AirLight is compatible with iOS 13.0 and above (together with iPads), Android 8.0 Oreo and above, and Bluetooth 5.0. It provides 12 presets tailor-made for 4 completely different modes: Customary, Glossy, Curly, and Coily. Every preset is adjustable and may be saved for future use, so when you lock in your settings, they’re all the time prepared. There’s additionally a totally customizable mode. One other teeny however welcome characteristic is the app’s utilization tracker, which logs how lengthy you’ve used the dryer. It sounds trivial, however understanding when to wash the filter can lengthen the product’s lifespan (extra on this later).
The app is clearly in its early phases, however it works effectively and leaves loads of room for updates. I can’t assist however think about how a lot better it may very well be with options like heat-styling ideas from professionals, fast video tutorials, and even curated inspiration boards for various hairstyles. L’Oréal has laid the groundwork right here, and I’m curious to see how they construct on it sooner or later.
In an business the place many devices are destined for the landfill, the AirLight Professional is an outlier. L’Oréal claims the AirLight Professional engine is constructed for the lengthy haul, with a lifespan that may lengthen as much as 10 years of professional-level use—that’s about two hours a day, 5 days per week. For anybody who’s handled low cost hair dryers that hardly final a season, this alone is a promising proposition.
What actually units the AirLight Professional aside, although, is its repairability. L’Oréal is making spare elements out there beginning in early 2025. The AirLight Professional additionally has built-in filter cleansing alerts for when cleansing is required. The frequency varies relying on air high quality, on a regular basis mud, and different particles (i.e., hairspray). If the filter reaches crucial situation, the dryer shuts off till you clear it to keep away from motor harm. I haven’t hit that time but, so I can’t vouch for a way effectively it really works, however I admire the concept of a blow-dryer searching for its longevity.
At $475, the AirLight Professional isn’t low cost. But it surely’s solely $45 greater than the viral Dyson SuperSonic and has quite a lot of benefits—it is quieter than the Dyson, quicker at drying my hair, and extra customizable with the app. And most vital, you’ll be able to restore it if it will get busted after the guarantee runs out. If I will spend nearly $500 on a hair dryer, I need to ensure that I am solely doing it as soon as. The AirLight Professional’s tailor-made expertise is value it.