Dyson Airwrap settings explained: heat, airflow and cold shot

The three controls

Amazon UK listings for current Airwraps describe three airflow speeds and four heat settings, the fourth being cold. The Co-anda 2x listing says the tool measures air temperature over 1,000 times a second and regulates heat to avoid extreme heat damage.

Airflow: wrap and drying

Airflow powers the Coanda effect that wraps hair around the barrels. Too low and hair will not catch; too high and fine hair can blow off the barrel or tangle. For drying attachments, higher airflow dries faster. For brushes, medium airflow gives control.

Thick or long hair usually needs high airflow to wrap and dry the whole section. Fine or short hair often does better on medium or low, so strands stay on the barrel and are not whipped around.

Heat: shaping and setting

Heat softens the hair so it can take a new shape as it dries. More heat shapes faster but adds more heat exposure. Most people get good results on the middle heat setting. Use the highest heat for thick, coarse hair that resists shaping, and the lowest heat for fine, fragile or coloured hair.

The cold setting is not just for finishing. Some people with very fine hair use a low heat for wrapping and switch to cold for longer than usual to lock the curl without extra heat.

Cold shot: the step most people skip

Hair sets as it cools. After heating a curl, holding the barrel in place on the cold shot for the same amount of time cools the hair in its new shape, which makes curls last much longer. Skipping it is one of the most common reasons curls drop; see why an Airwrap is not curling.

On older models the cold shot is a separate button you hold or toggle. On the Airwrap i.d. and Co-anda 2x, the automated curl sequence heats, then cools, then pauses for you, so the cold step is built in.

Starting points by hair type

These are starting points. If curls will not hold, lower the airflow before raising the heat. If drying is slow, raise airflow before heat. Our Airwrap how-to covers technique.

Automated settings on newer models

The Airwrap i.d. and Co-anda 2x connect to the MyDyson app by Bluetooth. Dyson's listing says you answer questions about your hair type and length and the tool creates an automated styling sequence. Intelligent attachments recognise themselves and switch to suitable heat and airflow, and the i.d. curl sequence senses movement to wrap, heat, cool and pause automatically.

These features take the guesswork away, but the same principles apply. Compare models in our Airwrap models guide, or see how the Shark FlexStyle handles settings in our Airwrap alternatives guide.

Note:Keep the air intake clear while styling and clean the filter regularly, as a blocked filter makes any setting run hotter.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Airwrap setting for curls? Medium airflow and medium heat suit most hair, followed by the cold shot for the same time. Use higher airflow for thick hair and lower for fine hair.

What temperature does the Airwrap reach? Dyson does not give a single figure on the listings in our guides; it says the tool measures and regulates air temperature to avoid extreme heat. Check Dyson's support pages for your model.

Why does the Airwrap blow my hair off the barrel? The airflow is probably too high for your hair. Drop to medium or low and offer only the ends of a smaller section.

Can I change settings in the app? On the Airwrap i.d. and Co-anda 2x, yes. The app creates sequences based on your hair type and length.