I am incredibly disappointed with my purchase of the Airstraight and Dyson’s handling of this issue thus far. Here’s the background:
I live in Zambia, Southern Africa, and have thick blonde hair that requires both a blow dryer and flat iron to style, a time-consuming process. When I learned about the Dyson Airstraight, one of Time’s Best Inventions of 2023, I was very eager to try it, as it promised to combine both tasks and save significant time.
Months later, in August 2024, I visited family in California, USA, and went to the Dyson Demo store in Santa Clara specifically to try the Airstraight. After a short test, I was convinced to buy it. However, the store staff warned me not to purchase the US model due to voltage incompatibility (USA: 110–120V, Zambia: 220–230V). Based on this advice, I decided to purchase from a country with compatible voltage.
Later, a colleague offered to bring an Airstraight from Romania, where the voltage matches Zambia's. I transferred her $532.32, and she brought the device back for me. Unfortunately, due to frequent power cuts in Zambia, I couldn’t try it immediately. When I finally used it with a plug converter, the airflow seemed weak even on the ‘high airflow’ setting. I assumed I needed more practice.
On the second use, I tried the ‘dry’ setting, but the device displayed a ‘cleaning’ symbol (while silent, oddly), followed by ‘reset’ with an exclamation point and shut off. This has repeated every time I have tried to use it since. I went immediately online for troubleshooting and was shocked to discover hidden in community forums that the Airstraight supposedly cannot be used with a plug converter?? How was I to know this? This contradicts what the Santa Clara staff told me (use in a compatible-voltage country) and other information on Dyson’s website, which suggests converters are acceptable:
“The Dyson Airstrait straightener doesn’t have universal voltage. Each appliance is designed for the specific voltage of the retail country. Therefore, as with our Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and Dyson Airwrap multi-styler, it won’t work in countries with a different voltage, even with a plug adaptor. If travelling, check the voltage of the country matches that of your Dyson Airstrait straightener. You can find the voltage for your appliance in your user manual.”
Yet now, I read this!!!
Do you actually think I am going to read deep into your community forum before purchasing a product when I was previously advised otherwise by your human employee in a shop? I am now stuck with a $500+ product I cannot use, and this was never made clear to me before purchasing. Dyson, I need assistance urgently. Please clarify your policies on converters and voltage and resolve this situation. Otherwise, please help me figure out how I can return this product to you. I cannot believe, despite my best of intentions as a consumer, I have forked out USD500+ for nothing.