HAIR SCIENCE
CHAPTER ONE: HEAT WISH EVERY DAY WAS A GOOD HAIR DAY? IT CAN BE. THERE’S AN EXACT SCIENCE TO PREVENTING EXTREME HEAT DAMAGE, AND DYSON HAS CRACKED THE CODE.
When our hair is damaged, breaking and looking lack-lustre, we tend to blame the usual culprits: our colourist, over-brushing, vigorous combing when wet, lack of moisture … But one thing we often forget is our tendency to blast our hair with high heat in an attempt to dry it faster. The result can be weak, dull strands that break and are frustrating to style.
The investment that has gone into creating Dyson’s new Supersonic hairdryer is mind-blowing. In order to truly understand hair science and create technology that helps protect natural shine, Dyson’s team of 103 engineers undertook four years of research. And they have managed to pull off the extraordinary: the V9 digital motor, which is fast, light and small; Air Multiplier™ technology that produces a high pressure, high velocity air jet angled at 20 degrees for optimum drying and styling; and the best bit: intelligent heat control to ensure your hair isn’t exposed to unnecessarily high temperatures. “High velocity and focused airflow will dry hair quickly, and a lower heat is less likely to weaken your hair structure,” Dyson engineer Fred Howe explains.
“Excessive heat can irreversibly damage the hydrogen bonds within the inner core of the hair (the hair cortex),” agrees Rodney Sinclair, a hair science expert and professor of dermatology at the University of Melbourne. “These hydrogen bonds cross-link the keratin filaments in the hair cortex and are responsible for providing hair with strength and elasticity. Heat damage reduces the elasticity and causes breakage, which can result in brittle hair that snaps easily when brushing and appears lifeless and hard to style.”
“DON’T HOLD THE HAIRDRYER CLOSE TO YOUR HAIR… AND AFTER YOU’VE BLOWDRIED, USE THE DYSON SUPERSONIC’S COOL BUT TON TO SE T YOUR HAIR AND MAKE YOUR STYLE LAST LONGER.” RENYA XYDIS, CELEBRITY STYLIST
“Wet hair is also super susceptible to damage,” adds celebrity stylist Renya Xydis, who warns that relying on heat to dry your hair quickly is a recipe for disaster. Her top tips for protecting your locks and ensuring a professional-looking blowdry at home? “Don’t hold the hairdryer close to your hair. Work your way up, blowdrying from the neckline to your crown, so you don’t hit the same strand of hair multiple times. And after you’ve blowdried, use the Dyson Supersonic’s cool button to set your hair and make your style last longer.”
Conventional hairdryers generally feature cool air buttons, but they’re not a fail-safe option as most of us forget to use them. (Or don’t know how to.) Thankfully, the Dyson Supersonic has intelligent heat control to help ensure your hair isn’t at risk of being exposed to high temperatures. The dryer’s temperature is measured 20 times per second and that information is transmitted to the microprocessor, which controls the heating element. Clever.