Meet Zuvi, the Hair Dryer That Looks Out For Your Lengths—And the Environment

For the blowout faithful, there is such a thing as a cult hairdryer. Dyson’s Supersonic and GHD’s Helios have achieved such status for the curly, the frizzy, the wavy masses seeking a smoother existence. Zuvi is hoping to join their ranks. “We are continually reinventing the working principles of traditional devices to make them better to use,” insists Mingyu Wang, the CEO and founder of the Chinese brand that prioritizes technical innovation and sustainability: all of Zuvi’s devices, including the Zuvi Halo, its debut hairdryer, are also designed to be better for the planet.

Featuring LightCare, a patented light-centered energy efficient technology, Halo replicates the sun’s natural rays in an effort to dry hair with targeted heat that does not damage the cuticle while using less carbon emissions. Minimizing hair damage is, of course, a huge part of its appeal. “A good dryer is one with strength but without excessive heat,” confirms celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims, who works with Gabrielle Union and Kerry Washington. But it’s the brand’s ability to detect and remedy the root cause of that heat damage that earned it special recognition at this year’s CES showcase, the Consumer Technology Association’s annual event in Las Vegas. “Hair damage occurs when a dryer delivers too much heat to your hair, leading to hair strands being overly dried on the inside. This causes a frayed cuticle structure,” Wang explains, adding that with LightCare, Zuvi has managed to isolate its drying capabilities, delivering heat directly to the surface of the hair without compromising the entire shaft, which is similar to what happens when your hair air-dries in the sun, she continues. “Water is retained inside the hair, just like would happen from a natural process—but much faster!” The process is also five-times more energy efficient than traditional dryers, which can produce a carbon footprint of roughly 57 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. So the amount of emissions reduced by using the Zuvi Halo, for 10 minutes, every other day, for a year, is the equivalent of planting one to two trees, according to its many lofty claims.