When Dyson first launched the Airstrait hair tool in 2023, a wet-to-dry styler with no hot plates that promised to dry and style hair in one, sent the beauty world into a frenzy.
At £499.99, it was never going to be an impulse buy, but the time-saving, damage-reducing claims had everyone talking, so I tested it out to give you the ultimate Dyson Airstrait review.
Dyson Airstrait, £499.99
Dyson‘s reputation usually precedes it, and as a result, shoppers expect big things from its hair styling tools.
It’s not surprising shoppers want to ensure they are making a worthy investment, considering most have a price tag nearing the £500 mark.
The Dyson Airstrait picks up from where the Dyson Airwrap left off (and you guessed it), it uses air to dry and straighten your hair in one go.
But, does it work?
I tested this tool on soaking wet hair, sweaty post-gym hair, and next-day waves to see whether the Dyson Airstrait is worth the hefty investment and lives up to the hype.
If there’s a shortcut to sleek, I’m all ears. I was curious to see if the Airstrait really could replace both my hairdryer and straighteners in one swoop.
Following years of research and development, the Airstrait promises sleek, smooth hair in a flash.
It uses powerful, focused airflow to dry and straighten your hair simultaneously from wet.
After a month of putting the Dyson Airstrait through product testing, I have to say, I’m pretty impressed.
Pros:
- Quick; dries hair in one/two strokes
- The lock mechanism converts to a dryer for roots
- Hair feels sleek and soft
- Can alternate between dry and wet hair modes easily
- Light to use
- Hair feels less damaged
Cons:
- Expensive
- Large Plug
- Need to section hair
- Hair can get very hot
Rating: 8/10
How I tested the Dyson Airstrait
I tested the Dyson Airstrait for over a month, using it instead of my traditional hair dryer.
I tried it straight from the shower, after workouts, as a second-day refresh, and when I couldn’t be bothered to fully wash and blow-dry my hair.
I also compared it directly with the Dyson Airwrap and classic GHDs to see how it stacks up in terms of finish and speed. Spoiler: it’s fast.
It’s worth noting that you need to section your hair to make the most of the Airstrait, otherwise, you’ll struggle to dry the strands evenly and be left with damp patches.
Dyson Airstrait review: Quickfire Q&A
How much is the Dyson Airstrait? RRP is £449.99. Discounts are rare, but keep an eye on Amazon, Currys, and Dyson’s own site during sale periods.
Who’s it best for? Anyone with straight to wavy hair who wants a quicker, simpler styling routine. Especially good for those who regularly blow-dry and straighten their hair.
What we loved: The time-saving results, sleek finish, and heat protection factor.
What we didn’t: The price, the bulky plug and the fact that it is hard to travel with.
Dyson Airstrait review: First impressions
Dyson Airstrait, £499.99
Having launched in the US in the summer of 2023, the Dyson Airstrait finally dropped in the UK in February 2024, and I had been eagerly waiting to review the product.
Out of the box, the Dyson Airstrait feels luxurious, as you’d expect for the price.
It comes with a power cable, user guide, and a simple digital interface.
The tool itself looks like a straightener but without the usual ceramic plates.
Instead, it uses high-pressure airflow through slim vents to dry and shape the hair simultaneously.
It’s larger than your usual straightening tool (still smaller than the GHD Duet) but is surprisingly light.
Having asked one of Dyson‘s team how they managed this, they explained to me that the majority of the tech is packed into the plug (I may be over-simplifying this), which is on the bulkier side.
At first, I thought this would bother me as it would make it harder to travel with, but ultimately I prefer it as it means the tool is lighter in my hand.
Turning it on and off is easy. First it ‘cleans’ before every use, and then you can choose between wet, dry, cold and different speed settings on the side of the tool – there’s a small display with buttons underneath.
Dyson Airstrait, £499.99
The Airstait will also shut off if you stop using it or put it down, reducing unnecessary noise and energy.
So you’re less likely to cause any damage to anything, and it does come with a heat protective mat.
It’s also pretty quiet while in use, unlike traditional hair dryers, I could still hold a conversation as I used it.
The Airstrait uses the same Coanda effect technology as the Dyson Airwrap to straighten your hair.
It’s described as a ” precisely angled high-pressure blade of air is forced downwards and into the hair, both simultaneously drying and straight styling, with one machine”.
The arms of the machine create two high-velocity downward blades of air, which are projected at a 45-degree angle.
This, in turn, creates one focused jet of air and a downward force to straighten your hair as it dries and aligns hair strands.
The result is less pressure on your hair, and ultimately less damage, although I noticed that my hair would still feel hot after use.
All these mod-cons seem simple enough, but in their simplicity is where the genius comes in.
Some of these features are new, and some are classics, but they work together to make the Airstrait easy to use, and wondering what you ever used before.
Read more about Dyson
Dyson Airstrait review: Performance
Dyson Airstrait, £499.99
Whilst the styling tool clearly has some serious tech, it means nothing if the Dyson Airstrait doesn’t do the job.
The Airstrait has two styling modes: ‘Wet’ and ‘Dry’, and a ‘Cool’ mode to set the style.
In ‘Wet’ mode, beauty fans can choose between three heat settings of 80°C, 110°C and 140°C.
In the ‘Dry’ mode, there’s a choice between 120°C or 140°C, or a top-up “boost”, as well as two airflow controls, low and high.
It uses intelligent heat sensors to measure the temperature of airflow 30 times per second to prevent heat damage and protect hair’s natural shine.
In action, this meant the Airstrait could dry my hair in a single stroke, and it looked pretty straight on one pull.
Dyson Airstrait, £499.99
However, I found two to be the perfect amount of passes (as long as I didn’t rush it).
The size of the arms can make it tricky to reach the root of your hair, but Dyson has a solution – you can lock the two arms together to create a more standard hair dryer shape to dry the roots.
As previously mentioned, for best results, I would recommend sectioning your hair.
I found three to be enough for my hair type, but you could quickly and easily dry it this way.
I have fine hair but a lot of it, and it’s naturally straight, so I am looking for a powerful tool that will tame it and offer long-lasting styling.
Having previously tested the Airwrap, which I enjoyed, I found the Airstrait had more sticking power.
However, the real magic for me was when I combined it with the dry hair function.
My hair, while not poker-straight, was impressively straight, soft and sleek with no flyaways.
This was perfect for an everyday straight look, as the hair still has movement.
All I needed was a little amount of product, such as serum and texture powder, and I was good to go.
I tend to wash my hair in the evenings because of the drying time (the Airstrait has also given me my mornings back), and in the past haven’t bothered to do that much styling – it’s going to look messy after I’ve slept on it anyway.
Dyson Airstrait, £499.99
However, I found that the Airstrait would ensure it was smooth enough to withstand a night’s sleep, and made for super-quick styling and refresh in the morning.
It gives your hair a swishy, just-out-of-the-salon finish, and honestly, I am obsessed.
One thing to note: if you want poker straight hair, you are going to have more precision and control with a straightener.
The Dyson Airstrait is one of the best tools I’ve used in a long time and leaves my hair with that salon-fresh, blow-dried feeling.
It speeds styling time up by almost half, as you don’t have to blow-dry and then straighten or style your hair.
With expensive price tags,
The expensive price tag can be off-putting, but ultimately, if you’re looking for a tool that makes your life easier, the Dyson Airstrait does just that.
It’s completely revolutionised my morning routine.
Dyson Airstrait review: The Verdict
If you’re addicted to sleek, straight hair and want to cut your styling time in half, the Dyson Airstrait is a game-changer, but only if you can justify the price.
This isn’t a universal must-have, but for the right person, it’s a total routine revolution.
If you regularly blow-dry and straighten and want to protect your hair from heat damage, this clever tool delivers.
If you’re after curls, versatility, or something travel-friendly, you might want to look elsewhere.
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Where to buy the Dyson Airstrait?
The Dyson Airstrait retails at £449.99, which is undeniably a splurge.
Discounts are rare, but you can sometimes find them bundled with accessories or available through interest-free payment plans on sites like Dyson and Currys.
You can buy it from Dyson UK, John Lewis, Boots, Currys and more.
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