Ask a woman about her wishlist, and nine out of ten times, there will be a Dyson device on it. Dyson today, particularly in the beauty world, is synonymous with luxury, innovation, and cutting-edge technology that helps millions achieve salon-style results from the comfort of their home. But where did it all begin? Dyson’s journey can be traced back to 1978 when James Dyson, frustrated with his vacuum cleaner’s diminishing performance, took it upon himself to invent one that provided superior results. Five years and 5127 prototypes later, he invented the world’s first bagless vacuum cleaner. With his first mass-produced vacuum cleaner, ‘DC01,’ Dyson was born in 1993. The rest, as we know it, is history.
Today, the brand extends from floorcare to acoustics and haircare but remains, at its core, a problem-solving, technology-led company—one famously passionate about airflow. Starting with cyclonic vacuums and later fans and purifiers, Dyson then applied its airflow expertise to develop hair tools that rely less on high heat and more on precision airflow. That commitment to fixing outdated haircare technology led to the launch of its first hair dryer, the Dyson ‘Supersonic,’ in 2016, instantly disrupting the beauty universe. Subsequent launches like the cordless ‘Corrale’ straightener and the tremendously in-demand ‘Airwrap’ not only cemented Dyson as a key player in the realm of beauty but also turned it into a status symbol. But that’s the thing about problem-solving and innovation—it’s a never-ending process.
Building upon the success of its ‘Supersonic’ and ‘Supersonic Nural’ hair dryers, Dyson is now introducing the ‘Supersonic r’—the world’s lightest hair dryer, equipped with the smallest heater—proving yet again that when it comes to the beauty tech space, Dyson is leading the charge. To celebrate the launch of the new Dyson ‘Supersonic r’ Hair Dryer, Buro flew to Paris to understand the game-changing technology from Sir James Dyson himself.
Scroll down to read our interview with Sir James Dyson, where he discusses the new ‘Supersonic r,’ the cutting-edge technology behind it, and Dyson’s commitment to innovation.
WHAT MADE YOU VENTURE INTO BEAUTY, PARTICULARLY INTO HAIRCARE?
Our work has always been about developing high-speed, revolutionary motors. Traditionally, motors reached a maximum of 30,000 RPM, but we created one that goes up to 130,000 RPM. And there’s a tremendous advantage in that because the faster the motor, the smaller it can be, which means fewer materials, greater efficiency, and a more sustainable design. We first applied this to vacuum cleaners, which tend to be heavy and bulky. Then, the engineers and I realized we could take the same technology and rethink the hair dryer. Instead of the conventional design, we could create something lighter and more intuitive.
That’s how we got into beauty—through engineering. By placing the motor in the handle rather than at the top, we dramatically reduced weight and improved balance. But before launching the product, we conducted extensive research into hair science, studying what damages both hair and the scalp. We entered the beauty space by understanding it and learning from challenges along the way. And we enjoyed it. We saw an opportunity to bring science to beauty, and wetook it!
HOW DID THE NEW ‘R’ SHAPE COME ABOUT? WHAT DESIGN CHALLENGES OR USER NEEDS DROVE YOU TO ADOPT THIS DISTINCTIVE FORM?
Back in the ’60s, design and engineering were seen as separate fields. Engineers in white coats developed technology, while designers focused on appearance. I never understood why these two disciplines weren’t integrated. Why couldn’t we think about what a product would look like while developing the technology—or even let design drive the technology itself? Well, this is what we did in the case of the ‘Supersonic r.’
We sketched this device about ten years ago, but we couldn’t make it work because we couldn’t fit the necessary components in its sleek form. So first, we developed the motor to fit. But, in order to bring this extremely light hair dryer to life, we had to develop the world’s smallest heater. Finally, we made it possible.
The goal was precision—precision airflow and precise hand movements while styling. The heater uses extremely thinsteel pieces, ensuring minimal obstruction to airflow as it moves around the vent. The airflow is very smooth. That’s not all; our compact heater also cools down in a split second as opposed to a traditional hair dryer heater, which takes about 10 seconds or more to cool down. The Dyson ‘Supersonic r’ thus saves a hairdresser about 30 minutes per client because the cool shot is instantaneous.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT AN INTERESTING FEATURE OF THE NEW DYSON ‘SUPERSONIC R?’
The ‘Supersonic r’ is equipped with attachment recognition. We’ve integrated an RFID circuit, so the device automatically detects which attachment is connected and adjusts to the correct setting. It also remembers your preferred styling settings. You can override it if needed, but it eliminates the need to manually adjust settings—the device does it for you.
THE DYSON ‘SUPERSONIC R’ WAS INITIALLY LAUNCHED ONLY FOR HAIR STYLING PROFESSIONALS. WHAT MADE YOU RELEASE THIS DEVICE FOR THE PUBLIC?
Necessity! We developed it with the world’s smallest heater and had to learn how to manufacture it at a high volume, which took time. This is why the product was initially only available to professional stylists. This also gave us the opportunity to get feedback from the professionals and further develop the ‘Supersonic r.’
YOU FAMOUSLY SAID THAT ‘FRUSTRATIONS DRIVE INNOVATIONS.” WHAT WERE THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT DROVE YOU TO DESIGN THE ‘SUPERSONIC R?’
Weight and noise were key considerations. While the Supersonic is great, it still had a bulky section at the top, which we wanted to eliminate. Placing the motor in the handle made us realize that the extra bulk wasn’t necessary, and we could create a much simpler, lighter hairdryer.
We also disliked the bulky heater design. It was frustrating that it had to be that way. But by rethinking these elements, we could develop the ‘Supersonic r,’ make it smaller, use fewer materials, consume less electricity, and improve overall efficiency. We’re just on a quest to improve and change things and make things better all the time.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF?
I would tell my younger self to never give up and always be curious and question things. Realize you’re going to make mistakes, but it’s essential to learn from them. People might laugh when you make seemingly insane suggestions, but sometimes “insane” suggestions are the best suggestions.
After gaining insights about the game-changing ‘Supersonic r’ from Sir James Dyson, we sat down with Kathleen Pierce, Global President of Dyson Beauty, to further discuss the device and Dyson’s role in the beauty tech industry.
DYSON IS A DISRUPTOR IN THE WORLD OF BEAUTY TECH. HOW DO YOU ENVISION DYSON’S ROLE EVOLVING IN THE BEAUTY TECH SPACE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
Dyson isn’t driven by trends or timelines. We launch products when we have something truly innovative and meaningful to offer. Our focus is always on pushing boundaries, introducing groundbreaking technology, and redefining the industry. We aim to identify gaps in the market, set new standards, and lead the way.
That said, we emphasize wellness and consumer education. Today, people are much more aware of hair health and damage than they were six years ago when we first introduced these conversations. Back then, excessive heat styling was common, whereas now, most consumers understand the importance of minimizing heat exposure. In many ways, we see our role as not just innovating but also educating and guiding customers through this journey.
HOW WOULD A CONSUMER PICK BETWEEN THE ‘SUPERSONIC NURAL’ AND THE SUPERSONIC R?’ WHAT FACTORS SHOULD ONE CONSIDER TO DETERMINE WHICH IS THE RIGHT DEVICE FOR THEM?
The ‘Supersonic Nural’ offers a broader heat distribution, while the ‘Supersonic R’ is designed for precision. Both models include heat protection, ensuring they won’t damage your scalp or compromise hair health.
The ‘Supersonic R’ provides greater styling versatility, thanks to quick cold shots that allow for faster styling and sharper, more defined results with minimal disruption to the hair. Its concentrated airflow ensures smoother styling by directing the jet in a single, controlled direction.
That said, you can’t go wrong with either model. The ‘Supersonic Nural’ variant is more focused on wellness, with a scalp care mode that helps retain 20% more moisture in the scalp. If you frequently blow dry your hair or have a long drying routine, the ‘Supersonic r’s’ lighter, more compact, and faster design reduces strain on your arms while delivering efficient results.
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