You finally dropped the cash. That sleek, copper-trimmed box is sitting on your vanity, and you’re ready for the "90s supermodel" hair of your dreams. But then you pick up the Dyson Airwrap round brush attachment and things get... weird. Instead of a bouncy, salon-quality blowout, you end up with a tangled mess or, worse, hair that falls flat before you even leave the bathroom.
It's frustrating.
Most people treat this attachment like a standard ceramic brush they’d use with a traditional dryer, but that's the first mistake. The Airwrap isn't a hair dryer in the legacy sense; it’s a high-velocity airflow tool that relies on the Coanda effect to manipulate hair. If you fight the physics, you lose. I’ve seen professional stylists struggle with this specific attachment because they try to muscle it. You don't need muscle. You need technique.
Honestly, the round volumizing brush is probably the most misunderstood piece of the entire Dyson kit. It’s not just for "brushing" your hair dry. It’s a finishing tool designed to create tension and shape. If your hair is too wet, it won't work. If it's too dry, it won't set. Finding that sweet spot—about 80% dry—is where the magic actually happens.
The Physics of the Dyson Airwrap Round Brush
Let’s talk about those bristles. Unlike the firm smoothing brushes that have those little ball-tips, the round brush uses fine, soft bristles that are specifically designed to tension the hair without snagging. This is crucial. When the Airwrap motor pushes air through the core of the brush, it’s directed outward through these bristles.
The heat isn't coming from a red-hot metal plate. It's coming from the air.
Dyson’s Intelligent Heat Control measures the airflow temperature over 40 times a second. This keeps the air under 150°C (302°F). Why does that matter for your blowout? Because traditional round brushes often reach temperatures that literally bake the hair cuticle. The Dyson Airwrap round brush relies on the transition from heat to cold to "lock" the hydrogen bonds in your hair into a new shape.
If you aren't using the cold shot, you're essentially wasting your time. You’ve heard this before, right? But people skip it. They get impatient. They want to move to the next section. But without that 10-15 second blast of cold air while the hair is still wrapped around the bristles, the style has zero structural integrity.
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Why Your Volume Keeps Vanishing
You want lift at the root. We all do.
The biggest error I see is people pulling the brush down away from their head. Gravity is already working against you; don't help it. To get that "Pinterest hair" look, you have to over-direct the hair. This means pulling the brush up toward the ceiling or even slightly forward toward your forehead.
Think about the angle.
By the time you reach the ends of your hair, you should be rotating the brush constantly. This isn't just for the curl; it’s to ensure the airflow hits every single strand evenly. If you just hold it still, the inner layers of the hair section stay damp while the outer layers get over-dried.
The "Small Round Brush" vs. The Large One
Dyson eventually realized one size doesn't fit all. They released a smaller version of the volumizing brush, and for many, it was a game-changer.
- The Original (Large) Brush: Best for long hair and creating those soft, "C-shape" curves at the ends. It's great for fringe if you want that curtained look.
- The Small Round Volumizing Brush: This is the secret weapon for bobs, lobs, and anyone with fine hair that refuses to hold a shape. Because the barrel is narrower, you can get much closer to the scalp.
If you have short layers, the large brush is basically useless for volume. It’s too big to create the necessary tension. You end up just smoothing the hair rather than lifting it. If you've been underwhelmed by your Airwrap and have shoulder-length hair, swapping to the smaller attachment is usually the "ah-ha" moment.
Breaking Down the Prep Work
You can’t just jump in. Well, you can, but your hair will look like a tumbleweed by noon.
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The Dyson Airwrap round brush requires a "grit" factor. If your hair is too slippery—maybe you went heavy on a silicone-based serum—the bristles won't be able to grab the hair. You need a volumizing mousse or a root lift spray. I’m a fan of the Color Wow Raise the Root or the Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse. These products provide the "tack" the brush needs to create tension.
- Rough dry first: Use the Coanda smoothing dryer attachment until your hair feels damp but not dripping. If you see "steam" (which is actually water vapor) coming off the brush, the hair is too wet.
- Sectioning is non-negotiable: I know, it’s a pain. But taking 2-inch sections ensures the airflow can actually penetrate. If the section is too wide, the hair on the edges just flies away and gets frizzy.
- The Tension Technique: Place the brush underneath the section at the root. Lift. Hold for a few seconds to dry the base. Slowly glide to the ends, rotating as you go.
It takes practice. Your arms might get tired the first few times.
Tackling the "Frizz" Problem
A common complaint is that the round brush leaves the hair looking "fluffy" rather than sleek. This usually happens because of "flyaways" being pushed out by the air. To fix this, you have to master the exit.
When you get to the end of a hair section, don't just pull the brush out. Roll it all the way up to the scalp, hold the power button up for the cold shot, count to ten, and then turn the machine off before unwinding. This prevents the "whirring" air from blowing your perfectly shaped curl into a chaotic mess as you remove the tool.
It's a subtle move. But it makes a massive difference in the final polish.
Maintenance Most People Ignore
When was the last time you cleaned your Airwrap filter?
If the light is flashing or the machine feels like it’s losing power, it’s not the brush’s fault. The round brush attachment requires significant air pressure to work correctly. If the filter at the bottom of the handle is clogged with dust and hairspray residue, the motor can't push enough air through the bristles to create the Coanda effect.
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Use the little circular brush that came in the box. Scrub the filter cage under warm water with a bit of dish soap if it’s really gunky. Dry it completely. You’ll be shocked at how much better the round brush performs when the motor can actually breathe.
Also, look at the bristles on the brush itself. Over time, they can get bent if you store the attachment haphazardly. Store it upright or in the case. If the bristles are splayed, they won't grip the hair, and you'll lose that essential tension.
Real Talk: Is it Better Than a Traditional Blowout?
For some people? No.
If you have extremely curly, Type 4 hair, the Dyson Airwrap round brush might not provide enough tension to get the roots "silk-press" straight. You might find you still need a traditional blow dryer and a boar-bristle brush for the initial stretch.
However, for Type 1 to Type 3 hair, it’s a revelation for scalp health. Because you aren't pressing a 400-degree metal barrel against your strands, you'll notice significantly less breakage over time. I’ve talked to users who swear their hair has actually grown longer since switching to the Airwrap because the ends aren't snapping off from heat damage.
It’s about the "look." A traditional round brush gives a very stiff, "set" look. The Airwrap gives a more modern, airy, "lived-in" volume. It’s less "pageant queen" and more "off-duty model."
Actionable Steps for Your Next Wash Day
Don't give up on the round brush yet. Try this specific sequence next time you wash your hair:
- Step 1: Apply a heat protectant and a volumizing mousse to the roots while hair is soaking wet.
- Step 2: Dry your hair to 80% using the smoothing dryer attachment. Your hair should look messy and "big" at this stage.
- Step 3: Section your hair into at least four quadrants. Start at the bottom.
- Step 4: Using the round brush, take a section no wider than the brush itself.
- Step 5: Place the brush on top of the section and rotate inward for a sleek look, or underneath and rotate outward for volume.
- Step 6: Hit the cold shot for 10 seconds on every single section. No exceptions.
- Step 7: Once the whole head is done, don't touch it. Let the hair "set" for five minutes while it finishes cooling.
- Step 8: Flip your head over, shake it out, and use a tiny drop of hair oil—like the Olaplex No. 7—to smooth only the very ends.
If you find that your hair still won't hold the shape, consider the "pin curl" method. After using the round brush and the cold shot, immediately roll that warm section of hair into a circle and pin it to your head with a clip. Let it stay there until you’ve finished your makeup. When you take the pins out, the volume will be triple what it would be otherwise.
The Dyson Airwrap round brush is a precision instrument. It’s not a magic wand that does the work for you, but once you stop fighting the airflow and start using the tension to your advantage, you'll never go back to a standard hair dryer. It’s about working with the physics of air, not just the brute force of heat.