Meet the New Supersonic Travel: Dyson’s Smallest Hair Dryer Yet

When you think fast and safe hair drying, which brand comes to mind? For many, the answer comes almost instinctively. Dyson is a definite contender with its signature design and iconic ambassadors such as K-Pop Idol Jang Wonyoung and K-drama Actor Park Bogum, two faces that speak directly to a generation that values both performance and style in equal measure. With a devoted global following and a reputation built on pushing boundaries, Dyson has made itself synonymous with hair care that refuses to compromise. Partner these with innovative technology and a genuine passion for research and development and it's easy to see why Dyson continues to make waves in the industry.

The Dyson Supersonic range is all about "fast drying without extreme heat” as it takes extra care to prevent high temperatures from causing hair damage. It has built a solid following since its release and the subsequent versions continued to deliver. The latest addition to the line-up is expected to do the same once as Dyson introduces the new Dyson Supersonic Travel.

The Dyson Supersonic Travel (P17,999) is made for portability: lighter than a 500ml bottle of water and when compared to the Supersonic hair dryer, this is 32% smaller and 25% lighter. It has a powerful 110,000rpm motor and intelligent heat control that "measures air temperature over 100 times a second". Compared to the original Supersonic though, the Supersonic Travel has reduced airflow but is reliable for travelling and quick touch-ups in the gym.

One of the most important features of the Supersonic Travel is the universal voltage technology, making it able to automatically adapt to the voltage from 100-240V, highly convenient when travelling to other countries.

The smallest yet in the range, the Supersonic Travel ensures a Dyson hair experience no matter where you go. I was able to interview Roch Briscoe, Associate Design Manager at Dyson, about this new device and got some interesting insights on its design and development. Let’s get to know more about the Supersonic Travel.

The Dyson Supersonic has long been seen as the standard for hair drying and styling with one caveat for hard core users: its bulk made it hard to travel with. The Supersonic Travel seems to answer this issue. What was the non-negotiable user experience that you wanted to protect as you led the Supersonic Travel’s design direction?

Roch: I think it was important for us that it wasn’t just a small or light version of the Supersonic. It (Supersonic Travel) needed to be high performance. We needed to make sure it dried your hair quickly, and we needed to do it in a way that protects your hair. We took those pillars of high performance expected from a Dyson and then tried to optimize and shrink the size. That sort of needed us to completely redesign internals from the ground up, which was smaller and lighter, and worked in every country while still staying true to what we believe in and the fundamentals of performance of health.

Dyson tools are known for longevity and durability. How do you design a compact machine that still feels “Dyson-level durable” even when it’s tossed into luggage, carried through airports, or used across different countries?

Roch: All our beauty machines go through incredibly intensive testing. We drop them, smash them, we use them for thousands of hours and then if it breaks, we go back and fix it and retest it. That’s no different with the Supersonic Travel. We put it through all our suites of testing, we’ve had it rattling around in suitcases for hundreds of hours, and making sure it always functions with our performance and safety in mind, so it’s as durable as we’re known for, as all our Dyson products.

Working with teams across countries like Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, did our tropical and humid climate influence any decisions? 

Roch: Yeah, definitely. High humidity, which is what we often have around here, is a real, like, pain point for hair. It often causes styles to drop out, and it makes it much harder to like curve your hair, and so it's a good test to be designing for customers and users in these high humidity countries. We always add our engineers and the product developed in these countries, so it's easier to really understand the user problems and make sure we're testing and solving to those.

Did these considerations like you come into play with deciding for the provided attachment with the in box?

Roch: Yeah, definitely. So, in box is a smoothing concentrator, so that's one of our ones which create even and smooth airflow but reduces frizz. That's often your experience if you commute, even with high humidity, you'll get quite sort of frizzy, puffy hair, so that attachment really helps control that and give you like reduced frizz with even heat. But the important thing is the Supersonic Travel works with all of them. Often people love their diffuser if you have more curly or coily hair. Well, the fly away tool is a typical favorite, it's compatible with all of those, and you can go away with your machine while bringing your favorite attachments and favorite styles with you as well.

Given the price point and the Dyson guarantee, do you see the supersonic travel as a strong entry point for first-time Dyson users?

Roch: Yeah, it can be. I think there's a lot of people who will be able to benefit from what we can achieve with the product. It's smaller, it's lighter. If you want to move a lot, it's a really good first product, and it's also good for a home and away combination. For those who already have a Nural or a Supersonic R at home, and then maybe want something a bit smaller and lighter to travel with. It’s really for anyone who sees the benefits around technology and having a smaller and lighter machine.*

I tried the Dyson Supersonic Travel at the launch event and it did feel easier to handle compared to the original Supersonic especially if you’re going out and about. The assurance that it can provide better hair management and protection while withstanding rough handling stays true to the brand.  It would also make a good entry product if you’re looking to get your first Dyson.

The new Dyson Supersonic Travel is available at the Dyson website or at Dyson stores listed here.

*The interview with Roch Briscoe has been edited for length and clarity.‍ ‍