Sennen Prickett
After trialling a plethora of hair tools, our beauty experts have curated their tried and tested guide to the best Dyson Airwrap alternatives that offer a multitude of salon-worthy styling capabilities - but at a fraction of the cost.
Collectively boasting decades of testing experience, the woman&home beauty team know a thing or two about hair tools. While we're all fans of the Dyson Airwrap thanks to its innovative air-powered design and ability to create multiple hairstyles, we also can't help but recognise its investment-worthy price tag. Pro hairdresser and JOICO ambassador Gill Berry, says "[The Airwrap has] made a significant impact on the world of hair styling and has become essential within [some] homes across the UK. However, with a high price point, many often look for alternatives."
Ever since the launch of the iconic air styler in 2018, many other brands on the market have been quick to follow suit by releasing their own takes of multi-styler - just take the Shark Flexstyle vs Dyson Airwrap for example. So, with all that said, we put the said air stylers through a rigorous testing process in order to scout our the very best Dyson Airwrap alternatives that don't require you to splurge £500 on a hair tool.
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The best Dyson Airwrap alternatives at a glance
RRP: £249.99
Equipped with six styling attachments, this Bellissima tool offers the most similar experience to the well-loved Dyson Airwrap. Though the airflow wasn't overly powerful, this styler delivered impressive long-lasting results in our tester's fine hair, which usually struggles to hold styles.
RRP: £220
While this Beauty Works styler is admittedly slightly noisier than the Airwrap, it does bolster stellar results. Our tester noticed it is quick to dry strands, boost volume and impart bouncy salon-worthy curls that those with fine and flat hair will appreciate.
RRP: £299
Well-equipped with attachments for styling versatility, Shark's multi-styler is a nice reasonably-priced tool that can create a range of different looks. It also comes with a brilliant zip-around case with sections for each attachment.
RRP: £179.99
Though it is admittedly quite a noisy tool, the T3 AireBrush Duo is a very smooth operator. It is, however, very fast and packs in a volume boost function that those with fine and flat hair will appreciate.
RRP: £75
Already a steal at £75 for four attachments, the Air Style 1000 from purse-friendly hairstyling brand BaByliss is often discounted even further, making it extra good value. Sure, it may not be the quietest or most technologically advanced option, but it's a decent styler and great for those on smaller budgets.
RRP: £99
With three styling options, we were very impressed by this Barbie pink tool. It's lightweight, smooths hair pretty easily and quickly, plus the results last well – and all for just under £100.
The best Dyson Airwrap alternatives, reviewed by our beauty experts
The best Dyson Airwrap alternative overall
Reviewed by: Sennen Prickett
Firstly, I love how this tool arrives with a soft velour storage bag rather than a solid hard case like others on the market. It’s both chic and makes the tool easy to store - especially with its specific sections designed for each attachment. While we’re talking aesthetics, the chocolate brown and bronze colourway also looks extremely luxe.
As for user experience, upon first impressions, I noticed the airflow isn’t awfully powerful (especially with the dryer attachment) so drying time can take a little bit longer. However, on a positive note, it also means you can be more precise with your styling. I do already have naturally straight hair but the detangling brush only took one pass through my strands to take the puffiness out of my locks and leave them sleek, smooth and shiny.
In terms of curling attachments, they did a great job at creating bouncy ringlets. Although my hair doesn’t hold air styles very well, thanks to it being straight and lengthy, my hair still boasted a flicky, blowdry-esque appearance a day after styling - which is impressive as even my Dyson Airwrap doesn’t do this. If I'm being super picky, the only slight negative note I’d make is that the attachments can get quite hot, so aren’t great for interchanging mid styling session. That said, I can easily overlook this as I found the results are very much worth it.
I typically find round brushes don't do much to my straight strands, however both the round and oval brush attachments created impressive volume, body and bounce. Both brush heads weren't too bulky and passed through my hair without tugging, which allowed for a manageable styling session. All in all, if you're looking for a multi-styler that can deliver an array of salon-worthy hairstyles, this is a stellar option. However, for those wanting a fast and fuss-free drying experience, it might be worth opting for a more powerful tool such as the Beauty Works Aeris Multi-Styler.
The best Dyson Airwrap alternative for styling attachments
Reviewed by: Sennen Prickett
At face value, this air styler from Beauty Works boasts an array of similarities to the Dyson Airwrap, from its oval hard storage case to almost identical attachments. Not to mention, its specs wind up closely to that of the Dyson's, including weight, dimensions, cord length (2.5m), speed options and temperature settings. Costing you half the price of an Airwrap, it comes as no surprise that the Beauty Works Aeris makes a great alternative multi-styler.
As for using the tool itself, I find it evenly distributes the airflow which allows for a fast drying experience without getting too hot, meaning it's comfortable when placed near the scalp. In all honesty, the uncanny results between the Aeris and Airwrap took me by surprise. Take it from me, I've tested the curling wands on half of my hair using the Dyson Airwrap and the other with the Beauty Works Aeris and I couldn't tell the difference - it's that good. It also leaves my hair with that 'just stepped out of the salon' volume and bounce, which is impressive to someone with fine, limp hair like mine.
I find its wider and longer length attachments are perfect for those looking to effortlessly style long locks, just like mine, without getting into a tangled mess. However, I can imagine they might be slightly too bulky for those with shorter strands.
That said, there are a few noticeable differences between the two tools, one being that the Aeris is quite a bit noisier than the Dyson, but the noise is nothing out of the ordinary that your typical dryer wouldn't produce. Additionally, the Aeris doesn't come with a diffuser attachment, nor is there the option to buy one, therefore I'd suggest an air styler such as the Shark Flexstyle would be better suited to those with curly or wavy strands.
Read our full Dyson Airwrap vs Beauty Works Aeris review for a detailed analysis of this multi-styler.
The best Dyson Airwrap alternative for a bouncy blowout
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim and Lucy Abbersteen
If you’ve used the Shark Hair Dryer you’d probably be just as excited as we were to try the FlexStyle. After all, it's the only tool here that uses the Coanda effect – the same hair-wrapping airflow technology as the Airwrap. It also has the largest number of attachments of any rival we’ve tried (five, to be precise). So, it will come as no surprise that it's also the most expensive Dyson Airwrap alternative in our selection.
Our beauty channel editor Fiona McKim has tested the Shark FlexStyle and says she could achieve pretty much everything that she can do with the Airwrap. "From a bouncy blow dry with the oval brush to beachy waves with the auto-wrap curlers, it's all here," she says. "There is a bit of a knack to it, but if you know how to use the Dyson Airwrap, you'll have this down in seconds. I found styles were just as easy to create and lasted a similar amount of time." Though it's a bit heavier and noisier than the Airwrap, McKim notes that you won't get much closer from a more affordable option.
Contributing beauty editor Lucy Abbersteen agrees that it's a well-equipped multi-styler that dries and styles pretty well, yielding a nice, smooth finish. "The case is also a standout feature," she says. "With a smart design, sections for each of the attachments and zip-around closure, it's definitely a huge plus point in terms of storage and travel functionality."
The best Dyson Airwrap alternative for smooth results
Reviewed by: Stephanie Maylor
This is a blow dryer brush that gives you options. There's a rounded brush head for creating curved and bouncy styles and added volume, as well as a flatter paddle brush head that's purely a smooth operator.
But really where this tool sets itself apart from the masses are the plentiful heat and speed settings – there are five temperatures and a cool shot to choose from, which is far more precise than your usual two or three, as well as three different speed settings. This makes it very customisable for different hair types, which we love to see. Not only that, both ceramic and ion technology have also been incorporated into this impressive dryer brush, meaning that frizz is countered and shine boosted to contribute to salon-like results. For those with fine hair, there's also a volume booster shot as seen on some of T3's hair dryers, which gives hair brilliant added lift.
If we are being super picky in the interest of balance, for those who like a bigger brush head to get lots of volume the 64mm rounded brush head might not be large enough, so it might have been nice to have a larger option available – even if it has to be purchased separately. But it's not something we're particularly hung up on; you can create so much volume while retaining a smooth finish that the AireBrush has earned itself a place in our hearts.
Read our full T3 AireBrush Duo review for a detailed analysis of this blow dryer brush
The best budget Dyson Airwrap alternative
Reviewed by: Stephanie Maylor
With four attachments, not only is this similar to Dyson's styler, it’s a great value option, too. The downside? It’s a lot louder – but, then again, not many can rival Dyson’s quiet motor. It doesn’t feature the Coanda effect either. Instead, the Babyliss Air Style acts like a traditional blow-drying tool that requires wrapping the hair around the barrel yourself. This can be tricky, especially when you want to direct curls in different directions away from the face.
BaByliss advises hair is 80% dry before styling. It’s more time-consuming than all-in-one tools like Revlon's One-Step Volumiser, which styles hair from wet, but it does come with a drying nozzle, so you have everything you need to take hair from sopping to smooth. Attachments also click in and out of the base with ease. The paddle brush nozzle didn’t do as much as I’d hoped in terms of smoothing the frizzy hair at my roots, but it did get my hair in a better position to use the conical curling tong. Attachments do get hot during styling, so the heat-proof glove proved very useful in switching heads without scalding.
Overall, I think this tool is excellent value for money. It’s lightweight and fairly simple to use, and one that pro hairdresser and BaByliss ambassador Syd Hayes often recommends. “If you blow dry often, this styler makes it so much easier as you don’t have to hold a dryer and a brush,” he says. “It does the hard work for you and gives the perfect result."
The best Dyson Airwrap alternative for waves and curls
Reviewed by: Stephanie Maylor
I was blown away by how good this tool is and I have to say, I am quite taken with the hot pink colourway. The first thing I noticed (besides the pink) was how light it is; I didn’t get the usual arm ache while blow-drying.
As with similar tools, your hair should be mostly dry before styling with this, but the drying attachment quickly ensured my hair was ready to be smoothed in five minutes. The 60mm oval barrel then did so nicely; it is quite large but still managed to curl my hair under at the ends. I was slightly worried that the bristle tufts, despite being flexible, would tangle in my hair, but it didn’t knot up at all – neither did they in my daughter’s slightly finer hair.
Of all tools on this list, I achieved the best ringlets with the 32mm curling attachment – they were so bouncy and didn’t drop as quickly. Sure, this tool doesn't swirl hair around the barrel like the Airwrap does for you, but the cool tip is a good enough size to avoid burning your fingertips as you wrap sections around the barrel. The result is a great bouncy blow-dry in a box, with a silky-smooth finish that won't have you reaching for the best hair straighteners afterwards.
How we tested the best Dyson Airwrap alternatives
A selection of the hot brushes tested for this guide
To write a definitive guide to the best Dyson Airwrap alternatives, I tested lots of different tools over several weeks, washing and styling my hair with all of the various attachments in each kit. I also tested a few of them on my daughter to see how they performed on her shorter, finer curly hair versus my long, coarse and wavy hair, and included some of the opinions of fellow woman&home beauty contributors, too.
When testing, I assessed how each tool felt to hold, the number of attachments, the heat and speed settings, how easy it was to switch attachments and the technical specifications such as weight and warranty. Each one was used on freshly washed hair (where possible, as not all of them work on wet hair) and dry hair to thoroughly assess how they worked in different scenarios. To curate this edit of the very best Dyson Airwrap alternatives, I also evaluated each one's ability to smooth, volumise and curl hair – and, of course, affordability was taken into account too.
How to choose the best Dyson Airwrap alternative
The hair tools in this guide come as close to replicating the results of a Dyson Airwrap – and a hair stylist’s blow-drying technique – as possible on a smaller budget. Any of them will help you create a salon-worthy finish at home, but naturally they are all slightly different. To help you find the right tool for you, it's important to think about what you need from your styler based on the below:
- Attachments: If you want a versatile tool that can create sleek, smooth styles as well as bouncy curls, look at the number of attachments included. While the Dyson Airwrap comes with six – with more available to purchase separately – some rivals still come with five or six for multiple styling options.
- Settings: A choice of heat and speed settings will allow you to tailor your tool to your specific hair type. For instance, if your hair is fine, it may work well with lower temperatures, while thick and/or curly hair often requires something a bit higher.
- Extra features: Like the Airwrap, some air stylers will not only style hair, but also simultaneously dry it, minimise frizz and more, meaning you don’t need to splurge on the best hair dryer as well. If you're looking to replace your dryer at some point, this will save you even more money.
- Hair type: The best tool for you will largely depend on your hair type. Very straight and fine hair that doesn't curl easily can require oomph to persuade it into place, while naturally curly hair will likely need a tool that creates good tension to achieve a lasting sleek finish. Finer and fast-drying hair often doesn't need as high heat and airflow as thicker hair, so when choosing your styler, think about how well your hair can hold a curl, too.
- Hair length: Also keep in mind the length of your hair; some attachments may work well on Rapunzel-esque lengths, while others won't be quite so effective or easy to use on shoulder-skimming bobs, for example.
- Price: An obvious one, but it's important to consider how much you can (and want to) spend before you start shopping. This will help you to refine a list of possible options.
Our Expert Panel
Stephanie Maylor is an established beauty editor with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. She has written and edited for a wide range of titles, including Grazia, OK! and woman&home.
Fiona McKim has been part of the woman&home beauty team for more than a decade. During that time she has interviewed countless experts, reported backstage at Fashion Week and judged the woman&home Beauty Awards.
Sennen Prickett is a Digital Beauty Writer for woman&home where she covers the latest beauty launches, celebrity-approved trends and puts an array of beauty products to the ultimate test to see if they're worth investing in. She is also a judge for the annual woman&home Beauty Awards.
Gill Berry is a highly experienced creative hairdresser and an ambassador and educator for haircare brand JOICO.
Syd Hayes is a renowned hair stylist and the owner of the Q Cut salon in Kew Gardens, London. He is also an ambassador for BaByliss and has worked on countless photo shoots and fashion week shows during his career.
What is a cheap alternative to the Dyson Airwrap?
If you want a cheaper alternative to the Dyson Airwrap, there are plenty of tools out there that offer similar wet-to-dry styling, as well as volume-boosting and smoothing dry styling, via a range of different attachments - many of which made this guide. If you can stretch your budget to £100 then you have plenty of choice, including the BaByliss Air Style 1000 (£75) and the Mermade Hair Interchangeable Blow Dry Brush (£99). However, those who are will to spend up to £250 can bag a stellar like-for-like alternative, such as Bellissima's The Prodigy, which arrives equipped with almost identical styling attachments and capabilities.
Is the Dyson Airwrap worth the investment?
The answer to this question isn't as clear cut as a yes or no answer, in fact it mostly depends on your personal hair type, hair needs and styling preferences. We can't ignore its hefty price tag, however if you can afford it and you're going to use the tool on a daily basis then it's well worth the investment. It is incredibly versatile, essentially combining one of the best hair dryers with the best curling irons, smoothing tools, best hair dryer brushes and more, meaning you do get more bang for your buck.
So, if you're in the market for an all-in-one hair tool then and Airwrap might just be the answer. That said, if you're unsure whether it will work for you, we recommend trying the air styler out for yourself first before purchasing - whether that be at a Dyson store, borrowing a friend's or utilising Dyson's 35-day money back guarantee scheme.
How similar are hot brushes to the Dyson Airwrap?
How similar a tool is to the original Dyson Airwrap will depend on the brand and model, and whether it’s more important to you that your tool looks like the real deal or gives you like-for-like results. We must give a notable mention to the Envie 3-in-1 Hair Styling Brush which stylistically is the closest match (they’ve copied the signature grey and pink colourway) but, as the only other tool on our list to use the auto-suctioning Coanda effect, the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Hair Drying System has the most comparable results.
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