We’re all familiar with Dyson vacuums, but did you know the highly respected brand can also work miracles on your hair? It’s true! I’d heard that their popular Dyson Airwrap — a multi-use styling tool designed to blow-dry, curl, smooth and shape hair of all types — was essentially like having a hair salon right in your b-room, and was dying to know if this meticulously engineered product was worth the hype … and cost. At $600 regular price, it’s, well, not cheap — though luckily, you can snag it yourself at Amazon now for nearly $120 off, making it more like a $480 purchase at the moment. Not necessarily inexpensive, but under $500, at least! Even at full price, though, you are getting six styling products in one, and Dyson has an excellent reputation for a reason, right? Well, I finally got my hands on one of these babies, and here’s my honest review:
Before I get into the nitty-gritty of this thing, some quick backstory: I have curly/wavy hair that goes past my shoulders and gets frizzy at the mere mention of humidity. Recently, I’ve had some success with other heat styling products (read my Revlon Hot Air Brush review!), but please keep in mind that I’m 100 percent learning as I go and by no means a hair expert. In short, if I can get good results with the Airwrap, anyone can. With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s dive in!
First impressions
My immediate thought upon unboxing the Dyson Airwrap was, “Okay, this is a luxury product.” From its sleek, ovoid case to its rich blue and copper design (it also comes in nickel/copper), it was clear that every aesthetic detail had been considered. And that’s all well and good, but would it also deliver in terms of performance?
As far as accessories are concerned, let’s just say the number of attachments this thing comes with would put your boss’ emails to shame. It includes not one, but two curling barrels (1.2-inch and 1.6-inch), a firm smoothing brush, soft smoothing brush, round volumizing brush, smoothing dryer and filter cleaning brush. (You can also add a complimentary wide-toothed comb attachment at checkout if your hair is curly or coil-y.) I’ll admit, it seemed a little complex for my taste, and while my impatient self would love to say that you’d fare well by skipping Dyson’s online tutorials and just winging it, I’d be lying. The good news is, the videos are super short, and they’re really helpful in terms of illustrating what each attachment is used for. They also demonstrate how to use the attachments on different hair types depending on the style you’re going for, whether your hair is fine and straight or thick and coiled.
Putting it to the test
For my first attempt, I opted for the firm smoothing brush recommended for frizz-prone hair. I figured I could dry and smooth out my naturally crimp-y waves, then use a barrel attachment to test out some curls. I’m not very tech-savvy, so I was relieved to find that the Airwrap is quite user-friendly. Just snap each attachment into place and choose your settings (there are three each for heat and airflow).
It’s usually best to heat-style your hair when it’s 70–80% dry, so that’s where I started. I got all of the tangles out with my beloved Wet Brush, applied my favorite heat protectant and clipped the majority of my hair back so I could focus on small pieces at a time. Upon turning it on, I was surprised by how much quieter it was than my other drying tools. It probably wasn’t even loud enough to wake up my husband!
Thanks to the intelligent heat control, which tracks the airflow temperature a whopping 40 times per second to keep the device from overheating, the heat also felt more diffused, even on the highest setting. Probably a lot less harsh on my frizzled ends! That said, it was still powerful enough to dry my hair in a fraction of the time it takes me with a blow dryer (there’s that 13-blade Dyson digital motor for ya!), and the bristles from the brush glided right through. To seal things off, I swapped out the brush for the smoothing dryer to tame flyaways, which resulted in a sleeker finish.
I would have been content to wear my blowout for the rest of the day, but I wanted to test the curling function, so I snapped on the thicker barrel to give my ends a wavy look. What’s ingenious about the Airwrap is that you can change the airflow’s direction by twisting the curling attachment when switching to a different side of your head. And, true to its name, the air coming from the tool actually wraps a small section of hair around the barrel, meaning there’s no clamp to leave a crimp in your hair!
It took me a few tries to get the hang of placing my hair in such a way that the Airwrap could take charge, but I caught on quickly enough. Before unwinding each section of hair from the barrel, I used the cold air function to set it — and it worked great! My hair was left with more body and larger waves with minimal frizz. And the best part? It looked the same many hours after I’d left my house on a particularly humid day (check out the photo above on the right!).
I also tested out the thinner barrel a different day to see if it would yield more distinct curls — and as you can see from the photos below, it did indeed (you’ll want to start with damp hair for that). Okay, Dyson!
The verdict
Alright, it’s time to answer the question of the hour: Is the Dyson Airwrap worth the money? In my humble opinion, yes — especially if you’re looking for versatility and heat that’s a lot more gentle than the more budget-friendly brands. Because I dye and frequently use heat on my hair, my ends start to look fried just a short while after they’ve been trimmed. I feel a lot better about using the Airwrap’s diffused heat on my hair, and it feels more comfortable on my scalp during the process. Plus, I love being able to quickly swap out a smoothing brush attachment for a curling barrel one; it’s so much easier than having to deal with multiple hot tools and waiting for each to heat up!
Speaking of saving time, the Airwrap has significantly sped up my hairstyling process while making my hair look better than a standard hairdryer ever could. My strands are fine, but I have a lot of them, and I can safely say this tool has cut my drying and styling time in half. In the weeks since I started using the Airwrap, I’ve noticed my hair looks healthier, feels lighter and the frizz is greatly reduced. I also love having access to over 20 different hair tutorials (especially now that I know they’re short!) so I can play around with different looks. While there is a learning curve to using some of the attachments, I think most people will be able to catch on quickly by watching the how-to videos. I did, and that’s saying something! And while I wish it was a bit more travel-friendly, I could see myself packing it with just one or two of my most-used attachments. (I’ve grown particularly fond of the round volumizing brush and 1.6-inch barrel!)
What others are saying
I’m not the only Dyson convert! Senior reviewers are praising the Airwrap for its thoughtful design, like this one who wrote: “I am in my 70s, and some stylers are too heavy, awkward, etc. This is so so easy. My curls are beautiful … and they actually stay. And this is much better for my hair.”
Don’t have a ton of time to spend on styling? No problem. “Seriously, the best hair tool I have ever owned and worth every penny,” raved a five-star shopper. “What usually would take me 45 minutes (I have long, thick hair) now takes 10 minutes, max. My time is worth more than money. My hair looks salon-styled and is super healthy.”
One fan, who called the Airwrap a “lifesaver,” wrote: “I was getting my hair blown out at a salon every week, but not anymore. This is kinder and gentler on my wavy, thin hair … I’m finding I have less breakage and less fallout since purchasing this. Worth the money — my favorite blow dryer of all time!”
Even the pros swear by it! “So in love with this,” gushed one. “I’m a hair stylist and I really love my [Airwrap]; it’s way easier to dry and style the hair.”
If you’re ready to treat yourself to near-salon-quality styling at home, the Dyson Airwrap awaits!
Dyson
Psst: As I mentioned earlier, the Wet Brush is one of my absolute must-haves for prepping my hair before styling — and it’s on sale!
Amazon
This revolutionary brush has flexible bristles to gently yet effectively combat tangles without painful pulling and tugging. It was designed for use on every hair type and also helps prevent breakage.
And before you apply heat to your hair, you’ll want to use a protectant — I like this affordable Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer. It smells divine and is sulfate-, paraben- and phthalate-free.
Target
Not only does this lightweight spray offer protection from heat-styling, its argan- and sunflower seed oil–packed formula helps strengthen, shine, smooth, detangle and nourish hair.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Looking for more great Amazon style and beauty deals? Check these out:
Beauty and wellness
-
Dermora Golden Glow Under-Eye Patches, 15 Pairs
Style
Olivia Martin celebrates the art of living well in her lifestyle articles. She explores topics ranging from travel and fashion to home decor and culinary delights, offering inspiration for readers seeking a balanced and enjoyable lifestyle.
