# How to use the Dyson Airwrap, step by step

Source: https://airandbarrel.com/blog/how-to-use-dyson-airwrap
Published: 2026-10-09
Publisher: Air & Barrel

**Short answer:** Start with towel-dried hair, then use the pre-styling or Coanda smoothing dryer to take it from wet to damp. Switch to a curl barrel or brush, work in small sections on low to medium heat, let the airflow wrap each section, then hold the cold shot for a few seconds before releasing. Finish with the smoothing attachment if you want less flyaway.

This guide is for anyone who just unboxed a Dyson Airwrap, or who owns one and still gets loose, uneven curls. It walks through the order most Dyson guides follow: prep, rough dry, sectioning, curling or brushing, and setting the shape with cold air. It also covers what the buttons do, how to pick a barrel direction and the most common beginner mistakes. If you are still choosing a model, our [Airwrap guide](https://airandbarrel.com/best/best-dyson-airwrap) compares the current kits, and [how the Airwrap works](https://airandbarrel.com/blog/how-the-dyson-airwrap-works) explains the airflow trick behind it.

## What is in the box and what each part does

Airwrap kits vary by model and hair type, but most include a handle with the motor, one or two curl barrels, a dryer attachment and at least one brush. The Complete Long kits add a smoothing brush and a round volumizing brush, and the curly and coily kits add a diffuser or wide-tooth comb. The Airwrap Origin listing names a single 1.2 in barrel, a round brush and a flyaway attachment. Check your own box against the quick start leaflet so you know which tools you have.

The handle has three controls on most models: an airflow button with three speeds, a heat button with three settings and a cold shot button. The Dyson listings for the Complete Long kits state three airflow speeds and three heat settings, plus intelligent heat control that measures air temperature over 40 times a second.

| Attachment | What it is for | Use on |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pre-styling or Coanda smoothing dryer | Wet to damp drying, smoothing flyaways | Wet or damp hair |
| Curl barrels (30 mm and 40 mm) | Wrapping sections into curls or waves | Damp hair |
| Firm or soft smoothing brush | Straighter, smoother finish | Damp hair |
| Round volumizing brush | Lift at the root and bend at the ends | Damp hair |
| Diffuser or wide-tooth comb (curly kits) | Defining or stretching curls and coils | Wet to damp hair |

Common Airwrap attachments and their job

[Compare Airwrap kits](https://airandbarrel.com/best/best-dyson-airwrap)

## Prep your hair before you start

The Airwrap styles best on hair that is damp, not soaking wet and not fully dry. After washing, squeeze out water with a towel or a T-shirt, then detangle with a wide-tooth comb. Apply whatever heat protectant or styling product you normally use. Most people find the curl barrels grab hair more evenly when it has been detangled and evenly dampened.

Plan your sections now. Clip the top half of your hair up and leave the bottom layer down. Smaller sections, roughly one to two inches wide, wrap more neatly than large ones. Large sections often wrap only on the outside and stay damp in the middle, which leads to curls that drop fast.

- Towel dry and detangle first.
- Apply your usual heat protectant or styling cream.
- Clip hair into a top and bottom layer.
- Keep a comb and two or three clips nearby.

## Step by step: rough dry, then curl

Here is the sequence that matches the Dyson quick start guides for the curl barrels. Go slowly the first few times. Speed comes with practice, and the main skill is letting the airflow do the wrapping instead of twisting the hair yourself.

1. Attach the pre-styling or Coanda smoothing dryer and dry your hair until it is damp all over, roughly 80 percent dry. Use medium or high airflow and medium heat.
2. Switch to a curl barrel. Look at the arrow on the barrel: it shows the direction the hair will wrap. Point curls away from your face on each side for a classic look.
3. Take a section about one to two inches wide. Hold the barrel vertically and place the end of the section near the barrel, a few inches from the tip. Let the airflow pull the hair around the barrel.
4. Hold the barrel still for about 10 seconds on low or medium heat. Thicker or longer sections may need a little longer.
5. Press and hold the cold shot for about 5 seconds, then slide the barrel down and out of the curl.
6. Leave the curl alone to cool. Repeat around the head, then work through the top layer.
7. When everything is cool, loosen the curls with your fingers. Use the smoothing dryer or flyaway attachment on low heat to tame the surface if needed.

Note: Keep fingers away from the air slots and the hot end of attachments. Unplug and let the tool cool before swapping attachments if they feel hot.

## Using the brushes for a blowout

For a smooth blowout, put on a smoothing brush and work on damp hair. Place the brush under a section at the root and pull it slowly toward the ends while keeping light tension. The round volumizing brush works the same way but you lift the section up at the root and roll the brush at the ends for bend.

Medium airflow and medium heat suit most hair. Finer hair often looks better with lower heat and lower airflow, while thick hair may need high airflow to dry before you reach the ends. Our [heat settings by hair type](https://airandbarrel.com/blog/heat-settings-by-hair-type) page has typical ranges, and the [Heat setting guide](https://airandbarrel.com/tools/heat-setting-guide) turns them into a quick suggestion.

## Common beginner mistakes

Most Airwrap complaints trace back to a short list of technique issues rather than the tool itself. If your curls fall out or look frizzy, check these first. Our [Airwrap not curling](https://airandbarrel.com/blog/dyson-airwrap-not-curling) fix covers more causes.

- Hair is too wet: the barrel cannot set a curl while water is still dripping. Rough dry to damp first.
- Hair is fully dry: the barrel has less to set. Lightly mist dry hair if you style on a second day.
- Sections are too big: use thinner sections so air reaches every strand.
- Skipping the cold shot: the curl sets as it cools, so hold cold air before releasing.
- Pulling the barrel out too fast: slide it down gently, do not unwind the curl.
- Wrong barrel direction: check the arrow so curls go the way you want.

[Fix curls that drop](https://airandbarrel.com/blog/dyson-airwrap-not-curling)

## Care after each session

Let attachments cool, then store them in the case. Check the filter on the handle regularly. Dyson recommends cleaning the Airwrap filter about once a month, or whenever the light flashes or the tool cuts out. A blocked filter is a common reason the Airwrap stops mid-style, which we cover in [Airwrap keeps cutting out](https://airandbarrel.com/blog/dyson-airwrap-keeps-cutting-out) and the [Airwrap filter cleaning](https://airandbarrel.com/blog/how-to-clean-dyson-airwrap-filter) guide.

## Frequently asked questions

**Do you use the Dyson Airwrap on wet or dry hair?** Damp hair is the target. Use the dryer attachment on wet hair first, then switch to barrels or brushes once hair is mostly dry. More detail is in [Airwrap on wet or dry hair](https://airandbarrel.com/blog/dyson-airwrap-wet-or-dry-hair).

**Which heat setting should a beginner use?** Medium heat with medium airflow is a sensible start for most hair. Go lower on fine or color-treated hair and add time instead of heat if curls do not hold.

**How long should I hold each curl?** Around 10 seconds of warm air plus about 5 seconds of cold shot is a common starting point. Adjust for thicker or longer sections.

**Why do my Airwrap curls fall out by lunch?** Usually hair was too wet, sections were too large or the cold shot was skipped. Smaller sections and a full cool down before touching the curls help most.

## Buying guides for this topic

- https://airandbarrel.com/best/best-dyson-airwrap
- https://airandbarrel.com/best/best-blow-dryer-brush
- https://airandbarrel.com/best/best-dyson-hair-dryer