Dyson Airwrap I.D. review: Did the smart styler outsmart my frizz?

New York Post

5 hours ago

From the moment I experienced my first blowout at 12, I knew I'd always be attached to my hair dryer. Because of this, you'd think I'd be the person on the Post Wanted team to eagerly review the Dyson AirWrap i.d., but you'd be wrong.
I've said this before, but I'll repeat myself: I'm one of the most frugal commerce editors on the planet. Do I own a nearly $3,000 facial laser? Yep. But that's merely a perk of the job. Typically, I'm really (and I mean really) quite discerning about what I spend my money on, and when I saw the $600 price tag on the Dyson, I thought, That's a hard pass for me.
But again, testing things is my job, and when I learned that the Dyson Airwrap i.d. was known for styling hair without the heat damage, I was intrigued. As we've already established, I'm attached to my hair dryer, and the current state of my hair shows it. If there really was a styling tool that could give me a silky blowout without frying my already delicate mane, I needed to try it. Plus, it's sort of TikTok famous.
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Pros: Works as a 6-in-1 styling tool
Uses the Coanda effect instead of extreme heat to dry hair, minimizing heat damage
Automatically adjusts heat
Cold shot option to lock in style
Safety lock to prevent hair attachment from flying off the wand
Cons: Expensive
Works best with the MyDyson app, making it less straightforward right out of the box
Since its launch in 2018, the Dyson Airwrap Multi-styler Tool has been a must-have product of beauty influencers and stylists, and the brand's latest iteration — the Dyson Airwrap i.d. — is no exception. Like its predecessor, it uses air (also known as the Coanda effect) to wrap hair around the styler's barrel, using significantly less heat than traditional blow dryers. This unique technology not only diminishes the need for the user to twist and pull their hair but also smooths the cuticle to tame frizz and flyaways.
It comes with multiple attachments, including a large round volumizing brush, a conical airwrap barrel, and a dryer/flyaway smoother. Ideal for those who want to create beachy waves, ringlets or salon-quality blowouts, the Airwrap i.d. is designed to get close to the root so hair dries faster.
Considered a smart styler, it works with an app to automatically adjust heat and time settings for your specific hair type. For those tired of messing with curling irons or who never managed to get the hang of using a round brush with the regular blow dryer, it's like having a stylist on demand.
Attachments included: Conical Airwrap barrel, Dryer+Flyaway smoother, Anti-snag loop brush, 1.6″ Airwrap long barrel, Large round volumizing brush, Fast dryer, Filter cleaning brush, Presentation case | Color options: Available in four styles | Editor's note: Some styles of the Airwrap i.d. have a diffuser attachment, as well as a wide comb attachment, in place of the 1.6″ long barrel and Dryer+Flyaway smoother
My Dyson Airwrap i.d. Review
The Dyson Airwrap is sort of legendary amongst the Post Wanted team, so I had high expectations of the blow dryer. It arrived at the office in a large and heavy package. Whoa, I thought. This thing means business.
After lugging it home on the B train (thank God there's always shopping bags lying around our office), I unboxed it to find it in its very sleek and equally heavy presentation case.
Holly J Coley
In my non-work life, I'm not much of a direction follower. Caution to the wind and all that jazz.
However, when I'm testing something for readers (or, like, if I'm building furniture), I really try to go through everything to see what's up. That's how I found out this thing came with an app. Crap.
Real talk: I hate apps. Like my closet, I want my phone to have a minimalist, low-key vibe. I don't want an app for everything I own. I definitely don't want to pay extra or not be able to use whatever I bought without it.
The attachments, ready to be investigated and used!
Holly J Coley
The good news is that 1) the Dyson app is free and 2) you can use the styler without it.
After laying all the attachments out, I gave it a go just to make sure. Most of them are fairly straightforward, but some I did have to look up, so here's a breakdown.
Dyson Airwrap I.D. Attachments
Conical Airwrap Barrel Designed to get closer to the root, this barrel is good for most hair types and creates a more refined curl. Dryer+Flyaway Smoother For drying and smoothing hair, the Dryer+Flyaway Smoother has multiple modes to control the styling finish. Anti-Snag Loop Brush Ideal for those with thicker, more prone to snagging hair. Features engineered bristles for a smoother, gentler brush. 1.6″ Airwrap Long Barrel For creating bouncy curls and waves, this barrel pulls hair from both directions for a more natural look. Large Round Volumizing Brush Designed to direct air into the hair to create volume. ideal for those who want a traditional blowout, plus body. Fast Dryer Dries hair from wet to damp. To be used pre-styling.
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The large brush attachment and one of the barrels.
Holly J Coley The Airwrap i.d. without the attachment
Holly J Coley
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I popped each attachment on the Airwrap's base, and I was relieved to discover the overall design of the multistyler was intuitive. As I mentioned in our blow dryer review, I was ecstatic over the lock feature, which prevents the attachments from flying off during use. (I This is something that frequently has happened to me when I was using the Conair 3-in-1 Styling Dryer, and it was very annoying.)
I washed my hair and gave the fast dryer and volumizing brush a go. I noted that no smoke was seen (or smelled) during the process (very untypical in my blow-drying routine), but I wasn't exceptionally impressed with the results.
Was it my curly hair? It shouldn't be, as Dyson claims that this is good for a variety of hair types, including those with curls or coily hair. Was it my failure to use the app? Maybe. I'd have to try it to find out.
How to use the Dyson Airwrap I.D.
Okay, cue the David Guetta and Rihanna song, because I know this is what you came for. Can you use the Dyson Airwrap i.d. without the app? Yes, but should you? Eh.
To get the full effect, you really should use the app. And believe it or not, it's not that difficult.
Step 1: Download
Step 2: Connect your Dyson Airwrap I.D. to the app via Bluetooth
Screenshots from my setting up my Dyson Airwrap i.d., using the MyDyson app.
Holly J Coley
For the above step, you'll also need to power on the styler for the connection to be complete, but it's simple. I found the pictorials provided on the app extremely helpful.
Once you're connected, the app will read: 'Multi-styler paired'.
Step 3: Fill out your hair profile
This part was the most labor-intensive but also the most fun. I actually got a little excited at the idea that I was working with a smart device that — hopefully — would be so good that it would automatically know that my very fine but also very curly long hair would need a, b, and c — and in that order, to achieve the blowouts I drop $100 plus for whenever I get a trim.
Holly J Coley
Along with hair type, the quiz asks for the user to identify their styling skill level (beginner) and their styling goals. Afterwards, you can review everything before saving.
Proof that my curls need some TLC.
Holly J Coley
The app also gives a tutorial, so you know how to use the multi-styler. This is how I found out that the Coanda barrel pulls chunks of hair towards it for curling. It's kind of wild.
I tried my hand at each attachment but found myself most partial to the volumizing brush, as it was the one that felt most familiar. I also liked the long barrel. The anti-snag brush didn't do a great job at smoothing my hair, though in fairness, it's not really for that. I still don't know how to use the Dryer+Flyaway Smoother.
Ease of use
If all the pics and vids of me in different shirts and sporting different nails tell you anything, it's that it took me a while to get the hang of this thing. Because of this, I'm inclined to say that the Dyson Airwrap i.d. will be most loved by those who a) are already familiar with Dyson hair stylers and b) are somewhat proficient at doing their hair.
As someone who classifies herself as more of a novice, I found the learning curve on the higher side. Finding the right placement for the barrel, along with how close to hold my hair so that it was sucked up and curled in the airflow took me more than a few tries.
I wouldn't recommend having a go when you're pressed for time, but with practice, you may find yourself impressed. This week (I began fully testing this back in April), I made some curls and waves pretty enough to make me think, Okay, I get the hype now.
Using the app and the dryer simultaneously wasn't the easiest, and I'm still unclear if it's entirely necessary. When you do, you can see the details of what is happening in the styling process, but do you really need the details of that?
I preferred using the smart styler without it. Since it's intelligent, I relied on its memory to dry my hair as needed, and when I wanted to tinker around with the heat settings or cold shot, I did.
If you're a bona fide beauty girl (you know, the type who will spend an hour contouring and baking her face?), this is for you. Most tutorials I found on the device were from beauty influencers who, in my opinion, can hold their own against professional stylists and did some nifty things with the Airwrap i.d. If you're just a regular lass, however, expect some time to get the hang of the machine.
Final Verdict: Is the Dyson Airwrap i.d. Worth It?
Final product.
Holly J Coley
Although it has a high price point, the Dyson Airwrap I.D. gives a lot to users in return. Its multiple styling capabilities offer variety, which means you can toss out additional curling irons, dryers and other hair tools living beneath your bathroom sink.
Its smart feature is its main selling point, as it serves as an equalizer between styling pros and styling dunces. For those in the part of their glow-up era where financial and time investments are unavoidable, it's not a bad tool to have.
I'm not mad about testing it and was impressed with its ability to create beachy waves and voluminous curls. Having said all this, I was a bit disappointed by the amount of time and trial and error it took me to get those results. One of the key things about this upgrade is that it's meant to save the user's time.
If you're a hair styling newbie like me, there are more beginner-friendly blow dryers on the market that cost less and work just as well, if not better. However, they're not likely to spare your hair from heat damage, and I will say that my hair felt less taxed after using the Airwrap i.d.
Heat styling is to hair what smoking is to skin, so if you're not willing to go natural, Dyson is the brand worth investing in. And if you want salon-style hair but lack the skill, this is the device to grab. It's the same price as the original but has more features, so in that sense it's a bargain.
Although it hasn't replaced my favorite blow dryer or flat iron, I won't be surprised if it starts making more of an appearance in my routine. Like I said, there's something to the hype, and if you can commit to mastering it, you'll not only have complement-inducing hair but healthier hair, too.
How We Tested
Holly J Coly
To review the Dyson Airwrap i.d., I examined (and tested) the following features.
Heat Control & Hair Safety : I looked at the various heat features, paid close attention to signs of overheating (a too-hot-to-hold attachment, for example), and tried to gauge additional safety features. The smart intelligence controls how much energy the Airwrap i.d. uses, which controls heat temperature, but I also found myself tampering with the settings to get it hot enough to quickly straighten my hair.
: I looked at the various heat features, paid close attention to signs of overheating (a too-hot-to-hold attachment, for example), and tried to gauge additional safety features. The smart intelligence controls how much energy the Airwrap i.d. uses, which controls heat temperature, but I also found myself tampering with the settings to get it hot enough to quickly straighten my hair. Ease of Use : I reviewed the overall design of the device, the simplicity of the instructions (including its app) to determine how high its learning curve was. The overall setup of the Airwrap i.d. was simpler than it appeared, but using it proved more difficult.
: I reviewed the overall design of the device, the simplicity of the instructions (including its app) to determine how high its learning curve was. The overall setup of the Airwrap i.d. was simpler than it appeared, but using it proved more difficult. Versatility of Styling : There are different types of hair profiles, so I wanted to get an idea of who the multistyler was best for. What type of attachments did it come with and who would they work for the most? I also considered the dry time and efficiency.
: There are different types of hair profiles, so I wanted to get an idea of who the multistyler was best for. What type of attachments did it come with and who would they work for the most? I also considered the dry time and efficiency. Technology & Customization : I dove deep into understanding the Coanda effect (what Dyson uses), plus all the special features that the Airwrap i.d. had to offer, giving brownie points for having features other stylers lacked. In this department, I'd highly rate the device, as it provides a customized experience and makes creating curls easy — once you've mastered the machine.
: I dove deep into understanding the Coanda effect (what Dyson uses), plus all the special features that the Airwrap i.d. had to offer, giving brownie points for having features other stylers lacked. In this department, I'd highly rate the device, as it provides a customized experience and makes creating curls easy — once you've mastered the machine. Value: Ultimately, I wanted to discover if 1) the Airwrap i.d. worked and 2) if it delivered results worthy of the asking price. To determine this, I judged how easy it was to set up and use, style my hair with, and the special selling points that made it worth the higher markup.
FAQ
Dyson Airwrap vs. Dyson Airwrap i.d.: What is the difference between the old Dyson Airwrap and the new one?
I've never used the original AirWrap, but both stylers feature similar attachments and the Coanda effect. Both retail for $600.
The key difference between the two is that the Airwrap i.d. has smart intelligence. It can automatically recognize what attachment you're using and also automatically adjust heat and air flow based on your hair's needs. It has a memory, so you're not going to have to keep redoing your profile or anything after the initial setup.
The model also has a real-time LCD, so you can easily review heat settings. For those who are not the most skilled with their hair, it removes some of the challenges, which is largely its appeal.
How does the Dyson Airwrap i.d. compare to other multistylers?
People shopping the Dyson Airwrap i.d. also tend to consider the T3 Aire 360-Multistyler ($255) and the Shark Flexstyle ( $349 , $249). All come with multiple attachments (hence, the name), offering styling versatility. While I've never used the Shark or T3, they're well-known brands with rave reviews and significantly lower price tags compared to the Dyson.
However, it should be noted that neither the T3 or Shark offers the customization features that the Airwrap i.d. does. Furthermore, they're not engineered to minimize heat damage, which is the primary reason the Airwrap has become popular.
I have tried (and currently own) the Revlon One-Step Volumizing Hair Dryer ($34), which technically isn't a multistyler. However, I can testify that it is easy to use (even easier than the Dyson, in my experience) and delivers salon-quality blowouts quickly. It hasn't saved my hair from heat damage, but it's an affordable alternative if you're still saving up for the Dyson.
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