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

AirLight is compatible with iOS 13.0 and above (including iPads), Android 8.0 Oreo and above, and Bluetooth 5.0. It offers 12 presets suitable for four different modes: Standard, Sleek, Curly and Coily. Each preset is adjustable and can be saved for future use, so once you lock in your settings, they’re always ready. There is also a fully customizable mode. Another teeny but welcome feature is the app’s usage tracker, which records how long you’ve been using the dryer. It seems 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 hot style tips from the pros, quick video tutorials, or even curated inspiration boards for different hairstyles. L’Oréal has laid the foundations here, and I’m curious to see how they build on it in the future.

Hair shown after blow drying with concentrator (no brush)

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

What really sets the AirLight Pro apart, however, is its repairability. L’Oréal will make replacement parts available in early 2025. The AirLight Pro also has built-in filter cleaning alerts for when cleaning is necessary. The frequency varies depending on the quality of the air, daily dust, and other particles (ie, hairspray). If the filter reaches a critical condition, the dryer will shut down until you clean it to avoid damage to the motor. I haven’t gotten to that point yet, so I can’t confirm how well it works, but I appreciate the idea of ​​a dryer looking for its longevity.

At $475, the AirLight Pro isn’t cheap. But it’s only $45 more than the viral Dyson SuperSonic and has a lot of advantages – it’s quieter than the Dyson, faster to dry my hair, and more customizable with the app. And most importantly, you can repair it if it breaks after the warranty is over. If I’m going to spend almost $500 on a hair dryer, I want to make sure I only use it once. The tailored experience of AirLight Pro is worth it.