By Jia Lissa 
Earlier this month, Dyson, a company renowned for its disruptive approach to household appliances and personal care technology, unveiled its latest innovation: the Airsmooth Styling Dryer Brush. This new device is engineered to transition wet hair into a bouncy, voluminous blowout with remarkable ease. However, its introduction has been met with a spectrum of reactions, from initial skepticism to enthusiastic endorsements, particularly from communities that have historically felt underserved by the brand’s product offerings. The launch followed a pre-release demonstration that showcased its efficacy on tightly curled hair, a clip that, while generating significant buzz, also prompted questions about its necessity in the wake of Dyson’s highly successful Airwrap styler, which already features two brush attachments designed for drying and styling.
The genesis of the Airsmooth can be traced to Dyson’s commitment to continuous product development and addressing specific consumer needs. Kavya Nair, a Dyson designer based in Singapore, elaborated on the brand’s strategic objectives. "We recognized a desire for a more travel-friendly, standalone solution for wet-to-dry styling," Nair stated. The choice to focus on a brush format was multifaceted. Blow-dry brushes represent one of the largest market segments within the hot tools category, indicating a broad consumer base. Furthermore, the Smoothing Brush and Round Brush attachments for the Airwrap consistently rank among the most popular, suggesting a strong user preference for this styling method. Crucially, Dyson did not previously offer a dedicated blow-dry brush, presenting a clear market opportunity.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Airsmooth’s development, especially in light of the initial mixed feedback, is Dyson’s intention to cater more effectively to the textured hair community. Nair explained, "One of the key things that we wanted to solve, or attempt to solve, is the fact that our products, essentially, weren’t giving the performance that a lot of 3T [curly-haired] and 4T [coily-haired] users desired." Despite a somewhat bumpy pre-launch reception, the device has since garnered significant positive feedback from individuals with tighter curl patterns, including several emphatic endorsements that have surfaced online. This shift in perception underscores the importance of targeted innovation and addressing the nuanced needs of diverse hair types.
Dyson’s entry into the blow-dry brush market with the Airsmooth prompts a critical examination: is this a standalone game-changer, or an incremental addition to an already impressive lineup? This article delves into the design philosophy, technological advancements, and user experiences across a range of hair types to provide a comprehensive assessment of the Dyson Airsmooth.
The Design and Technological Innovations of the Airsmooth
At first glance, the Dyson Airsmooth might appear similar to many other blow-dry brushes on the market. It is lightweight and designed for comfortable handling. However, a closer inspection reveals key differentiators, most notably its distinctive teardrop-shaped brush head. This design choice is deliberate, with the narrower edge engineered to provide enhanced access to the hair roots, facilitating more efficient drying and styling from the scalp downwards. The flatter sides are optimized for smoothing and straightening.
Beyond the ergonomic design, the most significant technological leap lies in the bristles. Unlike conventional brushes that often feature ball-tipped ends, the Airsmooth employs two distinct types of bristles: AntiSnag and PivotFlex. These innovations are a direct response to user feedback regarding hair breakage and scalp discomfort, issues frequently reported by individuals with finer, thinner hair, as well as coily hair types.
Nair explained the rationale behind the AntiSnag bristles, which are also found on the Airwrap’s Anti-Snag Loop Brush attachment. "The AntiSnag bristles, with their looped structure, are designed to flex and release knots around the bristles, as opposed to catching and breaking them," she stated. This design minimizes the tearing and pulling that can lead to breakage, a common complaint with traditional brushes.
Complementing the AntiSnag bristles are the Eiffel Tower-shaped PivotFlex bristles. These are thinner and possess a remarkable flexibility, capable of bending up to 90 degrees. "The PivotFlex bristles adapt to the type of hair you have to release tangles without actually putting a lot of force on your hair to release them," Nair elaborated. This adaptive capability is crucial for accommodating the varying needs of different hair textures. Furthermore, these bristles feature an open-base design that aids in diffusing airflow, which in turn helps to minimize frizz and enhance shine.
The development of these specialized bristles represents a significant investment in user-centric engineering. Dyson’s research identified that ball-tipped bristles, while seemingly innocuous, could act as a point of friction, snagging on knots and causing damage. The Airsmooth’s bristle configuration aims to circumvent this by allowing for smoother passage through the hair, reducing tension and potential for breakage.
Addressing the "Why Not an Airwrap Attachment?" Question
A common query surrounding the Airsmooth is its existence as a standalone product, rather than an integrated attachment for the Dyson Airwrap. The Airwrap, often described as a "salon in a box," is a multi-functional styler with a comprehensive suite of attachments for various styling needs. The Airsmooth, by contrast, is positioned as a specialized tool.
Nair clarified this strategic decision: "The goal was to bring wet-to-dry styling capability to a hot brush that people can take with them on the go." The Airsmooth is designed to be more convenient, potentially more affordable than the full Airwrap system, and notably more travel-friendly. While the Airwrap itself is not excessively heavy, its reliance on a powerful motor means that each unit is voltage-specific to its region of purchase. This renders an American Airwrap unusable in a European hotel room without a substantial voltage converter.
The Airsmooth, being a less power-intensive device, bypasses this limitation. "As the flagship product for wet-to-dry styling, I like to call [the Airwrap] a ‘salon in a box’," Nair commented, contrasting it with the Airsmooth. "The Airsmooth works anywhere in the world, provided you have an adapter for the plug." This feature makes it an attractive option for frequent international travelers who desire consistent styling results without the hassle of regional voltage compatibility issues.
Who is the Dyson Airsmooth For?
The Dyson Airsmooth is engineered to cater to a broad audience, but its performance characteristics create a nuanced user profile. Dyson’s marketing and expert endorsements suggest that individuals with medium to thick wavy hair (Type 2 and Type 3 curls) are most likely to achieve the desired bouncy, Instagram-ready blowouts.
Matt Collins, a Los Angeles-based professional hairstylist and global styling ambassador for Dyson, observed, "When working on these hair types, I really noticed the super-smooth blowout with not much work, and they were getting this beautiful flip and bounciness." This indicates that for hair types with inherent body and wave, the Airsmooth excels at enhancing natural texture and providing a polished finish.
However, the tool’s utility extends beyond this primary demographic. For individuals with coily hair types (Type 4), the Airsmooth offers significant benefits, albeit with adjusted expectations. Collins noted, "Coily hair types are not going to get a silk press out of it, but results somewhere between ‘fluffy blowout’ and ‘stretched length’ are achievable." This suggests that while it may not provide the ultra-straight finish of a professional silk press, it can effectively stretch and smooth coily textures, reducing drying time and imparting a softer appearance.
Cataanda James, a New York City-based hairstylist, echoed this sentiment, advising users with Type 4 hair to work in small sections and utilize appropriate styling products. "If you are the girly that loves a fluffy blowout, it will cut back on drying time," James stated. "Once you get the technique down, you can probably do it in a one-and-done." This highlights the importance of technique and product selection in maximizing the Airsmooth’s effectiveness on textured hair.
For individuals with finer, thinner hair, the Airsmooth may not deliver the dramatic "blow-dry flip" often associated with more robust styling. Collins suggested, "They would have to work it like crazy with a round brush to get that flip anyway." While it can serve as an efficient general hair-dryer for these hair types, stylists like Carlyn Griscti, also based in New York City, suggest that for achieving a supermodel-esque blowout on fine hair, alternative methods like rough-drying followed by a large-barrel curling iron might be more effective.
The consensus among experts is that the Airsmooth is a versatile tool, but its optimal performance is contingent on hair type, desired outcome, and user technique. It excels at providing a smooth, fast drying experience and a natural-looking blowout for a wide range of users, particularly those seeking to reduce drying time and achieve polished results without excessive heat or effort.
Allure Reviews: Real-World Performance Across Diverse Hair Types
To provide a comprehensive understanding of the Dyson Airsmooth’s capabilities, Allure editors and contributors put the device to the test on their own hair.
Eden Stuart, Contributing Writer (Short-medium length, coily, and thick hair)
Eden Stuart, who manages a mix of 4a-4c hair, initially approached the Airsmooth with skepticism, believing no air-dry brush could achieve a complete "silk press" for her hair type without a subsequent flatiron pass. However, her experience proved otherwise. "This device does make a significant difference in the first step toward a sleek finish, and can even send me off with a cute little blowout," she reported. Stuart found the tool intuitive and ergonomic, appreciating its ability to dry her roots quickly and efficiently, even when using larger sections than recommended. A key advantage for her was the absence of excessive heat, preventing the uncomfortable scalp burning often experienced with other heat styling tools. While it didn’t achieve a perfectly sleek "90s bob" in one go—a result she attributed partly to the barrel size for her shorter hair—it delivered a "cute, natural blowout." Stuart concluded that the $250 price tag was justified by the time saved and the quality of the resulting blowout, comparing it favorably to the time spent on a twist-out.
Jessica Cruel, Editor-in-Chief (Type 4 and very prone to shrinkage)
For Jessica Cruel, this was her inaugural experience with a blow-dry brush. She noted the familiar voluminous effect achieved by stylists using round brushes, a result she had previously shied away from due to concerns about tangling her coily hair. The Airsmooth’s smooth, flexible tines, a departure from traditional boar bristles, alleviated these worries. Cruel used smaller sections and focused on stretching the ends before addressing the roots, employing a technique that required some contortion. She found the resulting blowout to be fluffier and more voluminous than her typical Airwrap comb attachment results, although the process duration remained similar (45 minutes to an hour). She acknowledged the brush’s effectiveness in achieving necessary tension for smoothing coily hair but found it challenging to achieve perfectly smooth ends.
Sophia Panych, Content Director (Long, fine, and wavy hair)
Sophia Panych, whose hair is long, fine, highlighted, and prone to knots, has historically found hot brushes cumbersome and prone to snagging. Her initial encounter with the Airsmooth at a press preview was met with surprise at its ease of use. "I started using it and could not believe the ease with which it combed through my damp hair," she recalled. At home, she was able to achieve a sleek blowout in under 10 minutes, though she noted a lack of bounce. The tool’s narrow edge allowed for precise root styling, while the wider side facilitated adding a bend to the ends. A minor drawback was the amount of hair left on the brush, which she attributed either to shedding or the brush itself. Despite this, she expressed a strong desire to keep the sample for its efficiency and the polished look it provided.
Jesa Marie Calaor, Senior Beauty Editor (Long, thick, medium-coarse, and wavy hair)
Jesa Marie Calaor’s long, thick, and naturally wavy hair holds styles well, but she has found hot-air brushes often produce an "in-between" effect, failing to preserve natural waves or deliver a truly bouncy, polished look. Her primary interest in the Airsmooth stemmed from Dyson’s promises of faster drying and healthier hair. She prepped her hair with a moisture-sealing lotion and sectioned it into three parts. Using the highest heat setting, she found the teardrop shape and bristles facilitated easy root styling and tension application. As she became more comfortable, she increased her section size, maintaining the same effective smoothing. While she needed to manipulate the ends with her hands for a flipped effect, she found the process seamless and efficient, completing her entire head in under 15 minutes. The result was smooth hair with notable shine and movement. However, she expressed reservations about the $250 price point, suggesting her Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x Multi-Styler and Dryer provided a style she preferred, despite the Airsmooth’s superior speed.
Conclusion: A Significant Entry in the Styling Tool Market
The Dyson Airsmooth Styling Dryer Brush represents a calculated and well-executed addition to the personal care technology landscape. By leveraging innovative bristle technology and a thoughtfully designed brush head, Dyson has addressed common pain points associated with blow-dry brushes, particularly for textured hair types. The device’s ability to reduce drying time, minimize breakage, and deliver a smooth, voluminous blowout for a diverse range of users solidifies its position as a significant contender in the market. While its price point may be a consideration for some, the combination of advanced engineering, travel-friendliness, and effective styling performance makes the Airsmooth a compelling option for those seeking a dedicated, high-quality blow-dry solution. Its success in catering to previously underserved communities further underscores Dyson’s commitment to inclusive innovation.
