Dyson’s Airwrap i.d. Review: What’s New, Better and Worse

If the original Dyson Airwrap was the beauty tool that made everyone clutch their wallets and whisper, “Absolutely not… unless?”, the Dyson Airwrap i.d. is the sequel that walks back into the room wearing smarter shoes and a slightly more confident smile. It is still unmistakably an Airwrap: premium, versatile, annoyingly attractive, and expensive enough to make you re-evaluate every impulse purchase you have ever made at Target. But this version is not just a fresh paint job. It adds app-connected personalization, a more guided curling process, and a few new attachments that genuinely change how the tool feels in daily use.

That is the good news. The less-fun news is that the Airwrap i.d. is still a luxury buy, and in some ways it has become an even more opinionated one. If you already know how to work an Airwrap like a backstage hairstylist on espresso, the “smart” features may feel helpful but not life-changing. If you hate using apps with appliances on principle, the Bluetooth pitch may inspire an eye roll so powerful it creates its own airflow.

So is the Dyson Airwrap i.d. actually better, or is it just more techy? After looking at official product details, editor testing, long-form reviews, and comparison coverage, the answer is pretty clear: it is better for beginners, better for curl consistency, and better for shoppers who want a curated bundle based on hair type. It is worse for bargain hunters, worse for people who want total control over which attachments come in the box, and worse for anyone who thinks a hair tool should not need a phone pep talk.

Quick Verdict

The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is the smartest and most beginner-friendly version of the Airwrap formula so far. Its biggest upgrade is the i.d. Curl system, which uses the MyDyson app to tailor wrap time, heat, styling time, and cool-shot timing to your hair profile. In plain English, it helps take some of the guesswork out of getting curls that actually last longer than your morning coffee.

The tool is also more thoughtfully segmented than before. Dyson now offers bundles for straight-to-wavy hair and curly-to-coily hair, which makes the lineup easier to shop. Some of the new or reworked attachments are legitimately useful too, especially the conical barrel and the revamped Wave+Curl diffuser. That means the Airwrap i.d. is not merely “the old one, but with Bluetooth.” It is a more polished styling system.

Still, this is not a miracle wand. It does not suddenly make every hair type equally easy to style, and it does not stop being expensive just because it can now remember your preferences. If your hair struggles to hold a curl, if you want dramatic, super-defined hot-tool curls, or if you mainly want a blowout brush without the Dyson tax, there are now more affordable competitors that deserve a serious look.

What’s New With the Dyson Airwrap i.d.?

1. App-connected i.d. Curl personalization

The headline feature is i.d. Curl, a guided curling routine connected to the MyDyson app. You set up a hair profile based on factors like hair type, length, and skill level, and the machine stores a sequence that controls the wrap, style, and cool-shot stages. That is the biggest change from older Airwrap models, where users had to do more manual switching and timing on their own.

This sounds slightly ridiculous until you remember how many people bought the original Airwrap, tried it twice, then spent six months staring at it like it had personally betrayed them. The Airwrap i.d. tries to solve that learning curve. Instead of asking you to magically know how long each section should sit on the barrel, it gives you more structure. For beginners, that can be the difference between “luxury purchase” and “expensive sculpture on my vanity.”

2. New attachments

Dyson also added new attachments to the Airwrap i.d. ecosystem. The most notable is the conical barrel, which is designed to create tighter curls closer to the root. There is also the Wave+Curl diffuser for textured hair and a Blade concentrator for sleeker finishes. Together, these additions make the Airwrap i.d. feel more flexible and more inclusive than earlier bundles.

The conical barrel, in particular, is the most meaningful hardware update. If earlier Airwrap curls looked beautiful for about 45 minutes and then politely wandered off, the tighter starting shape here gives users a better chance at longevity. That does not mean everyone will get three-day curls worthy of a shampoo commercial, but it does improve the odds.

3. Hair-type-specific bundles

Another smart update is the way Dyson packages the tool. Instead of pushing one broad “everyone gets everything” bundle, the Airwrap i.d. is organized more intentionally for straight-and-wavy hair or curly-and-coily hair. That makes shopping less confusing, especially for first-time buyers who are not sure whether they need smoothing tools, a diffuser, or a wide-tooth comb.

In theory, this is cleaner and more practical. In practice, it is only great if the bundle matches what you actually want. More on that in the “worse” section, because yes, there is a catch. There is always a catch. This is beauty retail, not kindergarten.

What’s Better Than the Older Airwrap?

It is easier to use

This is the most obvious improvement. Multiple reviewers noted that the app support lowers the learning curve and helps users better understand timing, cool shots, and styling technique. That matters because the Airwrap has always been a little less “grab and go” than a classic curling iron or dryer brush. It rewards method, not chaos.

With the Airwrap i.d., Dyson has done something clever: it did not reinvent the styling experience completely, but it reduced the amount of uncertainty. For many people, that will translate into better results, especially in the first few weeks. If you have ever watched a tutorial, nodded confidently, then immediately created one sad curl and a patch of frizz, this version feels more forgiving.

Curls can last longer

The i.d. system improves consistency, and the conical barrel gives a tighter shape at the start. Those two changes work together. Reviews consistently point to the same theme: the Airwrap i.d. makes it easier to hit the sweet spot between enough heat, enough airflow, and enough cool-shot time to actually lock in the style.

That is especially useful for people with fine hair, damaged hair, or hair that prefers to collapse into a vague bend instead of a curl. The Airwrap still relies on airflow rather than the aggressive heat of a traditional iron, so it is unlikely to produce the same ultra-defined ringlets as a scorching metal barrel. But for soft, bouncy, blowout-style curls, it is more convincing than earlier Airwrap generations.

The textured-hair story is stronger

The Wave+Curl diffuser is one of the most important quality-of-life updates in the lineup. Curly and coily users were not exactly ignored by past Dyson launches, but this version feels more deliberate in how it addresses natural texture. A better diffuser, more targeted bundles, and more thoughtful attachment curation help the Airwrap i.d. feel less like a tool designed for one hair pattern with guest seating for everyone else.

That does not mean it is perfect for every textured-hair routine. But compared with older setups, it gives curly and coily shoppers more reason to see the Airwrap as an actual option instead of a beautiful machine clearly flirting with somebody else.

The whole system feels more polished

There is also a less flashy kind of improvement here: refinement. Review coverage suggests the Airwrap i.d. feels more mature as a product line. The attachments are more purposeful, the setup is more guided, and the overall experience feels less like “ingenious engineering that assumes you enjoy homework.” It still requires practice, but it is moving in a more intuitive direction.

What’s Worse?

The price is still brutal

Let’s not dance around it. The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is expensive. It lives in the luxury tier, and it knows it. That is easier to justify if you style your hair often, care deeply about reducing heat exposure, and genuinely use multiple attachments. But if you just want a fast blowout and an occasional curl, this thing can feel like buying a spaceship to go to the grocery store.

Worse, the market around Dyson has changed. The original Airwrap once felt untouchable. Now it has serious competitors, and many of them cost dramatically less. Some of those rivals are not as elegant, not as refined, and not as pretty on your bathroom counter, but they close the performance gap enough to make the Dyson price tag harder to ignore.

The smart features may feel gimmicky to experienced users

If you are already very comfortable styling your hair, the app may not wow you for long. That is the awkward truth. The i.d. Curl feature is useful, but it is not magic. You still section your hair, position the barrel, and do the physical work. The tool is smart; it has not become your unpaid hairstylist.

For new users, the app is a guide. For confident users, it may just be a nicer timer with extra steps. That difference matters because it shapes whether the Airwrap i.d. feels revolutionary or merely upgraded. If the phrase “Bluetooth hair tool” makes you suspicious on sight, your skepticism will not fully disappear here.

The bundles are curated, not customizable

This is one of the most frustrating drawbacks. Dyson has gotten better at matching bundles to hair types, but that does not mean every buyer will get their dream attachment lineup. You may like the conical barrel but not need another brush. You may want the diffuser and the smoothing setup. You may be straight-haired and still want the wide-tooth comb because hair has no interest in obeying marketing categories.

A build-your-own bundle would make a lot of sense. Instead, many buyers will still need to purchase additional attachments separately. On a product this expensive, that stings a little. Okay, more than a little.

It still will not be perfect for everyone

The Airwrap i.d. is better, but it has not erased the core limitation of the Airwrap concept: airflow styling is gentler, but it can be less forceful than traditional hot tools. If your hair is extremely resistant, very thick, or you want crisp, highly defined curls, you may still prefer a dedicated curling iron, a more powerful smoothing tool, or a simpler dryer brush.

That is not a failure. It is just an important reality check. Dyson’s best category is polished, healthy-looking blowouts and soft curls with less heat stress. If that is your goal, great. If your goal is pageant-level hold through humidity, you may still need reinforcements.

Who Should Buy the Airwrap i.d.?

You should seriously consider the Dyson Airwrap i.d. if you are new to Airwrap-style tools, want guidance while styling, and care about reducing heat damage while still getting a polished finish. It also makes sense if you frequently switch between blowouts, waves, and smoothing styles and want one system instead of a drawer full of separate tools.

It is especially appealing for shoppers who found the original Airwrap intimidating. The smarter workflow, newer attachments, and more curated bundles solve several of the original pain points. If the first Airwrap was genius with a diva streak, the Airwrap i.d. is genius with better communication skills.

Who Should Skip It?

Skip it if your budget says “absolutely not,” and your styling needs say “mostly just dry my hair and maybe add some bounce.” Skip it if you already own a recent Airwrap and are happy with your results. Skip it if you hate using apps for basic household tasks. And skip it if you want a totally customized bundle without paying extra for separate attachments.

Also, if your hair requires a ton of heat or tension to hold a style, you may want to test alternatives before committing. The Dyson experience is luxurious, but luxury does not automatically equal perfect fit.

Final Review: What’s New, Better, and Worse?

Here is the simplest summary. What is new: Bluetooth app integration, the i.d. Curl routine, new attachments, and more tailored bundles. What is better: ease of use, curl consistency, and support for different styling needs. What is worse: the cost, the still-imperfect bundle logic, and the fact that the smart layer can feel more “nice to have” than “must have” once you know what you are doing.

Overall, the Dyson Airwrap i.d. is not a gimmick, but it is also not a total reinvention. It is a smarter, more polished, more beginner-friendly Airwrap. For the right buyer, that is enough to make it the best version yet. For the wrong buyer, it is still a very beautiful way to spend a lot of money on a blowout.

If you want the shortest possible shopping advice, here it is: the Airwrap i.d. is worth considering if you want premium styling with less heat and more guidance. It is worth skipping if you mainly want value. There. We saved you from at least one dramatic checkout tab.

Extra Experience Section: Living With the Dyson Airwrap i.d. Day to Day

Using the Dyson Airwrap i.d. over time feels a little different from testing it once and declaring it a miracle. On the first day, the biggest emotion is usually curiosity mixed with mild fear. There are attachments, settings, a styling sequence, and the strange realization that your hair tool now has opinions. But after a few sessions, the routine starts to click. That is where the Airwrap i.d. earns its keep.

The first real advantage is mental, not mechanical. The app removes some of the “Am I doing this wrong?” anxiety that follows a lot of new users. When the tool guides you through timing, you stop second-guessing every section. That creates a smoother experience, and smoother experiences often create better results because you are not panic-styling half your head while wondering whether the other half already fell flat.

In everyday use, the Airwrap i.d. feels best when you treat it as a routine tool rather than a special-event gadget. It is the sort of device that rewards repetition. The more often you use it, the more you understand which attachment works for your hair on humid days, wash days, rushed mornings, or “I need to look put together on camera in 20 minutes” emergencies. It starts as a premium experiment and gradually becomes a system.

There is also something genuinely satisfying about how many jobs it can handle without making hair feel scorched. A rough dry, a smoother finish, a bouncy bend around the face, a diffuser session for texture, a quick refresh before dinner plans: those are the kinds of tasks where the Airwrap i.d. feels less like a splurge and more like a practical luxury. Not essential, no. Helpful? Absolutely.

That said, day-to-day experience also highlights the flaws. The tool still asks for patience. You cannot bully it into perfect results by waving it around like a magic wand in a fantasy movie. It likes damp hair, decent sectioning, and a user willing to cooperate. When you are in a hurry, that can feel annoying. On mornings when you are late, under-caffeinated, and one missing sock away from a personal crisis, the Airwrap i.d. may feel like it expects too much emotional maturity from you.

The price also follows you around psychologically. Every time you wish a favorite attachment had come in your bundle, you remember how much you spent. Every time a less expensive competitor pops up online promising a similar blowout for half the cost, your eyebrow raises itself. The Airwrap i.d. can absolutely justify itself for heavy users, but it never stops being a premium purchase. It just becomes one you are either happy you made or mildly dramatic about defending.

In the end, the daily experience is this: when it works for your hair, it feels polished, modern, and impressively versatile. When it does not match your habits, budget, or styling goals, it feels like a very expensive lesson in knowing yourself. Which, honestly, is still cheaper than some therapy, but only barely.