Can you use a Dyson hair dryer abroad? (What the Supersonic Travel changes)

If you own a regular Dyson Supersonic and you are packing for Europe, leave it home. Dyson's own support guidance says their dryers are built for the country you bought them in, and a US one is not meant to run on European voltage, converter or not. That was always my problem, so when Dyson invited me to their Miami launch for the Supersonic Travel, I was not playing it cool.

Quick honesty note before anything else: I was a guest at Dyson's event for this dryer. Everything below about how it works comes from Dyson's own launch details, and I will tell you which parts those are.

Video transcript

The day I saw this email come through, you already know what we're about to get into. I was on the floor when I found out that Dyson finally came out with a travel friendly hair dryer. If you have a Dyson, you know the struggle of not being able to plug it in internationally. But now she can finally join us for Euro summer. I will never say no to an influencer event, they're usually so much fun. See you at the next one.

Why can't you use a normal Dyson hair dryer abroad?

A US Supersonic is made for US outlets. Most of Europe runs on a much higher voltage, and Dyson's support pages are clear that their machines are meant for the country they were sold in. A plug adapter only changes the shape of the plug. It does not change the voltage.

A voltage converter sounds like the fix, but Dyson does not recommend it, and hair dryers pull a lot of power, far more than the little travel converters are built for. Every girl I know who tried it either blew the converter or just never got it to turn on. So for years my Dyson stayed home and I used whatever the hotel had screwed to the wall.

What is different about the Supersonic Travel?

Three things, straight from Dyson's launch details:

• Universal voltage. It adapts on its own from 100 to 240 volts, so you plug it in abroad with just a plug adapter and it runs at full power.
• Smaller and lighter. Dyson says it is 32% smaller and 25% lighter than the full size Supersonic.
• It shares attachments. The attachments from a Supersonic or Supersonic Nural you already own fit it.

That last point matters more than it sounds. If you already have a diffuser or a smoothing nozzle you love, you do not have to buy the whole set again.

Is the Supersonic Travel worth it if I already own a Dyson?

Only if you actually leave the country. If you travel a few times a year to places with different voltage and you care about your hair looking the same there as it does at home, this is the whole reason it exists. If every trip you take is domestic, your regular Supersonic already works and this would be a second dryer doing the same job.

Who this is not for

If you never travel internationally, skip it. Your regular Dyson is fine. If you already own a dual voltage travel dryer that gives you the result you want, there is no reason to replace it. And if your hair is already heat damaged, a better dryer does not fix that. Use a heat protectant and turn the heat down, on any dryer.

Also know that one Nural feature does not carry over: Dyson says the attachment learning function from the Supersonic Nural is not compatible with the Travel. The attachments fit, the smart memory does not.

For me it is simple. Euro summer next year, and my Dyson is finally coming with me.