We tried the Dyson Airwrap next generation and it’s definitely an improvement

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Dyson listened to customer feedback and actioned it. In 2018, the company launched the Airwrap, a hair styling tool that creates voluminous hair without using extreme heat. The Airwrap wasn’t your average blow dryer, curling iron or hair brush though. It was a new tool that customers needed to get used to – and struggled to.

When the Airwrap first launched, it went nowhere. Then TikTok happened and Dyson struggled to keep up with demand (and still is). As people started to upload Airwrap tutorials to TikTok, more and more people learned how to use the tool. The Airwrap creates like-worthy beachy curls that send social scrollers right to the buy button . ( Read our review of the original Airwrap .)

Dyson listened to the customers’ feedback and launched the next generation of the Airwrap . There are three main differences between the two models: the new version has increased airflow, a new hair dryer attachment and much better barrels. We’ll go through the differences between the two Airwraps first and then our overall impression of the new tool. If you’re coming in net new to the Airwrap or Airwrap reviews, we recommend giving our first review a read .

Increased airflow: The new styler’s attachments are re-engineered for enhanced airflow. This means you can style your hair faster while using less heat.

New hair dryer attachment: The new styler comes with a hair dryer attachment that uses the Coanda effect, whereas the older version just blows hair. The Coanda effect is a phenomenon where a substance, like oil or in this case air, flows along the curvature of a solid object. The Airwrap harnesses the effect to smooth and dry hair. The new attachment can also be used as a finishing tool to flatten flyaways.

New barrels: The new barrels address the most annoying aspect of the original Airwrap, the need to constantly switch barrel attachments. The idea is that you want to curl your hair away from your face. The barrel also uses the Coanda effect, so the airflow only wraps and curls one way. The original Airwrap came with four barrels, two different sizes and left and right versions of each. The new barrels come with a little knob at the top that switches the airflow direction. Problem solved.

The good news is that the new attachments work with the original Airwrap and are sold individually. 

Overall thoughts: I have coarse curly hair and I like to wear it smooth and straight-ish. Or beachy curls, ideally. My hair has no issue with volume. The new Airwrap does a better job of smoothing my natural curls into beachy waves.

I appreciate that the Airwrap doesn’t get nearly as hot as a straightening iron. If I were only to use the Airwrap, I believe my hair would be a lot healthier.

Right now I use a straightening iron around twice a week (with touchups in between) and I see the damage it does to my hair. The Airwrap gets me to 80 per cent of my ideal finished style, but I still have to go through it with a straightener to take down some of the body.

My favourite features: I love the barrel brush. It does such a great job of smoothing my hair while providing a nice curl at the bottom. This way I don’t have to use a straightening iron at the ends of my hair. I’m sure with consistent practice I could use just the barrel brush to fully do my hair. I’m imagining how healthy it would be and am considering the commitment.

I love styling my hair with significantly less heat damage. It’s also great for touch-ups. No need to fully wet your hair again, just spritz with water and you’re good to Airwrap.

My least favourite features: The barrels are still a little bit confusing to use. Though the barrels have improved, I’m still no expert. It would be great if the controls could be labelled “left” and “right” versus the arrows that are currently there.

The machine is large enough that I’m not sure it would come with me on a vacation. Dyson’s hair straightener, the Corrale , is slim and ready to fit into carry-on luggage (which is pretty much the thesis of my Disney packing article ). The Airwrap is more of a home-based tool.

It’s an expensive way to get my hair 80 per cent of the way there, but I’m learning to love it more and more. I guess the point is that there’s a learning curve. If you’re going to invest in the tool, be patient with the learning process.

Where to buy: Dyson.ca

A post shared by Randi Mann (@randimann)

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