Explainer
Dyson Airwrap attachments explained
Published
Short answer
The Airwrap handle holds the motor and heater, and every attachment clicks onto it. Curl barrels wrap hair using airflow for curls and waves. The Coanda smoothing dryer dries and smooths. Smoothing brushes and the round volumizing brush give a blowout finish. Curly and coily editions add a diffuser and wide-tooth comb. The exact set depends on the edition, and Dyson sells many attachments separately.
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Dyson Airwrap i.d. Straight+Wavy: app-programmed curls
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Dyson Airwrap i.d. Curly+Coily: stretch and diffuse modes
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Dyson Airwrap Complete Long: V9 motor, 3 heat settings
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The Dyson Airwrap is one handle with a box of attachments, and the attachments are what make it a curler, a dryer or a blowout brush. Which ones you get depends on the edition you buy: Complete Long, Origin, i.d. or the newer Co-anda2x, and whether it is the straight and wavy or curly and coily version. This page is for anyone choosing an edition, adding to an Airwrap they already own, or wondering why a barrel is not curling. It explains each attachment type, what it is for, which hair it suits, and how buying attachments separately works.
How the attachments work with the handle
The handle contains the motor, heater, filter and controls. Dyson lists the Airwrap as powered by the Dyson digital motor V9, spinning at up to 110,000 rpm and generating 3.2 kPa of air pressure. Each attachment is a passive shape that directs that airflow. None of the barrels or brushes contain a motor, which is also why they do not spin.
The curl barrels and smoothing dryer rely on the Coanda effect: air leaving a slot tends to follow a nearby curved surface. On a barrel, that flow pulls a section of hair onto the barrel and wraps it. Read how the Dyson Airwrap works for the full explanation.
- 1Air slots along the barrel
- 2Airflow follows the curved surface (the Coanda effect)
- 3Barrel: set by air, so it runs cooler than a curling iron
- 4Hair: the section is drawn around the barrel and wraps itself
Each attachment and what it does
Barrel sizes are the 30 mm and 40 mm that Dyson publishes for its curl barrels. Barrels carry an arrow showing airflow direction. Newer barrels can switch direction so one barrel curls both ways; the Airwrap Origin listing describes clockwise and counterclockwise curls with one barrel.
Curl barrels, 30 mm (1.2 in)
- What it does
- Wraps hair with airflow for curls
- Best for
- Tighter curls, shorter to medium hair
Curl barrels, 40 mm (1.6 in)
- What it does
- Wraps hair for looser curls and waves
- Best for
- Loose waves, longer hair
Coanda smoothing dryer
- What it does
- Dries hair and smooths flyaways
- Best for
- Rough drying, finishing
Firm smoothing brush
- What it does
- Smooths with tension
- Best for
- Thick or coarse hair
Soft smoothing brush
- What it does
- Smooths with gentler bristles
- Best for
- Fine to medium hair
Round volumizing brush
- What it does
- Lifts roots and bends ends
- Best for
- Volume, blowouts
Diffuser
- What it does
- Spreads airflow for curl definition
- Best for
- Curly and coily hair
Wide-tooth comb
- What it does
- Stretches and smooths while drying
- Best for
- Curly and coily hair
Air straightener
- What it does
- Straightens with air between plates
- Best for
- Straight finish from damp hair
| Attachment | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Curl barrels, 30 mm (1.2 in) | Wraps hair with airflow for curls | Tighter curls, shorter to medium hair |
| Curl barrels, 40 mm (1.6 in) | Wraps hair for looser curls and waves | Loose waves, longer hair |
| Coanda smoothing dryer | Dries hair and smooths flyaways | Rough drying, finishing |
| Firm smoothing brush | Smooths with tension | Thick or coarse hair |
| Soft smoothing brush | Smooths with gentler bristles | Fine to medium hair |
| Round volumizing brush | Lifts roots and bends ends | Volume, blowouts |
| Diffuser | Spreads airflow for curl definition | Curly and coily hair |
| Wide-tooth comb | Stretches and smooths while drying | Curly and coily hair |
| Air straightener | Straightens with air between plates | Straight finish from damp hair |
What comes with each edition
Dyson changes kit contents over time, so always check the in-the-box list on the listing you buy from. Based on current listings in our guide:
- Airwrap Complete Long, straight to wavy: listed as 6-in-1, with long curl barrels, the Coanda smoothing dryer and smoothing and volumizing brushes.
- Airwrap Complete Long Diffuse, curly and coily: adds attachments for diffusing and stretching curly and coily hair.
- Airwrap Origin: a simpler set, listed with a 1.2 in barrel, round brush, Coanda smoothing dryer and flyaway attachment.
- Airwrap i.d.: listed as 6-in-1 in straight and wavy and curly and coily versions, with app-enabled settings through the MyDyson app.
- Airwrap Co-anda2x (2026 model): listed with re-engineered attachments including an Air straightener 2x.
Which attachments matter for your hair
If you mainly want curls and waves, the barrels are what you will use most. Shorter hair usually does better with the 30 mm barrel, and long hair with the 40 mm. If you want a smooth blowout, the smoothing dryer and a smoothing brush or round brush matter more than the barrels. Curly and coily hair benefits from the diffuser and wide-tooth comb in the curly editions, covered in Dyson Airwrap on curly hair.
Our styler finder suggests which tool and attachments usually fit your hair type, length and goal. For a model-by-model view, see Dyson Airwrap models explained.
Loose waves
- Attachments to use
- 40 mm barrels
Defined curls
- Attachments to use
- 30 mm barrels
Smooth blowout
- Attachments to use
- Smoothing dryer, then smoothing brush
Volume
- Attachments to use
- Round volumizing brush
Curl definition
- Attachments to use
- Diffuser
Stretch curly hair
- Attachments to use
- Wide-tooth comb
| Goal | Attachments to use |
|---|---|
| Loose waves | 40 mm barrels |
| Defined curls | 30 mm barrels |
| Smooth blowout | Smoothing dryer, then smoothing brush |
| Volume | Round volumizing brush |
| Curl definition | Diffuser |
| Stretch curly hair | Wide-tooth comb |
Buying attachments separately
Dyson sells many Airwrap attachments individually through its own store, so you can add a barrel size, a diffuser or a brush later. This is useful if you bought the Origin and later want a second barrel size, or if you want curly-hair attachments for a straight and wavy kit. Availability changes, and some new attachments are tied to specific handles, so check Dyson's compatibility notes for your model before ordering.
In the US the Airwrap is normally sold as a kit with attachments rather than as a bare handle. The Origin is the smaller, lower-priced kit with fewer pieces. Be wary of very cheap third-party attachments: they may not fit securely or seal the airflow the same way.
Caring for attachments
Brushes collect hair quickly. Pull it out after a few uses and wipe the attachments with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Keep water away from the handle. Steps are in how to clean a blow dryer brush, and the handle filter is covered in how to clean the Dyson Airwrap filter.
Frequently asked questions
Are Dyson Airwrap attachments sold separately? Yes, Dyson sells many individual attachments on its own store. Check compatibility with your handle before buying.
Can you buy a Dyson Airwrap without attachments? It is normally sold as a kit. The Airwrap Origin is a smaller set with fewer attachments and a lower price.
Which barrel size should I use? The 30 mm barrel gives tighter curls and suits shorter hair. The 40 mm barrel gives looser waves and suits longer hair. See how to use the Dyson Airwrap.
What does the round volumizing brush do? It lifts roots and bends the ends for a bouncy blowout, similar to a round hot air brush. See how to get root volume.
