Not so long ago, hair tools were all about heat, with the general consensus being ‘the hotter the better’. Now, in a world where scalp health and damage-free strands are paramount, the industry has moved away from clamping and scorching strands into submission. Instead, more of us are reaching for devices that use fast, focused airflow to shape hair with a lower risk of breakage. I’d argue that the Dyson airwrap – first launched in 2018 – set the tone for that change.
Its appeal is easy to understand: one tool that dries, curls, smooths and boosts volume, all without relying on extreme temperatures. The downside, of course, is the price, hovering around the £500 mark for the newest model.
Which begs the question, do you really need to spend that much? From Shark’s flexstyle to Revlon’s volumiser brush, I’ve been busy putting a range of airflow-powered stylers through their paces to see which genuinely rival the original (and which aren’t worth using up a plug socket).
Read more: 6 best hot brushes that deliver a salon-quality finish, according to a beauty editor
The best Dyson airwrap alternatives for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 air styler: £229.99, Sephora.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Revlon volumiser: £49.99, Boots.com
- Best for quick drying and styling – Amika hair round blow dryer brush 2.0: £95, Sephora.co.uk
How we tested
For this review, I trialled a selection of tools over the course of a month. I paid close attention to the various settings on each appliance, including different temperatures and speeds, as well as the numerous attachments in each set. I looked at how well the devices dried and styled my hair, how long that style held, and how easy it was to change between attachments, to assess which were the best alternatives to Dyson’s airwrap. For more details of my testing criteria, scroll further down this round-up.
Read more: I tested ghd’s new speed hair dryer, and my other styling tools are now redundant
Shark flexstyle 5-in-1 air styler
Best: alternative to Dyson airwrap overall
Suitable for: All hair types and lengths
Number of attachments: Six (two curling barrels, a paddle brush, oval brush, concentrator, and diffuser)
Heat settings: Four, including cool shot
Speed settings: Three
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Multifunctional
- Style holds for long wear
- Suitable for all hair types
- Adjustable heat and speed settings
- Fast drying
- Stylish storage case
This has been a game changer in my hair routine. The lightweight, versatile and multifunctional tool made drying and styling a breeze – so much so, I think it’s on par with the airwrap, even though it’s £200 cheaper.
It was easy to swap between the six attachments, which helped add volume, minimise frizz, and hold my desired look in place for hours.
The device can be folded at the click of a button, or lengthened to full stretch, which made styling those hard to reach areas simple, and avoided any arm strain. I used the hairdryer and diffuser with the handset collapsed into an L-shape, but lengthened the handle when I used the brushes or barrels on my hair, as it made curling tresses at the back effortless.
Similar to the Dyson airwrap, this Shark tool uses Coanda technology, which is when the powerful airflow collects and wraps the hair around the barrel, to create a neat curl. This function worked to hold in place the section of hair being styled, preventing it from unravelling, without disrupting other set curls, which consequently created a silky-smooth, frizz-free head of curls.
Almost all of the attachments worked well on wet, damp and dry hair, except the barrel attachments, which I found was most effective on dry hair.
The three heat settings and separate cool shot button (which helps set your style in place), combined with the three speed settings, made it easy to control the tool, no matter which attachment I used. Top marks all round.
Buy now £229.99, Sephora.co.uk
Revlon salon one-step hair dryer and volumiser
Best: budget Dyson airwrap alternative
Suitable for: Mid to long length hair
Number of attachments: Zero
Heat settings: Three, including cool setting
Speed settings: Two
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Dries and styles simultaneously
- Adds volume
- Creates a sleek finish
Take note
- The bristles can cause hair to tangle slightly
- Too thick a barrel for cropped hair
- Heat and speed settings cannot be adjusted separately
I’ve been turning to this reliable hair tool for years. The chunky barrel bristle brush is fitted with a combination of short fine boar bristles and thicker nylon pin bristles with protective bobbles on top, to avoid scratching the scalp. The dual bristles, combined with the tool’s air flow technology enable air to be distributed evenly through the hair shaft, while negative ions work to de-frizz locks, for a smooth finish and bouncy wave.
I’ve found Revlon’s volumiser is most effective when used on slightly damp hair but I also use it to give dry hair added volume and a bit of a refresh.
While the settings can be adjusted easily by twisting a dial, it’s not possible to tailor the heat and speed separately – you can either opt for high heat and speed, or mid heat and a gentle airflow.
The brush dried and styled my hair effectively but it was noisy and took longer than other stylers to do so, especially when my hair was wet. The device also doesn’t come with any interchangeable attachments – although, there are other Revlon models with that function, such as the one step volumiser plus (£42.85, Amazon.co.uk).
However, if you are searching for a basic yet effective tool to create a blow-dry look for even less, I would recommend this one.
Buy now £49.99, Boots.com
Beauty Works aeris multi-styler
Best: alternative to the Dyson airwrap for ingenuity
Suitable for: All hair types
Number of attachments: Six (dryer, 30mm and 40mm multi-directional barrel curler, paddle brush, oval brush and extra large round brush)
Heat settings: 60C, 90C, 120C and cool shot
Why we love it
- Easy to insert adjustments
- Multi-directional barrel design
- LCD screen
- Adjustable heat setting shown in degrees
- Numerous attachments to suit all hair types
Take note
- Settings are very sensitive
- Didn’t set style as well as some other hair tools
This Beauty Works styler comes with numerous attachments (similar to the Dyson airwrap), all of which were easy to interchange, thanks to the quick release button, and they locked in securely. Meanwhile, the powerful airflow dried and styled my hair swiftly, while the ionic technology made a noticeable difference when it came to how smooth my hair looked.
A favourite feature of mine was the LCD display screen, which showed the exact temperature of each heat setting, so I knew how much heat was being applied to my hair – there’s no vague ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’ here.
However, a quick blow dry was not quite so speedy when I used the concentrator tool. I had to focus on smaller sections, which would not be ideal for those who have thick hair or are pushed for time. Even when we used the highest speed and temperature settings, the airflow was meek, and it failed to dry my hair as quickly as some other tools. The other attachments, however, fared better.
The brush attachments are fitted with dual tangle-free bristles, which swept effortlessly through my hair, detangling it painlessly, while the oval volumising brush combed through my hair easily, whether dry or wet, achieving a sleek, glossy finish.
It was the barrels that particularly impressed us, though. The set includes one 30mm barrel for tight waves, as well as a 40mm barrel for loose waves, and both are fitted with an innovative multidirectional switch at the top of the attachment, so you can change the direction of the air flow, depending on which section of your hair you’re working on.
Though impressed with the design, I found the barrels did not hold large sections of hair, and, no matter the setting, the airflow blew out the ends of my hair rather than drawing them into the barrel. Also, no matter what attachment I used, I found the style dropped out – so, this tool is perhaps best for those wanting a soft tousled finish.
Buy now £220, Boots.com
Bellissima Italia 8-in-1 air wonder hot air styler
Best: multifunctional Dyson airwrap alternative
Suitable for: All hair types
Number of attachments: Eight (concentrator, detangling brush, extra large volumising brush, 50mm round brush, 32mm round brush, 19mm curling iron, diffuser)
Heat settings: Three, including cold shot
Speed settings: Two
Why we love it
- Numerous attachments
- Ceramic and keratin coating for ultra shine
- Reduces frizz
- Lightweight
- Includes drawstring bag to house the tools safely
Complete with a plethora of attachments to create an array of styles, this tool does the job of numerous gadgets in one, and all for less than the Dyson airwrap.
The ceramic and keratin coating on the attachments, combined with ionic technology, effectively tamed my frizzy hair and left it feeling super silky. The airflow technology is complemented by the design, as there are air vents in each attachment, to allow even distribution from the roots to the ends of the hair, to avoid heat damage.
The attachments were easily interchangeable, though they got very hot quite quickly, so, use with caution, especially when styling close to the roots, or changing the attachment. I’d also note the heat and speed settings are combined, so it’s not possible to adjust them separately.
The ergonomic handle features an in-built lock, which twists to secure the attachments in place, for extra safety, although, I found this could be temperamental at times. Almost all attachments worked well to dry and style my hair simultaneously. However, I would recommend using the curling tool – which created tousled waves rather than tight ringlets – solely on dry hair.
Buy now £129.99, Boots.com
Ghd rise volumising brush
Best: alternative to the Dyson airwrap for short and mid-length hair
Suitable for: Fine hair
Number of attachments: Zero
Heat settings: 185C
Speed settings: One
Why we love it
- Heats up quickly
- Comfortable bristle to detangle and style hair
- Lightweight
- Compact
- No noise
- Auto switch-off
Take note
- Does not dry hair
I have relied on my trusty ghd original straighteners for more than 20 years (they’re still going strong) as well as the brand’s curling wand, for tighter ringlets and Hollywood waves. However, to achieve a soft blow-out look, similar to that created by the Dyson airwrap, I opted for this volumising brush.
The main difference between ghd’s volumising brush and Dyson’s airwrap is the former does not have a drying setting, and cannot be used on wet hair, nor does it include multiple interchangeable attachments.
Rather than adjustable heat settings, this tool features ultra zone technology to monitor heat levels. It reaches a maximum temperature of 185C and tamed my fuzzy mane quickly.
A standout feature for us was the 5mm comb-like teeth on the wand – a welcome alternative to the conventional boar or nylon bristles found on other hair tools. The sturdy brush slid through my hair seamlessly and detangled knots without burning or scratching my scalp when it touched the roots. The narrow barrel created soft, small curls (rather than big bouncy styles), while the slim wand added volume at the roots, reduced any flyaways, and left my hair super soft after just one sweep.
Buy now £179, Boots.com
Drybar the double shot blow-dryer brush
Best: alternative to the Dyson airwrap for mid- to long-length hair
Suitable for: All hair types
Number of attachments: Zero
Heat settings: Three, including cool shot
Speed settings: Two
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Multipurpose
- Can use on damp or dry hair
- Adds volume
- Dries hair quickly
- Helps to achieve tighter curls and neater waves
Take note
- Best when hair is towel dried, slightly damp or bone dry
- Smaller barrel than Amika or Revlon
This model has similarities with Revlon’s volumiser, and I found it a useful time-saving tool that dried and styled my hair into neat waves. Similar to Dyson’s airwrap, the Drybar blow-dryer brush’s powerful air flow helped create a bouncy salon-like blow dry, with the ionic technology minimising any rogue flyaways, while the nylon and tuft brushes detangled my knotted hair effortlessly.
I noted the barrel was slightly smaller in diameter than Amika’s and Revlon’s heated brushes, which made it easier to add extra volume at the roots, and created slightly smaller and tighter curls.The brush is suited to all hair types but those with cropped hair may struggle to get the barrel around their shorter tresses. Ideal for beginners, this tool will give you a polished hair style with minimal effort.
Buy now £125, Boots.com
Amika hair round blow dryer brush 2.0
Best: alternative to the Dyson airwrap for quick styling
Suitable for: All hair types
Number of attachments: Zero
Heat settings: 110C, 87C and 46C
Speed settings: Two
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Super soft ergonomic handle
- Creates big waves
- Dries and styles hair within 10 minutes
- Dial feature to adjust speed and heat
Take note
- Heat and speed settings can’t be adjusted separately
- Slightly larger barrel brush than Drybar
Comparable with the Drybar and Revlon hair appliances, this heated brush is similar to the round brush attachments on the Dyson airwrap. The oval barrel is fitted with nylon ball-tip bristles and shorter bristles, which, combined with the tourmaline-coated barrel detangled, dried and curled my locks seamlessly, while minimising frizz and adding extra shine and volume.
The adjustable dial allowed us to switch between different temperatures and speeds with ease. However, while the instructions specified exact temperatures, these are not displayed on the device itself, which is a shame.
Nevertheless, Amika’s multifunctional tool worked wonders on my hair – transforming my tresses from scraggly locks to sleek thick voluminous curls within 10 minutes. This is one of my preferred heated brushes, thanks to its lightweight and uber soft ergonomic handle, too.
Buy now £95, Sephora.co.uk
Your questions about Dyson airwrap alternatives answered
What is the best Dyson airwrap alternative?
I’ve tried various hair tools in search of the best affordable alternatives to Dyson’s airwrap but my ultimate favourite is Shark’s flexstyle. The powerful motor propelled the airflow across different heat and speed settings, which worked seamlessly with every attachment, and helped to create a variety of sleek, frizz-free, long lasting styles.
Meanwhile, the Revlon, Drybar and Amika brushes are ideal for beginners looking for a fuss-free, time-saving tool that will create a blow dry finish at home.
How I tested Dyson airwrap alternatives
To see which tools were worthy of truly rivalling the Dyson airwrap, I swapped the devices into my regular wash-day routine and styled my mid-length, frizz-prone hair with each one in turn. Here’s what I assessed during testing:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Maisie Bovingdon is a lifestyle journalist with more than a decade of experience across ecommerce, fashion, beauty, health and wellness. For IndyBest, she’s reviewed everything from hair straighteners and foundations to pilates equipment, thoroughly testing each product to bring you her honest opinions and help you track down the options that offer the best value for money.
For more volumising hair tools, read our review of the best hot brushes for a next-level blow-dry
