In the world of hair tools, Dyson takes the lead for innovation. The Supersonic hair dryer, Airwrap, and Corrale Straightener are all game-changers in their own right, and what the brand’s latest launch—the Airstrait wet-to-dry flatiron—can do is pretty remarkable. It’s essentially a giant straightener meant to style hair from just-washed to dry—except it does this with hot air rather than hot plates. The new tech is intended to simplify your routine, giving you smooth, straight hair in less time—and without the heat damage traditionally associated with blow-dryers and flatirons. But like its peers, it’s priced at a substantial $500.
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We know what you’re thinking: From wet hair to straight without the crackle and frizz? What kind of sorcery is this? Hear us out: The possibility is in the design. The Airstrait has the same motor as the brand’s Supersonic and its Airwrap; however, there are no hot plates—just vented ones that allow hot air to flow through, reaching a maximum temperature of 320°F.
Here’s how the device actually works: When you turn it on, you can choose between a wet or a dry mode; the tool will operate at different temperatures for each. In wet mode, you can style and dry your hair at 175°F, 230°F, or 285°F, depending on your hair type and texture. In dry mode, on the other hand, you can bump up the temp and style at 250°F or 285°F. There’s also a boost option at 320°F for smoothing out any creases or dents that could develop on dry hair. Like the Corrale, the Airstrait has a lock feature and a small LCD screen to show the temperature settings as you toggle through.
In addition to the wet and dry modes, there’s also a rough-dry setting, which allows you to hold the plates close enough together that they lock in place—ideal if you retain more water in your roots, as curlier hair textures do.
Dyson promises the same versatility for the Airstrait that it does for its other tools, claiming to have designed a wet-to-dry straightener suitable for all hair types; however, it’s no secret that textured hair types require more heat than fine or straight hair in order to fully dry and remain straight. Since its May 2023 launch, the device has received mixed reviews online and across social media, which is why we were keen on putting it to the test ourselves.
We tapped three curly-haired staffers to try styling their hair from wet to dry with the Airstrait—read their honest takes on the $500 tool, below.
Brie Schwartz, commerce director
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When I bought the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer for myself two Christmases ago, I felt like I was cheating on my mother. She was a hairdresser, and prior to the purchase I had always used her pro salon blower, but it was quite heavy and on the brink, so I was ready to see what all the Dyson hype was about (and if I’m being honest, embarrassingly, I thought I was buying the viral Airwrap). With all due respect to my mother’s cherished tools, I’ve never looked back. It dries my fine curly hair in minutes and has the weight of a travel dryer. When the new Airstrait came on the market, I was cautiously optimistic.
Could it dry my overly flatironed hair as well as my beloved Supersonic does, but without the heat damage? The answer is unequivocally yes but with a few small caveats. The first time I tried it, I hadn’t sufficiently towel-dried, and it took a ton of (heavy) passes to remove the moisture. I wasn’t convinced this was “it.” However, on the second go, I air-dried long enough that I was able to go from damp to perfectly straight in 2 minutes 47 seconds (really, I timed it), and I began to understand the virtues.
It doesn’t get close to the scalp unless you rough-dry, as the brand recommends, which created frizz for me, so I still have to go over my roots with the Supersonic and a paddle brush to smooth them out. And the clamping made my hair look less finished and flatter than using a traditional dryer and a brush. But my hair did feel healthier—and there was no burning smell, which is always a plus.
Ultimately, I didn’t inherit my mother’s knack for coiffing, so I’ve never been able to give myself a good enough blowout that I don’t have to go over it with a flatiron regardless of the first step, so it doesn’t bother me at all that I wouldn’t run out the door after using the Airstrait alone, and I appreciate that this tool at least cuts down on some of the heat damage I subject myself to. While I think it’s truly the perfect device for folks with naturally straight or wavy hair, I was genuinely impressed by how fantastic it worked on my curls–and without me having to crank it up to 400 degrees, like I usually do (I know, I know). It’s given my Supersonic a run for its money.
Leilani McQuay, commerce producer
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This sleek and high-quality tool is truly a game changer. Its ergonomic design makes it a breeze to hold and maneuver while styling your hair. One of the standout features is its two style functions, catering to both wet and dry hair. I opted for the wet-to-dry setting, which completely transformed my thick, wavy hair in just 20 minutes. The best part? The plates gilded effortlessly through my hair, ensuring a snag-free and damage-free styling experience. Now, let’s get real about the results. It did an impressive job of taming my frizz and reducing unwanted curls. However, there were a couple of trade-offs to consider. My hair did lose some of its natural movement and flexibility, which resulted in a slightly stiffer feel. As the day went on, my natural curls started to make a comeback, which was a bit disappointing. Overall, I found that the Dyson Airstrait delivered satisfactory results.
Andrea Navarro, commerce writer
I was so excited to try this tool considering I’m obsessed with my Dyson Supersonic. Since I really wanted to put it to the test, I opted to use it in wet mode after washing and conditioning my hair. I applied Color Wow’s Dreamcoat onto my wet hair, separated it into four sections, and worked from the back to the front. Since my curls are on the tighter side, it’s crucial that my roots dry first, so I was happy to learn about the rough-dry option, where I lock it in place and let the air do its thing. I worked it on my roots for about two minutes in the first section and then I proceeded to unlock it so I can pass it through normally. After about 10 minutes, the first section of my hair was super straight, and I was honestly shocked. I expected it to be straight, but not that straight. As I worked it through the rest of my head, it took about an hour for my hair to fully dry with it (the temperatures are lower than a regular blow-dryer, so no surprise here). The bottom line is that it works and delivers what it promises, especially since I’m used to drying my hair at much hotter temperatures. Since then, I’ve tried it on dry hair and really love the final result. My hair’s a lot smoother and more pin-straight than it would be after a regular blow-dryer touch-up.”
