L’Oreal Professionnel AirLight Pro Review: Faster, Lighter and Repairable

AirLight is supported with iOS 13.0 and higher (including iPads), Android 8.0 Oreo and higher and Bluetooth 5.0. It offers 12 presets designed for four different modes: Standard, Sleek, Curly and Spiral. Each preset is adjustable and can be saved for future use, so once you lock in your settings, they’ll always be ready. There is also a fully customizable mode. Another small but welcome feature is the app’s usage tracker, which records how long you’ve used the dryer. It sounds trivial, but knowing when to clean the filter can extend the life of the product (more on this later).

The app is clearly in its early stages, but it works well and leaves plenty of room for updates. I can’t help but imagine how much better it could be with features like heat styling tips from pros, quick video tutorials, or even curated mood boards for different hairstyles. L’Oréal has laid the foundation here and I’m curious to see how they will build on it in the future.

Hair shown after blow drying with concentrator finish (without brush)

In an industry where many devices are destined for landfill, the AirLight Pro is an outlier. L’Oréal claims that the AirLight Pro motor is designed for the long term, with a lifespan that can extend up to 10 years of professional use, that is, approximately two hours a day, five days a week. For anyone who has had to deal with cheap hair dryers that barely last a season, this alone is a promising proposition.

However, what really sets the AirLight Pro apart is its repairability. L’Oréal will make replacement parts available starting in early 2025. The AirLight Pro also has built-in filter cleaning alerts for when it needs cleaning. The frequency varies depending on air quality, everyday dust, and other particles (i.e. hairspray). If the filter reaches a critical condition, the dryer shuts off until you clean it to prevent damage to the motor. I’m not there yet, so I can’t guarantee how well it works, but I appreciate the idea of ​​a dryer that takes care of its longevity.

At $475, the AirLight Pro isn’t cheap. But it’s only $45 more than the viral Dyson SuperSonic and has plenty of perks: It’s quieter than the Dyson, faster at drying my hair, and more customizable with the app. And most importantly, you can repair it if it breaks after the warranty runs out. If I’m going to spend almost $500 on a hair dryer, I want to make sure I only do it once. The personalized experience of the AirLight Pro is worth it.