I'm a Dyson Airwrap Superuser. Here's What I Really Think of the New $600 i.d. Multi-Styler. (2024)

Dyson launched its latest version of the Airwrap, the i.d. multi-styler and dryer, on August 26, 2024 — marking its first update in nearly two years since the Airwrap Complete re-launch in 2022.

The Airwrap i.d. is Dyson's first-ever connected hair tool, syncing to an app that automates the curling process based on any given user's hair type, hair length and skill level. This makes the styling process a lot more user-friendly, especially for first-timers, and addresses a common user complaint that Airwrap curls don't last. The new functionality also eliminates the need to manually toggle between settings (or wonder how long you need to curl each strand for the style to actually last on your hair type).

As for me, I'm an Airwrap superuser. I've tried every iteration of the tool since it launched in 2018, and I use it every time I smooth style my hair. I have also styled many friends' hair with it — to varied success, truthfully.

I've been using the new i.d. for the past several months, and we've also put it through some performance testing in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab for a breakdown on whats new, what's different and if the i.d. is worth the coin.

First of all, there's now a device each for straight/wavy hair and for curly/coily hair. The difference between them is just in the attachments they come with, curated depending on your natural hair type and styling goals.

• New attachments. There are three newcomers: a diffuser, a smoother and a curler. Both i.d. sets come with the new conical curling attachment with enhanced airflow and a tapered tip (20mm diameter), which makes for a tighter (read: longer-lasting) curl. The wave/curl set includes a newly-engineered diffuser and for ultra-sleek styles, there's a blade concentrator ironavailable for purchase separately (it doesn't come in either set).

  

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• It's smarter than ever. The i.d. features Bluetooth connectivity that links to an app to provide customized styling options, including suggested wrapping time, styling time and cold shot time to seal in the style based on your hair type. This is the first time Dyson has featured Bluetooth/app integration on a hair tool, which aims to make using the tool easier than ever.
• Hands-free styling. Well, kind of. If you opt to use the personalized curling sequence, the process is automated, so you won't have to toggle between settings while wrapping or setting the style, unlike anything we've seen from the Airwrap so far.

There's one truly new attachment on the i.d. that actually comes in both sets, and that's the conical barrel. The re-engineered diffuser comes in the curly/coily set, and the other attachments in each set are just more tightly curated by hair type based on consumer feedback, featuring a mix of existing favorites and a reintroduction of the fast dryer from the original launch.

• Straight/wavy: Conical Airwrap barrel (new), soft smoothing brush, fast dryer, large round volumizing brush, coanda smoothing dryer, 6-inch Airwrap long barrel
• Curly/coily: Conical Airwrap barrel (new), firm smoothing brush, fast dryer, large round volumizing brush, wave and curl diffuser (re-engineered), wide tooth comb

• Less bulk. A long-standing gripe of mine is the massive, unwieldy AC adapter/transformer on the Airwrap's cord. It slams into the wall while styling and makes storage difficult. I was thrilled to see that the i.d. integrates the adapter into the power plug, making the cord easier to maneuver and nets out to being 0.1 pound lighter overall. Sabina Wizemann, director of the GH Beauty Lab, agreed: "The most significant advantage was that the lighter cord made the styler easier to handle and use compared to the previous version," she said.
• Stronger airflow. In Lab testing, "measurements showed that the new one has a bit higher airflow (air speed)," said Wizemann, which corroborates Dyson's claims.

  

• Lessened learning curve. For new users, the app makes using the Airwrap a lot easier than it previously was. It gives step-by-step guidance and buffers in more time for beginners, which is helpful since the Airwrap can be super confusing to figure out at first.
• Longer-lasting style. I've found that if I have the time to utilize the app while styling, the resulting hairstyle lasts longer. I learned through the i.d.'s suggestion that I'd neither been curling my hair for long enough nor appropriately setting the style with the cool shot. These two shifts make for a style that lasts, if you have the patience to take the bit of extra time to style your hair to the brand's recommendation.

• The attachments offered in each bundle may not be what you want or need. Yes, Dyson has fine-tuned the array of attachments that come included in the two sets for the i.d., but these preselects can still feel like a mismatch depending on your needs. What I really wish is that Dyson offered a build-your-own bundle option so that each person could hand-pick the attachments that best suits them.
  

  Dyson Blade Concentrator Iron

  

  $40 at Dyson

  
  The older Airwrap comes in a set that features multiple smoothing brushes and curling barrel sizes, while the i.d. reintroduces an older hair dryer attachment — you'll have to really do your research to consider which is best for the hair you want (not even necessarily the hair you have — for example, I have curly hair, but I opted for the straight/wavy set since I use the tool to manipulate rather than enhance my natural texture). You also may need to buy some attachments separately, including the new blade attachment that doesn't come in any set.

• Is it too techy? I mean, do you actually need a Bluetooth hair dryer? "The features in the app are useful, but I only look at them when I have ample time to style my hair," said Wizemann. "They are a nice extra, but not essential for me." I agree — it's helpful to know the "right" way to style my hair with the Airwrap (I think if I were just starting out with the tool I'd appreciate the tips even more), but I admittedly don't always follow this instruction because I'm almost always eager to finish my hair ASAP and will settle for good enough rather than perfect. I also load my hair with hair product that helps to preserve the style and prevent frizzing, which I think is the real key to success).

It's a fair question, especially since the i.d. and the 2022 Airwrap retail at the same price. "If you already own the Airwrap, upgrading isn't necessary since the two perform similarly," says Wizemann. All of the new attachments are available for separate purchase and compatible with previous Airwrap devices, and likewise, previous Airwrap attachments are compatible with the i.d.

When making your choice, you should really be focusing on the attachments you want and choosing the set that best aligns with your needs and wants, which will ultimately make the biggest difference in styling.

If you're a first-time buyer, I think you should go for the i.d. The technology is newer, it's slightly stronger and the attachments are improved, plus the app can be helpful in not only helping you navigate the learning curve, but achieving a style that lasts. One big "if": If you catch an older Airwrap while it's on sale (we've seen its price drop by over $100 throughout this year), buy it. Those savings are substantial on a device that still works incredibly well.

I do think it is worth it, even though the sticker price admittedly still makes me a little sweaty. It comes with caveats, but when I consider how often I use it and how effectively it styles my hair (I couldn't blowout my hair at home before), it makes sense.

I don't think it's a slam dunk for all hair types and textures, though: If your hair is thick and straight or resistant to holding a curl, I wouldn't recommend an Airwrap as your primary curling tool — it likely won't hold. And if you have type 4 hair and are looking for a tool to aid in smooth styles, you may find that the Airwrap doesn't get hot enough for the job.

For me, that lower temp winds up being a plus for my relatively fragile type 3 hair, and the Airwrap is a lot less damaging than other styling tools. For context, in our tests, the original Airwrap with the round brush attachment reached around 158ºF at its highest settings, which is way better than the 350ºF+ of most heat tools — read more on that in our full Airwrap review).