Review: Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer

When Dyson released its Supersonic hair dryer in 2016, it made waves with a design more akin to the brand’s fans and air purifiers than traditional hair tools. The Supersonic quickly gained a reputation for its fast-drying capabilities. Now, Dyson has introduced an updated version, the Supersonic Nural, and it’s impressive with enhanced features and faster drying time.

It’s frustrating how consistently excellent Dyson hair tools are, mainly because the price continues to climb. At $500, the Nural is $70 more than the current $430 price of the original Supersonic (originally $400 at release). While our top two hair dryer picks are $40 and $55, there’s no denying that the Nural surpasses them in quality and performance.

Quick Dry Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer

My hair is very thick, with each strand being coarse and dense. Styling and drying usually take hours, often leaving my roots damp all day. Dyson’s powerful motor delivers a robust airflow, drying hair quickly without burning it. The first time I used the Nural with its new diffuser, my hair was about 75 percent dry in 17 minutes. Fully diffusing my curls took about 35 minutes using both diffuse and dome modes.

Dyson claims the dryer enhances natural shine, and while coarse curls don’t naturally shine much, my hair didn’t look as dry as it does with other dryers. The motor’s placement in the handle rather than the barrel contributes to its compact shape and even weight distribution, preventing it from feeling top-heavy.

The diffuser is a standout feature. In “diffuse mode,” it looks like a typical diffuser with prongs to reach the roots for added volume. This mode is ideal for textured curls and coils. Switching to “dome mode” creates a vortex of air to dry curls by spinning air around them, elongating and enhancing waves and curls. For my hair, using both modes together worked best. The regular diffuser handled the roots and bottom layers, while the dome mode cared for the length and damaged curls on top.

Design and Features

The Nural sports a few visual changes from the original Supersonic. Heat settings are indicated by color-changing lights: blue for cool, yellow for low heat, orange for medium, and red for high. This adds a fun, practical touch, making it easy to check the settings at a glance. The clear back panel revealing the internals is a nod to the ‘90s clear tech trend, adding a nostalgic appeal. Most controls are smartly placed on the back of the barrel, avoiding accidental changes while handling. The power switch and cold shot button are on the handle but are positioned out of the way.

Smart Features

The Supersonic Nural includes several smart functions to simplify the hair-drying process. Scalp protect mode uses a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor and infrared beam to detect proximity to your scalp, automatically reducing the temperature to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. This feature works with attachments like the gentle air attachment, styling concentrator, and smoothing nozzle, sparing you from manually adjusting settings as you move from roots to tips.

The Nural’s intelligent attachment functions include a Hall sensor in the “capsule” at the dryer’s center, recognizing each attachment. Initially, it sets recommended speed and heat settings but remembers any changes you make, automatically adjusting them next time. This means if you prefer higher heat with the diffuser and lower heat with the comb attachment, the dryer remembers these preferences.

The new Pause Detect feature is handy for those who section their hair while drying. When you set the dryer down, it turns off the heat and reduces airflow, returning to the original settings when picked up. Note that this feature doesn’t work with the diffuser.

Final Thoughts

If you already own the original Supersonic, there’s no need to replace it, and Dyson isn’t discontinuing it. The original has proven durable, and we hope the Nural will match its longevity, making the $500 investment worthwhile. New attachments are compatible with the original model, though without the smart functions.

Ultimately, deciding to splurge on Dyson tools is a personal choice. If your current hair dryer performs well, there’s no need to upgrade. However, if you struggle with hair that takes forever to style, the time saved and protection from heat damage might justify the cost. With the Nural, I can enjoy more good hair days instead of resigning myself to a messy bun because of the daunting styling process.