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Whether you have long layers or tight curls or participated in the Great Bob of 2023, one thing unites us all — and it’s a desire to try, buy, or swear by their Dyson Airwrap.
At A Glance: Best Dyson Alternatives
BEST BLOWOUT: Revlon One Step Volumizer
MOST SIMILAR: Shark HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
QUICK CURLS: Chi Spin N Curl
TIME HACK: BondiBoost Everlast Airstyler Ceramic Blow Dryer Brush
FOR BOBS AND LOBS: Mane It’s Giving Body Medium Hot Thermal Round Brush
NEWEST GADGET: T3 AIRE 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit
BEST VOLUME: Remington Compact Ceramic Hair Rollers
MOST LIGHTWEIGHT: Wen Brush Dryer Styling Tool
CURL ENHANCING: The Blow Dryer by Pattern
SLEEKEST FINISH: Shark HT202 SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush
Why Does Everyone Love the Dyson Airwrap?
The Dyson Airwrap made waves upon its release (pun intended) for taking a revolutionary approach to the curling barrel. Rather than having to wrap hair around heat in the traditional way, the auto-curl attachment uses air to spin and set each curl without compromising shine, volume, or strength. And while most brands brag about salon-like results, customers felt the Dyson genuinely delivered on that promise.For reference, this tool launched in 2018 and remains one of the most buzzed-about beauty products all these years later.
Then, there’s the uniform approach the Dyson Airwrap takes to each individual curl. Because you don’t have to “wrap” your hair around the barrel — simply hold your hair at the root and let the airflow emitting from the barrel do its thing. (Users can expect the same wave every single time.) The learning curve is non-existent, even for novices who’ve struggled with traditional barrels in the past.
And while this beloved tool has received heaps of praise from all corners of the internet, a complaint heard in almost equal measure is the steep price that rarely lowers for major sale events.
Dyson Airwrap
$599.00
Buy Now On Amazon
The Dyson Airwrap retails for $599 for the complete system, which induces the auto-curl tool, five additional styling attachments, and a storage case.
The Best Dyson Airwrap Alternatives to Buy Online
Now, if you’re not ready to splurge on the Dyson Airwrap but are ready to retire from traditional hot tools, there are affordable alternatives that deliver sleek and bouncy styles with less damage and more shine. We’ve pored over hundreds of products that come with auto-curl attachments, heated round brushes, and hot rollers, and combed through thousands of five-star reviews. Our editorial team has also tested dozens of these Dyson Airwrap alternatives to pinpoint the best ones (the Wen Brush Dryer Styling Tool is underrated and excellent for faking salon blowouts at home; the new T3 AIRE 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit guarantees the perfect curl every time). And efficacy aside? All of the below items are at least half the price of a Dyson Airwrap.
Revlon One Step Volumizer
$40.00
$69.99
43% off
Buy Now On Amazon
With over 482,000 Amazon reviews, the Revlon One-Step Volumizer quickly emerged as the social media darling and Dyson Airwrap alternative. This hot brush makes it easy to perfect salon-quality blowouts, flipped ends and all, with just a few quick passes. It’s especially lauded by reviewers with bangs and long layers because it’s a one-stop tool that makes it easy to spot refresh pieces when needed.
We consider this the best budget-buy on this list, with an on-sale price tag of $40 that does exactly what it’s supposed to do: dry your hair and add some extra oomph. It’s beginner-friendly, too, and this Rolling Stone writer loves how foolproof this is. Just brush your hair as you normally would.
Shark HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
WHAT IT COMES WITH: Two Auto-Wrap Curlers, Paddle Brush, Oval Brush, Concentrator Attachment
$249.99
$299.99
17% off
Buy Now On Amazon
Shark is no stranger to innovation, and the most impressive feature of its HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System is a barrel that folds in half to mimic the L-shaped silhouette of a traditional dryer. This kit also comes with separate attachments (an auto-wrap curler, paddle brush, oval brush, and concentrator attachment) for sleek blowouts and bouncy curls in equal measure.
Chi Spin N Curl
$76.49
$119.89
36% off
Buy Now On Amazon
If you’re the kind of person who manages to mess up the wrapping of a tendril around a hot curling iron… it’s nice to meet you, and we’ve been there. The Chi Spin N Curl follows Dyson’s concept of letting the wind do the work: The Chi “spins” hair into loose curls, holds for four beeps, and releases the curl when ready. Hold sections of hair by the root to avoid tangles, and use the left or right button to create curls in alternate directions.
Having pin-straight hair, we love that the Chi Spin N Curl does the hard work on your behalf. Because our hair is so straight, we find that traditional curling barrels can be difficult to work because we have to wrap my hair exactly right to guarantee an even spiral. We usually end up with one curl that looks like it jumped off of Shirley Temple’s head and another that looks like it wasn’t even touched with heat. The Chi Spin N Curl creates the same curl and texture every single time. We would say this is for someone who wants loose, beachy waves with texture. You won’t get tight ringlets.
BondiBoost Everlast Airstyler Ceramic Blow Dryer Brush
WHAT IT COMES WITH: Smoothing Dryer Concentrator, Angled Dryer Concentrator, 2 Ceramic Air-Wrap Curlers, Ceramic Round Brush, Ceramic Volumizing Round Brush
$188
Buy Now on sephora
The recurring theme amongst BondiBoost Everlast Airstyler Ceramic Blow Dryer Brush reviewers is that it significantly decreases drying time for thicker hair, speeding through the blow dry process without causing frizz. Looking to spend less than 15 minutes getting ready every morning? Consider investing in this. All of the pieces come in a convenient carrying case, too, so you can rest assured they won’t get the lost in the chaos of your bathroom.
Mane It’s Giving Body Medium Hot Thermal Round Brush
$98
Buy Now on sephora
Shorter styles require smaller styling barrels like Mane’s It’s Giving Body Medium Hot Thermal Round Brush, which delivers volume right where you need it: at the root. It instantly lifts bobs and lobs with just a few strokes, making it a worthwhile one-and-done tool that also uses heat-resistant bristles to prevent tangles with each pass.
We notice a big uptick in volume straight at the root, which lasts hours longer than it would with a traditional blow dryer and round brush. This RS writer says that you don’t need to use additional volumizing products like mousse or root life spray, either; our hair gets less greasy and the style holds longer as a result.
T3 AIRE 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit
WHAT IT COMES WITH: Aire 360 Base, 2 Curling Attachments (Left and Right), Oval Brush Attachment, SoftAire® Drying Concentrator, Storage Tote
$299
Buy Now on sephora
The newest buzzy drying tool is the T3 AIRE 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit, and here’s what it can do: straighten, smooth, volumize, curl. Here’s what it can’t do: damage your hair via heat thanks to improved airflow, ceramic curling attachments, and a drying concentrator that protect your hair’s natural moisture. The curling barrel is thinner, too, mimicking loose waves that are more in line with that of a curling wand than a traditional barrel.
One RS tester with long, curly, 2c/3a hair that’s prone to frizz notes that this is a great product against humidity. “I usually default to wearing my hair curly because straightening it can be too big a task to complete without professional help. The T3 meets all expectations I had for an ‘airwrap-esque’ styling tool. It took less than 30 minutes to complete my entire blow out and with a minor amount of product, I was able to wear my hair outside in the thick of a hot NYC summer without any touch ups needed. Highly recommend for anyone considering an alternative to the Dyson.”
Remington Compact Ceramic Hair Rollers
WHAT IT COMES WITH: 5 1.25” Rollers, 5 Medium 1” Rollers, Storage Case, J-Clips
$16.54
$17.99
8% off
Buy Now On Amazon
Lack of dual voltage is a common complaint about the Dyson Airwrap, which isn’t a problem you’ll run into when packing the Remington Compact Ceramic Hair Rollers. According to one Amazon reviewer, these rollers don’t take up a ton of suitcase space and are a budget-friendly alternative that help you avoid voltage constraints. They only take 90 seconds to heat up, can be kept on for about 10 minutes to achieve style, and the included J-clips keep rollers in place without creasing the curl. It’s an easy way to create luxe waves and mega volume that lasts all day.
Wen Brush Dryer Styling Tool
WHAT IT COMES WITH: Heated Brush Base, 38mm Brush Head, 51mm Brush Head, Diffuser, Silicone Storage Mat, Four Alligator Hair Clips, Cleaning Tool
$275
$199
Buy Now on qvc
Chaz Dean is known for his unique take on shampoo (i.e. that it’s stripping, and that you should use a nourishing cleansing conditioner instead) but we’d argue his Wen Brush Dryer Styling Tool deserves equal chatter for its unbelievably lightweight construction; it makes arm fatigue while blowing out your hair a thing of the past. Vertical vents ensure even heat distribution, the diffuser attachment is great for curl definition, and each styling tool comes with a holding case, styling clips, and a round brush cleaning tool.
Chaz Dean told us that he designed this tool specifically so that it doesn’t go above 240-degrees. Heat damage is real, and we notice less split-ends and more shine even with continuous use (think every single day).
The Blow Dryer by Pattern
WHAT IT COMES WITH: Blow Dryer, Diffuser Attachment, Wide Tooth Comb Attachment, Concentrator Nozzle Attachment, Brush Attachment
$189
Buy Now on NORDSTROM
The Blow Dryer by Pattern is specifically designed for curl patterns in the 2A to 4C range and coily, tight hair textures. Each attachment is meant to enhance or smooth without tugging at the root and, efficacy aside, the product itself is gorgeous — an aesthetic step up from the traditional dryers of our past, one with a ceramic coated grill to minimize heat damage, too.
Shark HT202 SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush, Dual Mode
$97.95
Buy Now On Amazon
Some reviewers with thicker curls adore the Shark HT202 SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush. It straightens without damaging hot plates for a shiny, glossy finish that’s free of frizz. Here’s the process: Towel dry your tresses, turn on the blow dryer brush mode to fully dry your hair, then switch to the heated comb mode to finish and smooth.
