Fix
Dyson Airwrap not curling or curls falling out
Published
Short answer
Airwrap curls usually fail for a few fixable reasons: hair that is too wet or too dry, sections that are too thick, a barrel too large for your length, skipping the cold shot, or a clogged filter that weakens airflow. Style on damp, detangled hair, use 1 inch sections, hold each wrap several seconds, then cool it with the cold shot before releasing.
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The Airwrap uses airflow to wrap hair around its barrels, then heat and a blast of cool air to set the shape. When one part of that process is off, hair will not wrap, curls come out limp, or they drop within an hour. This page is for anyone whose Airwrap curls are not working as expected, including people with long hair who struggle with the ends. It covers the common causes in order of how often they happen, the step-by-step technique that tends to work best, and tips for long and fine hair.
Why the Airwrap is not curling: common causes
Check these in order. The first few are the most common and cost nothing to fix.
- 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
Hair too wet
- What you notice
- Hair wraps but curl is soft and drops
- Fix
- Dry to damp first with the dryer attachment
Hair fully dry and smooth
- What you notice
- Hair will not stay wrapped, curl is weak
- Fix
- Lightly mist the section or start on damp hair
Sections too thick
- What you notice
- Outer hair curls, inner hair stays straight
- Fix
- Use sections about 1 inch wide
Skipping the cold shot
- What you notice
- Curl looks good then falls out
- Fix
- Cool each wrap for several seconds before release
Barrel too large
- What you notice
- Loose bend instead of a curl
- Fix
- Try the 30 mm barrel for tighter curls
Clogged filter
- What you notice
- Weaker airflow, hair does not wrap
- Fix
- Clean the filter cage
Airflow too low
- What you notice
- Hair hangs instead of wrapping
- Fix
- Turn airflow up a step
Heavy product
- What you notice
- Curls weighed down
- Fix
- Use less, apply to damp hair before styling
| Cause | What you notice | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Hair too wet | Hair wraps but curl is soft and drops | Dry to damp first with the dryer attachment |
| Hair fully dry and smooth | Hair will not stay wrapped, curl is weak | Lightly mist the section or start on damp hair |
| Sections too thick | Outer hair curls, inner hair stays straight | Use sections about 1 inch wide |
| Skipping the cold shot | Curl looks good then falls out | Cool each wrap for several seconds before release |
| Barrel too large | Loose bend instead of a curl | Try the 30 mm barrel for tighter curls |
| Clogged filter | Weaker airflow, hair does not wrap | Clean the filter cage |
| Airflow too low | Hair hangs instead of wrapping | Turn airflow up a step |
| Heavy product | Curls weighed down | Use less, apply to damp hair before styling |
Get the dampness right
The Airwrap's curl barrels are designed for damp hair, not soaking wet hair. If hair is too wet, the barrel spends its time drying rather than shaping, and the curl sets weakly. Use the smoothing dryer or a hair dryer to take hair from wet to damp first. Dyson describes the Coanda smoothing dryer's pre-style mode as taking hair from wet to damp.
On the other side, completely dry, slippery hair can be hard to wrap and may not take a curl as well. If you are curling second-day hair, many people lightly mist each section with water before wrapping. Our Airwrap on wet or dry hair page explains how damp is damp enough.
Step-by-step curl technique
- 1
Detangle and dry hair to damp. Clip the top layers out of the way.
- 2
Take a section about 1 inch wide. Smaller sections give tighter, longer-lasting curls.
- 3
Pick the barrel direction. Alternate directions around the head for a natural look, or curl away from the face on the front sections.
- 4
Hold the barrel against the section a few inches from the root, pointing down along the hair, and let the airflow pull the hair around it. Guide stray ends on with your fingers.
- 5
Hold for several seconds on medium or high heat until the section is dry.
- 6
Press the cold shot and hold for several seconds. This is the step that sets the curl.
- 7
Slide the barrel down and out of the curl without pulling it.
- 8
Leave curls alone until your whole head is done and cool, then break them up with your fingers.
Note.Check the instructions for your edition. Barrel placement and the direction switch differ between the original and newer Airwraps.
Long hair: getting the ends to curl
On long hair, the ends often stay straight because they hang past the barrel or dry before they wrap. A few habits help. Use the long barrels if your edition has them, since they hold more hair along their length. Make sections narrower so the whole length fits. Guide the ends around the barrel with your fingers so they are not left flapping. Spend a few extra seconds on heat before the cold shot because there is more hair to dry.
If the ends still drop, wrap a second pass on just the lower half of the section. The 40 mm barrel gives looser waves and the 30 mm barrel gives tighter curls, so if your curls are falling into waves by lunchtime, try the smaller barrel. The hot air brush size guide explains how diameter changes the result.
Fine, straight or slippery hair
Fine and very straight hair often needs a bit more help to hold a curl. Use smaller sections, the smaller barrel, a full cold shot on each wrap, and a light styling product suitable for heat on damp hair. Let the curls cool fully, ideally pinned, before brushing them out. Lighter products work better than heavy creams, which can pull curls straight.
Also check the filter. A clogged filter cuts airflow, and the Coanda effect needs strong airflow to wrap hair. See how to clean the Dyson Airwrap filter.
When it might be the machine
If hair will not wrap at all on any setting, the filter is clean, and the machine sounds weak or cuts out, there may be a hardware issue. Check whether a light is flashing (see Airwrap flashing light), try a different wall outlet, and contact Dyson support if it continues.
If you have an older edition and want stronger curls, newer machines may help. Dyson lists the Airwrap Co-anda2x as having 2x the air pressure and stronger Coanda airflow for easier wrapping. Compare editions in our best Dyson Airwrap guide, or read how to use the Dyson Airwrap for the full routine.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my Airwrap curls fall out so fast? The usual reasons are skipping the cold shot, sections too thick, or hair too wet when you started. Cool each curl before releasing it.
Should I use the 30 mm or 40 mm barrel? The 30 mm barrel gives tighter curls that tend to last longer. The 40 mm barrel gives looser waves and volume.
Do I need product for Airwrap curls? Not always, but fine or slippery hair often holds better with a light heat styling product applied to damp hair.
Why won't hair wrap around the barrel? Airflow may be too low or the filter may be clogged. Turn airflow up and clean the filter.
