If there is one good thing to come out of the many months spent at home in 2020, it is the break many of us have given our poor, neglected locks.
Without the pull of the office, work events or social dinners, the need to use heat to dry and style hair has, for many, slipped away, leaving our tresses all the better for it.
As life slowly starts to return to normal, many will be looking for ways to keep their hair looking as healthy and revitalised as it does following its heat-free break and, luckily, the world of haircare is changing, with the latest innovations all about damage control.
This week marks the launch of Dyson's newest groundbreaking hair tool in the UAE. The Dyson Corrale, a straightener, is the engineering company's third haircare product, joining the Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer and the Dyson Airwrap styling wand. It features the same level of innovative technology that has made those products industry leaders – and the same hefty price tag.
The Corrale retails for Dh1,999, which should tell you already that this is far from your average hair straightener. Its headline promise is 50 per cent less damage to hair, which for those who regularly use a hair straightener, will be enough to hook their attention. The Corrale has been more than seven years in the making by teams of engineers in the UK and Singapore, who have created a device that, they say, can straighten most hair types in one pass.
“We wanted to understand everything about hair: style, cuticles, density,” says Dominic Lim, design engineer at Dyson. “We wanted to understand what people are looking for, and what problems they face with traditional tools. We recognise that not all hair is the same, and the heat damage caused by tools used will differ from person to person.”
To date, the company has spent more than £100 million (Dh486 million) on haircare research, and hired a number of hair scientists to work alongside its 6,000 engineers. What sets the Corrale apart is its microhinged flexing plates – a first for a hair straightener – which gather to shape around the hair as the straightener passes through. It means there is less pressure being put on the hair, as the heat is being applied more evenly.
It also features three heat settings and intelligent heat control, thanks to a platinum censor that checks the heat 100 times per second. This ensures the device never exceeds its set limit, unlike other devices that can go far beyond the selected heat setting if they are left on for prolonged periods of time.
“Imagine you were camping and you need to keep yourself warm,” says Lim. “A big hot fire would warm the parts of your body that were exposed. But if we lit several smaller fires that were a lower temperature, but placed them all around your body evenly to reach more exposed areas, you would keep just as warm.”
Another big selling point for the Corrale is the fact it's cordless, which allows you to use it on the go, providing it is fully charged. However, battery life limitations will only allow you to style your hair once per charge.
It’s also worth noting that, due to its four-cell lithium-ion battery, it’s much clunkier than your average hair straightener, which, if you have a thick head of hair, could lead to aching arms after a full session of styling. Its larger size, however, makes it great for giving Hollywood-style waves, according to stylists.
What do the hairdressers say?
While the Corrale is only just available to buy in the UAE, Natalie Kasses, creative director at Pastel Salons, has been using the product on customers' hair for about four weeks.
"In Dubai, we are dealing with so many different factors when it comes to our hair," she explains. "The water, colouring, the heat and humidity, and the constant styling for events. We really need to think about hair health."
Kasses says one of the most common issues she sees among her clients is broken hair around the front of the head, which can come from over straightening and too much heat.
“It takes me around 15 minutes to style a full head with the Corrale, and you only need one pass so the heat damage is so much less.
“Now that everyone has realised how much healthier their hair is, customers are really interested in how they can protect it.”
Kasses adds that it is vital a heat protector is still applied even when using products such as the Dyson Corrale, and says that people – especially those with curly hair – need to be realistic about the fact that they live in a country like the UAE.
“People need to remember that going outside here in the summer months is like walking into a water spray,” she says. “But there are a few things you can do, including blow drying your hair straight and making sure it is completely dry before you style it so that it doesn’t singe.”
While Dyson may have been the first to lead the revolution in damage-free haircare with the release of the Dyson Supersonic in 2016, it is not the only company charging forward with smart products.
Here is a look at three other products that help to promote healthy hair:
L’Oreal Professionnel Steampod (Dh1,029)
This styling hotbrush swaps traditional heated plates with steam, which limits damage. One side of the device is bristled, while the other is a flat plate, which allows you to brush your hair into your chosen style while the steam gets to work. The Steampod also promises to restore moisture to your hair and add shine, giving you a sleek, nourished finish.
Cloud Nine The Airshot (Dh562)
While this may look like your average hair dryer, it has many hidden capabilities that set it apart. The dryer has vitamin-infused ceramic heating elements that promise to care for your hair as you dry. Thanks to its anti-static technology, it also works to reduce frizz, leaving your hair silky smooth without flyaways when it is freshly dried.
GHD Platinum+ Styler (Dh945)
The GHD Platinum+ Styler is perhaps as close a product there is to the Dyson Corrale in the market, however, there are some key differences. It claims to leave hair 70 per cent stronger and monitors heat 250 times per second to keep the iron working at 230°C. However, unlike the Corrale, this device only comes with one heat setting and cannot be used cordlessly.
