Let’s be real. Spending six hundred bucks on a hair tool feels a little bit like buying a designer water bottle—it’s flashy, it’s expensive, and you wonder if it actually does the job better than the cheap version. But the Dyson Airwrap multi styler complete isn’t just a blow dryer with some fancy attachments. It’s a piece of engineering that uses a phenomenon called the Coanda effect. Basically, it uses air to attract and wrap hair to the barrel. No extreme heat. No fried ends. Just physics doing the heavy lifting while you stand there in your bathrobe trying to figure out which direction the arrow is pointing.
It’s been out for years now, yet it still dominates the conversation. Why? Because the "Complete" version actually addressed the biggest complaint of the original: the need to switch barrels for different sides of your head. Now, you just flick a switch. It sounds small, but if you’ve ever been halfway through a blowout and realized you’re curling the left side of your face "inward" when you wanted "outward," you know that toggle is a lifesaver.
The Coanda Effect Is Not Just Marketing Fluff
Dyson didn't just wake up and decide to make a curling iron. They took the principles of aerodynamics—the same stuff that helps planes fly—and shrunk it down into a wand. When the motor spins, it creates high pressure at the top of the styling attachment. That air then escapes through tiny slots, following the curved surface. This creates a literal vortex. Your hair gets sucked toward the barrel like magic.
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Honestly, the first time you use it, it’s creepy. You hold a section of damp hair near the wand, and it just... leaps. But there is a learning curve. If your hair is too wet, the curl won't hold. If it's too dry, the Coanda effect won't grab it properly. You need that "sweet spot" of about 80% dry. Jen Atkin, the celebrity stylist who has worked with the Kardashians and served as a Dyson ambassador, has repeatedly pointed out that the Airwrap is a styling tool, not necessarily a "dryer first" tool, even though it has the drying attachment.
What’s Actually Inside the Box?
When you buy the Dyson Airwrap multi styler complete, you aren't just getting the wand. You get the 30mm and 40mm long barrels, which are the bread and butter of the system. Then there’s the firm smoothing brush, the soft smoothing brush, and that round volumizing brush that looks intimidating but is actually the secret to salon-level bangs.
The most interesting addition in the "Multi-Styler" update is the Coanda smoothing dryer. It’s a dual-purpose attachment. One mode dries your hair like a standard (albeit very powerful) hair dryer. Flip the switch, and it becomes a "flyaway" smoother. It hides those tiny, frizzy baby hairs under the longer strands using—you guessed it—more air pressure. It’s the same technology found in their standalone Supersonic dryer's flyaway attachment, but integrated here to save space.
The Heat Damage Myth
We’ve been told for decades that you need 450 degrees to get a curl to stay. That’s just not true. It’s actually kind of a lie we’ve accepted because it’s easier to build a cheap, hot iron than a sophisticated air-control system. The Airwrap measures its exit airflow temperature over 40 times a second. It keeps the heat under 302°F (150°C).
Why does that number matter? Because at around 300 degrees, hair starts to undergo a structural change where the hydrogen bonds break and reform, but it doesn’t reach the "scorching" point where the keratin is permanently damaged. If you have bleached hair or fine hair that snaps if you even look at a flat iron, this is a massive deal. You can style your hair every single day without it turning into straw.
It’s Not for Everyone (The Hard Truth)
I’m going to be blunt: if you have extremely thick, coarse, or type 4c curls and you want a pin-straight look, the Airwrap might frustrate you. It can do it, but it takes forever. It’s designed for "rough drying" and then shaping. It excels at that "90s supermodel" blowout look. If you want tight, crunchy prom curls that last for three days without hairspray, a traditional high-heat curling wand is actually better.
The Airwrap creates soft, bouncy, "expensive-looking" hair. But because it uses air and lower heat, the style is naturally more flexible. You have to use the cold shot. Most people skip this. Hold the power button up for 5-10 seconds to blast the curl with cold air before you turn the machine off and release the hair. That "sets" the bond. Skip it, and your curls will probably fall out before you finish your coffee.
Real World Performance vs. Social Media Hype
You’ve seen the TikToks. Everyone looks like a pro. In reality, your first three attempts will probably look like a mess. You’ll grab too much hair. The barrel will tangle. You’ll forget to switch the airflow direction.
But once the muscle memory kicks in, it’s fast. Like, "done in 15 minutes" fast.
The Dyson Airwrap multi styler complete is essentially a modular system. It's an investment in your morning time. If you calculate the cost of weekly salon blowouts—usually $45 to $75 a pop—the machine pays for itself in about three months. If you only style your hair once a month for weddings? It’s a total waste of money.
Maintenance Is the Part Nobody Talks About
If your Airwrap starts overheating or cutting out, it’s almost certainly because the filter is clogged. At the bottom of the handle, there’s a magnetic mesh cage. It picks up dust, hairspray particles, and bathroom lint. Dyson includes a little circular brush in the kit. Use it.
I’ve seen people complain that their "expensive dryer died," only to find out they haven't cleaned the filter in two years. It’s a high-performance motor; it needs to breathe. A 30-second scrub once a week keeps the airflow at the velocity required for the Coanda effect to actually work.
Better Hair Through Science
Is it a luxury? Absolutely. Is it the best at what it does? Currently, yes. While competitors like the Shark FlexStyle have entered the market at a lower price point, the Dyson motor (the V9) is still the benchmark for power-to-weight ratio. It spins at 110,000 RPM. That’s fast enough to move 13 liters of air every second through a device that weighs less than a loaf of bread.
If you struggle with arm fatigue while drying your hair, or if you’re genuinely worried about the thinning and breakage caused by traditional irons, this tool changes the game. It’s about hair health as much as it is about aesthetics.
How to Get the Most From Your Airwrap
- Start with damp hair: Don't use it on soaking wet hair; you'll be there all day. Don't use it on bone-dry hair; the curls won't take. Aim for 80% dry.
- Product is mandatory: Because you aren't using "frying" heat, you need a styling mousse or a heat-activated setting spray to give the hair "grip."
- The Cold Shot is your best friend: Set the curl with cold air for at least 5 seconds. It's the difference between a blowout that lasts and one that disappears in an hour.
- Sectioning matters: You can't just grab random chunks. Use the clips. Smaller sections mean more airflow contact and better "wrap" around the barrel.
- Clean the filter: Seriously. Do it once a week. It takes 20 seconds and saves the motor from burning out.