I Asked 3 Editors with Very Different Hair Types to Put Dyson’s Airstrait to the Test—This Is How It Fared

Remember the wet-to-straight hair tools of the early 2000s? I'm sure it's a hair trend many of us want to forget.

Okay, so some of them kind of worked to straighten the hair, but you may as well have put your wet strands directly into a cast-iron pan, as these early hair tools basically seared your hair and left it with tonnes of heat damage to boot. The thought of putting my hair through that again makes me break out in full-body hives, so you can bet I'm immediately sceptical when I hear about any product that promises to take hair from wet to straight.

However, when Dyson launches a new hair tool, I pay attention. The Dyson Airwrap alone has transformed how I style my hair. Before I had one of these hot brushes, I was abysmal at doing my own hair, and now, I leave the house looking like I've just had a blowdry, despite only spending 15 minutes on my hair. The same goes for the Corrale Straightener and Supersonic Hair Dryer, the latter of which gets my hair dry quickly and doesn't leave me with any flyaways. That's why when Dyson released the Airstrait, I let my curiosity override my scepticism.

The Dyson Airstrait is now available in the UK.

How Does the Dyson Airstrait Work?

After initially launching in the US, the Airstrait is now available in the UK. So, how does it work? The Airstrait works differently from any other straightener because it doesn't rely on hot plates to smooth the hair. Instead, the tool uses the powerful airflow that Dyson is known for to dry and straighten hair without heat damage. In fact, the highest temperature you can set the Airstrait to is 140°C, which is much lower than most hot tools.

"Having a strong understanding of how to manipulate and realise the potential of powerful airflow is fundamental to the performance of the Dyson Airstrait straightener," James Dyson, founder and chief engineer of the brand, shared in a press release. "This expertise, which we've gained over the last 25 years, is what has enabled us to deliver our first wet-to-dry straightener with no hot plates and no extreme heat damage. Delivering the ease-of-use that people love about straighteners but with high-velocity air blades saves time, maintains hair strength and achieves an everyday natural straight style."

Whilst the tool looks like your average straightener, it has a few high-tech functions. You can clamp it dry and use it as a hair dryer to rough-dry your hair and scalp. You can also choose from three different settings—wet, dry or cool—to style your hair. When in the "wet" mode, there are three heat options: 80°C, 110°C and 140°C (the thicker and curlier your hair is, the higher you'll likely want to go temperature-wise). On the "dry" setting, you can choose 120°C or 140°C or a "boost." You can also control airflow. As a safety precaution, the Airstrait automatically turns off when set down.

Does the Dyson Airstrait Work on Different Hair Textures?

This was one of my first questions after learning about the tool, as although it worked well on my wavy hair, I was curious to know how it would perform on different hair types. I attended a Dyson demo where we were shown how the Airstrait works on 2C curls, 3B curls and 4C curls. As explained on the Dyson website, "For those with Type 3 and Type 4 hair, this will give you a stunning stretched-out look without flattening your hair, unlike traditional hot-plate straighteners."

But whilst Dyson promises the Airstrait works across different hair types, we wanted to see for ourselves.

How We Tested the Dyson Airstrait

I decided to test the Airstrait first to see how easy it is to use. I have extremely thick, wavy hair that typically takes 20 to 30 minutes to dry. If I add straightening into the mix, I'm looking at at least an hour in front of the mirror. Of course, I also wanted to see how this tool worked on other people's hair. So, I enlisted the help of Who What Wear UK junior beauty editor Grace Lindsay and contributing beauty writer Ata-Owaji Victor and asked them to put the tool through its paces on their hair. Keep on scrolling to see how we got on.

Our Dyson Airstrait Reviews

Before Using the Dyson Airstrait

As you can see, I have naturally wavy hair.

Using the Dyson Airstrait

I started with towel-dried hair and was immediately impressed. Whilst I did two passes, I could have gotten away with one and still had impeccably straight strands—and I even took a large section. I did my whole head in 15 minutes (I timed it).

Katie Berohn, Associate Beauty Editor,Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing US

After Using the Dyson Airstrait

I also used it when my hair was already dry, and it took me nine minutes to get all of my strands pin-straight. The great thing about this tool is that, unlike a traditional straightener, it doesn't flatten your hair. Instead, the airflow allows you to maintain volume, so your hair still has body even though it's straight.

Grace Lindsay, Junior Beauty Editor

Before Using the Dyson Airstrait

Grace has very thick, naturally wavy hair that usually takes her ages to style, so she was excited to see if the Airstrait could make a difference to her routine.

Using the Dyson Airstrait

"I was lucky enough to get a demo on how to use the Dyson Airstrait in-store, but it is so easy to use at home. My hair usually takes me around an hour and a half to blowdry and straighten, but this tool took just half an hour to get the results I wanted," says Grace.

After Using the Dyson Airstrait

"I couldn't believe how sleek my hair looked after using this," says Grace. "It has genuinely changed my entire beauty routine for the better!"

Ata-Owaji Victor, Contributing Beauty Writer

Before Using the Dyson Airstrait

"As a long-time user (and lover) of the Dyson Supersonic thanks to its wide-tooth comb and concentrated attachment, I was interested to see how the Airstrait would fare on a few fronts. My hair—Type 4B and fine—tends to dry quite quickly, so I often use heat tools for styling and stretching out my roots rather than just as an out-and-out answer to post-shower hair," says Ata.

Using the Dyson Airstrait

"Despite appearances, the tool is light in feel and boasts an easy-to-navigate menu of heat, airflow and wet or dry styling options," explains Ata. "I used the tool at 110 degrees on damp, detangled hair. I sectioned it off, placing it at the root of my coils before bringing it down the mid-lengths and ends of my hair. I used the Airstrait first as directed—air channel facing down—before switching to a combination of up and downwind with the channel to dry my roots thoroughly and stretch out my coils."

After Using the Dyson Airstrait

So, what was Ata's verdict? "Although I did experiment with a few techniques to attempt to re-create the type of finish I’m used to achieving with a more conventional straightening tool, I found that the Airstrait worked best as a wet-to-dry tool."

Although it might be a good option for stretching out hair, as summarised by Ata, it's not as effective for creating sleek, silk-press styles. That being said, Ata says it's a great option for those with Afro hair who want to gently reintroduce heat styling to their routine.

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This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.