Any hair care appliance that uses heat to style will damage the outer protective coating of hair, known as a cuticle. The cuticle is formed of layers of overlapping cells known as scales.
These scales line up perfectly on healthy hair and reflect light, which is why hair appears shiny. However, when hair is subject to temperatures that are too hot, tiny holes will start to appear in these cells, which not only stoops the light reflecting, but eventually leads to breakages.
The Airwrap alternatives we’ve tested don’t drop as low as 300F / 150C, which is the coolest heat setting offered by Dyson’s iconic hot air styler.
Subsequently, they will (likely) cause damage to your hair if used untreated. To mitigate this, always apply a heat protection styling spray before blow drying, and keep the heat level at the lowest setting that still enables the hair to be manipulated into the style you want.