Dyson’s hair styling debut in 2016 has irrevocably changed the hairdressing industry, unleashing the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer for consumers, their tailored professional edition and now a machine that is literally the gold standard. The Dyson Supersonic™ 23.75 karat gold hair dryer is designed by James Dyson with the company’s patented and now famous Dyson digital motor V9 and unique design for intelligent heat control, a solution to prevent extreme heat damage.
“Gold has been used in design, sculpture and architecture for centuries,” James said. “As an element, I’m fascinated by its properties. Like the engineering process we pride ourselves on, gilding is a true example of meticulous craftsmanship.”
Dyson design engineers and model makers first learned the skills for gilding under a master guilder, learning the process and technique to gild. Once learnt, the design and engineering team sought how to scale the process, making it more repeatable and perfecting the surface finish specifically for this application. Exploring industrial processes, the team quickly learned the process could be aided by technology but ultimately a craftsman’s hand skills remained paramount. At approximately 333 atoms thick, 1/666th the diameter of human hair, each layer of gold leaf must be applied by hand. Once sprayed, two layers of 23.75k gold leaf from Florence, Italy, is applied by hand and carefully brushed to form a smooth and even finish.
“At Dyson we aren’t afraid to take on a new challenge,” said Dyson and Engineering Lead Britta Stockinger. “We weren’t experts in gold or gold leafing but we broke down the technique into individual steps to understand how each parameter affects the finish and how we could best apply it to our hair dryer. Using our expertise in design processes, adhesives, paint and model making, we managed to learn a very traditional skill and translate it to a 21st century application.”
Beneath the gold leaf is a red loop which honours the traditional method of gilding. Dyson matched the red found on artwork, sculptures and other artefacts where gold leaf is applied. Like other gold-leafed pieces, the red loop on the product will reveal some of its colour over time, giving each gold-leafed hair dryer a distinctive and unique patina.
Beyond the alluring gold and red design, the machine includes the precision engineering and technology benefits of the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer.
The Dyson digital motor V9 is situated in the handle for an ergonomic design, with Air Multiplier technology in the head for high pressure and high velocity, ensuring fast drying and styling. The 13-blade impeller spins at up to 110,000rpm, generating 3.5kPa of pressure and propelling 13 litres of air up to the amplifier every second.
The dryer also includes a glass bead thermistor and microprocessor that measures the temperature 20 times per second to help prevent extreme heat damage. There are four heat settings, including a cool shot and ‘always cool’ option, and three airflow settings. Attachments including a styling concentrator, smoothing nozzle and diffuser further control airflow and allow people with different hair types to achieve a range of styles.
With this innovative technology, the Dyson Supersonic™ 23.75 karat gold hair dryer is more than a new colourway – it’s where meticulous craftsmanship meets precision engineering. The ideal elegant addition to your kit or cupboard, this new gold standard in styling is a winner.
For more information visit https://www.dyson.com.au/haircare/supersonic/supersonic-blue-gold
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