The science behind hair
Solving real hair problems with innovative engineering.
We're obsessed with researching hair damage
Our mission is to solve problems others ignore – maintaining healthy hair by helping to protect against excessive heat damage. To truly understand hair, Dyson engineers have carried out a microscopic investigation into every hair type.
What's your hair type?
There are three different types of bond that give hair its shape. Some of these bonds allow temporary stretching, tensing and reforming to create new styles. Understanding your hair type can help select the best styling approach and treatment for your perfect style.
Know your roots
Pluck a strand of hair and rub it between your fingers. If it feels like a barely-there thread of silk, your hair is fine. If it feels like a thread of cotton, your hair is coarse.
What's your curl pattern?
There are four main hair types: straight, wavy, curly and coily. Understanding your hair shape allows you to understand how to manage and care for your hair, including how to achieve desired styles.
Type 1
Straight hair
The shape of straight hair strands usually has a rounder cross-sectional area and can be silky and beautiful. Occasionally you may want to add a little shape to your style, so resisting excessive heat can support healthier hair.
Type 2
Wavy hair
Wavy hair strands still have a round cross-sectional area but are flatter than straight hair. Whether you choose to smooth or to maintain natural waves, keep your hair looking healthy and embrace your waves by styling it with airflow.
Type 3
Curly hair
Curly hair needs to be treated with care to help protect against breakage and keep it hydrated. The cross-sectional area of a curly hair strand has a flatter and more ellipsoid shape. Step away from heavy formulas to let the curls bounce freely.
Type 4
Coily hair
It's easy to damage tightly-coiled curls because the hair may tangle easily. We know that damp hair is stretchy and delicate, so the aim is to be as gentle as possible when smoothing out your hair. Type 4 hair has a flatter more ellipsoid shape to form tight coils.
How to manage damage
Dyson technology not only helps to style hair, but is designed to retain colour, moisture, shine and smoothness. We've explored three key areas surrounding hair health.
1. Breakage
Overexposure to extreme temperatures can weaken the bonds in the hair, making it more prone to breakage.
Protect hair from breakage
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Weakening your hair
Exposure to temperatures over 150°C can cause the shape of the keratin in hair strands to change. The α-keratin slowly converts to β-keratin which makes hair weaker and less elastic over time.
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Prevention not repair
Once hair has been damaged, it can't be reversed. Hair can become dry and frizzy and lose hydration. If hair is exposed to temperatures over 230°C it will begin to burn or melt.
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Maintain natural strength
The Dyson Corrale™ hair straightener has been engineered to offer enhanced styling for half the damage1 with a precise heating system and Intelligent heat control. Flexing plate technology is engineered to gather hair, helping to create an equivalent style in fewer passes and with less reliance on heat.
2. Moisture
Moisture levels within your hair can vary depending on the humidity levels in your environment. Excessive heat can compromise your hair’s natural moisture balance, by making the hair more porous – gaining or losing water more easily.
Understand moisture retention
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The perfect balance
If too much water is lost from the hair, it can sometimes feel dry and dehydrated. If too much water is absorbed in the bonds, your style can be disrupted, causing it to drop out. Better moisture balance means better retention.
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Weaker when wet
Water causes hair to swell and become weaker by up to 42%2, breaking the bonds holding the structure together. This is why the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer has been designed with fast drying technology.
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Achieve style retention
Our machines have been engineered by hair care experts to prevent excessive heat damage and safeguard your hair’s moisture balance. This not only supports style retention but helps to protect your hair’s wellbeing.
3. Smooth and shine
Shine occurs when light hits hair strands and bounces off evenly. When hair is damaged, the cuticles can lift, scattering light in multiple directions and making it appear dull.
Maintain natural shine
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Loss in colour pigmentation
Whether your hair’s chemically dyed or natural, high heat can change its proteins. This can cause the colour to be stripped and appear faded – or even a different colour altogether.
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The Coanda effect
The Dyson Airwrap™ multi-styler harnesses an aerodynamic phenomenon called the Coanda effect, which is powered by the Dyson digital V9 motor. It uses air to wrap and create curls, rather than extreme heat. Helping to protect your natural shine.
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Align for shine
New attachments for the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer and Dyson Airwrap™ multi-styler help reduce flyaways.3 By bringing longer strands to the front and pushing shorter ones underneath, flyaways are reduced for better alignment and shine.
The Dyson solution
Researched. Tested. Resolved.
Years of research and testing at Dyson’s specialist hair science laboratories have confirmed there are two key factors when styling; temperature and control. Our engineers have established technology that styles without excessive heat.
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Dyson Airwrap™ multi-styler
Combining powerful airflow with controlled heat, the Dyson™ Airwrap multi-styler can dry and style at the same time – using the Coanda effect, not extreme heat.
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Dyson Corrale™ hair straightener
The straightener with flexing manganese copper alloy plates for styling with half the damage.1 The Dyson Corrale™ hair straightener gathers hair to create shiny, straight styles with less frizz and flyaways.4
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Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer
Engineered with Intelligent heat control and the Dyson digital motor V9, the iconic Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer is fast drying with no extreme heat.
Attachments and accessories
Dyson-designed hair care attachments and accessories are researched and tested as thoroughly as Dyson machines.
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Re-engineered Diffuser
Captures curls and reduces frizz without disrupting the hair's natural form. Re-engineered with longer prongs to reach deeper into the hair and evenly diffuse each curl.
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Flyaway attachment
This finishing tool attaches to the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer for sleek, straight styles. Engineered to hide flyaways under longer hair for a smoother finish, with just air.3
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Barrels to curl and wave
The new Dyson Airwrap™ multi-styler barrels have been re-engineered to curl in both directions while drying simultaneously. Combining the Coanda effect and controlled heat, to create styles quickly and easily.
