I have been in a deep, dedicated relationship with my straightening iron since I used to be 12. Beginning within the sixth grade, I might get up a full two hours earlier than I needed to depart for college to blow-dry and flat iron my pure curls till they have been silky easy. Although this course of has modified barely within the final 20 years, I would nonetheless estimate that I take advantage of my straightener for touch-ups or a full-styling at the very least 5 days per week, 9 months of the yr (I solely take a break in the summertime, when the humidity decides to work for my waves as an alternative of in opposition to them). And in case you do the maths, twenty years instances 5 days per week instances 39 weeks equals… a variety of injury.

I am a magnificence editor, positive, however even the typical individual is aware of that incessantly clamping your strands between two 450ºF plates is a recipe for catastrophe. And for me, this created a vicious cycle: The one method to maintain my hair from trying as dry and frayed because it really was was to straighten it into submission… and repeat the method advert nauseam. I’ve tried numerous blowdryers and better-for-your-hair sizzling brushes, however none of them gave me the silky easy strands I wished.

So once I received my palms on Dyson’s newest launch, the Dyson Airstrait ($499), I used to be each elated and skeptical. The device guarantees to take your hair from moist to straight in a matter of minutes with out damaging it within the course of—which actually sounded too good to be true. Although I have been a longtime consumer of the Dyson Supersonic Blowdryer, I am not a fan of the model’s AirWrap styler or Corrale straightener for my explicit hair wants (I’ve discovered that AirWrap’s curls do not maintain in my hair and that the Corrale is heavy and annoying to make use of), so I used to be uncertain about how properly this new machine would ship. Nevertheless it’s now been in my possession for 2 weeks and—shock of all shocks, to me specifically—I have not touched my blow-dryer or straightener since.

How the Dyson Airstrait works

In case you’re conversant in Dyson’s hair instruments, you understand that the model’s whole factor is making merchandise that will not compromise the well being of your hair. The Airstrait isn’t any totally different. Not like a standard straightening iron, which makes use of a set of sizzling plates, the Airstrait makes use of “exact directional airflow” to dry and easy your strands.

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To get a little bit science-y for a second, altering your coiffure requires breaking the hydrogen bonds inside your strands after which resetting them into the brand new form, which is usually executed with warmth. When your hair is moist, it is simpler to control these bonds, so you may form them to the shape your liking (on this case, straight) with out utilizing excessive temperatures.

“Through the use of the optimum stage of warmth and managed airflow, we’ve discovered a method to model hair with much less injury,” the Dyson staff shared in a press launch. “Styling with air permits for the creation of straight kinds while sustaining quantity and motion. As soon as hair is dry and aligned, the bonds are reset in several methods, locking the brand new model in place.”

The device is supplied with a Hyperdymium™ motor that’s—no joke—sooner than {most professional} race automotive engines, which shoots out temperature-controlled air at a 45-degree angle to dry and straighten your hair in a single fell swoop.

Utilizing the Dyson Airstrait

As you could have gleaned, the Airstrait is mainly a blowdryer-straightener hybrid—and appears like precisely that. When it is within the locked place, it capabilities as a standard blowdryer and mainly blasts (very intense, not so sizzling) air onto your strands. And when it is unlocked, it seems like a straightening iron (that means you could open it up and place a bit of hair between the 2 arms), however options jets the place the plates would usually be.

It is geared up with an LED display that makes it straightforward to modify between the device’s modes and airspeeds. There is a ‘Moist’ styling mode, which has three warmth settings (175°F, 230°F, and 285°F); a ‘Dry’ styling mode that has two warmth settings (250°F or 285°F, which, you will discover are a lot decrease than the 450°F temps most conventional straighteners high out at); and a ‘Cool’ mode that will help you set your model. There’s additionally a root drying mode and a chilly shot mode, in addition to choices for low-flow and high-flow air strain.

The model claims that the device works on all hair sorts, and primarily based on what I’ve seen on social media, that rings true. I’ve 4A waves, that are fairly straightforward to straighten usually (at the very least, with an iron), so I had excessive hopes about what the AirStrait would do for my particular person strands. On curlier and kinkier textures, you will nonetheless get a straightening and smoothing impact, however it might require a bit extra time and legwork.

@beingcrystalnicolee scared was an understatement | attempting the brand new dyson airstrait #type4 #dysonairstrait #dyson #naturalhair #fyp ♬ authentic sound – CRYSTAL NICOLE

My Dyson Airstrait evaluation

I assumed there could be some type of a studying curve the primary time I used the AirStrait, however frankly, this factor is pretty idiot-proof (and I say this as somebody who nonetheless does not know how one can correctly use a curling iron).

If you flip it on, it goes by a 10-second cleansing course of to make sure the vents aren’t clogged with any dust and particles, which the model says is a useful step in guaranteeing the device capabilities correctly for so long as attainable (whenever you’re spending $500 on something, you don’t need it to crap out after six months, so I admire the thoughtfulness of this inclusion).

TikTok informed me I ought to tough dry my hair—notably the roots—earlier than trying to straighten it, so I blasted my strands with the dryer on moist mode and within the locked place till it was about 50 p.c dry. Then, as directed, I took a small part of my hair between the jets, guaranteeing that the airflow was pointed down (this, apparently, is actually vital). I moved the device s-l-o-w-l-y from root to finish, and after a single cross it was completely dry, straight, and easy.

As I labored by the remainder of my head, there have been a number of issues that struck me concerning the device. For starters, there wasn’t a single whiff of the everyday burning hair scent that I would turn into so used to in any case these years of flat ironing. I additionally cherished that the device did not pull on my hair because it straightened, as a result of I do know that sort of stress can create extra injury. And in contrast to the AirWrap, the machine goes to sleep after 3 seconds of inactivity, which meant that I might set it down on my desk between passes and never fear about it blowing all the pieces everywhere (FWIW, it turns again on instantly whenever you wish to use it once more—all it’s a must to do is shut it round your hair).

It usually takes me a half an hour to blow-dry and straighten my hair, however this course of took—and this isn’t an exaggeration, as a result of I timed it—seven minutes from begin to end. To say I used to be blown away could be an understatement. In all my years of working in magnificence (and in all of the years earlier than that of utilizing magnificence merchandise), I’ve by no means, ever skilled a product this game-changing. I am hesitant to inform anybody that they want a $500 sizzling device, however in case you’re trying to save time and mitigate injury in your styling routine, the Airstrait is a worthy funding.

@zoeweinerrr I attempted the #dysonairstrait ♬ authentic sound – Zoe Weiner