AFTER a lifetime spent trying to keep her curly locks in check, Hilary Freeman, 53, from London, sees if the new Airwrap makes styling them fuss-free.
When I was 12 and puberty kicked in, my previously smooth curls turned, almost overnight, into an uncontrollable mop of frizz.
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Ever since, I’ve spent thousands on styling products and tools, for a daily battle to tame my locks.
My hair is like candy floss: fine in texture, soft and big. Humidity and rain are its mortal enemies.
Yes, I am that woman you see with an umbrella in the slightest drizzle.
That’s because the merest hint of moisture turns me into Art Garfunkel. Or worse, Phil Spector.
Like them, I have what some affectionately call a “Jewfro”.
As a teen, I begged my mother to allow me to have my hair chemically straightened.
The foul-smelling treatment, in effect a reverse perm — this was well before the days of Brazilian blow dries — didn’t work, and just damaged my locks, making them even more frizzy.
In the Nineties, when poker-straight locks became almost compulsory, I bought hair straighteners.
But I didn’t have the patience or expertise to use them properly.
I ended up with a half-straight, half-curly do — and a second- degree burn on my neck.
Since then, I’ve avoided trying new gadgets, partly out of fear of damaging my hair and partly because, as a mum with a busy job as a writer, I simply don’t have the time.
Instead, I’ve resigned myself to wearing my hair long and curly.
I tend to half diffuse it and half air-dry it, depending on the time I have.
Over the years, hair dye to stem the ever-increasing tide of grey has conspired with my changing hormones to alter my curl pattern from tight curls to looser ones.
But the frizz has remained.
Bushy mess
Mousses and gels keep my hair defined for a day or so, but the curls quickly drop out and become lank and fluffy.
On a good day, it falls into ringlets; on a bad one, it’s a bushy mess.
Curly hair has a mind of its own, you see.
So, I was keen to test the brand new Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x.
The latest version of this heated styler, the Curly and Coily model (there’s also a Straight/Wavy one), promises effortless, long-lasting, sleek waves.
Like all Dyson products, it looks and feels a quality, luxury item.
But, at £579, I’ll admit, I am expecting some sort of miracle.
Could it work for me, or is it just a lot of hot air?
According to Dyson, the Co-anda 2x has twice as many attachments as its predecessor and can be used to dry, curl, wave, straighten, smooth and volumise your hair.
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These attachments, they say, are “intelligent” — I wonder if they can help with Wordle.
The Airwrap claims to provide “supercharged styling with a stronger Coanda airflow”.
It is 30 per cent more powerful than the previous model, has two times the air pressure and — most intriguingly — senses movement, automatically wrapping your hair and adapting heat, airflow and timings to your hair type, via the MyDyson app.
Faced with a box of attachments, I have no idea where to start.
Setting up the app is simple, after answering some questions on it my device is tailored to my hair type.
However, as a novice, I find navigating the app confusing.
Its video guides — I counted 37 ways to style your curly hair — are helpful but I can’t figure out how to watch tutorials while holding my switched-on Airwrap.
It doesn’t help that the Bluetooth keeps disconnecting.
The power cord is also surprisingly short, meaning I have to sit right next to the plug socket.
On the plus side, the motor is extremely powerful.
I’m impressed with how the barrel curl attachment intuitively collects the right amount of hair — as if slurping noodles.
‘Friends say I look glam’
And I’m reassured that once the Airwrap reaches a certain heat, it starts to cool, so it dries my hair but doesn’t burn it.
I also like the fact there’s a diffuser attachment among the options, so I can choose whether I want to dry my hair curly, wavy or straight with just one device.
But I do find the Airwrap heavier than my usual hairdryer.
Holding it in one position for any length of time made my arm ache.
But it’s much easier than holding both a brush and a dryer.
The results speak for themselves. My hair feels so smooth and light that I can’t help swishing it around. The colour also looks more refined and glossy.
While people usually compliment my hair, now they’re commenting on my overall look.
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Everyone says I look “glamorous” and “airbrushed” — not words they’ve used before. I can see I appear more tidy and professional, and less boho. However, I do think my usual curly style makes me look more youthful.
The night after my trial, I barely sleep for worrying I’ll ruin my new do.
But I wake to find it almost as smooth as before.
By the end of the day, my hair is starting to frizz at the edges and some rogue curls are appearing.
I decide to wash it again, and try the diffuser option, so I can compare it with my own high street dryer.
When I link the Airwrap up to the app, it automatically sets it to the right heat and speed settings for the diffuser attachment.
It dries quickly and efficiently, creating nice curls and achieving better root volume than my own model. It’s a good diffuser.
But I can’t say the result is £600 better.
The Airwrap Co-anda 2x is not for novices. If I’m honest, I would probably only use the diffuser option unless I have a special event, and a day off.
It is a big investment and not a must-have.
But as an alternative to professional blowouts, it’s a great option.
CUTTING THE HAIR COSTS
LILY ENGLAND DELUXE HOT BRUSH, £32.99
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WHILE it can’t dry and style simultaneously like the Airwrap, it is perfect for giving your hair a quick zhuzh, and its simple design is easy to get the hang of.
The large barrel is ideal for adding volume and lifting hair.
BELLISSIMA ITALIA AIR WONDER 8-IN-1 HAIR STYLER, £129.99
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WITH eight attachment heads, this budget styler curls, volumises and waves.
Hit its coolshot button after styling to lock in your look for longer.
Also doubles up as a traditional hairdryer.
REVLON ONE-STEP BLOW-DRY MULTI STYLER 3-IN-1 TOOL, £80
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HAILED as the ultimate Dyson dupe, this takes hair from wet to perfectly styled.
Has a curling wand, an oval brush for volumised locks and a concentrator head for drying your roots.
