Dyson's new Airwrap has launched– so does the Coanda 2x give the best hair of your life?

As a beauty journalist, I get to try a lot of hair gadgets, and very few create the kind of buzz the Dyson Airwrap does. It’s been a cult favourite since its first launch in 2018, promising to dry, curl, smooth and style without the extreme heat that leaves hair frazzled. It also happens to be the subject of my most-asked question: Is an Airwrap really worth buying?

This September, Dyson released the new Coanda 2x model (with a version for straight/wavy hair and one for curly/coily hair with a diffuser), which promises more power, refreshed attachments, and even smoother results. But does it live up to the hype and the hefty price tag? I put it to the test on my long but fine hair to share everything you need to know…

What’s different this time?

The big selling point of the Coanda 2x is its motor upgrade. This isn’t just a minor tweak; the motor is 30% more powerful, so the tool feels faster and more efficient at drying hair straight from the shower. The extra airflow (double the previous air pressure, to be exact) means less time with arms aching above your head, which instantly makes the styling process feel easier.

Dyson has also reworked the six attachments, with a new smoothing tool to tame flyaways (almost like an Airstrait attachment) and a redesigned brush that glides through hair with less snagging. The curling barrels now come with angled tips, which sounds like a tiny detail but actually makes gripping and twisting much smoother in practice.

And as with the older Airwraps, there’s still intelligent heat control that keeps the temperature in check, so you can style without worrying about damaging your hair over time.

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Price and who it’s for

There’s no way around it, this is an investment buy rather than a ‘I’ll just pick it up and give it a go’. At £579.99, it’s one of the priciest hair styling tools on the market, and that will put it out of reach for many. But if you’re someone who styles hair frequently, has a medium to long length to work with, and wants to cut down on both time and heat damage, it makes a strong case.

The size of the attachments may still feel bulky to those with very short or fine hair, which is worth considering.

Pros and cons at a glance Pros

• Faster, more powerful motor makes drying and styling noticeably quicker
• New smoothing tool and improved brush give a sleeker finish with fewer flyaways
• Curling barrels are easier to handle thanks to the updated design
• Heat control genuinely helps maintain healthier-looking hair

Cons

• Very expensive compared to other stylers
• Attachments can still feel oversized for shorter or finer hair
• Takes time to learn which tools and settings work best for your hair type
• The airflow curler attachment won’t offer a long-lasting curl for all hair types

My verdict

So, is the Dyson Airwrap Coanda 2x worth the splurge? For me, yes, but with caveats. If you don’t already own an Airwrap and you want one tool that can take you from damp hair to a polished blow-dry, loose waves or a sleek straight look, this is the best version yet. It’s faster, easier to use, and it gives the best pro-like blowdried finish I’ve experienced out of a hair salon– and without frying my strands.

What I love is the new Fast Dryer attachment, which genuinely turns the Airwrap into a proper hairdryer. It’s ideal for me because I want one tool that does everything, from drying to styling, so now I’ve got this. The new AirsSmooth also really helps to reduce my flyaways, and when I use it, my hair looks perfectly sleek.

Now, for my one caveat. I was hoping this upgraded Airwrap would mean my fine, polka-straight hair would be compatible with the Curling Barrel (arguably the main why the tool is so popular), but sadly, it still isn’t. No matter what I do – prep with the right products, dry from damp, set into pin curls, blast with cold air – they just won’t hold longer than 5 minutes without my hair reverting back to straight. So, if you know you have a hair type that needs a fair amount of heat to turn into a curl and stay in one, you may be disappointed, too.

Saying that, for the drying, the round brush and all the other attachments, it delivers on all of its promises, and I always get the most compliments on my hair when I’ve styled it with an Airwrap (mostly the Round Brush attachment).

So, if you already have an Airwrap and you’re comfortable with how it performs, the upgrade might not feel game-changing enough to justify the spend again. And if you’re more of a ‘wash and go’ person who rarely styles, you’ll never get the value out of such a big-ticket gadget. However, if you want an all-in-one tool that makes your hair salon swishy, you won’t regret buying it.

Looking for other hair tools to invest in? Check out our roundup of the 15 best hair straighteners on the market. Options include Remington Shine Therapy Straighteners and Beauty Works x Molly Mae Sleek and Shine Hair Straightener.