Tag: airwrap
The Shark FlexStyle is easily the best Dyson Airwrap dupe, but we found other contenders under $200
If you somehow predicted that a company best known for its high-end vacuums and air purifiers would also wind up making the world’s most coveted hair tool, please come collect your prize.
We’re talking, of course, about Dyson and its legendary Airwrap. Originally launched in 2018 and then updated in the summer of 2022, the multi-functional styler has earned a cult following for its ability to dry, smooth, and curl without the use of extreme heat. A suite of brush and barrel attachments make it suitable for a range of different hair types and textures — plus, it comes with a case for easy storage.
Priced at a jolting $599.99, the Dyson Airwrap is more expensive than a PlayStation 5, and it used to be just as hard to buy. (We found it in stock at Best Buy, Sephora, Ulta, and on the Dyson website at the time of writing.) Between the current economic climate and TikTok’s de-influencing trend, it seems like people are catching on to the fact that you can achieve similar styling results at a fraction of the cost with the right dupe. The newest and best alternative we’ve tested managed to replicate the Airwrap experience for around $270, but there are several good options well under the $200 mark if you’re willing to make some big concessions.
Our Dyson Airwrap review
For reference, the second-generation Airwrap comes in three different variants for different kinds of hair:
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The Dyson Airwrap multi-styler Complete works best on hair that’s chest-length or shorter
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The Dyson Airwrap multi-styler Complete Long is meant for hair that’s chest-length or longer
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The Dyson Airwrap multi-styler Complete Curly/Coily (featuring a wide-tooth comb attachment) is designed for curly and coily hair
Mashable Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard had high expectations when she took the Complete Long variant for a spin, given its reputation and luxury price point. And while she did get compliments “every single time I styled my hair with this product,” Allard ultimately walked away from her weeks-long trial period thinking the Airwrap was “just fine.” Its learning curve was steeper than she expected, its case took up a lot of room, and it took too long to curl her long hair (with limp, short-lived ringlets). Its smoothing attachments did manage to produce some impressive results, but they still weren’t life-changing enough for Allard to justify the Airwrap’s overall cost.
That being said, Allard noted that there are some types of people who will find the Airwrap more worth it than she did. If you’re someone who heat-styles their hair every day, for example, the Airwrap could prevent you from frying the shit out of your ends. If you like getting ready right after you hop out of the shower — the Airwrap is designed for use on freshly washed hair — it’ll fit effortlessly into your existing routine. And if you have shoulder-length or shorter hair, it could cut your styling time in half. “As someone who’s had shorter hair, I also know that some form of daily styling is usually necessary, so the plus of less damage isn’t negligible,” Allard wrote.
Even if you’re dead-set on buying the Airwrap (more power to you), you should at least be aware of the competition before spending half a month’s rent on a hair tool.
What is the closest thing to a Dyson Airwrap?
First, a little more about the design of the Airwrap: Its base unit features a high-pressure motor that’s powerful enough to produce an aerodynamic phenomenon called the Coanda effect. This creates a spinning vortex of warm air, which attracts and automatically wraps hair around its barrel in either direction to gently dry while adding volume. As this is happening, an intelligent heat control system measures the device’s temperature over 40 times a second to ensure it never ventures beyond 302°F; your hair’s keratin strands typically start weakening when exposed to heat above the 300-degree mark, Dyson says.
For a long time, the Airwrap was the only hair tool of its kind on the market with this kind of styling technology, and no dupe was an exact match or a fair comparison. But in late 2022, a hot new bombshell entered the villa: the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System. (What is it with vacuum companies and fancy hair tools?) It utilizes the same Coanda effect, offers a similar range of attachments as the Airwrap, and even one-ups it with a twistable base that lets it double as a normal hair dryer. But perhaps best of all, the FlexStyle clocks in at a much more reasonable $269.99 — $279.99, if you want to customize its configuration. It’s the absolute best Dyson Airwrap dupe available right now, no contest.
If that price point is still pushing it, you can replicate some Airwrap attachments’ results using more traditional styling tools like hot air brushes and (certain) curling irons and straighteners. To narrow down your pool of options, pinpoint the No. 1 reason why you’re drawn to the Airwrap in the first place, aside from the “minimal heat damage” thing:
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Are you intrigued by the promise of easier at-home blowouts? Your best bet is a round hot air brush like the Revlon One-Step Volumizer (version 1.0 or 2.0). These are great for full-bodied curls or natural waves and work best on hair that’s still slightly damp.
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Are you trying to get your curly hair straighter without completely flattening it? Try a hot air brush with a paddle-style head like the T3 Airebrush Duo or the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Styler, which will smooth hair and minimize flyaways while still adding some volume. (These also work best on towel-dried hair.) A straightener with a built-in fan such as the L’ange Le Duo could be an option, too, though that one’s for dry hair only.
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Are you just plain fascinated by the Airwrap’s ability to pull and twirl hair into perfect ringlets? (C’mon, it’s so cool.) Hunt down a gadget like the Beachwaver, whose spinning barrel produces tangle-free curls in seconds. Use it on completely dry hair.
No matter what kind of device you wind up buying, even if it’s a FlexStyle or an actual Airwrap, consider adding some styling products to your cart while you’re at it. Dyson itself recommends using hairspray to “maximize curls’ longevity” and a heat protectant “whenever possible.” (It can only help.) The company’s Global Lead Stylist Amy Johnson also suggests applying a mousse to your roots while your hair is still wet for extra volume.
More Airwrap competition on the horizon
Revlon recently introduced the $74.99 One-Step Blowout Curls, which is yet another iteration of its One-Step hot air brush with a detachable, vented, ceramic-coated barrel that can supposedly dry and curl at the same time. It’s definitely not a 1:1 dupe like the FlexStyle, but it might be another budget-friendly option for those interested in fast, full volume. Check back to see if it winds up on this list as reviews start trickling in. (Ours is in the pipeline, FWIW.)
Below, you’ll find our guide to the best Dyson Airwrap dupes that are currently available:
6 of the best hair styling tools: Dyson Airwrap, Revlon One-Step, and more
“Hair,” as a Fleabag-era Phoebe Waller-Bridge once put it, “is everything.”
Yes, we’re using this quote four years too late, but its relevance — its practical application — remains too potent for us to ignore. A day where you hair falls a little flat or your part is just off enough can be, in a word, devastating.
Of course, you are more than your hair, but it is nice to feel like you have some control over how to make your locks look good, especially when your standard wash and dry routine decides not to yield presentable results. The key to consistency is having a styling routine you can rely on.
Obvious as that may sound, for some people, hair styling is more than using shampoos, conditioners, mousses, and creams. For the most control over your results, finding the right hair styling tools can be the difference between loving and hating doing your hair every day
What to consider when shopping for hair styling tools
Looking for a hair styling tool is a lot like going to a hair salon. We get that simile is maybe a bit too similar, but stick with us.
Say you have long, pin-straight hair. If you go to the salon with a reference photo of a person who has a textured bob with bangs, and you tell your stylist you want that cut and the only styling you’re willing to do is air drying, one of two things is going to happen. One, your stylist will say “No problem!” and you will end up with a haircut you’re unhappy with. Two, your hair stylist will tell you to get real. And in that latter scenario lies perhaps the most valuable and widely applicable hair guidance out there.
When you’re looking for hair tools, you have to consider your natural texture, how far that is from the look you’d like to achieve, and how much time, effort, and money you’re willing to put into your hair routine. If at the end of the day, you appreciate the ease of air drying your hair and only want curls every now and then, you probably won’t get your money’s worth by dropping $600 on the Dyson Airwrap. You’ll save money going for a curling iron, and occasional styling won’t make that much of a difference in your hair’s health.
If you do find yourself wanting to achieve a different texture than your own most days, hot tools can really help lock in a look for as long as possible. And though your $30 hair straightener from middle school may do the job, there are reasons worth investing more, whether that be saving some time or your hair’s health.
Is heat styling every day bad for your hair?
Simply put, no matter your hair type, the more often you use heat to style your hair, the more prone you are to damage like breakage and dryness. The case is the same whether you’re using standard hot tools or fancy Coanda air technology. Thankfully, this is not an all-or-nothing situation, and there are steps you can take to protect your hair from heated hair tools.
The first thing everyone should do before any styling sesh is to apply a heat protectant. It doesn’t matter if it’s from a drugstore bottle or if it’s a high-end serum — you need to apply some form of protectant beforehand. Otherwise, you’re basically asking for fast-tracked heat damage, which in the grand scheme of things, will likely mean you spend more money getting your hair cut frequently or you spend more time (and use more heat) to style hair that looks dry and dull already, continuing a very vicious cycle.
With all that said, some tools are better for regular heat styling than others. The Dyson Airwrap uses hot air, rather than hot metal plates, to style hair, and maxes out at 302 degrees. And even for people with textured or thick hair, it can provide lasting styles. The benefits of the lower temperatures don’t just apply to air stylers either. Having a tool that maxes out at a lower heat may seem counterintuitive for long-lasting styles, but using lower heat and having to redo some sections is actually better for your hair than ta full-on 400-degree blast.
When to invest in hair styling tech
We won’t sugarcoat it — most of the hair tools on this list aren’t the cheapest. However, it’s because they weren’t designed to simply give you perfectly straightened or effortlessly curled hair. Honestly, a lot of hair tools can do that.
Spending more, however, often means making an investment in your health’s hair, by exposing it more evenly to lower heats while producing the best possible version of the style with minimal effort. Plus, these hair styling tools are built to last, so you won’t be making an investment more than once.
Snag this Dyson Airwrap dupe on sale for nearly $50 off
SAVE $47.49: As of Dec. 7, the T3 AireBrush Duo Hot Air Blow Dry Brush is on sale at Best Buy for $142.50. That’s a savings of 25%.
The holiday season often calls for sprucing up your look. Whether the dry air affects your hair type, or you’re just ready for a change, a dependable hair tool is a great weapon in your style arsenal.
As of Dec. 7, the T3 AireBrush Duo Hot Air Blow Dry Brush is on sale at Best Buy for $142.50. (Keep in mind that this deal expires at 11:59 p.m. CT per Best Buy’s terms for its deal of the day.)
This hot air blow dry brush has topped our list of the best Dyson Airwrap dupes and has become a favorite for hair enthusiasts trying to save money. Featuring a 2.5-inch round brush and a 3-inch paddle brush with up to 15 heat and speed combinations, you’ll be sure to style your hair to your liking. The brush bristles also hold your hair without straining your scalp. It’s also weight-balanced, which means your arm won’t have to do extra work as you maneuver the tool.
With temperatures reaching no more than 200°F, you’ll need a bit of patience in order to get this brush to your desired temperature. The brush also works best on damp hair. That being said, its multiple settings, brush attachments, and capabilities have gotten this hot air blow-dry brush much recognition in the hair and beauty world.
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T3 AireBrush Duo Hot Air Blow Dry Brush
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