Solis Airvolution is the hairdryer that can (almost) do it all

The thing is really compact. Almost too compact. I eye the slim hairdryer sceptically. When I pick it up, it reminds me more of a gun than a hairdryer. My first impression of Solis Airvolution is that it’s light, good quality and really small. Perfect for the tiny hands of a 150 cm person like me. If this thing delivers, I’ll be amazed. I’m really excited about the round, colourful display on the side. It’s supposed to show me an overview of my settings while I’m using it.

Hairdryer

Solis AirVolution hair dryer

10

Hairdryer

Solis AirVolution hair dryer

10

For the next few weeks, I’m swapping my beloved Dyson Supersonic for the new Solis Airvolution. I’d like to point out that this product review shouldn’t be understood as a direct comparison of the two models. However, I won’t be able to avoid comparing the properties of both models with each other. Especially those that are particularly important to me when drying my hair. For two reasons:

First of all, Solis, at just under 300 francs, is in the upper price bracket along with Dyson (approx. 400 francs). Secondly, the Dyson Supersonic is a permanent part of my hair care routine and, as a result, my personal benchmark for the high-priced category. In my case, this inevitably puts the Airvolution in competition with the Supersonic.

Unboxing

This is what’s included in the box ...

• the Airvolution
• a quick start guide
• info cards
• three attachments: a diffuser for curls and two styling nozzles of different sizes
• a cable tie attached to the cable

A few figures up front

At 325 grammes (without the cable), the Airvolution is virtually a flyweight. For comparison, even Dyson’s Supersonic, which I find relatively light, weighs more, at 465 grammes. The motor of Solis’ model reaches up to 110,000 revolutions per minute, just like Dyson’s model. The Airvolution is said to achieve an airflow speed of up to 66 metres per second. Its temperature range extends from a blast of cold air to 45°C, 55°C, 65°C and 75°C, while Dyson’s maximum temperature reaches 100°C. There’s also a button lock, a magnetic air filter cover and ion technology for smooth hair. It measures at 17×22×6 centimetres.

Operation and modes

The device isn’t entirely intuitive so I constantly rely on the quick start guide. This starts as soon as I switch on the Airvolution. When I press the power button, nothing happens. The manual says I have to hold the button down for at least one second. The same goes for turning it off. That’s because the button is also used for switching between various modes. By holding it down, the hairdryer knows that I don’t want to switch to another mode, but that I want to switch it off.

There’s a total of four buttons on the appliance:

• Auto cycle/lock button
• Power/mode button
• Temperature button
• Air speed button

In total, there are four pre-programmed modes:

• Junior: 45°C and gentle air speed
• Natural: 45°C and medium air speed
• Care: 55°C and fast air speed
• Fast Dry: 65°C and extra fast air speed

In Customisable Mode (shown on the display with a heart emoji), I can freely select the temperature and air speed and also save them if required. With the **Cool-Shot **setting (used to hold the blow-dried hair in place), I can vary the speed. And then there’s the Smart Auto Cycle, which I’m seeing for the first time. In this mode, the dryer alternates between warm airflow (five seconds) and cool airflow (two seconds) for particularly gentle styling. I personally don’t need to use this.

Gosh, that’s quite a lot isn’t it? I have to admit that even after using the hairdryer several times, I still have to study it briefly and sometimes, in desperation, I just press the buttons wildly until I get the settings I want. That’s the disadvantage of wanting to offer numerous options with a single device and, at the same time, only having as many buttons built in as really necessary. In the end, it’s just a matter of practice.

An important extra: if I press the smart auto cycle/lock button twice in quick succession, the buttons are locked, which prevents you from being able to change the settings. This is really impractical because, quite often, I accidently press the buttons while I’m blow-drying.

The specs:

My favourite aspect is the TFT LCD display. It’s big enough and has bright, bold colours so that I don’t have to squint to read my settings. The four pre-programmed modes also have their own icon that briefly lights up. The exact temperature and speed are displayed in the centre. The white and red circles indicate where I am on the scale, from minimum to maximum possible temperature and speed. A really clever feature.

Handling

The design deserves a lot of praise. The handle is narrower and slightly shorter than I’m used to, which makes it easier to grip. The light weight is great for my small hand, which often cramps up since being operated on twice. The device is easy to use and, in my opinion, is slightly louder than the Dyson Supersonic. So relatively quiet. In terms of drying, I get the impression the Dyson is quicker. This is because it can be set warmer, among other things. At 2.8 metres, the Airvolution has a ten-centimetre longer cable than its competitor. It can also be neatly stowed away thanks to the integrated cable tie.

The attachments

The range of attachments in the packaging is small but sophisticated. The curl diffuser easily slips on to the hairdryer opening. I haven’t tested it because I don’t have curly hair.

Instead, I experimented more with the magnetic nozzles. They’re particularly suitable if you want to guide the airflow along the entire length of the hair and avoid flyaways. The narrow attachment is particularly practical for styling, as you can work with narrow strands. The wide diffuser works over a larger area, which is why I just used it for regular blow-drying. With its large selection of attachments, however, the Dyson Supersonic (still) leads in first place.

Verdict: the Airvolution is impressive

Solis Airvolution is definitely a high-priced alternative to the Dyson Supersonic. It’s not simply trying to copy the market leader in the upper price segment. No, it’s doing it’s own thing. This has plus and minus points. On the one hand, there are numerous setting options which are very helpful for some. For me, there’s too many. If it were up to me, I’d get rid of all the pre-programmed modes apart from the Junior. The Supersonic is much more intuitive to operate.

On the other hand, the display and the design on the Airvolution are superb. It’s so compact and light that I’d even take the hairdryer with me on vacation. The device is beneficial for families with children thanks to the gentle Junior setting and the button lock. As far as the attachments are concerned, three is a good start. To cover as many hair types as possible, a few additions would probably be necessary.