Treated yourself to a Dyson Airwrap? Congrats! You’ve got one of the best bits of haircare tech out there. Whether you’re after silky-smooth locks, soft waves or bouncy curls — it can do it all.
The Airwrap is a big beauty upgrade, but all the barrels and brushes it comes with can seem like a lot to take in at first. That’s why we’ve broken down what each attachment does, so you can use yours like a pro.
Overview of Dyson Airwrap attachments
The Dyson Airwrap comes with six nifty attachments that’ll cover your styling routine from start to finish — no matter what kind of hair day you fancy.
The included attachments depend on which Airwrap package you’ve bought. For example, the Airwrap Complete Long Volumise comes with styling heads designed for longer hair. So to cover all the bases, we’ll explain every single Dyson haircare brush, dryer, and curler you can get for your Airwrap. So you’ll know what they’re all for.
Dryers
These attachments are great for getting your hair to the perfect dampness for styling, achieving a naturally dried look, or stretching out tight curls:
2-in-1 Coanda smoothing dryer: You’ll probably be using this Dyson attachment the most, as it doubles as a dryer and a smoothing tool. The drying mode takes your hair from wet to damp so it’s ready for styling with other attachments. While the Coanda smoothing mode hides flyaways for a smooth finish after shaping or straightening.
Diffuser: If you’ve got curly or wavy hair, this attachment might become your new best friend. It spreads air over your hair evenly to simulate natural drying and boosts your waves while reducing frizz.
Wide-tooth comb: Thanks to its robust row of teeth, this drying head is perfect for straightening out tight curls and coils as they dry for a longer look. And the comb will shape and volumise your hair too.
Smoothing and volumising brushes
The Airwrap works with a variety of brush attachments for straightening, smoothing, and adding volume to your hair. Think of them as your all-in-one blow-dry bar:
Firm smoothing brush: Great for taming wild frizz and creating a sleek, straight look — especially if you’ve got thicker hair. It features hard bristles that can really push through unruly strands without irritating your scalp.
Soft smoothing brush: Got fine hair? The softer bristles on this attachment let you straighten and smooth with less chance of breakage.
Large round volumising brush: Ideal for adding lots of body and bounce to your hair for a fuller look. If you’ve got longer locks, this larger version also makes hair easier and quicker to style.
Round volumising brush: A smaller version of the larger brush, which adds volume to all hair types and lengths for a blowout look.
Small brushes: There are smaller types of the Soft smoothing brush, Firm smoothing brush, and Round volumising brush. They work best if you’ve got shorter hair or want to work on a specific part, like your fringe.
Curling barrels
The curling barrels are where the Dyson Airwrap really shines. They come in different sizes so you can create beautiful curls and waves without the need for any awkward twisting.
You can also change which direction they curl, letting you get symmetrical spirals on both sides of your head. Here are all the current curling attachments available:
20mm Airwrap barrel: The best Airwrap head for creating tight, long-lasting curls. It works well for all hair lengths, but especially if you have short and fine hair.
30mm Airwrap barrel: With a little more width, this barrel creates more relaxed-looking curls. It’s a great option if you have shorter hair but can help add variety if you have longer locks.
30mm Airwrap long barrel: An extended version of the standard 30mm barrel that’s a perfect match for long hair. Why? Because it can wrap more hair around it in one go. Simple!
40mm Airwrap barrel: The biggest Airwrap curling barrel that creates big curls and natural-looking waves.
40mm Airwrap long barrel: If you’ve got really long tresses, this should be your go-to curling barrel. It’ll make relaxed curls with plenty of volume and bounce.
Using the Dyson Airwrap: step-by-step
Styling with the Dyson Airwrap takes a bit of practice. But once you get the hang of it, you won’t be able to do without it! Here’s how to use the attachments for different looks:
Shaping and smoothing
Attach the Coanda smoothing dryer and rotate the cool tip to drying mode.
Turn on your Airwrap and work through lengths of your hair until they’re about 80% dry. You’ll want to leave your locks slightly damp before styling.
Fit either the Soft smoothing brush or Firm smoothing brush. Then set the Airwrap to medium speed, high heat.
Glide the brush attachment through your hair slowly from root to tip, focusing on sections.
Face the brush bristles outwards to create volume. You can also turn the brush inwards near the end of each section of hair to add some shape.
Remove your smoothing brush and put the Coanda smoothing dryer back on. Make sure to rotate the cool tip to smoothing mode.
Choose high speed, low heat and switch on your Airwrap. Press lightly against your hair to activate the Coanda airflow, which will attract your hair to the attachment as you smooth down the lengths of hair.
And voila — you’ll have stunning, silky-smooth straight hair free of frizz and flyaways. Get ready for lots of compliments.
Curling and waving
Start off with the Coanda smoothing dryer attachment in drying mode to get your hair to just the right level of dampness.
Choose the Airwrap barrel that suits your desired curl type and fit it onto the Airwrap. Remember — the thinner the barrel, the tighter the curls.
Twist the cool tip to select the curl direction you want using the arrows.
Power on the Airwrap and make sure it’s set to high speed, high heat.
Hold a small section of hair about 10cm from the tips, and then bring it towards the barrel. The Airwrap will automatically start wrapping your hair around it — just like magic!
Gently bring the barrel towards your head to wrap the whole section of hair. You’ll then need to hold it in place for around 15 seconds.
Finish with a 5-10 second blast of the cold shot function to set the curl. Then turn off and gently pull down to release it.
Repeat the process for different sections of your hair until you get a bountiful set of curls.
Beauty tip: For more natural-looking curls and waves with extra volume, just switch up the airflow direction between sections.
Volumising and creating texture
Start off with wet hair and section so it’s easier to style.
Attach the Round volumising brush and start styling lengths from the bottom section by brushing upwards from underneath.
Brush all the way down from your roots to the tips, focusing on the areas where you want extra bounce or shape.
When each section is almost dry, roll your hair around the brush and hold until completely dry.
Set your look with the cold shot for 5-10 seconds and repeat those steps until the bottom section is sorted.
Release the top section of your hair and use the volumising brush to lift your locks for root volume.
Finish off by sorting out the side sections of your hair. Lift up and outwards with the tool, and shape the tips using the cold shot for a fuller look.
After that, just use your fingers to loosen out your locks and add some extra texture.
FAQs
What makes the Dyson Airwrap unique?
The Dyson Airwrap has been a total game-changer in the beauty world. What makes it so special is its ‘Coanda effect’, which uses the power of air to dry, shape, and volumise your hair instead of extreme heat. Because we all know that too much heat is a big no-no for our hair…
But its innovative Coanda tech isn’t just healthier for your hair — it makes styling a breeze too. Especially for curling, as it attracts and wraps your tresses around the tool automatically. Hence the name — Airwrap! This makes it a cinch to achieve anything from loose curls to tight spirals, all while keep your strands in tip-top condition.
What controls does the Dyson Airwrap have?
Power and cold shot: This is the large switch in the middle. Move it up to turn your Airwrap on, or slide it all the way to the top and hold to engage the cold shot feature. This turns off the heating element so you can set your style with a blast of cool air — helping it last all day long.
Airflow speed: The slider on the left, which offers three speed settings. The highest mode is great for rough-drying or styling large sections, while lower settings work best for more precise styling.
Temperature control: The right-hand switch, which provides three heat levels to cater for different hair types. You’ll use a higher heat if your hair is thick, and lower heat if you’ve got fine or damaged hair.
How do you clean a Dyson Airwrap?
To keep your Airwrap working like a dream, you’ll need to make sure you’re cleaning it regularly. The most important part to check on is the Airwrap’s motor filter, which can get clogged with hair and dust over time. So, just use the included Filter-cleaning brush to remove debris from the filter every month. You can always set a reminder on your phone if you’re forgetful!
It's also a good idea to wipe down the attachments with a damp cloth after each use, especially if you’re using them with styling sprays or mousses. This will keep them clean and free from product buildup.
Which attachments are included with the Dyson Airwrap?
Since its introduction in 2018, the Dyson Airwrap has been sold with multiple attachments included. This is so you can achieve different looks right out of the box. But over the years, Dyson have changed out which heads and brushes come with their Airwrap.
The current Dyson Airwrap Complete Long multi-styler comes with the following attachments:
Coanda smoothing dryer
Diffuser
Firm smoothing brush
Large round volumising brush
30mm Airwrap long barrel
40mm Airwrap long barrel
Need more advice?
We hope our Dyson Airwrap attachments guide will inspire you to experiment with all sorts of styles. But if you’re still struggling to wrap your head around Dyson’s multi-styler, just chat to one of our experts using ShopLive. They’ll help you get to grips with your Airwrap over a video call, so you won’t even have to leave your house.
Or if you’d prefer to head into one of our stores for some in-person advice, use our store finder to locate your nearest Currys. And don’t forget, we’ve got loads more health and beauty tech to get you glowing!
