At IFA 2024, there were a lot of devices on display that showed how technology in general is creatively dealing with form and function. However, many eyes were focused on the beauty industry, as it continues to radically innovate in the field of hair styling devices.
Gone are the days when conventional hair dryers were the norm. The once iconic pistol-shaped handheld hair dryers are getting new shapes, making the best hair dryers interesting again.
Of course, a large part of this can be attributed to Dyson’s inventive reinterpretation of the hair care sector, with devices like the Dyson Supersonic And Dyson Airwrap pushing the boundaries of hair care technology. But because the gadgets are so expensive, it was only a matter of time before brands in the industry burst onto the scene to snag interested beauty lovers with smaller wallets.
Three new hairdryers in particular showed how versatile the devices can now be: the new high-speed foldable Pocket hairdryer from Dreame, the new FlexFusion multistyler from Shark and the Laifen Mini, a more compact, high-speed hairdryer with wands.
Bag full of sunshine
We start with Dreame’s new hair dryer, the Dreame Pocket, which packs some impressive specs into its foldable frame. It weighs in at a mere 10.5 oz / 300 g, but thanks to its super-fast motor, which delivers 110,000 RPM, you’re getting performance levels close to those of full-sized hair dryers.
The nozzle is hinged, which adds even more convenience when you’re on the go, but it’s also a versatile form factor that allows you to style at a variety of angles and with a variety of attachments. Granted, these are quite bulky and seem at odds with the design ethos of the dryer – especially when you consider that it’s a bit of a squeeze if you’re trying to fit them all into the included travel bag. I also wasn’t crazy about the heft of it when using it in the barrel-with-curler orientation, but I do appreciate the convenience of a curling iron in this lightweight form factor.
It’s sort of a mix of the best of the Airwrap with the rotating head of Shark’s Flexstyle, resulting in a cool, powerful dryer that’s perfect for travel. It is, however, quite pricey at $159.99/€159, and the design might not be for everyone.
A shark in the multi-styler waters
Shark’s latest multi-styler/dryer was a bit of a divisive option. As our Homes Editor pointed out in her first impressions of the new Shark FlexFusion , this killer multi-styler essentially has all the attachments you could ever need from a hair-care appliance, but it does make some significant compromises in terms of size. In short, this is a solid multi-styler.
Still, there are some innovative new additions. Shark has addressed the fact that most people don’t wash their hair every day, so it’s added settings for both wet and dry hair. I was also interested in the curling irons and the new straightener attachment. Shark’s alternative uses the same air styling logic as the Dyson Airstrait, but also uses hot plates in addition to airflow to tame your tresses. Likewise, the hot brush combines bristles and heated ceramic combs to tame frizz while still achieving a nice blowout.
The FlexFusion has an RRP of £369.99 (around $490 / AU$720), a hike over its more basic sibling, the Shark FlexStyle, which costs $249.99 / £299.99 but doesn’t offer the same range of accessories.
Make it Mini
The outsider for me turned out to be the Laifen Mini, a new travel version of the popular Laifen Swift hair dryer. While the original was positioned as a more affordable alternative to the Dyson Supersonic, the brand has since put its own spin on the form factor – and more importantly, listened to consumer feedback.
Since the original Laifen Swift launched in 2022, there have been several new versions, all of which have been tweaked slightly to add features like a child lock, warm-to-cool cycle, and a wider range of color options. Alongside the Mini, Laifen also announced its new Laifen SE 2, a slightly updated version of its mid-tier dryer.
Despite being the most basic dryer I saw, the Mini was actually one of my favorite dryers on the show floor as it felt the most balanced, offering a mix of genuinely useful features with some solid specs and an accessible price point (€99.99, around £80), all wrapped up in a really cute, lightweight (299g / 10.56oz) design that still packs a punch with its 110,000 RPM motor. It’s not currently coming to the US due to voltage differences, but the team hopes to change that soon.
While quite a few features and similar specifications have been carried over from hair care products, it’s still exciting to see how a wide range of form factors and technologies are breathing new life into the once stagnant hair care industry.
It’s a much needed change that puts the fun back into functional hair. I can’t wait to get my hands on some of these amazing dryers and multi-stylers.