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Forbes took two of Dyson’s most hyped hair gadgets and put them head-to-head, offering the kind of glossy gadget duel the coastal elites love to obsess over while the rest of America pays the bills. The outlet’s hands-on comparison frames the Airwrap and the Airstrait as must-have luxury appliances, but the real story is what they reveal about an economy that rewards status over sensible value.
On one side stands the Airwrap, Dyson’s multi-styler that promises salon results with a host of attachments and app-driven features — and a price tag to match. Dyson’s own listings show the Airwrap models in the $600 to $700 neighborhood with multiple specialized barrels and brushes meant to replace an entire countertop of tools; it’s impressive engineering, but it isn’t cheap.
Facing it is the Airstrait, billed as a wet-to-straight solution that uses air instead of hot plates to tame hair in minutes, and it lands at a roughly $500 retail price point. Reviewers note it’s an innovative hybrid that trims styling time, but again the question for ordinary families is whether that half-thousand-dollar convenience is a necessity or a luxury.
Forbes’ testing lens — looking at ease of use, power, temperature control, drying time and attachments — makes for tidy comparisons, but it also highlights a predictable tech-media pattern: more features equal higher praise, regardless of real-world value for the average consumer. Publications love to crown the most feature-rich product, but that doesn’t mean every working American should feel pressured to splurge on the latest status symbol.
There’s no denying Dyson’s engineering is clever; minimizing heat damage and improving styling efficiency are worthwhile goals, and innovation should be celebrated. Conservatives should applaud private-sector ingenuity, but we should also call out the endless cycle of luxury upgrades that markets and media push on people trying to stretch a paycheck. Thoughtful purchasing and fiscal discipline still matter.
If your budget can’t comfortably absorb $500 or $650 for a hair tool, reputable alternatives exist that give much of the utility at a fraction of the price — something even Forbes has acknowledged when recommending more affordable competitors. Smarter shoppers can wait for sales, choose basics that work, or pick a less trendy tool and put the savings toward family needs, retirement, or paying down debt.
At the end of the day this debate is less about curls and straightening and more about priorities. We can admire American and international tech that improves everyday life while still standing firm against the culture of conspicuous consumption. Hardworking Americans deserve advice that respects their money and their values, not another pitch for the next elite gadget dressed up as essential.
