L’Oreal’s AirLight Pro Is the Blow-Dryer Your Hair Deserves

AirLight is compatible with iOS 13.0 and above (including iPads), Android 8.0 Oreo and above, and Bluetooth 5.0. It offers 12 presets tailored for four different modes: Standard, Sleek, Curly, and Coily. Each preset is adjustable and can be saved for future use, so once you lock in your settings, they’re always ready. There’s also a fully customizable mode. Another teeny but welcome feature is the app’s usage tracker, which logs how long you’ve used the dryer. It sounds trivial, but knowing when to clean the filter can extend the product’s lifespan (more on this later).

The app is clearly in its early stages, but it works well and leaves plenty of room for updates. I can’t help but imagine how much better it could be with features like heat-styling tips from pros, quick video tutorials, or even curated inspiration boards for different hairstyles. L’Oréal has laid the groundwork here, and I’m curious to see how they build on it in the future.

In an industry where many gadgets are destined for the landfill, the AirLight Pro is an outlier. L’Oréal claims the AirLight Pro engine is built for the long haul, with a lifespan that can extend up to 10 years of professional-level use—that’s about two hours a day, five days a week. For anyone who’s dealt with cheap hair dryers that barely last a season, this alone is a promising proposition.

What really sets the AirLight Pro apart, though, is its repairability. L’Oréal is making spare parts available starting in early 2025. The AirLight Pro also has built-in filter cleaning alerts for when cleaning is required. The frequency varies depending on air quality, everyday dust, and other particles (i.e., hairspray). If the filter reaches critical condition, the dryer shuts off until you clean it to avoid motor damage. I haven’t hit that point yet, so I can’t vouch for how well it works, but I appreciate the idea of a blow-dryer looking out for its longevity.

At $475, the AirLight Pro isn’t cheap. But it’s only $45 more than the viral Dyson SuperSonic and has a lot of advantages—it’s quieter than the Dyson, faster at drying my hair, and more customizable with the app. And most important, you can repair it if it gets busted after the warranty runs out. If I’m going to spend almost $500 on a hair dryer, I want to make sure I’m only doing it once. The AirLight Pro’s tailored experience is worth it.