How to use the Dyson Airwrap as a beginner

A crash course in curls.

In the world of hair styling tools, it’s fair to say the Dyson Airwrap is widely regarded as the gold standard. Since its initial launch in 2018, the Airwrap has been favoured by beauty experts everywhere for its no-heat technology and long-lasting results. But in the last two years particularly, we’ve seen the viral styling tool dominate TikTok For You Pages everywhere – and for good reason.

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For those who aren’t well-versed in Airwrap technology, the $799 price tag can be a little alarming. But what sets the Dyson apart from other hair tools is its ability to simultaneously dry and style hair with very little heat, using something called the Coanda effect. If you’ve recently bought (or heavily contemplated buying) an Airwrap of your own, read on for Fashion Journal’s comprehensive beginner guide.

Getting started

You’ve made peace with the price tag and decided to purchase a Dyson Airwrap. Good for you! Your Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete will come with six attachments, designed to help you customise the styling experience to best suit your hair type. You’ll get a Coanda Smoothing Dryer, a two-in-one that can blow dry damp hair and smooth flyaways.

You’ll also get Airwrap Long Barrels in two sizes, 30mm and 40mm, designed to create voluminous or loose curls and waves. The Smoothing Brush attachments come in soft and firm, for either a smooth blow-dry or straight finish. Lastly, you’ll get a Round Volumising Brush, designed to add body and shape to your hair as it dries.

The at-home blowout with curtain bangs

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The Airwrap’s virality can be credited to, in part, Matilda Djerf’s iconic honey-blonde blowout. In 2023, the Swedish influencer confirmed the Dyson Multi-Styler was behind her signature waves. The good news is that now you have an Airwrap of your own, and a lookalike ’do is easier than ever. To start, dry the bulk of your hair using the Coanda attachment.

Working in sections, wrap your hair around the larger Long Barrel to add curl, making sure pieces are curving away from your face. If your hair struggles to hold a style, you can pin up each curl as you go and release it at the end. Finally, for the fringe, take the Round Volumising Brush and work the hair slowly away from your face, flicking it slightly at the end. Use hairspray to set.

The curly hair routine

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For those with curlier, textured hair, you can use the Coanda Dryer, Soft Smoothing Brush and 40mm Long Barrel for an easy everyday routine. Start by again drying the bulk of your wet hair, before using the brush in sections to smooth curls away from your face, wrapping them around as you go. Then use the 40mm Long Barrel to curl pieces of hair. Hold each for a second, turn off the dryer and slowly unwind the curl.

How to make your curls last

Fashion Journal contributor Alyssa Forato wrote a great article about the key to long-lasting, luscious blowouts. Prep is key here, and she recommends leave-in conditioner and heat protectant before drying, followed by flexible-hold curling mousse in the lengths and ends.

Even if you feel a little like a Founding Father, avoid brushing out that freshly curled hair. Alyssa suggests dousing your hair in hairspray and letting it fully cool (you can even add pins here to help) before shaking – not brushing it out. A good rule of thumb is a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes post-styling.

Is it worth exploring a Dyson Airwrap dupe?

The consensus on the internet is that if you can afford it without breaking the bank, the Dyson Airwrap is the best in the hair styling tool biz. But $800 on a beauty product (even if it comes with six attachments) is unrealistic for a lot of people, and that’s totally okay – there are a plethora of high-quality dupes that have been tried and tested on different hair types.

Canadian hair brand Shark’s FlexStyle is rated as one of the closest Airwrap dupes, with six attachments and similar no-heat technology. The only caveat is the $500 price tag, but for such a similar product, it might be worth knocking $300 off the original cost. Cheaper, highly-rated dupes include the Mermade Aircurl ($99), the Hoppy Beauty Oly 5-in-1 Hairstyler ($230) and the Kogan 5-in-1 Hot Air Styler ($109.60)

Tips for using the Dyson Airwrap on long hair

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In theory, you should be able to achieve the same Airwrap styles on medium and longer-length hair. If the attachments that come with the Airwrap aren’t holding your locks, you can purchase longer barrel attachments separately (the same goes for shorter hair – there are smaller barrels available).

A Reddit thread suggests if your longer hair tends to fall after a couple of days, a dry texture spray before styling can help hold the curl. Spritz your hair before and after with a flexible-hold hairspray, and try a silk pillowcase or hair wrap to help preserve curls while you’re snoozing.

For more on the Dyson Airwrap, head here.