THERE WAS ONLY one thing I knew about the Dyson Airwrap before I tried it: that it’s passionately debated. So after thorough research (in this context, that means scrolling hours of TikTok and gently interrogating friends for their thoughts), I made it my duty to get to the bottom of things, with the new Airwrap i.d. in hand.
I have to admit that my hair routine is usually low-fuss. My hair is wavy when it wants to be, so it’s relatively thick and coarse at the back of my head but fine, straighter and prone to frizz everywhere else. It takes about an hour to blow dry with a traditional hair dryer and round brush — which is why I’m excited to see if the Dyson Airwrap will be effortless and effective enough to change that.
Keep reading for my breakdown of the new Dyson Airwrap i.d. technology, review of the Dyson Airwrap on wavy hair and answering FAQs with Dyson Airwrap tricks.
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What is the Dyson Airwrap?
When the first Dyson Airwrap launched in 2018, it revolutionised at-home hair styling. The “multistyler” is engineered to simultaneously dry and style hair, and without the use of direct heat. It’s a big win for the health of our hair and the length of our styling routines on wash days.
Is Dyson releasing a new Airwrap in 2024?
Yes, Dyson has just released the third iteration of the Airwrap — the new Airwrap i.d. — which features the most innovative and personalised technology yet. The new Airwrap uses bluetooth to connect to the MyDyson app, where you enter your hair type, length, hair goals and skill level into your hair profile. Then with just a nudge of a button, the app and tool customise settings like wrapping time, drying time and cooling time to help you achieve your dream hair. (If you’re a visual learner, let Dyson Australia & New Zealand Ambassador, Renya Xydis, walk you through it below).
What’s the difference between the old and new Dyson Airwrap?
The difference between the old Dyson Airwrap and new Dyson Airwrap i.d. is that the i.d. is easier and more effective to use. Previously you would use the tool to dry and style a section of your hair, then manually switch to the cool shot to set your wave or curl. Now, the tool learns your hair profile and automatically wraps, styles and cools your hair with perfect, personalised timing, even without the app open.
The MyDyson app is also equipped with over 40 instructional style guides, which walk you through the attachments and techniques you need to create each look.
In the new Dyson Airwap i.d. box you’ll also find a new selection of attachments — including the large round volumising brush, conical Airwrap barrel and the 40mm Airwrap long barrel — so you can tailor your Airwrap routine to your hair type and desired style.
Can I use the Dyson Airwrap on wet hair?
Yes, the Dyson Airwrap is designed to be used on wet hair. This misconception is actually why the new Dyson Airwrap i.d. and its styling guides were created.
The Dyson Airwrap is a one-and-done tool, with different attachments to dry, smooth and style your hair as desired. Here’s a cheat sheet: the Fast Dryer and Coanda Smoothing Dryer remove excess moisture from your hair and start creating volume before you style. The Soft Smoothing Brush and Large Round Volumising Brush can be used on wet or damp hair to dry and smooth hair for straight styles. But, the viral curling barrels work best on damp hair (more on that below).
Is the Dyson Airwrap hard to use?
Keep in mind that there’s a learning curve when it comes to the Dyson Airwrap and creating its signature blowdries, waves and curls. Admittedly, it’s a learning curve that I’m still on.
The versatile attachments click into place and are intuitive to use, even if wrapping your hair around the curling barrels takes a little practice to get right. But what makes the biggest difference to your Airwrap blowdry — and takes some patience to perfect — is learning the tools, techniques and timing that works for your own hair. Dyson says the trick is to use a drying attachment to get your hair 80 to 90 per cent dry before you section and style your hair. (So if you’re already using an Airwrap and wondering why your curls are dropping, try this Dyson Airwrap tip. You could also add Dyson’s new styling products, the Chitosan Pre-Style Cream and Post-Style Serum, to your hair routine).
One of my quickest learnings is that I need to start by concentrating on drying my roots, instead of drying my hair all over. On my first try, I rough dried my hair and then went in with the curling barrels. This technique worked well on the lengths of my hair, but it was trickier to finish drying my roots at the back of my head, where my hair is thicker and harder to reach. So if you have lots of hair, you might want to use the Coanda Smoothing Dryer or the Soft Smoothing Brush to get into and dry your roots before you move on.
It’s also worth noting that you need to make sure your hair is completely dry before you finish, or you might find your curls drop and go frizzy (please, learn from my mistake). Even if your first attempt leaves you a little disheartened, these are all techniques you will pick up with practice. There’s also over 40 tutorials and styling guides on the MyDyson app to help you get up to speed.
Dyson Airwrap review: Is it really worth it?
This will depend on your hair type, your styling routine and your patience, but yes, the Dyson Airwrap is worth the investment. It’s a fast and effective tool to style your hair and you’ll be surprised by how lightweight and effortless it is to use. It’s also worth it if you want full, healthy and high-shine hair, because the Airwrap uses targeted air flow (rather than damaging, direct heat) to style your hair.
I like to wear my hair with a soft wave and some body, so I’m reaching for the Fast Dryer, Soft Smoothing Brush and 40mm Airwrap Long Barrel attachments the most. I start by quickly drying my roots and smoothing my hairline with the dryer and brush, then divide my hair at my ears and temples to create three sections. I pop on the curling barrel, and twist an inch-wide section of hair around the barrel and away from my face, then bump the power button upwards to start the automatic styling and cooling process. After I’ve curled all of my hair, I’ll use the Coanda Smoothing Dryer on the cool setting to tame any flyaways and give my hair one final cool shot, which helps seal the hair cuticle and make my waves last longer.
Now that I’ve got my signature blowdry down pat, I’ll be playing around with different attachments and Dyson Airwrap blowdry tutorials. So while the Dyson Airwrap i.d. is an $849 investment in your beauty routine and your time, it’s absolutely worth it if you love to have great hair. And who doesn’t want that?
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