The hottest hair tool on the market has recently gotten a huge upgrade—ahead, Beauty Editor Red analyses whether it’s worth the investment.

Some people are born lucky, with thick, shiny locks that seldom need styling. I am not one of those people. For me, great hair takes a lot of time, patience and investment. Specifically, it takes layers of heat protectant, de-frizzers and hair oil and at least thirty minutes of solid style time to look presentable.

As such, I’m always on the lookout for products that promise to cut my hair routine down. Earlier this year, I found my holy grail hair tool—the Dyson Airstrait. It cut my hour-long dry and style routine down to a mere 20 to 30 minutes, and it also prevented my hair from accumulating any unnecessary damage. And, the best part was that the results looked and felt amazing. Perfectly sleek and straight with absolutely no sign of frizziness in sight, and it lasted for days!

READ: Review: The Dyson Airstrait and all the other beauty tools that have revolutionised our routine

I sincerely believed I’d never be able to top it—that is, until now. Recently, I managed to get my hands on the all-new Dyson Airwrap i.d. and I’ve been thoroughly reviewing it for around two months. Ahead, here’s everything you need to know about the new tool, including whether it’s worth the investment!

What’s the difference between the Airwrap and the Airwrap i.d.?

Personally, I found that the biggest difference between the original Airwrap and the new Airwrap i.d. is the ease of use. The Airwrap i.d. multi-styler now comes with a completely automated styling programme that pairs with your Dyson phone app through Bluetooth® wireless technology. This customisable technology allows you to programme your Airwrap i.d. to suit your needs, according to your hair type, hair length, hair goals and skill level. 

Essentially, the biggest learning curve I experienced with the original Airwrap has been addressed! Now, instead of having to juggle the mental gymnastics of wrapping my hair around the barrel properly, counting down the correct amount of time to style each section fully and remembering to end with a cool shot, the new styler does all of that maths for me. 

The pros and cons of the Dyson Airwrap i.d.

I’ve had a good two months to sit with this tool and work out the kinks—here are all the things I love (and don’t love) about the Airwrap:

Pro #1: It’s fully automated

I can’t stress this enough—the customised styling program has made me a fully-fledged Airwrap convert. All I had to do to get the ball rolling was fill in my hair profile and set my preferences on the app once, and I haven’t had to look at it ever since. And, if I ever decide to cut my hair or get a perm, all I have to do is go back into the app and it’ll tailor a new routine for me.

Con #1: There is a learning curve

Granted this learning curve is significantly less drastic than with the older Airwrap models, but you’ll still have to do some trial and error. After two months, I can say I’ve confidently worked out all the kinks, and I can consistently get great results with every use. That said, it did take a lot of practice. However, if you stick with it, it’s pretty easy to pick up the best techniques.

Pro #2: It’s super lightweight

Unlike the heavy Airstrait which made styling my hair a fully-fledged arm workout, the Airwrap i.d. is really comfortable to hold and manoeuvre. This also makes it fantastic for travel—I’ve taken it with me on holidays and work trips and it fits perfectly in my check-in and carry-on alike!

Con #2: Your curls may not last as long

One major complaint many have with the Airwrap (including myself, actually) is that the curls just don’t last as long as curling iron curls do. That said, that’s the trade-off for healthier hair—the Airwrap i.d. avoids heat damage with its Intelligent Heat Control technology that measures and regulates heat, keeping the temperature below 150°C. Besides, I’ve actually worked out a few simple tips that have helped my hairstyle last for up to three days:

Tip 1: Take smaller sections—the suction of the barrel is only so strong! Taking one-inch sections means that you can get a more precise wrap and thorough dry, meaning that your hair will stay curlier for longer. Let’s be real, though, sometimes laziness kicks in—which is when I usually just repeat the styling routine on that section until it is completely dry.

Tip 2: Make sure your hair is bone dry when the cycle is done. I usually rough dry my hair about 80 percent of the way with my Dyson Supersonic or with the Fast Dryer attachment before using the curling barrels. If there is any moisture left in your strands, it’ll cause your curls to drop quicker and leave your hair looking frizzier.

Tip 3: Double down on hairspray and mousse to make sure your curls have a fighting chance against Malaysia’s humidity and heat! I’ve found that a generous douse of hairspray can extend my style by two to three days.

Pro #3: There are so many attachments to use

In the sleek presentation case, you’ll find six attachments for your Airwrap i.d.: the 40mm Airwrap™ long barrel; the Conical Airwrap™ barrel; Soft Smoothing Brush; Large Round Volumising Brush; Dryer+Flyaway smoother; and Fast Dryer. This means you have the freedom of not just curling your hair, but also smoothing, de-frizzing, straightening and more.

Con #3: Not all the attachments are my favourite

Again, I love that it comes with so many attachments. However, whether I’m actually a fan of said attachments is a different story—here are my favourites, ranked from most to least used:

1. The 40mm Airwrap™ long barrel: This is by far my most-used attachment—I’m obsessed with the bouncy, voluminous curls it delivers and it’s so easy to use.
2. The round brush: When I just want to curl my ends in and give my roots a little extra volume, this is my go-to attachment. Honestly, it’s a little too big for styling my bangs, but considering that I set them with a roller anyway, it’s not a huge problem. My only beef with it is that it blows outwards from all sides rather than directing airflow in one direction, meaning the blowout curls always end up frizzier than I prefer. Nothing that the next attachment can’t fix, though!
3. The Dryer+Flyaway smoother: I struggle with a lot of frizziness, so this has been a blessing to de-frizz and sleek out my strands. 
4. The Fast Dryer: Honestly, I’ve already got a Dyson Supersonic, so I usually just use that to dry my hair before styling with the Airwrap i.d. That said, this was perfect when I was travelling!
5. The Conical Airwrap™ Barrel: This is actually the one attachment I still can’t get to work perfectly for me. I love the volume it gives me at my root, but I can’t seem to get it to wrap my ends fully. Personally, I think my hair is just too long for the attachment.
6. The Soft Smoothing Brush: Last on my list is the Soft Smoothing Brush—because my hair is so bleach-damaged, I fundamentally just don’t trust raking a brush through my weakened, wet strands.

Is it worth the investment?

Simply put, I say yes! Honestly, I’ve found myself reaching for this tool on every wash day, and it has been a go-to on my travels. It’s really simple to get the hang of and it gives me great results, plus it’s really versatile depending on the hairstyles you’re going for.

Obviously, it does only do one type of curl, so if you’re after bigger, ‘80s-style ringlets or tight, rooty curls, you’ll want to look elsewhere. But, if you prefer easy, sleek, and put-together blowout-style hair looks at home, I’d definitely recommend it.

The Dyson Airwrap i.d.™ multi-styler and dryer in Ceramic Patina and Vinca Blue is now available online and at Dyson Demo stores, priced at RM 2,899. Find more hair reads like this here.