You know that feeling when you walk out of a Drybar salon? Your hair feels like silk, it has that bouncy movement that seems impossible to recreate at home, and you smell like a mix of vanilla and sunshine. For years, the Buttercup was the gold standard—that bright yellow dryer we all recognized. But then they dropped the Drybar Reserve Blow Dryer. It’s sleek, it’s matte black, and it costs a lot more than the original.
Is it just fancy packaging? No.
I've spent way too much time looking at the specs and testing how these things actually handle a thick mane of hair on a humid Tuesday morning. The Reserve isn't just a color swap. It represents a massive shift in how Drybar approaches motor technology. While the classic Buttercup uses a standard DC motor, the Reserve utilizes a high-performance brushless motor. That sounds like marketing jargon, but in the world of physics, it means the tool is lighter, quieter, and—crucially—it lasts significantly longer. It's the difference between an old-school car engine and a Tesla.
Why the Drybar Reserve Blow Dryer is Different Under the Hood
Most people buy blow dryers based on the color or the brand name. That's a mistake. If you're dropping several hundred dollars, you need to know about the Ionic Technology. The Drybar Reserve Blow Dryer uses a specific kind of ionic generator that essentially floods your hair with negative ions. Why does that matter? Well, water droplets on your hair are positively charged. The negative ions break them down faster.
It dries hair from the inside out.
Standard dryers just blast the exterior cuticle with heat until the water evaporates. That leads to fried ends and that "crispy" feeling we all hate. Because the Reserve is more efficient at breaking down water, you're using less heat for a shorter amount of time. It’s actually better for your hair health in the long run. I've noticed that people with high-porosity hair, which usually drinks up water and takes forever to dry, see the biggest time savings here.
The Weight Factor is No Joke
Have you ever had "blowout arm"? It’s that dull ache in your shoulder halfway through a DIY styling session. The Buttercup weighs about 1 pound 1 ounce. That doesn't sound like much until you've been holding it over your head for twenty minutes. The Reserve trims that down. It feels balanced in the hand, almost like an extension of your arm rather than a heavy tool you're fighting against.
The ergonomics are just better.
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It’s compact. If you travel a lot, this is the one you want in your suitcase. It doesn't take up the entire carry-on, and it won't make your bag hit the weight limit at the check-in counter. Plus, the buttons are placed in a way that you don't accidentally hit the "cool shot" button while you're trying to crank up the heat. Small detail? Maybe. But if you’ve ever accidentally blasted yourself with cold air mid-style, you know how annoying that is.
Heat Settings and the Infamous Cool Shot
Let's talk about the actual controls. You get three heat settings and two speed settings. This is where some people get frustrated because they want more "customization," but honestly? You don't need eight different speeds. You need a low speed for bangs and face-framing pieces, and a high speed for the bulk of your hair.
The "Cool Shot" on the Drybar Reserve Blow Dryer is a literal toggle.
- Low Heat: Perfect for fine hair or finishing a style.
- Medium Heat: The sweet spot for most hair types.
- High Heat: Reserved for the thickest, coarsest hair that refuses to cooperate.
- The Cool Shot: This is the secret to making the style last. It "locks" the cuticle.
If you skip the cool shot, your hair stays warm and pliable. The moment you walk outside into any hint of humidity, the style falls. By hitting it with that cold air for 10 seconds per section, you’re basically setting the concrete. The Reserve gets cold fast. Cheaper dryers take a while to transition from hot to cold, which defeats the purpose. This one is nearly instantaneous.
Addressing the Price Tag: Is it a Dyson Killer?
Everyone wants to compare the Drybar Reserve Blow Dryer to the Dyson Supersonic. It’s the elephant in the room. Price-wise, the Reserve sits just below the Dyson, but above the professional Parlux or GHB models.
Here is the nuance.
The Dyson has a very specific "digital" feel to the air. It’s a concentrated jet. Some people love it; some find it hard to control because it blows hair around too much. The Drybar Reserve feels more like a traditional salon dryer but on steroids. It has a wider airflow pattern that makes it easier to do a round-brush blowout. If you aren't a professional stylist, you might actually find the Reserve easier to use than a Dyson because the air doesn't feel like a localized hurricane.
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It's about the "Aero-Technology."
The Reserve is designed to work specifically with Drybar’s brushes. The nozzle attachment—which is included—is narrow enough to direct air precisely onto the brush bristles. This creates that tension you need for a smooth finish. Without tension, you just have dry, frizzy hair. With the Reserve, the tension is easy to maintain because the air pressure is consistent, not turbulent.
Real World Performance: What Happens to Frizz?
I've seen critics say that "a dryer is just a dryer." Those people usually have naturally straight hair that behaves. For the rest of us—the curly, the wavy, the perpetually frizzy—the tool matters.
The Drybar Reserve Blow Dryer uses a patented "Airflow Evolution." Basically, they redesigned the internal fan blades to reduce air turbulence. Less turbulence equals less frizz. When the air comes out in a smooth, linear stream, it lays the hair cuticle flat. When the cuticle is flat, it reflects light.
That’s where the shine comes from.
It's not magic. It’s just light bouncing off a smooth surface instead of a roughed-up one. If you find yourself constantly reaching for the flat iron after you blow-dry, your current dryer is failing you. A good dryer should do 90% of the work. With the Reserve, I’ve found that most people can skip the flat iron entirely, which saves even more heat damage over time.
Common Misconceptions and Troubleshooting
Some users complain that the dryer feels "too light" or "cheap" because it doesn't have the heft of a traditional pro tool. Weight does not equal quality. In fact, in modern engineering, weight often equals inefficiency. The brushless motor inside the Reserve is smaller and more powerful than the bulky motors of the 90s.
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Another thing: the filter.
You have to clean the filter. I know, nobody does it. But the Drybar Reserve Blow Dryer has a very fine mesh filter to protect that high-tech motor. If it gets clogged with dust and hairspray, the motor will overheat and the life of your tool will plummet. Twist off the back, wipe it down once a week, and it’ll last you five years or more. If you ignore it, you’re throwing money away.
Who should actually buy this?
- The Daily Washer: If you blow-dry every single day, the time savings and reduced heat damage make this a no-brainer.
- The Professional Stylist: It’s built for heavy use. Your wrists will thank you.
- The Luxury Seeker: You want the best version of the Drybar experience at home.
If you only blow-dry your hair once a month for special occasions? Honestly, stick with the standard Buttercup or even a high-end drugstore option. You won't see the ROI on a $285+ tool if it's sitting in a drawer 340 days a year.
Actionable Steps for the Perfect Blowout
To actually get your money's worth out of the Drybar Reserve Blow Dryer, you have to change your technique. Most people start with soaking wet hair. Don't do that. You're wasting time and heat.
First, rough dry your hair until it's about 70% to 80% dry. Don't even use a brush yet. Just use your fingers and move the dryer around. Once it feels damp rather than wet, section it off. Use clips—real ones, not tiny butterfly clips. Start at the bottom.
- Angle the nozzle downwards. Always. Never blow air up the hair shaft; that’s a one-way ticket to Frizztown.
- Keep the nozzle moving. Even though the Reserve is "safer," it’s still hot.
- Use a ceramic round brush. The heat from the dryer warms the ceramic, acting like a curling iron from the inside of the curl.
- Finish with the Cool Shot. Hold the brush in place, blast it with cold air for 10 seconds, then release.
This tool is a powerhouse, but it's still just a tool. It requires a bit of finesse to master. However, once you get the hang of the weight and the airflow, it’s hard to go back to anything else. The finish is noticeably sleeker, and the process is undeniably faster. It’s a premium piece of tech that actually delivers on its promises, provided you’re willing to put in the five minutes of maintenance it requires.
Invest in a good heat protectant—something like the Drybar Prep Rally—and you’re basically bringing the salon into your bathroom. Just make sure you’re buying from an authorized retailer to ensure you get the warranty, because with high-end electronics, you always want that safety net.
Check your local Sephora or the official Drybar site for the latest bundles; they often throw in a brush or a full-sized product for the same price as the dryer alone. If you see it on sale, grab it. It rarely stays in stock when the price drops.