The first time I saw a Dyson Airwrap, my first thought was “that’s cool, but there’s no way it’s worth $500.” It wasn’t until I purchased the Dyson Hair Dryer, which changed my hair routine and proved worth every penny, that I started to get curious about the Airwrap. Could it be as amazing as everyone claimed?

The Dyson Airwrap is a dryer with multiple attachments that promises to replace your entire kit of hot tools with one device that blow dries, curls, waves, and straightens—without extreme heat—to make salon-worthy hairstyling achievable at home.

It sounds too good to be true. So that’s why I put the Airwrap (and all of its attachments) to the test. Read on for my honest review of the Dyson Airwrap, including pros and cons, what makes it special, the hair types it works best for, and everything else you need to know to decide if it’s right for you.

My Review of the Dyson Airwrap Complete Styler

Before I share my review, it’s important for you to know that I have naturally wavy and fine hair—and I have a LOT of it. In terms of hair styling expertise, I’m somewhere between average and expert—I’ve been around the block with my fair share of blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons over the years.

Here’s my review: The Dyson Airwrap is unlike any hair tool I’ve ever used. It’s a hair dryer, blow drying brush, curling wand, and waver all in one. The MAIN selling point for me was the volume I was able to achieve with this tool—it literally looks like I just walked out of the salon after getting a blowout from a professional hairstylist, maybe even better. The fact that I can take damp hair to smooth, frizz-free, curled, and bouncy in less than 30 minutes with this styling dryer is unheard of for my hair type. The technology of the tool truly feels revolutionary from so many angles; it’s powerful enough to curl or straighten my hair but has never broken or pulled at it, and watching it twirl my hair into the perfect curl or wave using only air is honestly really fun.

So, is Dyson’s $500 Airwrap hair styler worth it? I’d argue that if you plan to use it regularly and LOVE a voluminous, full look, then 100% it could be worth it for you. I honestly think the only significant cons are the price and the learning curve required to use it properly.

What Makes the Airwrap Special?

• It styles your hair damp, making what’s normally a two-step process (dry, then style) a one-and-done process (dry and style) for busy women.
• There are three variations for different hair types, including the Volume + Shape set for fine hair, the Smooth + Control set for frizz-prone hair, and the Complete Set, which includes all eight attachments.
• It’s comes with multiple accessories—six to eight depending on the variation you buy—for rough drying, volumizing, smoothing/straightening, and curling.
• It has intelligent heat control, which monitors and adjusts the heat so that your hair never burns.

Pros and Cons of the Dyson Airwrap Styler

Pros

• Bounce and volume—Takes flat hair to blowout-worthy, bouncy curls in seconds.
• All-in-one styling tool—It does almost everything your hair dryer, curler, straightener, and heated straightening brushes do.
• No extreme heat—The heat-monitoring system protects from damage; this is especially key for fine and color-treated hair care.
• Works on dry hair and wet hair—Can dry and style your hair from a variety of moisture levels.
• Minimal styling product—Requires little product to get the hair look you’re going after. I sometimes use a hair spray or a light oil when I’m finished.
• Customization—Dyson has three different Airwrap kits, which have varying attachments, for different hair types.
• No creases—The Coanda effect of the air vacuum holds your hair in place, eliminating creases (like those that occur with clip curling iron barrels) entirely. 

Cons

• Texture—If you like a zero-frizz, ultra-sleek look, you may be better off with a traditional curling iron, since the Airwrap emphasizes volume.
• Learning curve—It can be frustrating to get used to/good with the tool, especially for hairstyling novices.
• Details—Those with curly or coily hair may have trouble getting rid of fine curls and kinks, especially at the nape of the neck, by the ears, and at the hairline.
• Price—A $500 price tag is steep for a hair-styling tool.
• Frizz/Control—Curly and coarse hair types may experience a more frizzy finish since this does not use an iron (ceramic heat) like other styling tools to straighten/curl.

Which Dyson Airwrap Variation Should You Buy?

The Airwrap comes in three versions, letting you choose a set with the attachments that best suit your hair type + preferences. Dyson also has a customization page that automatically suggests the best combo for you after you answer a few questions about your hair.

Here are the three Airwrap types:

1. Dyson Airwrap Volume + Shape—Designed for fine, flat hair. Includes 4 barrels, a firm smoothing brush, and the pre-styling dryer to curl, wave, add body, and add shape.
2. Dyson Airwrap Smooth + Control—Designed for frizz-prone hair. Includes 2 barrels, a soft smoothing brush, a volumizing brush (round brush), and the pre-styling dryer curl, wave, smooth, and control.
3. Dyson Airwrap Complete Set—Designed for use on any hair type. Includes all 4 curling barrels, all 4 brushes, and the pre-styling dryer. (This is the set I purchased.)

All Airwrap versions come with a large storage case. Again, you can get guidance from Dyson about which set of brush and barrel attachments is best for you.

Can You Find the Dyson Airwrap on Sale?

The Airwrap is sold refurbished for ~$100 off at the official Dyson store on eBay and sometimes goes on sale at Best Buy, Sephora, and Nordstrom on shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I found my Airwrap Complete $50 off on Amazon.com. 

Where to Buy a Dyson Airwrap

Dyson sells its Airwraps directly on Dyson.com, but Dyson products are carried by third-party retailers such as Amazon, Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, Best Buy, QVC, Bed Bath and Beyond. I have yet to see the Airwrap sold in hair salons, but salons in your area may carry it.

Some retailers, including QVC and Bed Bath and Beyond, offer 2- or 5-installment payment plans. If you’re looking to save on the Airwrap, the best place to find it for less is refurbished on eBay or $50 off on Amazon.

How to Use the Dyson Airwrap

Here’s a quick step-by-step process for how to use the Dyson Airwrap:

1. Let your hair air-dry or use the oval-shaped attachment—the pre-styling dryer—and blow-dry until your hair is 80% dry.
2. Decide which look you’re going for, and choose your attachment accordingly. You can straighten, add bounce, or create curl. I like to use the smooth + control brush to get my wavy hair a little more straight before I start to use the curling wands.
3. For wavy and curl looks, snap the appropriate-sized barrel on, then take a 1-2 inch section of hair and allow the device’s airflow to grab your hair and wrap it around the cylinder. Make sure the arrow on the barrel is pointing outward (to curl the hair away from your face).
4. Allow the Airwrap to dry each stand for 5-10 seconds, then hit the cool button to set the wave before releasing.
5. Release the wave, then pull down on it to prevent Shirley Temple curls.
6. Repeat, continuing until all your hair is dry.
7. Set the style with a dash of hairspray, if you prefer.

Keep in mind that it may take some trial and error to figure out the right level of dampness that works best for your hair type. My hair is thick and heavy, so I like to get it about 90% dry. If I don’t, I have to grab very small sections of hair, and the process takes much longer. According to Dyson,  “You want just enough moisture left in the hair so that the hydrogen bonds are not completely set.”

Is the Dyson Airwrap Worth It?

It depends. Here’s who I think it’s best for and who should pass:

BEST FOR:

• Women Who Like to Style Their Hair—If you regularly dry, curl, and straighten, you’ll love having a 3-in-1 tool.
• Women Who Like Volume and Bounce—If you’re spending $25+ on blowouts, this will save you hundreds over time by allowing you to do the same thing at home.
• Women Who Blow Dry Their Hair Regularly—I like this better than the Dyson Supersonic because you can dry with one hand! Holding a dryer + a brush can make your arms tired, but that never happens with the Airwrap.

NOT BEST FOR:

• Small Budgets—If it’s out of your budget, try starting with a blow-drying brush (I recommend two in the FAQ section below).
• Women with Very Coarse, Curly Hair—This hair type may experience frustration getting the smoothing brush/curling attachments to work well, but I can’t 100% speak to this population since my hair is mildly wavy.
• People Who Don’t Enjoy Doing Their Hair—If you don’t like learning new hair tools or doing find it fun to style your hair, you may feel frustrated by the Airwrap’s initial learning curve.

Dyson Airwrap FAQ

How long does it take to style your hair with the Airwrap?

If I’ve just showered, I use the Aquis hair towel to get most of the moisture out of my hair. From there, it takes me 25 minutes from start to finish using the large barrels.

Does the Airwrap Hair Styler work for all hair types?

Yes, it can technically work on hair types from coarse hair to curly hair, frizz-prone hair, short hair, thick hair, fine hair—you name it. While I can’t speak to how well it works on very tight, coily hair, I’ve heard several celebrity hairstylists speak about how the smoothing paddle brush attachment can turn natural curls straight in one or two passes.

How does the Dyson Airwrap work?

It employs what’s called the Coanda effect. Using its internal motor (remember, Dyson is famous for its powerful vacuums), it creates a vortex of air inside the hollow barrel powerful enough to draw your hair to it. All you have to do is place the end of your hair near the barrel, and the machine does the gripping and wrapping for you, so you don’t have to worry about touching a hot curling barrel.

Is it easy to store?

It comes with a storage case that neatly organizes and fits all the attachments and the handle, but the storage case itself is rather large. You’ll want to make sure you have enough room underneath your vanity for the styler, or you can try a more convenient countertop storage option. This one has good reviews.

Can the Dyson Airwrap damage hair?

The Airwrap uses less direct hot hair, and it continuously measures the temperature so that it never overheats—in fact, it never goes above 302 degrees. It also has three built-in heat settings; I like to use high heat for damp/wet hair and low heat for touching up dry hair. When compared to curling irons, which can reach over 400 degrees and cause major heat damage, I’d say the heat control from the Airwrap is a major pro.

Which is better? The Dyson Hair Dryer or the Dyson Airwrap?

I answered this question in depth in my Dyson Hair Dryer vs. Dyson Airwrap post, but in short, it depends.

If you already have a curler and a straightener and just need a really good hair dryer, go with the Dyson Supersonic . If you’re starting from scratch and want a curling tool that can also straighten and dry your hair, get the Airwrap.

Can you straighten hair with the Dyson Airwrap Complete Styler?

While I found that the Airwrap is at its forte when working as a curling iron, it can definitely alleviate some of the frustration of straightening and blowing out hair. I usually have one hand on a brush and one hand on my dryer or straightener when I’m going for a smooth, straight look, which can get tiring on the arms.

The Airwrap is definitely less cumbersome than a straightener/dryer + brush combo, but if you want that uber-sleek, stick-straight look, you may need a little hair oil or smoothing product to tone down some of the volume that an air-based styling tool doesn’t smooth out the way a ceramic hot tool does.

Which Dyson Airwrap should I buy?

The right kit for you depends on who’s going to be using the Airwrap, your hair type(s), and your budget.

The Complete option makes sense if you’re a hairdresser or if you’re intending to use the Airwrap in a home with several people and different hair types. If you’re the only one who’s going to be using it, you can go with the Smooth + Control option or the Volume + Shape styler and save a few bucks.

Keep in mind that each of the attachments can be bought separately, so you can always add to your kit if you feel that it’s missing something down the line. You can also buy longer curling barrels and smaller versions of the smoothing brushes.

What’s a good alternative to the Dyson Airwrap if I can’t afford it right now?

If you’re looking for a less expensive drying and smoothing option, here are a couple of alternatives. Keep in mind that these don’t have the benefit of curling barrels, but they’re a good way to dry and style your hair with a bit of added shape.

• Drybar Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush
• Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer

Does the Dyson Airwrap Come with a Warranty?

Yes, it comes with a two-year parts and labor warranty. You’ll need to register your Dyson Airwrap online to activate the warranty, but it’s worth the effort to have peace of mind.

Please let me know if you have any questions that I didn’t answer in the comments! And be sure to follow along on Instagram, where I plan to share a tutorial and styling reels very soon. xo!

---