Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer or Dyson Nural: Which Is Elite?

For decades, it felt like there was only one type of straightener and curling iron. Now, there are wet-to-dry tools like the Dyson Airstrait and GHD Duet Styler, all-in-one options like the Shark FlexStyler, hair wavers, and blowout brushes galore. Even the classic hair dryer has seen some major innovations — and leading the way has been the Dyson Supersonic ($430) and now, the Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer ($500).

Dyson Supersonic

From

$430

$430 at Ulta

Besides its vacuums, Dyson may be best known for its cult-favorite Airwrap, but the Supersonic Hair Dryer has been around for much longer, launching back in 2016. There's a lot to love about this powerful hot tool — namely, how fast it works. Though the Airwrap also has hair-drying capabilities, it doesn't quite compare to the speed at which the Supersonic works. There's a reason you'll find it in hair salons everywhere. Quality hair tools can be a big investment, so if you're trying to decide if the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer or the Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer is worth the splurge, keep reading for my full review.

Dyson Supersonic Nural

null at Sephora

I never used to blow-dry my hair because it would take longer than I had the patience for (which, admittedly, wasn't very much), and it'd leave my wavy hair with a halo of frizz. All it took was using the Supersonic Hair Dryer once, though, to discover that it would challenge everything I knew. What's most impressive to me is how fast it works. Rough-drying my hair with the gentle air attachment takes 10 minutes, tops. This is good because my fiancé and I occasionally fight over it, but his cropped hairstyle only needs a quick, five-minute blast of air to dry it. Then it's rightfully returned to its true owner (me).

Another major perk of the Supersonic is how lightweight it is. Anyone who's ever spent 10-plus minutes with their hands above their head attempting to maneuver a round brush knows how crucial this is. It's powerful, without being heavy or super loud, which just makes using it all the more enjoyable.

Over my years of owning it, I've used it a myriad of ways — to rough dry, give myself an attempted '90s blowout with a round brush, and to diffuse my curls. The five attachments are secured with a magnet so they easily snap into place and stay put. Though frizz is a natural, perfectly normal part of having hair, if you are looking to cut down on the amount you get from heat styling, the Supersonic emits negative ions to counteract any frizz that may be triggered by the heat. What's also worth noting is how shiny it makes your hair. You can see a real difference in mine when I air-dry it or use a different hot tool.

The Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer has all of the features you know and love from the original Supersonic, but it has some major tech upgrades, making it even better, both in efficiency and innovation. The Nural Dryer contains a few stand-out improvements that set it apart. First is the scalp sensors, which monitor and automatically adjust the hair dryer's heat setting based on how close the tool is to the head. The sensor, located in the center of the dryer, lowers heat when it detects the surface is close and raises heat when the surface gets farther away. This protects the scalp against unnecessary and excessive heat damage. This feature can be turned on and off.

The second big improvement made was the addition of auto-pause. Now, just like with the Airstrait, Dyson's Nural Hair Dryer knows when it's being set down thanks to a motion-sensing accelerometer. When the machine detects that it's been put down while you grab your next section of hair or reposition your brush, it automatically deactivates the heater and lowers the airflow until you pick it back up.

Nural also has new technology that allows it to remember the settings you last used with each attachment, automatically adjusting them when you connect the piece to the machine. So, for example, if you last used your diffuser on low airflow and low heat, the next time you reattach the same item, it will enable those same settings.

Speaking of the diffuser, that also got a major upgrade. The new Dyson Nural Diffuser Attachment can now be split into two pieces: a standard diffuser and a bowl-like shape when you disconnect the diffusing prongs. The traditional diffuser allows those with curly hair to dry their roots while minimizing frizz, while the new bowl capability allows you to dry the ends of wavy and curly hair with gentle, downward airflow.

Last but not least, the Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer now features LED lights that change color based on the temperature settings when in scalp protection mode. The device will light up red for high heat when the scalp sensor reads that the head is far, orange for medium heat when it's a little farther away, and yellow for low heat when the scalp is detected as close.

With the Dyson Supersonic, the possibilities may not be just as endless as the Airwrap, but this tool still offers a lot of versatility. For my fine, medium-length hair, I'll use it on the medium heat and speed setting. The five attachments allow you to create a variety of styles. I use the styling concentrator, diffuser, and gentle air attachments the most.

When I want to wear my hair with a wave, I will use the diffuser to dry it to about 80 percent, then I'll air dry the rest of the way. On the other hand, when I'm looking to do my hair with a curling iron or straightener, I'll use the gentle air attachment to rough dry it to completion, focusing primarily on my roots. Then I'll go in with my other hot tools to style. The last way I use my Supersonic Dryer is to give myself a sleek blowout — although I'll be honest, since owning a blow-dry brush, I rarely do it the old-fashioned way anymore. For this style, I'll use the long, narrow styling concentrator attachment, which directs the air in a more controlled manner toward your brush. When styling my hair this way, I'll use the cool shot to lock in the loose waves I'm creating.

If you're looking to build out your hot-tools collection, Dyson has a wide range of options, which can make choosing just one all the more difficult. The Supersonic Hair Dryer is great if you're looking for a straightforward blow dryer to use every time you wash your hair. Blowouts with a brush and diffusing curls are super easy with this tool. However, if you want something that offers even styling possibilities, the Airwrap may be the better choice for you. It has more capabilities with the curl and brush attachments, plus the ability to rough dry hair.

Like all Dyson products, the Supersonic Hair Dryer is an investment. Priced at $430 for the original and $500 for the new Nural device, it's cheaper than the Airwrap but still pretty pricey. That said, you can trust that the tool is high quality, offering you years of use. Dyson also has a two-year parts warranty program with its tools. If you blow dry your hair often, you'll likely find it's worth every penny.

The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is available at the brand's website, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Best Buy, and Amazon.

Rating: ★★★★★

Jessica Harrington is the senior beauty editor at PS, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products.