Dyson Airstrait Reviews: What Published Testers and Owners Report

This page is a summary of other people's experiences, not ours. We haven't used the Airstrait. Below is what four publications that did use it reported, plus what Amazon owners say, with links so you can read each one in full.

The verdict by hair type

Pulled together from the reviews cited below. The verdict is our opinion, based on their findings.

What the Dyson Airstrait is (and what's in the box)

The Airstrait is a straightener with no hot plates. Two arms blow heated air down through a section of hair as you glide, so it dries and straightens at once. Dyson's Amazon listing says it takes hair "from wet to a finished look – with one machine," and the "no heat damage" claim carries the brand's own footnote: "When used in wet to dry mode."

From the reviews:

• Two modes. Wet mode for drying and straightening; dry mode for touch-ups between washes.
• Heat settings. Reviewed lists 175°F, 230°F or 285°F in wet mode and 250°F or 285°F in dry mode. A traditional flat iron often goes far higher.
• Two airflow speeds and a cool shot. The listing says airflow automatically drops to low when there's no hair between the arms.
• Passes. Dyson says you'll need one to three passes per section depending on hair type, according to Reviewed.

In the box, per the listing: the Airstrait and a non-slip heat mat. Expert Reviews notes there's no case or travel bag. The Amazon listing doesn't state the warranty length, so check the card in the box and register it with Dyson.

What published testers report

PureWow: four editors, four hair types

PureWow's Chelsea Candelario had four editors use it, and their times show how much hair type matters:

• Fine, wavy hair (Rachel Bowie): 20 minutes on wet hair. Her take: "With some more practice, I think it could really be perfect for daily use."
• Fine, high-porosity hair (Olivia Dubyak): 25 minutes wet. She found it hard to get through wet hair and to reach the roots, and said it would be hard for anyone with neck or shoulder problems to use because of the weight.
• Thick, curly-wavy, dry hair (Destinee Scott): about an hour wet. "It does work, but on most days, you'll likely opt for a lightweight and silent flat iron instead."
• Thick, curly, color-treated hair (Candelario): an hour wet. Cons: heavy, super loud.

Reviewed: works on curly hair, but slowly

Rachel Dube at Reviewed, who has curly hair, needed several passes per section. She liked that it didn't crisp or singe her wet hair, and found the finish more voluminous, "similar to a blow-dryer versus a typical straightener." She'd still reach for a Dyson Airwrap for curls or a blowout.

Expert Reviews: a strong buy for one kind of person

Sarah Matthews at Expert Reviews, who has thick hair, called it "a unique, effective and powerful hair styling tool" and found it very effective on wet hair. Her complaints: the price, no storage case, a massive plug, and a plastic casing that "feels much lower quality" than other Dyson tools. She recommends it most for people who dry and straighten curly or coily hair after every wash.

Bustle: roots that stayed wavy

In a 2026 review of Shark's rival tool, Bustle's Emma Stout, who has waist-length 3A curls, wrote that the Airstrait got her ends sleek but left a stubborn wave at the roots.

What owners report

Owner reviews on the Dyson Airstrait Amazon listing averaged 4.2 stars from about 450 ratings when we checked. Amazon's AI-generated summary of those reviews says:

• Owners find it effective, and several say it goes from wet to dry in under 10 minutes, about 15 minutes faster than their usual blow-dry.
• They like the lower heat settings and say it leaves hair smooth and less frizzy.
• Value is the split. Of the reviews that mention value for money, more were negative than positive. Some call it "well worth the investment," others "not worth the hype."
• At least one owner reports it stopped working within about a month.

Owners' times are much shorter than PureWow's thick-hair times. That gap is mostly hair type and practice: people who keep it tend to have hair it suits.

Common complaints, in one list

1. Weight. The most repeated complaint across PureWow's four editors and Expert Reviews.
2. Noise. "Super loud" and "loud" both come up at PureWow; it's a dryer as well as a straightener.
3. Time on thick or curly hair. Up to an hour wet for PureWow's thick-haired testers.
4. Roots. Reaching the roots on wet hair is harder than with a brush and dryer.
5. No case, bulky plug, plastic feel. From Expert Reviews.
6. The price, which every reviewer mentions.

Dyson Airstrait refurbished: is it a smart way in?

Refurbished is a reasonable way to lower the cost, as long as you buy from the right place. Dyson sells refurbished hair tools through its own outlet, and Amazon.com sometimes has open-box Airstraits sold by Amazon Resale. Read the warranty and return terms on the page before you buy. Avoid third-party sellers you don't recognize. If it isn't sold by Dyson, Amazon.com or a major retailer, you may not get any warranty support.

Picks that help

Dyson Airstrait Straightener

Best for: straight to wavy or medium-thick hair you'd otherwise blow-dry and then flat-iron after every wash.

• Dries and straightens in one step, with no hot plates; the "no heat damage" claim applies in wet-to-dry mode, per Dyson.
• Comes with a non-slip heat mat; the airflow drops automatically between passes.
• Keep in mind: testers found it heavy and loud, and slow on thick, curly hair.

Check price on Amazon

Shark SilkiPro Air Straightener & Blow Dryer (HT400)

Best for: textured hair that needs help at the roots, if you want a wet-to-dry tool for less.

• Combines airflow with lightly heated ceramic plates, plus three clip-on combs (wide-tooth, precision and gentle), per Shark's listing.
• Bustle's Emma Stout, who has thick 3A curls, said its combs smoothed the roots the Airstrait left wavy. She also had a salon demo before using it at home.
• Keep in mind: it uses heated plates, unlike the Airstrait, and Stout warns that dry mode gets hot.

Check price on Amazon

BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic 1" Styling Iron

Best for: fine or wavy hair that air-dries quickly, and anyone who'd rather keep a light, quiet flat iron.

• BaBylissPRO says the porcelain ceramic plates "deliver even heat without hot spots," with adjustable heat up to 450°F.
• It's the "lightweight and silent flat iron" route that PureWow's Destinee Scott said she'd reach for most days.
• Keep in mind: it's for dry hair only, so you'll still need a dryer. Keep the heat low: the AAD recommends a low or medium setting.

Check price on Amazon

FAQs

Is the Dyson Airstrait worth it?

It is for people with straight to wavy or medium-thick hair who blow-dry and flat-iron after every wash, because it does both jobs at once. It's harder to justify for tight curls, very fine hair that dries in minutes, or anyone bothered by a heavy, loud tool.

Does the Dyson Airstrait work on curly hair?

Yes, but slowly. Reviewed's curly-haired tester needed several passes, PureWow's thick-curly testers took about an hour, and Bustle's 3A-curl reviewer was left with wavy roots. Expert Reviews still rates it highly for people who straighten curly hair every wash.

Is the Dyson Airstrait better than a flat iron?

It's different. It skips the separate blow-dry and uses lower heat, but it's heavier and louder, and it doesn't give the same sleek, pin-straight finish on curly roots. A flat iron on a low setting, used on dry hair, is the lighter and faster option for touch-ups. Our ceramic vs titanium guide covers how to choose one.

Is the Airstrait heavy?

Most testers thought so. "Heavy" is a con for all four PureWow editors, and Expert Reviews found it harder to maneuver than a normal straightener.

Can the Dyson Airstrait curl hair?

No. Expert Reviews notes it can't create curls or waves. If you want one tool for straight and curly styles, a multi-styler or a regular flat iron is more versatile.

Should I buy a Dyson Airstrait refurbished?

It can be a good way in if it comes from Dyson's own outlet or is sold by Amazon.com, and you've read the warranty and return terms. Skip unknown third-party sellers.

If it would replace two tools you use after every wash, the Airstrait makes sense. If not, a good flat iron and some patience do the job.