Dyson Airstrait Straightener Review: Straight & Sleek Hair From Wet To Dry With No Damage
Everyone knows about the cult-favourite Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler. This ingenious hair tool uses hot air to create curls and waves with no heat damage. And as coveted as the Airwrap is, it was only a matter of time before Dyson came up with a straightener version, and that time has come! The new Dyson Airstrait straightener is set to change the hair game as it uses just air, and not hot plates, to straighten hair.
Retailing at $799, the Dyson Airstrait promises easy styling for multiple hair types, up to 60% less damage and 25% less time spent drying and styling. But before you ditch your traditional hot plate straightener, keep reading to find out if the Dyson Airstrait is worth the investment.
What it Comes With
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
As much as I enjoy luxe, over-the-top packaging, it was a delight unboxing the Dyson Airstrait in its minimalist and eco-friendly yet undeniably premium box.
The straightener itself looks and feels just as exquisite as Dyson's other machines. It comes with a non-slip heat mat, a thoughtful addition as I could plonk the tool down while it was still hot without worrying about damaging my wooden table.
How The Technology Works
Photo from Dyson
Similar to a traditional hair straightener, the Dyson Airstrait has two arms that you use to clamp down on a section of hair from the roots before sliding it down to the ends. The difference is that instead of hot plates, each arm has two 1.5mm apertures where high-velocity jets of air shoot out at a 45-degree angle. This precise air pressure straightens and dries the hair at the same time.
Like the Airwrap, the Airstrait works best on wet or damp hair. Moisture breaks down the hydrogen bonds in the hair which makes it more malleable and easily turned into a new shape.
How To Use It
Even at my first attempt, the Airstrait was very forgiving on my lack of hair styling skills.
There is a panel of just five buttons to handle and it's very user-friendly. Each button is labelled with symbols or colours and the LCD screen shows the settings:
- Heat settings: 80°C, 110°C, and 140°C
- Air flow speed: Low or High
- 'Cool' mode
- 'Wet' and 'Dry' modes
- On/off
There's also a lock and unlock slide button on the other side.
Photo from Dyson
Each time the Airstrait is turned on, it goes into cleaning mode for a few seconds before it's ready to use. When left idle or set down on a surface, it turns off automatically, and then restarts when you resume using it.
The tool is pretty cleverly designed. It's only when the arms are clamped closed that the high-speed airflow activates to straighten the hair. Once the arms are released, the tool automatically quiets down with a reduced air speed.
Before using the Airstrait, I prep my hair by combing through it to get rid of knots and tangles, dampening it, and applying some heat protectant. As my hair is fairly straight in its natural state, I go for the lowest heat setting of 80°C. Couple that with a high speed setting, it's enough to make it super straight. Finally, I switch to the cool mode to set the style.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
The effect is similar to that of a traditional hair straightener, but with a more airy and natural-looking straightness. It made my hair neat, sleek and less frizzy while giving it a lovely shine. I'd always feel rather put together à la Jisoo of Blackpink after getting my hair done. But what really won me over was how it allows me to indulge my lazy and impatient side. Ideally, the hair should be sectioned, but I skip that altogether and simply run the Airstrait through my hair like a comb. Even if some strands of hair get double or triple straightened in the process, the heat level is low enough that I don't worry about damaging my hair.
The photo above was after my usual 'anything goes' method. So, with a little more effort, the result is even more polished as seen in the photo below, where I used the Airstrait on washed, towel-dried hair and with a higher heat level at 110°C.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
My hair is thin with high porosity, so it only takes about 10 minutes to straighten all of my hair when it's dry, and about 20 minutes when it's wet. If you have thick and/or low porosity hair, expect a slightly longer styling time, but still much less than blow-drying followed by straightening.
I also like how the Airstrait can also be used to add volume at the roots of the hair, style the fringe, and even as a regular hair dryer when locked in the clamp position.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Dyson Airstrait has proved to be pretty impressive with how easy to use, efficient and hair-friendly it is. Perhaps the only thing that would make one second guess this purchase is the $799 price tag. They say that money can't buy time, but in this instance, it certainly can! Besides time saved, what you're paying for is also convenience and low heat damage. If all these factors are your priority, and you like having this particular style of 'fluffy' and voluminous straight hair on a regular basis, the Airstrait is certainly worth the splurge.
The Dyson Airstrait is available in stores and online at dyson.com.sg.
