From hoovers to hair, where there is a whisper of the word ‘Dyson’, an admission of game-changing, revolutionary technology is sure to follow. And its Airwrap Styler is no exception. In fact, if you've ever wanted one, now is the best time to buy as the cult classic hair tool is included in the Dyson Airwrap Black Friday deals. Yes, really, you can snap one up now with £80 off.
Since launching back in 2018, the high-tech tool has enjoyed sell-out success on numerous occasions with A-listers, pro hairstylists and beauty editors alike praising its styling abilities. It's no wonder that the high-end haircare buy has been on many wishlists since its launch.
Is the Dyson Airwrap worth it?
Let me be completely honest and begin by saying I wasn't completely convinced by the Dyson Airwrap when it first began to make waves - excuse the pun - in 2018. Yes, it looked and sounded next-gen but it was expensive and I was apprehensive about its effects on my ultra long, thick, not-easily-manipulated South Asian hair. My reservations were confirmed when I attempted to try the tool myself at a Dyson counter. I couldn't get the length of my hair to wrap around those tiny barrels, nor get it to unravel properly. As a result, the curl didn't hold as well as I'd hoped.
Of course, I proved myself to be an amateur, blindly using a sophisticated styling tool without reading the manual first. So, when Dyson invited me to its Oxford Street store-cum-salon in London recently to get to grips with the newest iterations of the Airwrap, with the help of Larry King, celebrity hairstylist and Dyson's global hair ambassador, I jumped at the chance. In the hour long session, King retold the iconic Dyson Airwrap origin story: this is a tool that marks a new era in hairstyling.
How does the Dyson Airwrap work?
It comes equipped with a powerful digital motor that spins at up to 110,000rpm, which is just enough air pressure to create the brand's engineered innovation called the Coanda Effect. In summary, that's an aerodynamic phenomenon that occurs when air, flowing at the right speed and pressure, manages to attach itself to the surface its flowing over. Harnessed by the attachments themselves, this creates a spinning vortex of air that helps to curl, shape, and smooth the hair. The revolutionary tech also uses smart heat control to measure airflow temperature over 40 times a second, meaning temperatures are always kept under under 150°C to prevent heat damage.
Scientific jargon aside, during the session King explained some key practices. First, it is best to start with wet or damp hair. After having my hair washed, King then proved how the Airwrap uses moisture in the hair to break the hydrogen bonds that prepare it for styling. These bonds are reformed and locked in place as the hair dries. Another key practice is the all-important cold shot, which is located on the handle and should be pressed for 10 seconds just before you unravel the hair when using a barrel attachment. It's another trick which prevents bonds breaking further and to increase style longevity. While most of the attachments can pass as self-explanatory, the barrels aren't so intuitive. King showed me how to use the newer 40mm Airwrap™ long barrel which uses enhanced Coanda airflow and has been re-engineered so you can now create clockwise and anti-clockwise curls and waves with a single barrel. Simply hold the end of a section of hair 10cm from the barrel and slowly bring it in closer until your hair attaches to the barrel, then move the machine closer to your roots. There is no need to twist the hair manually as the Coanda Effect does the job for you.
Armed with this knowledge, I gave the Airwrap another go and quickly shed my amateur status. Now an Airwrap pro, I'm the first to recommend it to my friends and family who always ask if it's worth it or if a dupe will do. My answer is always a resounding yes, followed by a quick lecture about its gold-standard status which just doesn't compare to any dupe I've tried, honestly. The Airwrap is slick, seamless and, let's be honest, sexy. It helps me to create a number of styles - bouncy blow dry, super straight, Hollywood-style waves, voluminous curls – with little time and fuss, plus the style really lasts, sometimes up to a week. Since getting to grips with it, I've found it easy on the hands and hair thanks to its pretty lightweight nature, the ease of use and the all-important tech that ensures hair is left looking hot sans damage.
Dyson Airwrap attachments explained:
The beauty of the Airwrap lies in its versatility. The single tool can create multiple styles quickly with ease, all with the help of its attachments. The Airwrap hand piece comes along side six attachments: a 40mm Airwrap™ long barrel; 30mm Airwrap™ long barrel; Dryer+Flyaway smoother; a firm smoothing brush; large round volumising brush; and a diffuser. The attachments will differ depending on the type of model you choose. Determined to be a brand that caters for all hair types, there are different models for Curly+Coily, Straight+Wavy, as well as the Complete Long Volumise for all hair types.
The thinner barrel allows for tighter curls, while the larger one works great for creating looser waves. Unlike the older Airwrap models, the newer iterations feature a single barrel for both clockwise and anti-clockwise curls and waves, meaning you no longer need to use an additional attachment when you need to change the curl direction. Now, each barrel features a flick at the very top which changes the direction of airflow.
The Dryer+Flyaway smoother is a 2-in-1 which dries and smooths flyaways, you can use it to blow dry or rough dry hair or switch modes to reduce flyaways for a sleek finish. There are two drying brushes that make for completely different styles. The firm smoothing brush is for straight hair days, while the large round volumising brush lends a full-bodied rounded look – my personal favourite.
The kit also comes with a filter cleaning brush which keeps the tool in good shape and a detangling comb.
Can I use the Dyson Airwrap on wet hair?
The experts, plus the brand itself, all agree that the Airwrap is best used on wet or damp hair. The Dyson website notes, 'When your hair is wet, its hydrogen bonds are broken, making it easier to reshape. The Dyson Airwrap™ uses hot air to break down your hair’s hydrogen bonds so you can style your hair, and cold air in the form of the cold shot to prevent bonds breaking further to increase style retention.'
Shop: The Dyson Airwrap
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It's not surprising how this revolutionary styling tool has become a cult hair classic. With its various attachments that harness the power of Dyson's gold-standard technology, the Airwrap tends to hair with ease while creating show-stopping, varied looks that last.
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, working across all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).
