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Dyson Airwrap vs Supersonic: which one do you need

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Short answer

The Supersonic is a hair dryer: it dries fast and smooths with attachments, and you add a brush for styling. The Airwrap is a multi-styler: it dries, curls, waves and smooths using airflow and attachments, but most models dry more slowly than a dedicated dryer. If you want curls or a styled blowout from one tool, get the Airwrap. If you mainly want fast drying or diffused natural curls, get the Supersonic.

  • Dyson

    Dyson Airwrap Complete Long: V9 motor, 3 heat settings

    See price on Amazon
    See it on Amazon

  • Dyson

    Dyson Supersonic Origin: high-pressure airflow, magnetic nozzle

    See price on Amazon
    See it on Amazon

  • Dyson

    Dyson Supersonic Nural: scalp protect mode at 130°F

    See price on Amazon
    See it on Amazon

Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.

Verdict

Buy the Airwrap Complete Long if you want curls, waves or a styled blowout from one tool. Buy the Supersonic Origin if your main need is fast drying or diffused natural curls, or the Supersonic Nural if you also want scalp protect and attachment memory.

Dyson's two best-known hair tools look like they overlap, but they solve different problems. This page is for people who can only buy one, or who wonder if they need both. We compare the Airwrap Complete Long, the Supersonic Origin and the Supersonic Nural from their Amazon listings, then match each to hair types and routines. If you are new to air styling, how the Dyson Airwrap works explains the airflow first.

Styling tool versus dryer

The Dyson Supersonic is built to dry hair. The Supersonic Origin listing describes a small, powerful motor with Air Multiplier technology that produces a high-pressure, high-velocity jet of controlled air, plus heat control that measures air temperature over 40 times a second. You style with its attachments and, for a blowout, a round brush in your other hand.

The Dyson Airwrap is built to style. The Complete Long listing describes the Dyson digital motor V9 (up to 110,000 rpm, 3.2 kPa) creating the Coanda effect, which wraps hair around a curl barrel or holds it against a brush. It has three heat settings and three airflow speeds. It can dry hair too, with its dryer attachment, but it is designed around curling and shaping. Only the newer Airwrap Coanda 2x is listed with full hair dryer performance.

Air curl barrel seen from the end, with air leaving slots and hugging the barrel while a section of hair wraps around it1234
  1. 1Air slots along the barrel
  2. 2Airflow follows the curved surface (the Coanda effect)
  3. 3Barrel: set by air, so it runs cooler than a curling iron
  4. 4Hair: the section is drawn around the barrel and wraps itself
An air curl barrel seen from the end. Air leaving the slots follows the barrel's surface and pulls the hair around it.

Spec table

Prices are the Amazon listing prices at the time of writing. Both tools list negative ions to reduce static.

  • Tool type

    Airwrap Complete Long
    Multi-styler
    Supersonic Origin
    Hair dryer
    Supersonic Nural
    Hair dryer

  • Motor

    Airwrap Complete Long
    Dyson V9, up to 110,000 rpm, 3.2 kPa
    Supersonic Origin
    Small motor with Air Multiplier
    Supersonic Nural
    Not stated on listing

  • Heat control

    Airwrap Complete Long
    Measures airflow temp 40+ times a second
    Supersonic Origin
    Measures air temp 40+ times a second
    Supersonic Nural
    Scalp protect targets 130 F at scalp

  • Settings

    Airwrap Complete Long
    3 heat, 3 airflow
    Supersonic Origin
    Not stated on listing
    Supersonic Nural
    Capsule light shows heat setting

  • Curls hair by itself

    Airwrap Complete Long
    Yes, with curl barrels
    Supersonic Origin
    No
    Supersonic Nural
    No

  • Listed price

    Airwrap Complete Long
    $569.99
    Supersonic Origin
    $399.99
    Supersonic Nural
    $449.00
From the Amazon listings for each model

By hair type

Straight to wavy hair that you want curled or waved: the Airwrap is the stronger fit. The barrels give you curls without a separate curling iron, and the brushes handle a smooth finish. The Complete Long kit is aimed at long hair.

Fine hair: both work. The Airwrap's round brush lifts roots, and the Supersonic's lower heat settings suit fine hair. Fine hair often needs smaller sections and a cool shot for curls to hold.

Thick hair: the Supersonic dries faster and suits rough drying a lot of hair. Many people with thick hair rough dry with a dryer and then style with the Airwrap, which is why some own both.

Curly and coily hair: the Supersonic with a diffuser is the simpler tool for defined natural curls. Dyson also sells an Airwrap kit for curly and coily hair, the Complete Long Diffuse, if you also want to stretch or style.

Match a tool to your hair →

By routine

Think about what you do most mornings. If you wash, rough dry and go, the Supersonic is faster and easier. If you wash, dry and then spend time curling or shaping, the Airwrap replaces two or three tools. If you mostly air dry and only style on weekends, the Airwrap may be the only hot tool you need.

Drying time matters. A dedicated dryer usually takes hair from wet to dry faster than a styler. Many Airwrap users rough dry with the dryer attachment or a separate dryer first, then use the barrels on damp hair. Our Airwrap on wet or dry hair page covers the order.

  1. 1

    Decide your main goal: fast drying, smooth blowout, curls or defined natural texture.

  2. 2

    Match the goal: fast drying or diffusing points to the Supersonic; curls and blowouts point to the Airwrap.

  3. 3

    Check your hair length: barrels need enough length to wrap at least one or two turns.

  4. 4

    Pick the kit: Airwrap Complete Long for long straight to wavy hair, Supersonic Origin for a simple dryer.

Do you need both?

Owning both makes sense if you have thick or long hair and style it most days: the Supersonic dries quickly, then the Airwrap curls. For most people one tool is enough. Pick the tool that does your daily job and add the other later only if you find yourself missing it.

Our guides list every current model: best Dyson Airwrap and best Dyson hair dryer. For a wider view of cheaper options, see best blow dryer brush.

Note.Use a heat protectant with any heated tool and keep heat settings as low as gets the job done for your hair type.

Frequently asked questions

Can the Dyson Airwrap replace a hair dryer? It can dry hair with its dryer attachment, but most models dry more slowly than a dedicated dryer. The Airwrap Coanda 2x is listed with full hair dryer performance.

Can the Supersonic curl hair? Not by itself. You need a round brush or a diffuser to shape curls, or a separate curling tool.

Which is better for curly hair? For defining natural curls, the Supersonic with a diffuser is simpler. For stretching and styling curly hair, Dyson sells Airwrap kits made for curly and coily hair.

Which is cheaper? At the listed prices, the Supersonic Origin costs less than any Airwrap kit we cover.

What you need for this

Sources