Ella Bella vs Dyson Hair Dryer

The humble hair dryer. A tool that many of us use daily to get out the door faster, and stylishly.

Enter two competitors: Ella Bella and Dyson, each making similar claims to make hair drying and styling easy, relatively quiet, and fast, with reduced damage.

But which is better? I tried both myself to bring you the facts.

TLDR

The Dyson Origin is pricier (around $400) but offers faster, quieter drying. The Ella Bella is a more lightweight and compact option that comes with three attachments for better versatility. It also comes in at $160. If you want the quietest, fastest dry, regardless of cost, go with the Dyson. If budget or versatility are concerns, go with Ella Bella.

Ella Bella Hair Dryer Overview

First off, we have the Ella Bella Ionic Hair Dryer. At around $160, this powerful, sleek tool comes in three different color options (black, pink, and champagne) and has 3 magnetic attachments (a small flat nozzle, a wider nozzle, and a diffuser).

It’s super lightweight and easy to use. You press and hold the bottom power button for a few seconds to bring it to life, then you use the top button to adjust the air pressure level and the second button to adjust the temperature. There’s a cool blast button on the side to lock in styles.

This one was lovely to use. It was pretty quiet in operation even when I cranked it up all the way to sound-test. On both the medium airflow and temperature settings, I was able to dry my whole head in under 5 minutes (I have a short sort of bob, fine texture, but a lot of hair) using the smallest nozzle. 

My hair ended up shiny and healthy-looking, so I don’t have to be too concerned about heat damage.

I also just think the dryer itself looks sleek and cute, and I love the display screen that shows the exact air temperature.

Dyson Origin Hair Dryer Overview

I also tested the famous Dyson Supersonic Origin Hair Dryer. And it is the real deal (though it’s also around $400).

With a unique, almost futuristic design that features just a big hole in the center and a short, oval barrel instead of an extended one, this hair dryer is like none I’ve seen before. It did come with one small flat nozzle attachment that stuck on with strong magnets and helped me concentrate the airflow on smaller sections. That’s 2 less attachments than the EllaBella, but it sure got the job done.

It’s incredibly quiet, even on higher settings, and works well. Like, really well. My whole head was dry in just about 3 minutes on the medium heat and air settings. And with surprisingly little noise. 

Ella Bella Ionic vs Dyson Supersonic Origin

Now, let’s break it down.

Design & Build Quality

First off, the hair dryer itself. Is it built well using high-quality materials? Do I feel confident it will last through the years without pieces coming off or the thing catching fire or electrocuting me?

The answer for both is yes. These are two seriously elegant hair dryers. While the Dyson takes an almost quirky, futuristic approach to design, the Ella Bella is just a small, simplified version of the regular old hair dryers we know and love. But both are plenty effective at doing their job.

The Dyson has this sleek, futuristic design that features a signature hollow barrel (I don’t know where the air comes from and I don’t need to know). And by the weight of it (and product description on their website) I can tell it’s made from high-quality materials that won’t fall victim to wear and tear. The on and off switch is just at the base of that oval with the cold one right beneath it, and the buttons to operate the level of heat and power are on either side. 

The Ella Bella has a super lightweight, compact design that’s a bit more like a traditional hairdryer. It fits super easy in my hand and has a longer, thinner barrel. Still, it feels high-quality, with a more matte finish. In general, the Ella Bella is the sleeker and more compact of the two.

I would say the designs are very different, so it’s hard to compare, but the Ella Bella is a little more ergonomic in my hand and easier to use. There’s something about the Dyson that makes it seem a tiny bit more high-quality, but I’m not sure the difference is that big.

Technology & Performance

Now it’s time to talk about how they perform.

The Dyson makes some fancy claims in what they use for technology (as you could expect from such a big name):

• Digital V9 motor, 110,000 RPM
• Air Multiplier™ technology 
• Intelligent heat control (monitors 40+ times/sec)

It also promises to “increase smoothness by 75%, increase shine by up to 132%, and decrease frizz and flyaways by up to 61%.” I’m not sure how they measure this, but it dried my hair incredibly fast (3 minutes!) with no noticeable damage, loss in shine, or added frizz.

The Ella Bella uses different tech to reduce heat damage, including:

• Negative ion tech
• Intelligent heat control
• Three drying speeds
• Low noise tech

It took a couple of minutes longer to dry my whole head, so it’s not quite as efficient as its competitor, but I think the end result was the same. Maybe a little bit frizzier than with the Dyson Origin, but dry and not damaged or riddled with flyaways.

While I can’t speak with authority on which tech approach is better (or what better even means in this context), I can tell you they both were fast, efficient and gave me the end result I was looking for, though the Origin was undeniably faster.

Attachments 

If we’re only comparing attachments, Ella Bella wins hands down with three times as many as Dyson.

The Dyson Origin comes with one small smoothing nozzle or styling concentrator.

The Ella Bella, on the other hand, comes with three magnetic attachments; a diffuser, a small concentrator, and a wide nozzle.

Both use very strong magnets to keep these attachments in place and I’m not worried about either losing parts easily while in use. But that diffuser attachment means Ella Bella wins this round for me.

Noise & Ease of Use 

When it comes to noise level, I will say the Dyson was just a little bit quieter.

When it comes to weight, neither is unwieldy in the handling. Dyson is top-heavy, but the head of it is a round oval rather than a barrel. I would say Ella Bella is definitely lighter overall and a little bit smaller in general.

Powering them on is slightly different. The Dyson powers on immediately with the move of a sliding power button, while Ella Bella’s dryer requires holding the power button for a few seconds to get it going. Now is the time to mention that I personally had some issues powering my Ella Bella on. I had to press the reset button a few times and still have to use it every time I plug it in, but I feel like my situation is more of a fluke than a common problem.

Both are very straightforward and user-friendly when it comes to buttons. There aren’t any extra, they’re small enough to not take up too much space but big enough to be easy to use. No notes here.

What Hair Type Is Each Best For?

It’s really hard to say which is better for which hair type since both have a wide variety of settings that make them both suitable for all hair types. 

But if I had to choose, I guess I would say the Dyson Origin is best for thick or coarse hair because of its powerful airflow that dries hair quickly without excessive heat. It’s also a great option for damaged or color-treated hair because the intelligent heat control protects against overheating and excessive damage. If you’re after sleek styles or blowouts, the Dyson’s focused airflow and smoothing nozzle make it an ideal companion for a round brush.

The Ella Bella is better suited for fine to medium hair, with lower heat settings and ionic technology that help reduce frizz without over-drying. It’s also a great pick for wavy or curly hair, especially if you’re on a budget since it includes a diffuser that the Dyson Origin doesn’t. For everyday styling and versatility, Ella Bella offers more flexibility right out of the box with three magnetic attachments.

No matter what your hair type, either of these hair dryers will work for you, you just may want to try one or the other first.

Price & Value

Here are the facts. The Dyson Origin is $379.99. The Ella Bella is $159.97.

If budget is at all a concern, I’m not going to tell you to spring for the Dyson. While it’s the fastest hair dryer I have ever used and it sure looks cool as hell, I don’t think it did anything that I could see worth justifying the price. But again, I’m not sure a hair tool in the world is worth $400 in my personal opinion. (Keep in mind, I’m the type of person who DIY bleaches my platinum blonde hair).

As for the Ella Bella, yeah, I can see why it’s a little bit pricey. It’s compact, it’s sleek, it’s lightweight and easy to handle, and it reduces damage. Is it cheap? No. Does it perform cheaply? Also no. I personally just like it better. The three attachments absolutely add value and I know many of my curly friends will appreciate the diffuser attachment. I can justify the price with this one.

For me, the Ella Bella wins. For someone who does have an extra $400, the Dyson Origin really is a fantastic hair dryer.

Final Verdict: Which Is Better?

I’m not sure there’s a universally right answer here. 

The Dyson is honestly amazing. It’s super-fast drying, ultra-quiet, and beautifully designed with premium materials. I love it for thick, coarse, or damaged hair. But at around $400, it’s a luxury investment that can be inaccessible to many budgets.

The Ella Bella offers impressive performance for a much more affordable $160. It’s lightweight, compact, and easier to handle, with a sleeker traditional design. While it’s not quite as fast as the Dyson, it still dried my hair quickly with minimal noise, and it left my hair smooth and healthy-looking. Plus, it comes with three magnetic attachments which makes it more versatile, especially for curly or wavy hair.

So which one wins?

If performance at any cost is your priority and you want the quietest, fastest one, go with the Dyson Origin. If you’re looking for better value, everyday ease, and built-in versatility, Ella Bella is the clear winner.