Every Dyson Airwrap Attachment Explained — Coanda Barrels, Brushes, Diffuser
What each Airwrap attachment actually does — Coanda barrels, smoothing brushes, volumising brush, Coanda smoother, pre-styling dryer, wide-tooth comb and diffuser.
The full Dyson Airwrap Complete Long ships with up to ten attachments depending on the edition. Here's what each one does, when to reach for it, and which ones you can skip if you're starting with the Origin.
Coanda barrels
30 mm vs 40 mm Coanda barrel — which to choose?
30 mm produces tighter ringlet curls and works on shorter hair (chin to shoulder). 40 mm produces looser waves and beach curls and is the right pick for shoulder-length and longer. The Complete Long includes both; Origin includes both as a smaller pair.
What does 'Coanda 2×' mean on newer barrels?
Coanda 2× barrels (2024+ refresh) double the air-pressure differential at the barrel surface, which means hair grips faster (4–5 s vs 8–10 s) and curls hold tighter. Older Coanda barrels still work — Coanda 2× is an upgrade, not a replacement.
Brushes
Soft smoothing brush vs firm smoothing brush?
Soft brush: shorter, finer bristles for blowouts on fine to medium hair. Firm brush: longer, stiffer bristles that tame thick or coarse hair on the same blowout pass. Most users only need the soft; thick-haired users use the firm primarily and the soft for the final pass.
When do I use the round volumising brush?
Roots and crown for lift. Pull each section straight up from the scalp with the brush, hold 8–10 seconds, then pull back and outward. Best for fine hair that goes flat at the roots.
Coanda smoother
What does the Coanda smoother do?
It's a wide flat attachment that uses Coanda airflow to lay the cuticle flat — your finishing tool after curls or a blowout. Run it from root to tip on each section to seal in shine. Don't try to use it to straighten on its own; it's a finisher, not a primary styler.
Pre-styling dryer
Why is the pre-styling drying attachment important?
Every other attachment assumes hair is at ~80% dry. The pre-styling dryer takes hair from 50% (towel-dried) to 80% efficiently with a wide concentrator nozzle. Without it you can't reach the right starting moisture, which is the most common cause of failed styles.
Newer additions
Wide-tooth comb attachment?
Added in the 2023 refresh — designed for stretching coils on type 3c–4c hair after wash. Detangles while drying, eliminates much of the hand-detangling step. Game-changer for curly textures.
Coanda diffuser?
Also added 2023 — focused airflow that follows curl pattern instead of breaking it. Used in hover mode, not pressed against hair. Best diffuser on the market for low-frizz curl drying.
What can I skip?
If you're price-sensitive, the Origin's reduced kit (Coanda barrels + soft smoothing brush) covers about 80% of daily styling. The volumising brush, firm smoothing brush, wide-tooth comb and diffuser are situational — only essential if your hair texture or daily routine specifically calls for them.
External sources
- Dyson Ltd. — official site — manufacturer specs and warranty terms.
- Coandă effect — Wikipedia — physics behind air-flow hair styling.
- Hair-protein damage thresholds (NCBI) — published research on heat-induced keratin damage.