UK inventor develops unique dryer

Inventor James Dyson introduces his Dyson Supersonic hair dryer to Beijing customers.[Photo provided to China Daily]

When Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld got a supersonic hair dryer for his pampered cat, he attracted the interest of fashionistas. So, what is so different about this gadget?

Its inventor James Dyson, one of the United Kingdom's best-known industrial designers, recently visited Beijing to introduce his product: the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer.

Created with human hair in mind, the dryer is designed to challenge conventional products by combining lightness, power and style.

Its highlight is the patented Dyson digital motor, which is half the weight of similar hair dryer motors, but it runs eight times faster.

It also has intelligent heat control that prevents damage to hair. With its air multiplier technology, it is able to dry and style faster than currently available hair dryers. Besides, it is quieter so people can talk while using it.

The product was developed over more than four years with an investment of about 50 million pounds ($65 million).

"First, we had to understand hair, what keeps it glossy, what makes it straight and how to stop fly-aways," says Dyson.

It is now sold in the UK for about 300 pounds.

The dryer will be launched in China in August.

A pioneer in industrial design, Dyson is not a big fan of market research. "It (the research) told us that people wanted a quiet and light hair dryer, one that didn't damage hair or overheat and they would prepare to pay a lot of money for something they use every day to make them look beautiful.

"You should do market research but not necessarily follow what it says. This is because you can ask people only about what they know at the moment, what they experience. You can't ask them about the future."

Although the hair dryer was designed with consumers in mind, it is now also being used by professional stylists.

Guo Zijing, a stylist from On Time studio in Beijing, says the Supersonic combines the best features of a domestic hair dryer and a professional one.

"It has the lightness of a home hair dryer, but is just as powerful and fast as a professional one," he says.

Dyson's company has been growing rapidly in China over the last three years, with online stores on Tmall and JD.com.

And with its vacuums and purifiers, it could also be part of the solution for the air pollution woes in the country.

"It is a big area of development. Here people are very aware of air pollution. In Europe, they have the same problem, but they are not aware of it. We have to teach people there, because it (pollution) builds up in the home. There is five times more pollution in the home than outside."