Poker straight hair, sometimes achieved using an actual iron, is one of the definitive styles of a Millennial.
But while frazzling your locks and teasing your tresses (an important step in achieving the big hair of the 80s) is looked upon fondly as somewhat of a rite of passage – it seems the younger generations aren’t keen on following in those footsteps.
Before you jump to the defence of these embarrassing yet beloved hair trends (I get it, my crimper was once my prized possession), Gen Z have made this decision for a very good reason.
You see, the nostalgic looks from times gone by may well be iconic, but they were actually wreaking havoc on our hair, and new research has revealed those under the age of 26 aren’t prepared to make the same mistake.
British tech giant Dyson recently collaborated with PureProfile on the “Aussie Hair Survey”, quizzing more than 1000 Australians aged 18-65 years old on their attitudes towards styling.
It found Gen Z are more likely to prioritise hair health compared to other generations, with the youngest among the group stating “great hair” is achieved with natural, effortless and healthy locks.
The findings are a stark contrast to the favoured styles of older generations, casting a new light on those nostalgic memories of perms and chunky highlights.
Interestingly, more than half (58 per cent) of Australians incorrectly believe hair damage is repairable.
Nathalie Moore, the category development engineer at Dyson Hair Care, told news.com.au’s The Beauty Diary it is “impossible to reverse hair damage” – despite the bold claims of some products.
“While you can improve the appearance and feel of damaged hair, it is impossible to reverse hair damage,” she said.
“Once hair leaves the scalp, it is no longer alive and therefore cannot be repaired. While you can make cosmetic changes to give it the appearance of not being damaged, the only way to actually have healthy hair is to protect against damage.”
Ms Moore went on to explain that excessive heat “can break down the building blocks and bonds of hair”, which in turn weakens its elasticity and strength, making it prone to damage. “Damaging the cuticle can make hair feel and look rough, dry, dull and frizzy,” she said.
“Extreme heat can also make hair look limp and lose its natural shape or break.”
SHOPPING: Buy the Dyson Airwrap
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to limit your hair from further damage, including cutting off split ends, the key to maintaining length and healthy hair.
“Split ends can creep further up the hair strand, propagating the damage and eventually a larger section will have to be cut off,” she said.
Another trick to keeping hair healthy is to be proactive and protect from damage occurring.
“Using tools that don’t use excessive heat is a great way of looking after your hair without compromising on the end style,” she explained, stressing Dyson’s hair styling tools are engineered for all hair types.
“They use powerful airflow and intelligent heat control instead of extreme heat to help protect hair’s shine and style hair with no heat damage.”
One of the most revolutionary of its existing three beauty products is the Dyson Airwrap, first released back in 2018.
The tech firm spent six years developing the groundbreaking tool, which uses airflow to curl and shape hair, rather than manipulate strands with direct heat.
Instead, the device uses high pressure blasts of air on a curved surface to create the desired look, a method known as the “Coanda effect”.
It’s important to remember though, no product can guarantee it won’t damage your hair, but if using Dyson tools correctly, you’ll certainly minimise risk.
So don’t ever forget to apply a heat protectant before styling with heat. Dyson may have poured millions of dollars into the science of reducing heat damage, but you still can’t afford to miss that step.
The “next generation” Airwrap hit shelves in June 2022 with a retail price of $949 in Australia, and comes complete with three brush attachments as well as the updated drying attachment complete with the flyaways feature built in to tame unruly strands.
Its two curling barrels, which measure 30mm and 40mm, have also been improved on since the product’s initial launch, with users no longer having to change the attachment to adjust its direction of air flow.
Why the Dyson Airwrap is worth $949
The Airwrap is by far my most used and most loved Dyson beauty tool, regularly saving me from dreaded bad hair days.
But I’ll be honest, it has taken me a long time to get the hang of it, and I’m still not as good as I’d like to be.
However, I’ve come a long way, and can now get a pretty decent result when I invest the time, and the best part is; my hair is always so glossy and healthy after using.
On a day-to-day basis I tend to use the brush attachments most, using the soft square paddle to give a natural straight look while adding volume and shape around the front with the round brush.
My curling attachment generally is used on special occasions, proving just how versatile the device is.
One thing I’ve found from using it the last few years, is that it pays to experiment with hair care products to support what you’re doing with the device.
My curls would often drop out until I started using a dry texture spray. Now they hold beautifully. But I’ve seen others swear by mousse or a strong hair spray. So play around until you find what works for you.
Also, don’t forget to give your curls that blast of cold air as it can really set the style in place.
If you’re using an Airwrap on day two or three after a wash (sames, no one has time to wash their hair every day), make sure you spritz your hair with a heat protectant to re-dampen the hair.
Dyson designed the gadget to work best on locks that have been 80 per cent dried, so it really helps to get strands damp when restyling.
Most of all, have fun with it. Even Dyson wants consumers to enjoy their expensive purchase, as the tech giant recently released a funky new colourway: “Ceramic Pop.”
It features the popular device and all its accessories with a unique blend of turquoise blue, orange and light pick colour scheme.
The Ceramic Pop is also available on the Supersonic hair dryer and the Corrale cordless hair straightener.
Despite only just hitting shelves, the “special edition” colours are already proving popular, with some labelling it “the best colour yet”.
If you have a question about a beauty product or an item you’d like to see road-tested in The Beauty Diary, jump into our official Facebook group where you can join like-minded beauty junkies. You can also catch me on Instagram