July 09, 2021 at 06:00AM

If you’re not overly familiar with Dyson haircare, let me offer you a brief overview. Back in 2016, the brand, previously known for crafting high-end vacuum cleaners, hand driers, and fans, launched into beauty with the Supersonic Hair Dryer (£300). It promised intense power with minimal noise and, most importantly, minimal heat damage. Then, two years later in 2018, it released potentially one of the most innovative hair tools that the industry had ever seen: the Airwrap (£450), a multi-use tool (again with minimal heat) that offers a full blow-dry experience at home by utilising an air-flow Coanda effect for bouncy curls. In short, Dyson’s track record means that when the brand talks, we listen. 

A small caveat, however, is that Dyson haircare products are exceptionally expensive. The Supersonic will set you back a cool £300, while the Airwrap varies in price from £400 to £450, depending on attachments. With that being said, I’m not ashamed to say I genuinely believe that, when it comes to Dyson, you get what you pay for. Since switching to Dyson hair tools, not only is the condition of my hair so much better, but my styling game has also improved tenfold. So when I discovered that Dyson was launching a new hair tool last year, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

The new Dyson Corrale is a cordless hair straightener that promises quicker styling with half the damage of a standard-plated straightener. When I heard about it, I was intrigued. Initially, however, something didn’t quite sit right with me. My go-to straighteners cost a mighty £175 and have never let me down. I don’t feel like they damage my hair too much, and I don’t really have any gripes (although a cordless option would be amazing). So when I discovered that the Corrale is the first Dyson hair tool to ditch the air technology that I know and love in order to produce a heat-reliant hair straightener that costs an eye-watering £400, I questioned my need for such a thing.

But then I tried it, and I really started to understand what all of the fuss was about. Unlike normal straighteners (although it does curl too, by the way), the Corrale utilises patented flexing, micro-hinged plate technology, which works to shape and gather every strand of hair to prevent them from splaying and pulling. In practical terms, this basically means that one glide is enough to create straight, sleek lengths with no snagging, no pulling and no need to go over sections more than once, drastically minimising heat damage. Essentially, the flexi-plates mean the level of heat required for maximum results is much lower than a conventional straightener. Plus, with three heat options, there really is no hair type that the Corrale doesn’t work for—from tight, coarse curls to thin, fine strands.

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It really does make a difference. When I first sat down in the stylist’s chair, my hair was not in a good way. It looked dry, frizzy, and like it needed a serious deep-conditioning treatment. When I first saw the Corrale, I was blown away by just how chunky it is. In its charging dock, it looks like it could be some sort of weapon. However, once you actually pick it up and get it in your hands, it’s not quite as heavy and cumbersome as you’d expect. It’s heavier than your average pair of straighteners, sure, but it’s by no means uncomfortable to use. Then, the stylist informed me that should you wish to use the Corrale as a wireless, battery-operated straightener, you simply detach the magnetic cord for 30 minutes of cord-free styling when fully charged. The weight suddenly makes sense. 

As the flexible plates grabbed hold of each section and worked their magic, I genuinely could not fathom how seamless and easy each stroke was. Within a matter of minutes, every single strand on my head looked sleek, glossy, and poker-straight. I was impressed to say the least.

But as I stared at my glass-like lengths, I just couldn’t seem to shake off the fact that in order to achieve such a finish, I’d had to spend £400. For someone who doesn’t use straighteners (or any hair tool for that matter) every day, the Corrale seems like a reckless investment. However, if you ever find yourself worried about the amount of heat damage you’re putting your hair through or are simply looking for a quicker, easier way to achieve sleek strands, the Corrale is absolutely worth your time and money.

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This post was originally published at an earlier time and has since been updated. 

Next up, these low-maintenance hair trends are going to dominate in 2021.

Author Shannon Lawlor | Whowhatwear
Selected by CWC

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