Welcome to Earn The Nod, a recurring series where The Nod’s editors test-drive the products that everyone (and their algorithm) is talking about—and tell you, plainly, if they’re worth it. That Pepto-pink serum flooding your feed? We put it on our faces. The “perfect” pants? We wore them all week. The new wellness thing that promises to change your life? We tried it so you don’t waste your paycheck on placebo. And if they manage to impress us? Well, that’s how they earn the nod.
When Dyson launched the original Airwrap in 2018, it instantly became a phenomenon—a hairstyling tool so good it could almost justify its near-absurd price tag. The all-in-one gadget curled, smoothed, and volumised—all without frying your hair to a crisp. For years, it’s been the gold standard for at-home styling, promising salon-level results with minimal heat damage and cutting down styling time drastically.
Now, enter the Airwrap i.d.—a sleeker, smarter update that remembers your hair type and styling preferences. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and works with the MyDyson app to recommend personalised settings based on your hair profile. If the original was bells and whistles, this one is bells, whistles, and Wi-Fi. On paper, it’s a glam team that lives in your appliance drawer.
But can smarter tech actually lead to better hair days? Three members of The Nod team—each with very different hair types and styling goals—took the new tool for a spin with varying levels of success. Here’s what they had to say.
Diya Parakh, social media editor
“I have naturally curly-ish, thick hair that tends to get pretty frizzy on top. When I got the chance to try out Dyson’s Airwrap i.d., I was really excited to test the Conical Airwrap barrel and see if the curls would hold.
After washing and conditioning, I applied some serum and used the Fast Dryer on high heat. It dried my hair to about 80 per cent in just five minutes, which was impressive. I also tried the Dryer+Flyaway Smoother on top, which helped tame the frizz. Next, I used the Soft Smoothing Brush to reduce volume but didn’t notice a huge difference. After setting up my hair profile on the MyDyson app, I followed the recommended curling routine: low-speed, cool setting, with timed wraps for each curl. The process was easy and fun, and the curls looked great initially but loosened pretty quickly. I sprayed some hairspray and put my hair in a bun overnight, but by morning, the curls had mostly opened, and the frizz was very much back.
I wasn’t totally surprised; I had heard from friends with similar hair that the Dyson didn’t always work for them, especially during monsoon (aka every hair type’s worst nightmare). Long story short, I had a lot of fun trying it out, but I think my hair might just need something a bit stronger when it comes to styling.”
Butool Jamal, fashion editor
“Until now, my thick, straight-ish, shoulder-length hair only got treated to the occasional professional blow-dry, so learning to use the Dyson Airwrap i.d. multi-styler was a process. After spending an hour immersed in tutorial videos, figuring out all the attachments, and installing the MyDyson app, I felt ready to fight the frizz.
Over two weeks, I tried both straightening and curling my hair, with mixed results. My attempts at smoothing with the Coanda Smoother and Soft Smoothing Brush weren’t as sleek as I hoped but definitely better than the triangle of hair I usually get after a DIY blow-dry. I had better luck leaning into my hair’s natural texture with big, bouncy waves or mid-size curls using the Coanda Smoothing Dryer and the Airwrap barrels, which let you curl in both directions for a more natural result. The app recommended five seconds of heat on each section followed by a cool shot to set the curl.
The whole routine took about 40 minutes, since I had to keep the sections small for the barrels to grip properly. The results were bouncy without being too voluminous, and while the curls softened over time, they lasted about two days.
Maybe the Airwrap is just better for curling than straightening—or maybe I just got better at using it with time. For now, though, spending 40 minutes on my hair when I’m usually racing out the door seems unlikely, even for something as fun as the Dyson.”
Ruhi Gilder, audience growth analyst
“Relatively straight, frizzy in parts, and unwilling to cooperate with any tools—that’s how I’d define my hair. I’m constantly fidgeting with it (which doesn’t help the frizz) and always looking for something that can tame it. So, when I got hold of the Airwrap i.d., the first thing I wanted to try was the Flyaway Smoother.
I don’t usually use heat tools every day—my go-to has been the Dyson Smoothing Brush from the older model I bought in 2020—so I was most intrigued by the new (and slightly intimidating-looking) Flyaway Smoother attachment. Armed with the instruction manual (which I read at least three times), I set out to tame the frizz.
Once I got the hang of it, the attachment was easy to use—it throws out warm air to help hide flyaways and breakage. I got a pretty sleek look, but it only lasted a couple of hours. I also didn’t get the same sense of satisfaction I do with the Soft Smoothing Brush, which works better and longer on my thick hair. The Flyaway Smoother feels like a good quick-fix if you’re heading out for the night and want freshly washed hair to behave—but in Mumbai’s humidity, you’ll need extra-strength serum and probably a follow-up with the brush anyway.”
So, does the Airwrap i.d. earn the nod?
In terms of innovation, ease of use, and sheer fun, absolutely. For frizz-prone hair in humid weather? It’s not a miracle worker unless you’re using a leave-in treatment or serum. However, it’s still one of the smartest tools on the shelf, especially if you’re curl-curious, tech-savvy, and willing to spend some quality time in front of the mirror.
