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Explainer

How the Dyson Airwrap works: the Coanda effect

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Short answer

The Dyson Airwrap blows fast air out of slots along each curl barrel. Because of the Coanda effect, that airflow clings to the curved barrel surface, and it pulls nearby hair along with it so the hair wraps around the barrel without clamping. Dyson's listings say the V9 motor spins up to 110,000 rpm to create the needed air pressure, while heat is controlled and checked over 40 times a second.

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Close-up of a stylist curling blonde hair into glamorous curls at a salon
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels

This explainer is for anyone curious how the Airwrap curls hair without a hot clamp, and for owners who want to understand why technique matters. It covers the physics in plain terms, the parts that make it work, what each attachment uses the airflow for, and what the Airwrap is and is not designed to do. For practical steps, see how to use the Dyson Airwrap, and to compare models see our Airwrap guide.

The Coanda effect in plain terms

The Coanda effect is the tendency of a moving stream of air or liquid to follow a nearby curved surface instead of shooting off in a straight line. It is named after the engineer Henri Coanda. A simple example is the way a stream of tap water bends around the back of a spoon held against it.

On an Airwrap curl barrel, air leaves through slots along the length of the barrel and hugs the curved surface as it flows around. The fast-moving layer of air creates lower pressure next to the barrel, and that pulls the end of a hair section toward the surface and around it. Dyson's listing describes this as using air to attract and wrap hair to the barrel or brush surface.

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.

The parts that make it work

Three pieces of engineering combine in the Airwrap: a small high-speed motor, a heater with sensors, and attachments shaped to direct the airflow.

  • Dyson digital motor V9

    What the listing says
    13-blade impeller up to 110,000 rpm, 3.2 kPa
    Why it matters
    Creates enough air pressure for the Coanda wrap

  • Gen2 motor (Co-anda2x)

    What the listing says
    2x the air pressure, 30% more powerful
    Why it matters
    Stronger wrap and faster drying on the newest model

  • Intelligent heat control

    What the listing says
    Measures airflow temperature over 40 times a second
    Why it matters
    Keeps air temperature in a controlled range

  • Ionizer

    What the listing says
    Negative ions to help reduce static
    Why it matters
    Fewer static flyaways

  • Settings

    What the listing says
    3 airflow speeds, 3 heat settings, cold shot
    Why it matters
    Lets you match hair type and attachment
Airwrap core components (per Dyson listings)

What each attachment does with the airflow

The barrels use the Coanda effect most visibly. Curl barrels come in sizes such as 30 mm and 40 mm, and an arrow on each barrel shows the wrap direction. Smaller barrels make tighter curls; larger ones make looser waves. The brushes use airflow more like a conventional blow dryer brush, pushing air through the bristles while the bristles add tension.

The Coanda smoothing dryer, named in the Airwrap Origin listing, uses the effect differently. Its curved surfaces shape the airflow to dry hair from wet to damp in pre-style mode, then to smooth flyaways in a second mode. The curly and coily kits add a diffuser and a wide-tooth comb for defining or stretching curls. The attachments explained page goes through each one.

Every attachment explained →

Why technique still matters

The Coanda effect pulls hair toward the barrel, but it works best within limits. Sections that are too big have too much hair for the airflow to wrap neatly. Hair that is still soaking wet is heavy and cannot set; hair that is fully dry has less to set as it cools. Hair that is shorter than roughly one to two turns around the barrel may not wrap at all. That is why Dyson's guides describe styling in sections on damp hair and finishing with the cold shot.

Curls set as hair cools in its new shape. Holding the cold shot for a few seconds before sliding the barrel out is a big part of how long a curl lasts. If curls drop quickly, see Airwrap not curling.

What the Airwrap is used for

The Airwrap is a multi-styler: one handle, several attachments. Dyson lists the kits as 6-in-1 tools for drying, curling, waving, smoothing, adding volume and, on curly kits, diffusing and stretching. It suits people who want curls or a blowout without a separate curling iron and dryer, and who are willing to learn the sectioning technique.

  • Curls and waves with air curl barrels.
  • Smooth blowouts with smoothing brushes.
  • Root lift with a round volumizing brush.
  • Rough drying with the dryer attachment.
  • Diffusing and stretching on curly and coily kits.

Find the right Airwrap kit →

Frequently asked questions

How does the Dyson Airwrap curl hair without heat clamps? Air leaving slots on the barrel follows its curved surface because of the Coanda effect, and that pulls hair around the barrel. Warm air sets the shape and cold air locks it in.

Does the Airwrap use less heat than a curling iron? The Airwrap styles with heated air rather than a hot metal plate. Dyson does not publish air temperatures for every model, so compare settings in each manual.

Why do Airwrap barrels have arrows? The arrow shows which way the airflow wraps hair. Use the direction that sends curls the way you want on each side of your face.

What is a Dyson Airwrap used for? Drying, curling, waving, smoothing and adding volume with one handle and swappable attachments.

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