'I've used the Dyson Airwrap almost daily for years and this is what I wish I'd known before getting one'

The Dyson Airwrap is a big investment that warrants some research before adding one to your basket. As a beauty writer who's used this tool daily for more than two years, I've found there are a few things it's crucial to consider before investing, which I'll be breaking down for you in this need-to-know guide.

Since it first launched more than six years ago, the Dyson Airwrap has totally transformed the world of the best hair dryers, paving the way for multi-stylers becoming a hugely popular market category. With low-noise and high-powered hair styling, if you can grab a Dyson Airwrap deal this makes a fantastic gift for yourself or a loved one. Our Dyson Airwrap review showcases that, as a team, we do love this innovative tool, but there are still some factors to consider before splashing out.

After "is the Dyson Airwrap worth it?", one of the first questions people ask before investing is if it will suit their hair type. While I personally have tested it on my own coloured and frizz-prone hair, I've also got the woman&home team at my disposal, who all have different hair types and unique firsthand insights into using the Airwrap, too. From how to use the tool to create your desired style to the key things to pay attention to, the following insights should help you decipher whether or not it's right for you.

Amelia Yeomans

Amelia is a fashion and beauty journalist who is currently junior shopping editor at Marie Claire UK; when this article was first published she was woman&home's senior fashion & beauty writer. "I have thick, frizzy, and dry hair that takes a fair bit of heat styling to look its best," she says. "When left to air dry it gets very wavy, so I'm always on the hunt for a tool that can take it from wet to straight or smooth my natural waves with minimal effort."

Larry King

Larry King is a leading hairdresser with two eponymous salons in London and his own haircare brand, as well as being Dyson's Global Hair Ambassador – meaning he's a true expert in how to use the Airwrap and the brand's other tools, like the Supersonic Hair Dryer. He's shared some of his insights into getting the best results from the Airwrap as part of this guide.

What you need to know before buying a Dyson Airwrap

1. Prep is the key to success

A big query with the Dyson Airwrap is around making the curls from the barrel attachment last longer. If you want to style extremely quickly, you should know the Airwrap isn't that kind of tool. You have to be willing to put in bit of time time by preparing your hair properly if you want the best and longest-lasting results, as the key is all in the prep.

However, Dyson’s global hair ambassador, Larry King, told us exactly how to make Dyson Airwrap curls last. He says the longest-lasting Airwrap curls come from making sure that hair is neither too wet nor too dry before you style. King recommends drying your hair until it is about 80-90% dry, then using the curling barrels to simultaneously style and finish drying. Don't forget to always set with the cool shot, too. With the diffuser – one of the newer Dyson Airwrap attachments – you'll want your hair to be closer to wet after applying your styling products (we’ve also reviewed the Dyson Chitosan pre-style cream, naturally). Then go straight in with the diffuser to dry fully for defined, frizz-free curls.

Rush through the styling process without proper prep and you're likely to see your curls dropping out within a couple of hours – especially if you know your hair struggles to hold a curl at the best of times.

2. Not every attachment is guaranteed to be perfect for you

This may seem obvious, but I spent a long time presuming every Airwrap attachment should work perfectly on my hair and thinking the tool was at fault when I didn't get the results I wanted. Although most of them can easily create gorgeous styles when your hair is prepped properly, you'll probably find that some will work better for you than others.

If you have an extra long hairstyle or particularly thick hair, for example, you may find the firm brush is easier to work with than the softer option. Likewise, if you have very curly or coily hair, the paddle brush attachments won't be able to give you a poker straight style on their own. It takes a little trial and error and some practice, but you'll soon get to grips with the styling methods that work best on your hair.

3. It is fairly bulky

The day I carried my Airwrap home in its box, my evening was plagued by arm soreness as if I'd done an hour-long boxing class. Granted, that was largely due to the weighty case the Airwrap comes with, but the tool itself is slightly bulky depending on the attachment you're using. The main tool quite thick – though very easy to grip – which is worth bearing in mind if you struggle with larger tools. I find I can happily style my hair for 30-60 minutes without arm ache, but this may not be the case for everyone.

All that said, if you're weighing up other multi-stylers like the Shark Flexstyle vs Dyson Airwrap, having lots of experience with both tools I think the Shark is bulkier. However, if you want something that will double as one of the best travel hair dryers, the Airwrap probably isn't your ideal choice. From its length to the number of attachments it comes with, it's not really made to fit into a handbag or be carted around – but that's to be expected with such versatility.

4. It may render your other hair tools redundant

This could be a pro or a con, but the Dyson Airwrap may replace other hairstyling tools you've invested in over the years. I have a fairly substantial collection, from the best curlers for thick hair to the best straighteners, and a lot of them have been rendered pretty much redundant since I got the Airwrap. However, contributing beauty editor Lucy Abbersteen, who has curly hair, feels differently. "The Airwrap is incredibly versatile, and great for creating a smooth blow dry that retains body and volume, but one thing it can't create on my hair is the kind of poker straight hairstyle I'd get from traditional straighteners," she says. "I also find it's better at creating bouncier curls and waves than very undone, flatter shapes, but that's partly down to my hair barely dropping – if at all – when it's been curled."

An all-in-one tool ostensibly sounds like a good thing, but I personally wish I had known that I would have been better off investing in the Airwrap before purchasing cheaper tools first. If you're at a stage where you're torn between settling for a few cheaper tools or saving up for the Airwrap, I'd definitely recommend holding out and spending that bit more money. For me, the convenience of only needing one tool is unmatched.

5. There aren't tons of settings

Most hair dryers typically have a limited number settings – a few for heat and a few for speed, max. The Airwrap is much the same. My hair is quite thick and frizzy, so sometimes I do feel that I could benefit from extra power and/or speed settings for really efficient styling.

However, one of the benefits of the Airwrap is that it claims to be less damaging than other tools that use higher temperatures and direct heat to style hair. So if your main aim is to protect your hair's health while styling, this will actually be a plus point for you. What's more, if you opt for the newer Airwrap i.d., you can connect the tool via Bluetooth to an app on your smartphone that allows you to input your personal hair profile and create a customised curling time – i.e. wrapping, heating and cooling – to suit your specific hair type accordingly. Now that's pretty bespoke.

Why it's still worth buying the Dyson Airwrap

No hair tool is perfect, but the Airwrap certainly gives it a good go. I have definitely used other tools that have dried my hair slightly quicker or held my curls for longer, but for me, none have ever looked quite as good as the results of the Airwrap. From causing less damage to giving a smooth, healthy finish, this is a tool that constantly delivers.

I find that my hair almost always looks frizzy and straightening it completely can take hours, but the Airwrap can take my hair from wet to styled with minimal effort – something I've never experienced in quite the same way with another tool. Yes, the price tag is steep, but I'm pretty confident it will cover most bases – if not become the only hairstyling tool you'll need in your life – once you've mastered the best way to use it on your hair type. It really is an excellent multi-styler.