Dyson is committing half a billion GBP to expand and accelerate its research and technology development across its beauty portfolio, announcing plans to launch 20 new beauty products in the next four years. Alongside this investment, Dyson also releases the results of its most comprehensive hair research study, deepening its understanding of hair types, styling behaviors, and perceptions of hair types and hair health around the world.
Dyson has consistently invested in pioneering technology. Six years ago, it revolutionized hair care with the launch of the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer — a machine that uses fast, controlled airflow and intelligent heat control to dry hair quickly, whilst keeping hair strong and healthy. Since then, Dyson has developed a range of styling tools engineered to provide superior styles for all hair types, limiting exposure to extreme heat damage. The performance of Dyson styling tools stems from a decade of research — from the hair’s structure to airflow dynamics — while understanding the effect of thermal, mechanical, and chemical damage.
Research sits at Dyson’s core
Across Dyson’s four Technology Campuses, 6,000 engineers and scientists have access to hundreds of laboratories. These spaces allow for rigorous testing of new ideas and technologies 24 hours a day. For Dyson to truly understand how all hair types behave and continue to identify better, healthier ways to style, the team develops test rigs and employs state-of-the-art equipment. Machinery such as scanning electron microscopes, thermal cameras, and airflow laser smoke machines help engineers better understand the impact of hair damage, global hair types, and the effects of high-speed airflow.
Developing technology for all hair types remains a crucial focus for the research and development teams. For too long, there has been both a misunderstanding and misrepresentation across styling tools to truly cater to different hair types, while preserving hair from heat damage. This investment will create new lab spaces to both sharpen Dyson’s understanding of global hair types and damage, while also supporting the continued diversification of Dyson’s beauty technology.
From cortex to the cuticle, root to tip – Dyson’s 2022 Global Hair Study
Understanding owners remains a central part of the Dyson design process, underpinned by hair science and research. This research and understanding informs our engineering decisions and empowers engineers to build machines that offer better styles backed by science, delivering healthy, stylish hair every day, no matter the hair type. Dyson’s obsession with hair has led to the creation of one of the largest global hair studies. This research investigates hair health, hair perceptions, habits, and attitudes toward hair styling across 23 markets and 23,000 people – enabling Dyson engineers to gain a deeper understanding of real-world styling frustrations.
Key study findings
Hair perceptions & hair health misconceptions
- 7 in 10 respondents say their hair is damaged, with dandruff, hair loss, and greying hair as top concerns. However, these are not damage concerns. 67% of all respondents also agree their hair is healthy, despite it being damaged.
- However, respondents seem to understand what ‘healthy’ hair looks and feels like, describing it as shiny (36%), and smooth (29%), and linking it to a healthy scalp (26%).
“Dandruff, hair loss, and greying hair are not forms of damage, but scalp and hair growth concerns. Hair damage refers to the breakdown of the hair cuticle and cortex, which can lead to your hair looking frizzy, dull, or snapping off. The best way to achieve healthy hair is through prevention and minimizing exposure to the causes of damage. This includes extreme heat which makes hair weaker and more susceptible to breakage and split ends,” says Rob Smith, Dyson senior principal hair scientist
Habits and attitudes towards styling
- Be cautious of over-washing: Dyson global hair study reveals that 8 in 10 people wash their hair every day or once every 2 days.
- Consumers brush off post-pandemic styling blues: Dyson reveals while 6 in 10 consumers shifted at-home styling habits, at least 20% have returned to their pre-pandemic routines and this continues to grow.
- 6 in 10 globally changed their hair habits due to the pandemic, styling hair less (17%) and using fewer hair products (9%).
- However, there’s continued diligence in basic hair maintenance and styling. Hair-holding spray, moisturizing products, shine enhancers, and standard conditioners are used 3-4 times a week.
“How often you wash your hair depends on your hair type, level of activity, and environment. Overwashing can be very damaging, stripping the scalp of natural oils while leaving hair dry. Generally, the greasier your hair or scalp is, the more often you can consider washing your hair. Straight hair may feel limp more easily due to oil build-up, while waves, curls, and coils absorb oil and require less washing. Be gentle to your scalp, and use shampoos suited for your hair type. Be mindful to consider the pollution levels in your environment and wash off pollution from hair too, as a combination of pollution and ultraviolet elements can cause increased levels of hair damage,“ Smith continues.
Dyson’s latest hair care technology
Dyson Supersonic hair dryer
Engineered for different hair types, the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is powerful and fast. The tool uses a fast but focused airflow is engineered for balance in the hand, is quieter than others, and intelligently controls the temperature to help protect hair from extreme heat damage.
Unlike traditional hair dryers, the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer measures air temperature over 40 times a second to regulate temperature output. Featuring Dyson’s intelligent heat control technology, the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer prevents extreme heat damage, to help protect hair’s shine.
The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer Vinca Blue & Rosé gift set is priced at PHP27,500 and available from Dyson Demo Stores at Greenbelt 5, SM Aura Premier, The Podium, and SM Mall of Asia.
Dyson Airwrap multi-styler
Dyson recently unveiled its best-performing and most-efficient Airwrap yet — the Dyson Airwrap multi-styler. Dyson engineers challenged their own design to miniaturize and multiply the Coanda effect, pioneering a fully customizable styling tool to deliver a range of styles for different hair types, without extreme heat.
Next-generation styling barrels featuring a rotating cool tip, make achieving curls and waves faster and easier — with heat damage, to help maintain hair strength. Blending the results formerly achieved with two barrels into one attachment, now users can style the full head, creating clockwise and anti-clockwise curls and waves, without the need to switch attachment mid-style. Re-engineered brush attachments deliver precision shaping with enhanced Coanda performance, alongside an all-new dual-purpose Coanda smoothing dryer. Combining two attachments in one, the Coanda smoothing dryer hides flyaways in a single pass, with no extreme heat, and transforms into a powerful dryer with the flick of a switch. A Wide-tooth comb attachment, engineered for curly and coily hair, helps to add shape, volume, and length as it dries. Dyson’s comb teeth are designed with soft curved tips to glide through the hair, with no sharp edges to catch, pull or cause damage.
The Dyson Airwrap multi-styler Vinca Blue & Rosé gift set is priced at PHP34,900 and available from Dyson Demo Stores at Greenbelt 5, SM Aura Premier, The Podium, and SM Mall of Asia.