The hair industry has been buzzing with news about L’Oréal Professionnel’s latest innovation since it was unveiled earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. In case you weren’t already aware, the beauty brand, in partnership with hardware startup Zuvi, has released its first-ever professional hair dryer that’s powered by infrared light technology called the AirLight Pro—and as of this week, it’s finally available for purchase.
So why, exactly, is this new device such a game changer for hair pros? It all has to do with the fact that the AirLight Pro uses a unique combination of infrared light, heat, and airflow— which together mimic the effects of the sun’s rays and wind— to blow dry hair. While most traditional hair dryers rely on convection heat (which can oftentimes be especially damaging to hair), this futuristic-looking dryer is equipped with a special 17-blade, high speed-motor, in addition to infrared light technology, that is capable of a 130 mpd wind speed. Together, these features allow for a more efficient, faster, and gentler way of drying that delivers smoother, more hydrated strands across all hair types, with no heat damage.
What’s more, the AirLight Pro is environmentally-conscious in its design. In alignment with L’Oréal’s pledge to create beauty products that are kinder on the planet, the dryer’s motor is integrated with recycled materials and has been tested to last 10 years of professional use. As if that’s not impressive enough, the AirLight Pro, as a whole, is able to deliver up to 31 percent less energy consumption than most traditional dryers, thanks to its energy-efficient tungsten-halogen bulbs that power its infrared light technology.
And if you’re a pro that loves your gadgets and accessories, you’ll be happy to know that the AirLight Pro comes with two magnetic, auto-detect attachments: a concentrator for smoothing and a diffuser for defining curly and coily hair. The beauty of these smart attachments is that once you snap them on, the AirLight Pro will automatically recognize it and adjust the speed and temperature accordingly. Of course, it’s also worth mentioning that the dryer is also customizable. L’Oréal worked together with Zuvi to develop the AirLight Pro app (it’s available on the Apple Store and Google Play Store), which stylists can connect to thanks to the dryer’s built-in LCD screen which has Bluetooth connectivity. Using the app, pros can create and save custom settings such as heat preferences and wind speed to meet the different needs of their clients. Plus, there’s even pre-set modes available for sleek, curly, and coily hair, too.
As the AirLight Pro was co-developed by pros and for pros, this dryer truly has all the makings to offer a much more elevated blow drying experience for stylists as well as their clients. For a professional’s point of view on the new device, we tapped celebrity hairstylist and L’Oréal Professional AirLight Pro Partner Clayton Hawkins to share his thoughts on the dryer and all of its impressive features. Hawkins recently used the AirLight Pro to style Ariana Madix’s sleek yet soft waves for the Emmys’ red carpet, and had much to say about its benefits for stylists. Keep scrolling for his helpful insights.
WHAT HE FINDS MOST EXCITING ABOUT THE AIRLIGHT PRO
“As someone who does hair all day every day, having a blowdryer this lightweight is a game changer. For a dryer to be as powerful as it is and still be lightwear is crazy. It’s not only saving me time, but it’s also saving my wrists.”
WHY HE BELIEVE THIS DRYER—AND ITS INFRARED LIGHT TECHNOLOGY—WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR STYLISTS
“Because it uses infrared light, I don’t ever have to worry about damaging my clients’ hair anymore. Infrared light is part of the natural light spectrum, so it dries the hair way faster and costumes way less energy. Also, as a stylist who does hair in trailers and is constantly blowing fuses, this is the first blower (and trust me, I’ve tried them all) that NEVER once blows a fuse or a breaker. I’ve tried this abroad with adapters and even on a plane and it works without fail every time.”
HOW THE AIRLIGHT PRO ELEVATES THE OVERALL STYLING EXPERIENCE FOR STYLISTS AND THEIR CLIENTS
“Clients are more educated now than ever (thanks TikTok!) and hair health is so important to them. Being able to explain to your clients that using infrared light is so much safer and healthier on their hair is really impactful.”
THE FEEDBACK HE’S RECEIVED FROM HIS CLIENTS WHEN STYLING THEIR HAIR WITH THE AIRLIGHT PRO
“Besides how cool it looks, they like how quiet it is. I’m a hairstylist that likes to talk and now my clients and I can fully carry on a conversation mid-blow dry.
HIS PRO TIP FOR STYLING WITH THE AIRLIGHT PRO
“I love that it has a built-in LCD screen with Bluetooth connectivity for the AirLight Pro app. Once you download the app, you can save specific clients’ temperature and speed settings. It’s literally like having an assistant.”
HIS FAVORITE HAIRSTYLE TO CREATE WITH THE AIRLIGHT PRO
“There’s still nothing better than a good old fashioned ‘90s bouncy, blow-dry.”
Ready to get your hands on the AirLight Pro? The dryer is currently available for purchase for $400.00 at SalonCentric. To learn more about the AirLight Pro, be sure to visit the L’Oréal website or follow @lorealpro on Instagram.
