Panasonic Nanoe Compact folded

If you’re looking for a powerful compact hair dryer that folds for easy storage, look no further than the Panasonic Nanoe EHNA2C. The latest installment in Panasonic’s Nanoe line (characterized by the ionizing “nanoe outlet” above the nozzle of each dryer), this model is sleek, convenient, and features three airflow settings.

What’s in the box of the Panasonic Nanoe hair dryer? 

The contents of the Panasonic Nanoe EHNA2C are pretty simple. In the box, you’ll find the dryer itself, warranty and product information, and a single oscillating quick-dry nozzle attachment.

Panasonic Nanoe Compact review

What does an oscillating attachment do?

The key feature of the Panasonic Nanoe line is, in my opinion, not the brand’s deep-penetrating ionic “Nanoe” technology. Most, if not all, hair dryers have some kind of proprietary ionizing technology that’s supposed to change your haircare routine forever, and in my experience, they’re all more or less equally as effective. Some may dry slightly faster, or deliver slightly smoother results, or come with more bells and whistles, but at the end of the day, your hair is going to end up dry either way.

No: What I think the key feature of the Panasonic Nanoe line actually is is their oscillating nozzle. It wiggles slightly as the dryer runs, jiggling the airflow of each Nanoe just a tiny bit. The oscillating attachment means that you don’t have to shake or toss your hair dryer to prevent hot spots as you use it, and while simple, it’s pretty handy. It moves less than others I’ve seen, so even though you get that little bit of extra heat dispersion, the oscillation won’t increase your drying time. (Confession: I still jiggle a little even though I don’t need to. Old habits die hard!)

How to use an oscillating attachment to reduce heat damage hair

How do I use an oscillating attachment to reduce heat damage?

To use a hair dryer with an oscillating attachment, I’ll generally shampoo and condition my hair with a moisturizing formula—right now, I’m using a custom duo from a brand called Prose. Then, I’ll towel my hair dry and add a heat protectant. (The one I use in this video review is from Living Proof, but anything designed around heat protection will work!) Finally, I’ll pop on the oscillating attachment and dry my hair in small sections, moving slowly to different sections of hair and focusing on the mid-length and ends of my hair. This is the key technique that’ll help you reduce heat damage: You want to hold your dryer at a distance, never staying in the same spot for long.

When my hair is almost dry, I kind of twist it loosely to add shape at the ends and roots. I’ll use the oscillating attachment to gently dry both my roots and ends, and when they’re fully dry, I switch to the dryer’s cool function to set the shape. This cold shot helps to set the style and make it last even without hairspray.

Panasonic Nanoe EHNA2C

How do the different Panasonic Nanoe models compare?

Panasonic’s Nanoe is a really interesting line—or, at least, it is to me. Thanks to the brand’s focus and experience in consumer electronics, Panasonic personal care tools are designed and labelled in a way that reminds me more of televisions and microwaves than of other hair products like shampoo or flat irons.

When Panasonic releases a product, they release it with just one name: In this case, “Nanoe.” Then, that name is paired with a product code: This one’s is “EHNA2C.” When the brand updates their product lineup, as they are continuously doing, they tend to re-release old favourites under new product codes with improvements to their design and function.

So, instead of having a lineup of product names like “Nanoe, Nanoe II, Micro, and Ion,” you’ll see something more like the “Nanoe EHNA2C, Nanoe EHNA65, and Nanoe EHNA27K.” Over time, I find that the way Panasonic does things makes it really easy to stick with the same brand over time. It’s easy to know which products will be like the ones you’ve loved before, but it also gives Panasonic a lot of room to keep product lines up to date and constantly release better versions of old products. So, when it comes time to replace your hair dryer, you always know which one to purchase to continue getting the same great experience.

Using the Panasonic Nanoe hair dryer

As someone with straight, thin hair, I don’t need a lot out of my hair dryer. The Panasonic Nanoe line does the job, and I’ve liked every product I’ve tried from the line, but I haven’t loved any of them. The long nozzle that’s characteristic of the Nanoe range feels a little awkward to me (it’s roughly as long as my forearm), and my hair often ends up tangled in the intake filter of their compact models, like this one.

Because my primary issue with the Nanoe line is the length of its nozzle, I had a great experience with the Nanoe Compact. (An experience, I think, that most people would get from the original.) The Panasonic Nanoe EHNA2C is petite-sized and easy to use, with excellent power and heat. I can see it being a better choice for travel, but I also recommend compact hair dryers for people with thin to medium-thick hair who simply don’t need their blow dryer very often. I reach for a blow dryer once a season at most, and I really only keep one at home for guests. So, a compact model like this one is perfect for me. It still does a great job, and while its functions are more limited, its smaller storage size makes it worth the compromise.

Finally, while the Nanoe Compact is significantly smaller than the regular-sized Nanoe line, I noticed that it’s still much larger than my usual compact dryer. If size is of the utmost importance to you, make sure to check the product dimensions before purchasing.

Panasonic Nanoe EHNA2C review

Is a compact hair dryer right for everyone?

Simply put: No. While I had a great experience with this hair dryer, I don’t think it’s quite up to par for an everyday hair tool. If you use your hair dryer regularly, I recommend the full-sized Panasonic Nanoe EHNA67instead, which I reviewed last year. The EHNA67 has the same general silhouette and features as the Compact, but it’s a little sleeker and much larger. It’s more powerful (1875 watts to the Compact’s 1400 watts) and it’s designed with a separate cold shot button, allowing you to make use of both high and medium speeds of cool air.

Having a separate cold shot button may seem inconsequential, but it’ll give you more control over setting your hairstyle. It’ll also help speed up your everyday hair care routine when it comes to things like round brushing and styling—the EHNA67 comes with a directional attachment as well, which will help create even more professional results.

So, my advice? If you’re looking for a smaller hair dryer, check this one out. It’s not a particularly tiny compact dryer, but it’s well-made and very sleek. For more power and features, opt for a full-sized Nanoe instead.

Shop the Panasonic Nanoe Compact hair dryer online at Best Buy today.

Rae Chen
Rae Chen covers everything from handbags to speakers here on the Best Buy Plug-in Blog. They can also be found at thenotice.net, where they've been writing about beauty & wellness since 2007.

414 COMMENTS

  1. I like the overall size – it would certainly be easier to pack and I would still be able to dry and style my hair well.

  2. I love that Panasonic Nanoe EHNA2C is compact and great for travelling, and it would be an upgrade from your current hair dryer because my travel one is almost 15 years old and quite heavy, which definitely is not something I want in my luggage!

  3. The oscillating nozzle is an amazing feature that helps disperse the air flow. It would add a huge upgrade to mine.

  4. The Oscillating nozzle on Panasonic Nanoe EHNA2C sounds really good because it helps you prevent hot spots. It would be an upgrade as any feature would because I don’t have a hair dryer anymore as nine broke so this would be really helpful.

  5. I think it’s a perfect hairdryer for travel. It’s powerful and that’s exactly what I need for my hair. Would not want to bring my larger more expensive hair dryer in vacation. This is great a small and quick dry

  6. The oscillating attachment will help decrease heat damage to my hair – the old dryer I have does not have this feature.

  7. I love how compact it is. I try to pack light because I like to buy souvenirs so this would fit nicely in my bag.

  8. I like how it osculates preventing hot spots. I also love the size for travelling. It is much better than my current one as I also get my hair caught in the end and burn it.

  9. The oscillating attachment means that you don’t have to shake or toss your hair dryer to prevent hot spots as you use it, and while simple, it’s pretty handy. Sounds great!

  10. The oscillating quick-dry nozzle that helps dry your hair faster and with less heat damage is something I currently do not have

  11. The oscillating quick-dry nozzle that helps dry your hair faster and with less heat damage is something I currently do not have

  12. The oscillating nozzle would be such an upgrade for my old dryer which is on its last legs. Would distribute heat evenly and get the job done faster!

  13. The compact size of the Panasonic Nanoe EHNA2C and the ability to do a cold shot are selling features for me compared to my current hair dryer which was passed down to me in 1994 (still working strong though) and is most likely from the late 70’s. I would also love to try the oscillating feature, which I understand is an automatic feature. I do not have much hair so my hair would be try in no time at all.

  14. The oscillating nozzle is a great feature, SInce my old hair dryer died this would be a vast improvement over the towels I use now…lol.

  15. i just love the gently occilating head feature of the Panasonic Nanoe EHNA2C , it would be such a huge upgrade from our present clunker thx

  16. My favorite feature is the compact size. I don’t use a hair dryer everyday and the ancient one I currently own takes up an entire bathroom drawer.

  17. The oscillating nozzle feature is a major upgrade from what I’m working with! It would allow me to dry my hair quickly without frying the heck out of it like my current dryer does

  18. My current hairdryer is large and old. I like that the Panasonic folds and has much less of a footprint.

  19. One feature I love is the oscillating nozzle. It would be an upgrade from my current hair dryer because I currently have to jiggle my hair dryer to prevent hot spots and heat damage.

  20. The oscillating nozzle. It would be a massive upgrade to my current hair dryer, because my current hair dryer is ancient! It has no features whatsoever.

  21. My current hair dryer is bulky, so like the compact size and portability of this one – Would be an upgrade and great to travel with

  22. One feature I love about the Panasonic Nanoe EHNA2C and that would be an upgrade from my current hair dryer is the oscillating nozzle as it can help reduce damage to my hair.

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