Dyson commits over $766m CAD 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 understanding of hair types, styling behaviors and perceptions of hair types and hair health around the world.
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 develop test rigs and employ 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 for 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 support the continued diversification of Dyson’s beauty technology.
Understanding owners remains a central part of the Dyson design process, underpinned by hair science and research. This research and understanding inform the engineering decisions and empowers engineers to build machines that offers 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 one of the largest global hair studies. This research investigates hair health, hair perceptions, habits, and attitudes towards 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. 65% of Canadians say their hair is damaged.
- Respondents seem to understand what ‘healthy’ hair looks and feels like, describing it as shiny (36%), 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 minimising exposure to causes of damage. This includes extreme heat which makes hair weaker and more susceptible to breakage and split ends.” – 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. 44% of Canadians reported to wash their hair every day, 31% every two days and only 14% twice a week.
- 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 less hair products (9%). 55% of Canadians changed their habits due to the pandemic, washing their hair less (14%), styling hair less (20%) and using less hair products (11%).
- 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. Over-washing 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.“ – Rob Smith, Dyson senior principal hair scientist
CorraleTM straightener Vinca Blue & Rosé Gift Set, $649.99
Suitable for all hair types, the Dyson CorraleTM straightener features pioneering flexing plate technology, engineered to apply heat and tension evenly across hair strands in each pass, reducing the reliance on heat. The Dyson CorraleTM straightener delivers three precise temperatures, using a platinum sensor that measures temperature 100 times a second. This technology communicates with a microprocessor which in turn controls the heating system to deliver precise, accurate heat.
SupersonicTM hair dryer Vinca Blue & Rosé Gift Set, $549.99
Engineered for different hair types, the Dyson SupersonicTM 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 SupersonicTM hair dryer measure air temperature over 40 times a second to regulate temperature output. Featuring Dyson’s intelligent heat control technology, the Dyson SupersonicTM hair dryer prevents extreme heat damage, to help protect hair’s shine.
Airwrap™ multi-styler Complete Vinca blue/Rosé, $749.99
Dyson recently unveiled its best-performing and most-efficient Airwrap yet – the Dyson AirwrapTM multi-styler Complete. It is 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 easieri – with heat damage, to help maintain hair strengthii. Users can now 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 flyawaysiii 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.
Hair Science Statistics:
- Each hair strand has its own nerve, blood supply and muscle.
- A strand of hair can also support up to 2kg of weight.
- Hair is dead when it leaves the scalp; it cannot heal once damaged.
- Extreme heat changes the shape of keratin strands within hair – At over 150°C, the α-keratin slowly converts to β-keratin which, over time, makes hair weaker and less elastic.
- You grow around 11km of hair on the head each year. The average human head has 80,000 – 150,000 strands of hair. Hair is the second fastest growing tissue in the body, behind bone marrow.
- Shiny hair is healthy hair. Healthy strands reflect more light, while the pores within damaged hair scatter light everywhere, decreasing shine.
- Asian hair is coarser than Western hair. Coarse hair holds styles better because each strand of hair is thicker.
