Review: L’Oreal Professionnel AirLight Pro

Since its conception, the handheld hair dryer has been the not-so-silent saboteur of healthy hair. They’re almost too efficient, leaving the hair and scalp dried out to a crisp. Aside from the added safety measures that ensure you don’t die if you drop it in the bathtub, and the arrival of ionic and ceramic dryers, the basic design hasn’t evolved that much. L'Oréal Professionnel's AirLight Pro, however, combines near-infrared light, wind speed, and controlled heat to dry the surface of your hair while retaining moisture within.

Developed in collaboration with Zuvi—a hardware startup founded by drone engineers—the AirLight Pro utilizes its patented LightCare technology, which cuts down drying time and is supposed to be gentler on hair and the planet. According to L’Oréal, the AirLight Pro leaves hair up to 33 percent more hydrated and 59 percent smoother, and it consumes 31 percent less energy than standard convection hairdryers. After debuting exclusively in salons earlier this year, the AirLight Pro is now available to consumers at Ulta Beauty.

Sleek and Smudge-Free

At just 1.7 pounds, the AirLight Pro is lightweight enough to operate without feeling like an arm workout. While it’s not exactly silent—my cats still bolt like I’ve started up a vacuum—it registers at 76 decibels, making it quieter than most dryers, including the Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer (9/10, WIRED Recommends).

It’s sleek with a two-tone silver finish that exudes an aesthetic similar to its predecessor, the Zuvi Halo Dryer. Bonus points for the fingerprint-resistant exterior, which stays smudge-free (but not immune to scratches or cracks). The 11.5-foot power cord is longer than its competitors’ (Dyson Supersonic, Shark SpeedStyle, GHD Helios Professional) and won’t leave you tethered to an inconvenient outlet. It’s also thicker than most, which is great for preventing tangles but less ideal for storage.

There’s also no guesswork here. For starters, the buttons are labeled and simple to navigate. The back button toggles wind speed, and the front button adjusts the temperature. Press either button multiple times to cycle through three settings, or hold down the front button for a blast of cool air.

The AirLight Pro also includes two magnetic attachments that snap into place without a hitch. Connect the concentrator and the dryer automatically adjusts to higher wind speed and heat settings for precision and sleek drying. Attach the diffuser—best suited for curly and coily hair—and the AirLight Pro dials it down, softening the airflow and lowering the heat to preserve the hair’s natural curls. It’s also refreshing to see just two attachments, when so many hair tools now come with an overwhelming amount of accessories.

The AirLight Pro’s claim to fame is its patented LightCare technology. Unlike traditional convection dryers, the AirLight Pro is built with a 17-blade motor and six tungsten-halogen bulbs that power the near-infrared heat.

Infrared light is invisible, so the cyan-blue glow mainly serves as a visual cue that the hairdryer is powered on. It doesn’t omit convection entirely—it’s equipped with a downsized convection engine with smaller heating coils and less electrical resistance. This hybrid approach helps prevent hair from drying out, retaining hydration on the inside. It’s powerful, too, with wind speeds reaching up to 130 miles per hour and a max temperature of 285 degrees Fahrenheit.

My mid-back-length wavy hair usually takes a solid 20 minutes to blow-dry with my trusty Conair InfinitiPro SmoothWrap. With the AirLight Pro, I was done in under 10. I’ve got fine, loose S-waves that are prone to frizz and fly-aways, so I was curious to see the outcome.

Using the concentrator nozzle, I got a straight and frizz-free blowout without even touching a brush, which is truly impressive. My hair is also naturally flat, so I always apply Not Your Mother’s Plump for Joy Volumizing Mousse before stying. With the AirLight Pro, my hair was smoother, though it did feel just a touch flatter than if I used my Conair or the Revlon 2.0 brush. Still, it’s a trade-off I’m willing to make for the healthier-looking finish and the 10-minute drying time.

Right to Repair

I’ll admit, when I first learned that the AirLight Pro had a companion app, I internally rolled my eyes. The “there’s an app for that” mania has left me skeptical—does a hair dryer really need an app? Thankfully it’s optional, but it’s somewhat useful.

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 tailored 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’s also a fully customizable mode. Another teeny but welcome feature is the app’s usage tracker, which logs how long you’ve used the dryer. It sounds trivial, but knowing when to clean the filter can extend the product’s lifespan (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 inspiration boards for different hairstyles. L’Oréal has laid the groundwork here, and I’m curious to see how they build on it in the future.

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

What really sets the AirLight Pro apart, though, is its repairability. L’Oréal is making spare parts available starting in early 2025. The AirLight Pro also has built-in filter cleaning alerts for when cleaning is required. The frequency varies depending on air quality, everyday dust, and other particles (i.e., hairspray). If the filter reaches critical condition, the dryer shuts off until you clean it to avoid motor damage. I haven’t hit that point yet, so I can’t vouch for how well it works, but I appreciate the idea of a blow-dryer looking out 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 at drying my hair, and more customizable with the app. And most important, you can repair it if it gets busted after the warranty runs out. If I'm going to spend almost $500 on a hair dryer, I want to make sure I'm only doing it once. The AirLight Pro's tailored experience is worth it.