Dyson Corrale Hair Straighteners review: is this cordless tool a friend to curly hair?

Price: Currently £299.99, Dyson

Our rating: 9 out of 10

We like:

• Three heat settings
• Cordless
• Flexing copper plates
• Comes with a heat-resistant travel pouch

We don’t like:

• Heavy
• Expensive

What are the Dyson Corrale Straighteners?

Dyson’s Corrale straighteners are the only straighteners with flexing copper plates, which maximise your control as they shape to gather your hair. The plate technology creates a straighter style compared to Dyson’s other model, the Airstrait, which uses heated air instead of hot plates. While the Airstrait dries and straightens your hair at the same time, the Corrale can only be used on dry hair, but it leaves you with a more classic straight look.

Unlike the Airstrait, the Corrale has a portable design. You can use it cord-free for up to 30 minutes after charging it and it requires less cleaning because it doesn’t use air, therefore it doesn’t have a filter cage to clean.

How we test hair straighteners

A good quality hair straightener is an investment, so we put Dyson’s Corrale through its paces to see if it is really worth the hype. We paid particular attention to five key aspects: the design, usability, ease of use, safety and results.

As someone with curly hair, I have extensive experience with straighteners. I’ve used ones that have fried my hair, others have given me a sore arm and some have been so weak I wondered if they were even turned on. Another important factor that we took into consideration was how long the straightened look lasted for. Could my hair endure my commute, a full day in the office plus a 5km run and remain frizz-free?

Design: 8/10

The Corrale is available in three glossy colourways and comes with a travel dock as well a heat-resistant travel pouch, so you can have it with you on the go. Neither the straighteners nor the pouch are bulky, so it can easily be brought on holiday (and can be stowed in your hand luggage thanks to its flight-ready tag that disconnects the battery to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations).

Its round design means it sits comfortably in your hand. However, you can feel the Corrale’s expensive price tag when you hold it. It is heavier than other straighteners because of its battery, so this is something to bear in mind if you struggle with other straighteners; it might be worth going to a store and holding it for yourself to get a feel for it.

Usability: 9/10

The instructions are clear and the straightener is very intuitive to use. It takes less than 30 seconds for it to heat up to the hottest setting. The OLED screen is simple to read and you can effortlessly switch between the three temperatures. You can also hold the power and temperature buttons down to change between celsius and fahrenheit.

The cable is 10.5ft long, making it unchallenging to manoeuvre when doing awkward-to-reach sections at the back. But one of the real highlights of this straightener is that it is also cordless. It takes 70min to fully charge the battery for 30min of cordless styling, or 40min to reach 90 per cent charge.

Ease of use: 10/10

The curved design sits comfortably in your hand and makes it easy to do back sections yourself confidently, even for beginners.

The flexible plates mould to your hair and give you more control compared to other straighteners that clamp down and tug at the strands. This reduction in dragging your hair means less heat damage, too. It took me an average of two passes per section of hair to achieve a smooth finish, which was a great result compared to my usual three or four with other straighteners. I cut my average straightening time by almost a third on my first go at using the Corrale.

Safety: 10/10

One of the major selling points of the Dyson Corrale is that it has three heat settings; 165C, 185C and 210C. You should avoid exposing your hair to temperatures above 200C and the different temperatures of the Corrale give you the ability to tailor your experience to your hair texture.

Many people, myself included, have left the house and suddenly been overcome with dread as they question whether they turned their straightener off or not. With the Corrale that stomach-plummeting feeling is no more because if left unattended with the power on for longer than five minutes, the plates will automatically switch off and if it’s left for a further five minutes, it will turn off completely.

Results: 10/10

The finished look paid for itself in compliments when I went into the office. “Glassy”, “healthy” and “you look like Cher” (the biggest compliment of all) were used to describe it. And you know what’s even better? It lasted. It stood the test of four sweaty Tubes and a 5km run. It was soft to the touch and even the front pieces, which are prone to frizziness, remained tamed.

Technical specifications

The Dyson Corrale are the brand’s first and flagship pair of straighteners which are designed to be used on dry hair, while the newer Dyson Airstrait straighteners can straighten hair from wet. Here’s how they stack up against each other.

This was my first time testing a Dyson hair product, and it lived up to my high expectations. The Corrale was easy to use and the polished design made for an enjoyable experience, however, the weight was a slight let down – but with the cordless aspect and all of its other features, I don’t think the weight is a major turnoff.

Its price, £400 at full price, is steep. It is a big investment – but, if you are someone who regularly straightens their hair, the Corrale will change the game for you. Not only is it easy and effective, but it protects your hair from heat damage, which is all the more important if you are regularly exposing your hair to high temperatures.

FAQ

What makes Dyson hair straighteners different from other brands?

It has three different temperatures and uses flexible copper plates that shape around your hair to create straight hairstyles with minimal heat and tugging.

Are the Dyson Corrale Straighteners cordless, and how long does the battery last?

Yes, it is cordless. It delivers up to 30 minutes of cordless styling and takes 70min to reach full charge (40min for 90 per cent).

How do the Dyson Corrale Straighteners work differently to the Dyson Airstrait?

The Corrale uses flexible hot plates and can only be used on dry hair whereas the Airstrait uses airflow to dry and style wet hair.

Should I apply any products in my hair prior to straightening?

It is recommended to use a thermal protectant when using any product that uses heat to style your hair.

What material are Dyson straighteners made from?

The Coralle features a four-cell lithium-ion battery and the plates are made from manganese copper.