures.
At face value, the Supersonic Nural looks pretty much the same as the OG. But it’s what’s going on under the hood that marks the real difference.
A focus on scalp health has led to the development of sensors that automatically adjust the temperature of the drying air to maintain a consistent 55 degrees Celsius at the scalp – this is what Dyson has deemed the optimal temperature to protect the scalp barrier. This means as you move the dryer around during styling, holding your arm further away or closer to your head, the heat ramps up or cools off to match. There’s also an option to turn scalp mode off if you’d prefer to be able to adjust the heat output yourself.
Another smart sensor feature is that the machine is able to learn your preferences for heat and airflow settings depending on which attachment is in use. For example, if you’re using the diffuser, it will automatically adjust to a lower airflow at 60 degrees Celsius.
A 28-degree cold shot is primed for setting hair once it’s been styled – this is the key to locking your blowout in place, I’ve learned.
One of my favourite features is the “pause detect” – basically, if you pop the dryer down mid-styling it will automatically switch into a holding mode that reduces the heat and airflow. Anyone who’s blown make-up all over their bathroom after accidentally putting it in the firing line of a full blast will appreciate this as much as I do. It’s also perfect for when you get distracted running around while making your morning coffee at the same time as doing your hair.
The Supersonic Nural comes with five attachments as standard, as well as a storage case for all the parts. Beyond the classic nozzle (what the brand calls the “styling concentrator”), the flyaway attachment and the Wave & Curl diffuser have been my most-used accessories so far. Whenever I use the flyaway attachment, I get asked if I’ve had my hair cut. I smugly say “no, it’s the new Dyson” and then proceed to chew the ear off the poor person who tried to give me a compliment by explaining the tech. (I like to think beauty editors offer the opposite service to mansplaining.)
The Wave & Curl diffuser is another new addition to the Dyson hair family. Magnets mean you can pull the attachment into two pieces and use the more bowl-like “dome mode” to enhance waves and curls with more definition. There’s some sort of sorcery going on with this attachment that gives similar vibes to the Airwrap and leaves you with a wavy look.
I have the type of hair that naturally dries with a wave (and a bit of frizz) but as soon as I take a hair dryer and brush to it, it goes sleek and straight. This attachment lets me keep my style on the more natural side – but better.
The new model comes in the brand’s now-signature purplish-blue hue and Ceramic Pop colourways. The Supersonic Nural is now available at dyson.com.au.
“We Tried It” is a series about beauty products Broadsheet editors have road-tested.
We hope you like the products we recommend on Broadsheet. Our editors select each one independently. Broadsheet may receive an affiliate commission when you follow some links.
