Guide | January 20, 2025

Achieving healthy, lustrous hair doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the right guidance, anyone can enhance their hair care routine and see results. That’s where Dyson’s team of hair care experts come in. Drawing on years of innovation and research, principal scientist, Rob Smith and his team have compiled their top five tips for maintaining healthier, more vibrant hair.

“From our research into the science of hair, we know that there’s a connection between the quality of hair and a healthy scalp”, says Shawn Lim, Head of Research at Dyson.

“The scalp tissue comprises different layers, with the outermost layer serving as a barrier against external stressors. But when your scalp is damaged, moisture loss can occur.”

This research was a key factor when our engineers developed the Dyson Supersonic Nural™ hair dryer. The machine features Scalp protect mode, which automatically adjusts heat and airflow settings to make sure the temperature at the scalp remains at a consistent 55°C (131°F). This helps maintain the scalp’s barrier function, which is key to protecting the scalp and maintaining moisture levels. The result is a comfortable, gentle, drying experience that promotes scalp health.

A clean scalp is the foundation of healthy hair. Regular washing removes environmental pollutants and excess sebum that can feed harmful bacteria. However, water causes hair to swell in diameter by 14 to 16% and temporarily breaks some of the hydrogen bonds that hold the structure together, weakening it by up to 42% when wet and making it more prone to damage, like breakage.

Dyson’s hair dryer and multi-styler technology, like the new Dyson Airwrap™ i.d. multi-styler and dryer uses Intelligent heat control to protect your hair and scalp – remaining below 150°C at its highest setting, lower than traditional tools that can exceed 200°C.

Friction and mechanical stress weaken hair over time. Use gentle brushes, silk pillowcases, and tools like the Dyson Airstrait™ straightener, which stretches and straightens hair with air, and has a reduced tension on the hair compared to most hot plate straighteners.

Using products that aren’t suited to your hair type, or using too much product, can do more harm than good. The Dyson Chitosan™ styling range utilises Triodetic™ technology to flexibly locks in styles, strand by strand with a lightweight bond structure. This allows each strand to move, flex, and recall its shape, resulting in hair that feels conditioned, without the crunch. Other styling products can create a brittle, glue-like hold between fibres, leaving hair feeling rigid and crunchy.

Dyson Chitosan™ Pre-style cream comes in four formula variants, enriched with ingredients like grapeseed oil for finer hair, and richer oils such as coconut oil for thicker, denser hair types. Each unique formula blend is carefully developed to deliver optimum conditioning benefit, without weighing down the hair.

Dyson Chitosan™ Post-style serum defines finished styles with advanced ingredients including Hyaluronic Acid for deep hydration and Amino Acids for damage repair, working together to combat frizz and maintain style longevity.

A comprehensive approach to hair health goes beyond products – it’s about nurturing your whole body. Start by getting adequate sunlight exposure for vitamin D production, which supports hair growth. Then combine this with stress management through regular exercise and mindfulness practices to prevent excessive shedding. Most importantly, fuel your body with a nutrient-rich diet full of vitamins, minerals, and proteins to maintain strong, vibrant hair from the inside out. Remember, your hair health reflects your overall wellness, so maintaining this balance is key.

Understanding the science of hair health is the first step to achieving strong, shiny, and resilient strands year-round.

The average human head contains between 80,000 and 150,000 hairs and once these hairs leave the scalp, they’re dead and can’t heal.

Although hair damage accumulates over time, proactive care is essential to maintain the integrity of the strands.

Dyson’s campuses are equipped with state-of-the-art labs dedicated to understanding hair. Tools like the Real Imaging Test Algorithm (RITA), a machine that evaluates hair for smoothness, shine, and shape, play a key role in this research.

For the development of the Dyson Airwrap™ multi-styler and dryer alone, the team tested over 1,500km of hair. Dyson has done research on how hair grows, what causes damage, and how to prevent it, giving you the right knowledge for starting your hair health journey.

Hair growth occurs in three key stages:

• Anagen (Growth Phase): Active growth lasting 2-6 years, with hair growing approximately 1cm per month.

• Catagen (Transitional Phase): A 1-2-week stage where hair growth slows, and the follicle prepares to shed.

• Telogen (Resting Phase): The final stage where hair naturally falls out, with the follicle resting before restarting the cycle.

Factors like diet, stress, and environmental exposure can disrupt this cycle, but healthy habits can optimise growth.

Hair damage is one of the most concerning hair conditions globally. UV exposure, excessive heat styling and our daily routines can all take a toll on hair health:

• Thermal damage: Heat above 150°C can weaken keratin, reducing elasticity and strength. At 230°C, hair can burn, making breakage inevitable.

• Chemical damage: Hair colourants, perms, and chlorine can strip protective lipids, roughening strands and weakening the structure.

• Mechanical damage: Brushing and tangles cause friction, stretching, and breakage.

• UV exposure: Sunlight degrades hair proteins, especially in lighter or unpigmented hair, leading to weakened strands.

Damaged hair suffers from reduced shine, manageability, and strength:

• Split ends: Result from cortex damage, which occurs when the cortex is no longer protected by the cuticle. Regular trims are essential to maintain smooth, healthy strands.

• Loss of shine: Rough cuticles scatter light unevenly, diminishing the appearance of gloss and alignment.

• Increased frizz and flyaways: Damaged cuticles and high strand friction lead to static and misaligned fibres.

Informed by research conducted by Rob Smith, Senior Principal Scientist at Dyson.