When Dyson released a hairdryer that claimed to blow-dry six times as fast using supersonic technology, women scrambled to get their hands on one — even at the hair-curling price of £299.
It was a genuine revolution in design that has proved enduringly popular. Now the company wants to pull off the same trick, with a set of straighteners said to be just as transformative.
They work at lower temperatures, allegedly cause only half as much damage to your hair — and, oh yes, they’re cordless so you can finally see yourself properly in the mirror while straightening.
The Dyson Corrale straighteners were launched last week to great hype. The only obvious downside is the price, since at £399.99 these will set you back even more than the hairdryer.
So, could it really be worth shelling out nearly £400? I tested the Dyson Corrale against another recent release, the BaByliss 9000, which is also cordless, but comes in at half the price . . .
Most straighteners work using ceramic plates that heat up, ironing out curls and kinks in your hair (file image)
THE CLEVER TECH
Most straighteners work using ceramic plates that heat up, ironing out curls and kinks in your hair. Dyson boasts it’s created the only straighteners with ‘flexing’ plates, which bend slightly in the area where you’re applying pressure. This, apparently, helps to disperse heat more evenly, meaning you can style at lower temperatures and cause less damage.
The BaByliss 9000 has ‘floating’ plates which means that, in common with many straighteners, there are springs underneath them to help them glide smoothly over your hair. But as the plate itself is thicker, it doesn’t flex. A tiny computer in the BaByliss also regulates the heat to ensure consistent straightening.
I decided to straighten half my hair with the BaByliss, and half with the Dyson, and to only pass the straighteners through each section once so I could see how fast they worked. The BaByliss takes 50 seconds to heat to its top setting of 200c. The result is good, but a few sections could have benefited from an extra pass.
The Dyson takes 55 seconds to reach its top temperature of 210c. The results were impressive. My hair was poker-straight and not a single section needed going over again. I couldn’t tell if that was due to Dyson’s extra 10c of heat or the technology, so I tried it again at 165c and got perfect results. It’s pretty impressive.
WINNER: DYSON
The Dyson Corrale straighteners were launched last week to great hype priced at £399.99
GOOD LOOKS?
The Dyson design is chunkier than usual straighteners and, at more than half a kilo, is also more than twice the weight of most. There’s a nifty button you slide to lock the straighteners shut — great for travel — plus more for power and the temperature settings. The BaByliss set, on the other hand, has a single power button that you press to turn on or off or scroll through temperature settings. Again, the battery adds heft, but they’re noticeably lighter than the Dyson version.
WINNER: BABYLISS
POWER PLAY
Both models have rechargeable batteries although the Dyson also comes with a cord. The Dyson model’s charger has an AC/DC power supply that can be used anywhere in the world. You can either attach the magnetic pin to the bottom of the straighteners, or to a stand which functions as a charging dock. It should take just 70 minutes to fully charge the device for 30 minutes’ use.
The BaByliss offers the same global charger although it does take longer to get going. A three-hour charge should give you 30 minutes of use. There’s also a handy light that turns green to show when they’re fully charged.
WINNER: DYSON
ADDED EXTRAS
YOU don’t need to panic about accidentally leaving the BaByliss on. They go into sleep mode five minutes after use and the temperature drops to 120c. After five more minutes, they turn off.
The BaByliss 9000 has ‘floating’ plates. A tiny computer in the BaByliss also regulates the heat to ensure consistent straightening
Dyson has the same feature as well as some useful extras. For example, you can use the straighteners while they are plugged in and charging.
The Dyson also has a special ‘flight mode’ — a tab you pull out that means the battery is no longer connected to the heat element, something the Civil Aviation Authority says is necessary if you want to take battery-powered straighteners on a plane.
WINNER: DYSON
THE VERDICT
If they were the same price, the Dyson would win on performance alone. The straighteners are a real deluxe option, with every added extra you can imagine, despite being significantly heavier which may put some people off.
Still, I’m sure I won’t be the only one who struggles to justify the cost. If you’re a straightening addict looking for a high performance pair, and you can justify spending £400, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by the Dyson. But for anyone else, the BaByliss will do just fine.