Beauty review: the Dyson Supersonic r™ hair dryer

If you check in with my Instagram regularly or catch up with me IRL, you’ll know that since my second breast cancer diagnosis eight years ago now, I’ve lived with ongoing chronic pain issues that drive me nuts.
An unnecessary distraction but now a part of everyday life, I’ve learned ways to deal with pain when it raises its ugly head, be that by hitting the gym or yoga mat (both great, until it’s not!) or ramping up my regular meditation practice. But when it gets particularly bad, even the likes of washing and blow drying my hair can be an exercise in heartbreak and frustration. With all of that in mind, the thought of a light-as-a-feather hair tool that won’t bring me to tears seemed a pipe dream – until the new Dyson Supersonic r™ hair dryer officially entered the chat!

Meet the Dyson Supersonic r™ hair dryer
Made available to consumers just last month, the Supersonic r™ was previously only seen in the hands of top professional stylists (and in their award-season reels), and at Paris Fashion Week, where it was further developed and tested in the high-pressure backstage environments of a runway show (see above). At Chloé’s AW 25/26 show, it was used to create the effortless blow-dry look that appeared on Chemena’s parade of lissome models; and now, owners of the unique, high performing tool will be able to create the same look at home – and plenty more.
Unlike the OG Supersonic™ hair dryer and the scalp-focused Nural™ that followed, the (literally ‘r’ shaped) Supersonic r™ is the brand’s smallest and lightest styling tool. It looks totally different to anything else and feels about as light as a Stanley tumbler, but the compact design and curved shape are designed that way for a reason: they create more precise airflow and give you better control. The technology combines intelligent heat control and powerful jet-like airflow to provide smoother, shinier, and faster results without heat damage, and the cutting-edge tech flows through the machine's attachments, too. Each hair dryer includes five attachments: a diffuser, a wide-tooth comb, a professional concentration nozzle, a flyaway attachment, and a powerful airhead. It also has "intelligent radio frequency identification sensors”, which mean that it automatically adjusts your heat and speed settings to prevent damage. You can also lock in your preferred settings, and it will remember them whenever you use that specific attachment.

Why I love it
I have a lot of hair, and it can frizz at the drop of hat with too high temperatures and too rough handling. Coupled with my pain issues, drying it can literally drive me to despair – but with this beauty, smooth, silky, and frizz-free results were well within my grasp.
The ergonomic design made it very easy to manoeuvre and control, and the Supersonic r™’s attachments pop on and off so seamlessly that changing midway through a styling session wasn’t the usual palaver. I usually start with the powerful airhead attachment with high heat and high airflow settings, which helps remove a lot of the excess water from my hair quickly in around 10 minutes flat. If you're using a round brush or styling a fringe/bangs, switch to the concentration nozzle then finish with the flyaway attachment to smooth down any runaway hairs, but honestly? There are hardly any to be seen.
I can’t get over the fact that the device knows which attachment you’re using, like the diffuser or concentrator, and adjusts the heat and airflow accordingly. It even remembers your preferences. It’s literally like having a stylist in your bathroom!

The takeaway
If you want a tool that will save you time while also creating glossy, healthy hair looks, then the Supersonic r™ is worth every cent of its $849 RRP. Its fast-drying abilities level up from its predecessor, which was already the most coveted hairdryer on the market, and its two new colours – Ceramic Pink, inspired by the orient of a pearl, and Jasper Plum, inspired by the rare purple jasper gemstone (exclusive to dyson.co.nz) – are just gorgeous!

Head here to find out more, this beauty comes highly recommended x