Bought an expensive air styler and disappointed with the results? You're probably making one (or all) of these 5 common mistakes. Here's what Reddit users learned the hard way—so you don't have to.
"I Spent $500+ and It Doesn't Even Work"
This is one of the most common complaints on Reddit's hair care communities. But here's the thing: in 95% of cases, the tool isn't broken—the technique is wrong.
"I finally figured out why my $500 air wrap wasn't working. I was making literally ALL of these mistakes. Once I fixed them, it's like I have a completely different tool."
— Reddit user, r/HaircareScience
These 5 mistakes are so common that fixing just ONE of them can transform your results. Fix all five? You'll wonder why you ever struggled.
Mistake #1: Styling on the Wrong Hair Moisture Level
What People Do Wrong:
They style on soaking wet hair (just out of the shower) or completely dry hair (hours after washing). Both are wrong.
❌ Why it doesn't work:
- Too wet: Heat evaporates water instead of setting the style. Curls fall out in 30 minutes.
- Too dry: Hair won't wrap around the barrel properly (especially with Coanda airflow). Requires excessive heat.
The Fix:
The 80% Dry Rule: Your hair should be damp to the touch but not dripping wet.
✅ How to test:
- Touch your hair—it should feel cool and slightly damp
- No water should come off on your hand
- Hair looks darker than when fully dry, but not shiny-wet
How to get there:
- Air dry for 30-60 minutes after towel-drying
- Blow dry on low heat for 5-7 minutes
- Use a hot air brush attachment for 5 minutes (fastest method)
Reddit wisdom: "The 80% dry rule changed everything for me. Curls now last all day instead of 20 minutes."
Mistake #2: Skipping the Cool Shot
What People Do Wrong:
They curl their hair with heat, then immediately release and move to the next section. No cooling step.
❌ Why it doesn't work:
Heat opens the hair cuticle and makes it moldable. But if you don't cool the hair while it's in the curled shape, the curl never actually "sets." It's like baking cookies and taking them out before they're done—they'll just collapse.
The Fix:
The Hot-to-Cool Technique: After curling each section with heat, immediately blast it with cool air for 5-10 seconds before releasing.
✅ The right way:
- Wrap hair around barrel, apply gentle heat for 8-10 seconds
- Press the cool shot button, blast for 5-10 seconds
- Release the curl
- Don't touch it for at least 30 seconds (let it cool completely)
Why this works: Heat reshapes the hair. Cool air closes the cuticle and locks in that shape. This is what makes curls last 8-12 hours instead of 1-2 hours.
Reddit wisdom: "I was skipping the cool shot because I thought it was optional. IT'S NOT. This one change made my curls last 10x longer."
Mistake #3: Using Sections That Are Too Large
What People Do Wrong:
They grab a huge chunk of hair (2-3 inches) and try to curl it all at once to "save time."
❌ Why it doesn't work:
- Airflow can't penetrate the entire section
- Outer strands curl, inner strands stay straight
- Curls look messy, undefined, and fall out quickly
- Hair tangles around the barrel
The Fix:
The 1-1.5 Inch Rule: Use sections no wider than 1-1.5 inches.
✅ Why smaller sections work better:
- Coanda airflow wraps every strand evenly
- Heat penetrates the entire section
- Curls are more defined and uniform
- Curls last significantly longer
- Less tangling and frustration
"But won't that take forever?"
Counterintuitively, no. Smaller sections actually style faster because:
- You only need 8-10 seconds per section (vs. 20+ seconds for large sections)
- You don't have to re-do sections that didn't curl properly
- Total time: 10-15 minutes vs. 30+ minutes of frustration
Reddit wisdom: "I thought smaller sections would take longer. Nope—I'm done in half the time now because I'm not fighting with huge chunks of hair."
Mistake #4: Relying on Extreme Heat Instead of Airflow Technology
What People Do Wrong:
They crank the heat to maximum (400°F+) thinking "more heat = better curls."
❌ Why it doesn't work:
- High heat damages the hair cuticle over time
- Damaged hair is frizzy, brittle, and doesn't hold curls well
- You're creating a vicious cycle: more damage = worse results = even more heat
- Tools that rely on extreme heat usually have weak airflow (compensating with heat)
The Fix:
Choose Airflow Technology Over Brute-Force Heat: Modern air stylers should use powerful motors and Coanda technology, not just extreme temperatures.
✅ What to look for:
- High-RPM motor (110,000+ RPM) for powerful Coanda airflow
- Moderate heat (max 230°F) that protects hair while still delivering results
- Enhanced Coanda technology that wraps hair naturally using aerodynamics
- Hot-to-cool alternating built into the workflow
The science: Coanda airflow uses high-velocity air to wrap hair around the barrel. When combined with gentle heat (not extreme heat) and immediate cooling, you get:
- Curls that last just as long (or longer)
- Significantly less heat damage
- Healthier hair that holds styles better over time
The GLAMUP FusionPro uses a 110,000 RPM motor with max 230°F heat—proving you don't need extreme temperatures to get salon results.
Reddit wisdom: "Switched from a 400°F tool to one with better airflow and lower heat. My hair is healthier AND my curls last longer. Wish I'd known this sooner."
Mistake #5: Not Prepping Hair Properly
What People Do Wrong:
They style freshly washed, product-free hair—especially if they have fine or straight hair.
❌ Why it doesn't work:
- Clean, straight hair is too slippery—curls slide right out
- No heat protection = damage over time = worse curl retention
- Fine hair has no grip or texture to hold the curl
The Fix:
Prep Your Hair for Success: Use the right products before styling.
✅ The prep routine:
Step 1: Heat Protectant (Everyone)
- Apply to damp hair before any heat styling
- Protects cuticle from damage
- Actually helps curls last longer (healthy hair holds styles better)
Step 2: Texturizing Product (Fine/Straight Hair)
- Sea salt spray for beachy texture
- Volumizing mousse for fine hair
- Texturizing spray for slippery/straight hair
- Gives hair "grip" so curls actually stick
Step 3: Smoothing Serum (Thick/Curly/Frizzy Hair)
- Pea-sized amount on damp hair
- Reduces frizz and makes styling smoother
- Don't use too much or hair gets greasy
Pro tip: Second-day hair (slightly dirty) actually holds curls better than freshly washed hair. The natural oils provide grip.
Reddit wisdom: "I have super fine, straight hair. Adding texturizing spray before curling was a GAME CHANGER. Curls actually stay now."
Bonus Mistake: Touching Curls Before They're Cool
This one is so common it deserves a mention:
❌ What people do: Release the curl and immediately run their fingers through it, brush it, or start styling the next section while touching the previous curl.
Why it fails: Warm hair is still moldable. Touching it = reshaping it = losing the curl.
✅ The fix: After releasing each curl, don't touch it for at least 30 seconds. Let it cool completely. Then (and only then) you can gently finger-comb or shake out.
The Complete "No More Mistakes" Routine
Here's how to avoid all 5 mistakes in one streamlined routine:
The Reddit-Approved Routine:
Prep (5-7 min):
- Wash and towel-dry hair
- Apply heat protectant to damp hair
- Apply texturizing spray (fine/straight hair) or smoothing serum (thick/curly hair)
- Dry to 80% using hot air brush, blow dryer on low, or air dry
Section (2 min):
- Divide hair into 4-6 sections
- Clip up what you're not working on
Style (10-12 min):
- Take 1-1.5 inch sections (not huge chunks)
- Wrap around barrel using Coanda airflow
- Apply gentle heat (max 230°F) for 8-10 seconds
- Immediately blast with cool air for 5-10 seconds
- Release and don't touch for 30 seconds
Finish (2 min):
- Once all curls are completely cool, gently finger-comb or shake out
- Optional: light hairspray for extra hold
Total time: 19-23 minutes
Result: Salon-quality curls that last 8-12 hours without damage
Why the Right Tool Makes Avoiding Mistakes Easier
You can have perfect technique, but if your tool is working against you, you'll still struggle.
❌ Tools That Make Mistakes Easy
- No cool shot button (easy to skip)
- Weak motor, relies on high heat
- No heat adjustment (one-size-fits-all)
- Single-purpose (need multiple tools)
- Long preheat times between swaps
✅ Tools That Make Success Easy
- Built-in cool shot (can't skip it)
- 110,000 RPM motor (airflow > heat)
- Adjustable heat (customize to hair type)
- 6-in-1 attachments (dry + style seamlessly)
- One-click swaps (no waiting)
The GLAMUP FusionPro is designed to make the "right" technique the easy technique:
- Hot air brush gets you to 80% dry in 5 minutes (Mistake #1 solved)
- Built-in cool shot button makes hot-to-cool alternating automatic (Mistake #2 solved)
- Powerful 110,000 RPM motor works on small sections efficiently (Mistake #3 solved)
- Max 230°F gentle heat protects hair while delivering results (Mistake #4 solved)
- One-click attachment swaps let you prep and style without losing momentum (Mistake #5 solved)
Quick Mistake Checklist
Before you start styling, run through this checklist:
| Check | Yes/No |
|---|---|
| Is my hair 80% dry (damp, not wet or bone-dry)? | ☐ |
| Did I apply heat protectant? | ☐ |
| Did I apply texturizing product (if I have fine/straight hair)? | ☐ |
| Am I using 1-1.5 inch sections (not huge chunks)? | ☐ |
| Am I using gentle heat (max 230°F) with strong airflow? | ☐ |
| Will I blast each curl with cool air for 5-10 seconds? | ☐ |
| Will I avoid touching curls until they're completely cool? | ☐ |
If you can check all 7 boxes, you're set up for success.
The Bottom Line
If your air styler "doesn't work," you're probably making one or more of these 5 mistakes:
- Wrong hair moisture level (needs to be 80% dry)
- Skipping the cool shot (heat shapes, cool sets)
- Sections too large (use 1-1.5 inches max)
- Relying on extreme heat instead of airflow technology
- Not prepping hair with the right products
Fix these five things, and your "broken" tool will suddenly work like magic. Because it was never broken—you just needed the right technique.
Which mistake were you making? Share in the comments—you're definitely not alone!
