I’ve Spent the Past 5 Years Trying Every Dyson Hair Tool. Here’s What’s Worth Getting.
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.
Comment
When it comes to the world of hot tools, a Dyson is basically the equivalent of a Rolex: luxurious, sleekly designed, and downright expensive. Over the years, it’s probably the question I’ve gotten asked most as a beauty writer.Is the new Airwrap really worth it?Do the curls actually last? Should I buy the Supersonic for my mother-in-law this Christmas?And I’ve always felt very confident answering these questions because I’ve tested every single hair tool the brand has ever made. At one point, I had three differentAirwrapsin my vanity. (This collection will be what I leave to my children one day.) So I’ve taken the time to compile all my thoughts after years of testing. Below, the Dyson tools I’d invest in (and the ones I would skip).
If you’re investing in your first Airwrap, splurging on the newest model is worth it.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Dyson now has three main Airwrap models: the Origin, priced at $550; the i.d., priced at $650; and theCo-anda2x, priced at an eye-watering $750. While the Origin still gets the job done, it comes with only three attachments — a brush, a curling barrel, and a dryer head — and no app compatibility. If you already own the Origin, I wouldn’t upgrade it, but if you’re investing in your very first Airwrap, go big or go home. Both the Airwrap i.d. and theCo-anda2xfeature app compatibility, which helpfully allows you to set the heat, airflow, and timing settings. And both are available in either a straight-to-wavy or curly-to-coily model, which will have slightly different styling attachments based on texture. But the Co-anda2x is still the best Airwrap money can buy and is considerably lighter, faster, and more powerful than its peers. While the main criticism of the Airwrap has always been the relatively short life span of the curls it creates, I found that the Co-anda2x’s last the longest by far. Of course, spending this kind of dough on a hair tool is a massive investment. Which brings me to my other tip: Never buy an Airwarp full price. Sales happen throughout the year, so it’s worth waiting to score the discount.
For straightening, the Corrale beats the Airstrait.
New! You can now save this product for later.
In the battle royale of the straighteners, the Corrale beats the Airstrait every time. The cordless Corrale has intelligent heat control and uses flexible copper plates, which reduces the heat and pressure on the hair strand, making it significantly less damaging compared to other straighteners. While the Airstrait offers wet-to-dry styling utilizing airflow instead of direct heat, if I were going to buy just one of the brand’s flat irons, the Corrale is just more effective.
The classic Supersonic is still a great buy …
New! You can now save this product for later.
The Dyson Supersonic is arguably the product that made people realize Dyson was a lot more than just a vacuum brand. Its fans are numerous: celebrity stylists, several Strategist staffers, and my mother, to name just a few. The thing that makes the Supersonic special is that it truly works for all hair types. It quickly dries my fine hair without frying it while also being powerful enough for thick- or curly-hair types. And don’t just take my word for it: Strategist beauty writer Tembe Denton-Hurst, who has curly hair, has used hers for years. “I’m a freak about heat damage and love that the Dyson monitors the heat internally to avoid shorting and heating beyond what the settings indicate,” she explains. “Beyond that, it dries super-fast. It can take my hair from wet to dry in about 20 minutes, whereas with other hair dryers, it can take me up to 40 minutes.” Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla, who describes her hair as very frizzy, says, “It always leaves my hair bouncy and smooth — thestuff of shampoo commercials. I know it starts at $400, but it’s the only hair dryer I could say might be in my will.” You can upgrade to the newer Supersonic Nural, which gives you an extra $100 worth of bells and whistles, like two extra attachments, “attachment learning,” and intelligent heat control. However, you’re probably better off sticking with the original Supersonic and saving a few bucks.
… but its small but mighty newest dryer is also fantastic
New! You can now save this product for later.
However, even if you already have the Supersonic, the Supersonic r, which is like the Supersonic’s little sister, is worth every penny. It comes with five attachments, including a diffuser, two concentrators, a wide-tooth comb, and a flyaway attachment, that are magnetic and super pleasing to snap them on and off. Best of all? It weighs just .7 pounds, a must if you travel often or, like me, have weak wrists.
Styling products we stand behind
Of course, your heat tools are only as good as the product you use. Here are some of our favorites.
More From The Strategist
- The Back-to-School Hall of Fame
- The Best Things Strategist Editors Have Bought This Year (So Far)
- Everything You Need to Outfit Your College Dorm
- The Strategist Summer 100
The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
