Geek Review: Dyson Airstrait Straightener

Hair styling tools have come a long way, especially for the home where even just a few years ago, hair tools were compartmentalised into the three categories of hair dryers, straighteners, and curlers, and innovation into the decades-old segment seemed pretty sparse. 

Fast forward to 2024, and inventions like the S$799 Dyson Airstrait have revolutionised the industry by bridging the gap between two categories as a wet-to-dry straightener, which dries and also straightens wet hair simultaneously. Hair styling brand GHD broke ground with 2023’s Duet Style (S$645), a hot air styler, but true to form, Dyson, the king of handheld vacuums, is pushing the boundaries even further with its first Airstrait, a woman’s new best friend that merges a hair dryer and straightener into one, by using precise airflow to dry and style wet hair, potentially changing the home styling game for many women out there.

This isn’t Dyson’s first foray into haircare as its highly popular Airwrap styler, introduced in 2018, uses controlled airflow to deliver salon-worthy curls and waves, without causing excessive heat damage to hair. While tools like the GHD Duet Style adopt the age-old technology of having heat generated from hot plates to curl hair, the Airstrait is the Airwrap’s straightener counterpart that relies entirely on airflow to dry, straighten and style strands.

At first glance, the Airstrait might seem like a slightly ‘chunkier’ version of Dyson’s two-prong, tongs-like Corrale straightener, which is the world’s first hair straightener to be engineered with manganese copper alloy flexing plates, but the Prussian Blue and Rich Copper coloured Airstrait is notably bigger, measuring 60mm (height) x 330mm (length) x 41mm (width). It tips the scales at roughly 480g without the fixed 198cm long plug that offers 360-degree swivel cord that enhances manoeuvrability, though the lack of a cordless option and the absence of a travel pouch might limit its convenience for on-the-go styling and disappoint frequent travellers.

Upon unboxing, the Dyson Airstrait Straightener exudes the same level of craftsmanship and sophistication seen across Dyson’s product range, and is even packaged with a non-slip heat mat, a pratical inclusion that allows users to set the device on temperative-sensitive surfaces like wooden tables without concern for heat damage.

As a measure of safety, the Airstrait comes with a Portable Residual Current Device (PRCD) plug, which tests electrical currents to ensure safety around water or vapour, which is a significant consideration given its use in the wet bathroom. While the safety benefits are clear, the 320g PRCD plug does contribute additional bulk to the straightener, complicating travel with it, especially if one is restricted to a small luggage space. Moreover, Dyson advises that this plug is specific to the purchasing country, adding another layer of challenge.

With just five easy-to-use buttons, the Dyson Airstrait keeps things refreshingly simple and straightforward to master. A toggle on the back unlocks the plates, turning the baton-like device into a two-prong unit that tackles hair between the open, unlocked area. The front panel houses power, wet/dry mode selection, cool shot, airflow speed, and temperature controls. A clear Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen between the arm blades displays your chosen settings and even lets you know when the device is running its self-cleaning cycle.

Given that my fine, easily damaged back-length hair naturally tends to be quite straight and has low porosity, meaning it dries slowly, we tested the unit with either the lowest or second lowest heat setting (80°C or 110°C), combined with a high-speed setting to achieve a super straight look, before finishing things by switching to the cool mode to set the style. Those with low porosity hair might find the styling time slightly extended, but it remains considerably quicker than using a standard blow-dryer, followed by a straightener.

While the process of drying process required multiple passes to fully dry each section of hair, the entire process wrapped up in just 12 minutes, a significant time saver relative to the traditional hair dryer and flat iron routine. The results are consistently impressive as the hair feels soft and healthy post-use, showing no signs of heat damage or stress, especially with the device’s capability of handling sizeable amounts of hair smoothly without snagging. The straightener also features an innovative auto-pause function, which halts operation if no movement is detected for more than three seconds, which is ideal for multitaskers who might need to step away mid-style. Once movement resumes, so does the airflow, ensuring seamless operation.

The device comes with pre-set modes tailored for different hair types and conditions. The Wet and Dry modes are engineered with optimal heat and airflow settings to achieve the best results, while a Cool mode allows for setting the style in place. The airflow can be adjusted between low and high speeds, and users can select from temperature settings of 80°C, 110°C, and 140°C in wet mode, and 120°C or 140°C in dry mode. This variety ensures that even those with thin or damaged hair can find a gentle yet effective styling option. Considering most conventional straighteners can reach a scorching 230°C, the Airstrait’s focus on lower temperatures offers a potential pathway to healthier hair.

In operation, the Airstrait only activates its high-speed airflow when its arms are securely closed, straightening hair with air rather than heat, and then quiets down when the arms are opened, significantly reducing the risk of heat damage. This thoughtful design allows for healthier styling, ensuring that most hair can look sleek throughout the day with minimal thermal stress, especially in a humid climate such as Singapore.

Actual use aside though, a notable victory for many (and a testament to the efficacy of the Airstrait) would be the longevity of the styling. Impressively, my hair remained straight into the second day, a feat rarely achieved with other tools as it usually begins to wave after a night’s sleep. The finish is airy and natural, akin to a traditional straightener but with added volume and shine.

However, when tested on dry hair, the results were less remarkable. It primarily served to tame frizz and manage flyaways, without significantly altering the style or adding noticeable refinement. It’s also worth noting that the Airstrait does get fairly noisy when working with damp hair, registering around 72dB at its peak and 63dB at idle, which is louder than one might like, but still not as loud as a traditional hair dryer, which typically produces a noise level of around 80 to 90 dB. 

Price-wise, the Airstrait is a high-end investment but it’s important to remember that it replaces both your hairdryer and straightener, which may justify the cost for some. Plus, if you’re deeply invested in the Dyson ecosystem, getting the Airstrait actually works out cheaper than buying the Supersonic (S$699) and Corrale (S$749) separately. It even undercuts the Airwrap (S$859) in price, despite the latter’s inclusion of some straightening brushes among its six attachments.

Ultimately, the Airstrait excels for users with very specific needs, such as quickly and effectively straightening wavy to slightly curly hair, delivering glossy, natural-looking results that generally last throughout the day. While the Dyson Airstrait may not universally replace all other hair styling tools or traditional straighteners, especially for those with very curly or oily hair, it stands out as a device capable of streamlining the styling process for many. If your hair struggles with heat damage or you simply want a salon-quality finish with less fuss, the Airstrait literally gets straight to the point.

The Dyson Airstrait Straightener is available in two colours: Bright Nickel/Rich Copper and Prussian Blue/Rich Copper, for purchase on Dyson’s website and Shopee.