Best Dyson Airwrap alternative 2024: Create curls and waves for less
Want soft, natural-looking curls without having to pay hundreds for a Dyson Airwrap? We round up our favourite alternative curling tools
Dyson’s Airwrap is a legitimate hairstyling phenomenon. Although the complete set will set you back just short of £500, Dyson reports that four Airwrap styling tools are sold every minute. And retailers stocking the product have noted waiting lists into the thousands.
All that said, there are a number of reasons you might prefer to look for an alternative to the Airwrap. The biggest is likely to be price: while the Airwrap offers versatile styling and might be a good investment for those who curl their hair often, at almost £500 it’s a lot for many of us to spend right now and the price may not be good value if you style at home less frequently. While its many accessories add to the tool’s versatility, a complete Airwrap styling set will also take up a reasonable amount of dressing table or cupboard space.
So, below you’ll find a list of our favourite Airwrap alternatives that offer gentle styling for a soft, shiny and healthy finish, at more pocket-friendly prices. But first, read our guide on how to choose the best alternative styling product for you.
READ NEXT: The best hair straighteners to buy
Best Dyson Airwrap alternative: At a glance
| Best overall | Beauty Works Aeris Multi-Styler (~£220) | Check price at Lookfantastic |
| Best Airwrap alternative for curl automation | BaByliss Wave Secret Air C1900U (~£150) | Check price at Babyliss |
| Best Airwrap alternative for styling damaged hair | T3 Airebrush Duo (~£170) | Check price at T3 |
| Best Airwrap alternative for a natural-looking curl | GHD Oracle (~£195) | Check price at We do hair & beauty |
How to choose the best Dyson Airwrap alternative
What is the Dyson Airwrap?
Dyson’s Airwrap Multi-styler is a curling wand that uses air instead of direct heat to style the hair into waves, curls and ringlets. Instead of a heated metal barrel, the Airwrap makes use of a phenomenon called the “Coanda” effect, where air blowing through slots around the barrel creates a pressure differential, causing the air to flow in a circle. Placing a lock of dry or damp hair near the Airwrap will see it wrap around the tool, where it takes on the shape of the barrel. The Airwrap offers curling barrels in two sizes, as well as smoothing and volumising brushes.
What should I look for in an alternative product?
The Airwrap’s big selling point is hair health – the air-styling method allows hair to be styled at lower temperatures than a typical metal barrel, reducing breakage and damage. It also allows hair to be styled from damp rather than dry, reducing the time needed for styling. Like the Airwrap, our alternatives also focus on hair health.
Most of our Airwrap alternatives use air as their main drying method, which means they can be used on wet or damp hair. This means you can skip blow-drying and get straight to styling. Some of our alternatives use heated plates. These can only be used on dry hair, but our chosen tools include features such as ceramic coating and ionic technology, which protect hair in other ways.
We’ve also looked for tools that provide different temperature settings, allowing you to select the healthiest temperature setting for your hair’s texture. Finally, we’ve selected products that give a natural-looking curl.
What products should I use with my Airwrap alternative?
Gentle heat, ceramic plates and ionic technology can all help protect the hair – but always use a good silicone or polymer-based heat-protection product with your chosen curler to keep damage to a minimum and your finished style in place for longer. Apply your spray or serum to sectioned hair before styling. You can optionally finish with a spritz of hairspray to add hold to your finished look.
How we test Dyson Airwrap alternatives
At Expert Reviews, we know that the best way to test a product is to use it ourselves. As such, we test all the alternatives to the Dyson Airwrap on our own hair, either at home or at a product demonstration. We test on clean, dry hair (or damp, if this is recommended) having used a heat protection spray.
We first note the method the tool uses to style – whether that’s a heated barrel, hot air, or a combination of the two – and, where applicable, we test the various heat and timer settings on offer. We then record the time taken to style a full head of hair, noting both the hair length and hair texture upon which the tool is being tested – and, whenever possible, we test on more than one hair type.
As well as evaluating the overall ease of use of each Dyson Airwrap alternative, we assess its comfort in the hand in use, and the softness and feel of the hair after curling. We also confirm the weight and dimensions of the hair-styler and note any extras included in the box. Finally, we assess how long the finished style lasts over the course of a typical day.
READ NEXT: The best heat protection spray to buy
The best Dyson Airwrap alternatives you can buy in 2024
1. Beauty Works Aeris Multi-Styler: Best overall Dyson Airwrap alternative
Price when reviewed: £220 | Check price at Lookfantastic
The Beauty Works Aeris Multi-Styler stands out as an exceptional alternative to the Dyson Airwrap. Featuring six attachments, including two automatic airflow curling wands of varying diameters, three hot brushes, and a hair dryer attachment, this multi-styler offers both an automatic curling experience and the flexibility to create sleek styles or an effortless bouncy blow dry.
Despite its more wallet-friendly price – a substantial £260 less than the Airwrap – the Aeris Multi-Styler delivers outstanding performance. In our trials, its styling prowess not only matched that of the Airwrap, but it surpassed its maximum wind speed, which made it even easier for the Aeris to grip onto the hair. With three speed settings, three precise temperature options, and a cool shot, all conveniently displayed on a screen, users have extensive control over their styling preferences.
When it comes to hair curling, this multi-styler produces impressively long-lasting curls that maintain their shape. Its user-friendly design makes it simple to operate – and, with a bit of practice, users can achieve shiny, smooth and uniform results. For those seeking a comprehensive styling solution, the Beauty Works Aeris Multi-Styler offers a remarkable proposition at a modest £220 price.
Read our full Beauty Works Aeris Review
Key specs – Styling method: Hot air with Coanda effect hair wrapping; Barrel sizes: 30mm, 40mm; Heat settings: 3; Cool blast: Yes; Cord length: 2.5m
2. BaByliss Wave Secret Air C1900U: Best for curl automation
Price when reviewed: £150 | Check price at BaByliss
One of the advantages of Dyson’s Airwrap is its simplicity – rather than having to wrap your hair around the curling wand, you simply hold your hair near the tool and the Coanda effect will wrap your hair for you like magic. BaByliss’s Wave Secret also takes the effort and guesswork out of curling your hair: all you have to do is insert the end of your hair into the jaw-like entrance to the curler, then wait while a small motor pulls the hair into the device and wraps it around for you. The Wave Secret then beeps to let you know your hair is ready, and releases a short burst of cool air onto your hair to set the curl as you gently remove the tool.
The Wave Secret offers three temperature settings, so you can choose the best one for your hair type and texture, and it automatically alternates the direction of the curl on each lock to create a natural finish. The tool is slightly bulky in the hand, but not too heavy. Curls are soft and shiny and last well with a spritz of hairspray.
Since the Wave Secret creates just one kind of curl – a fairly loose ringlet – it’s less versatile than the Airwrap; but as it comes in at a third of the price of Dyson’s tool, it’s a great alternative if you’re looking for self-winding curls. For a tighter curl, try the brand’s sister product, the Curl Secret.
Key specs – Styling method: Ceramic barrel with Auto-Curl motor; Barrel size: 40mm; Heat settings: 3; Cool blast: Yes; Cord length: 2.5m
3. Revlon One Step: Best for a quick and easy blowout
Price when reviewed: £63 | Check price at Argos
Revlon’s One Step is one of our favourite styling tools, combining air drying with heat styling in a neat and effective styling tool. The One Step blows hot air through vents in the side of a ceramic-coated brush, drying and styling hair at the same time. The clever oval-shaped design means that you can flick the hair into curls using the curved ends of the brush, or smooth the hair over the flatter, paddle-brush side. In addition, ionic technology leaves hair looking healthy and glossy.
The full-sized version of the One Step can be a little tricky to manoeuvre under the roots of the hair, but a newer addition to the range for shorter hair features a smaller oval brush. This more easily lifts, smoothes and creates volume at the roots while adding bouncy curl to the ends. The One Step offers two heat settings plus a Cool Blast mode to set your style. It’s a very well-priced alternative to the Airwrap if a bouncy blowout is your desired goal.
Read our full Revlon One Step review
Key specs – Styling method: Hot air with ceramic-coated brush; Barrel size: N/A; Heat settings: 2; Cool blast: Yes; Cord length: 2m
4. T3 Airebrush Duo: Best for styling damaged hair
Price when reviewed: £170 | Check price at T3
Launched last year, T3’s stylish white and rose-gold Airebrush Duo includes both a flat paddle brush and a small round brush (both with ceramic coatings), which means you can switch the attachment depending on whether you’re in the mood for sleek or curly styling. Its five temperature settings are cooler than average, with the maximum set at 85ºC, and all are gentle enough to use safely on dry, damaged and brittle hair. The three airflow settings can be independently selected for extra styling versatility, plus there’s a cool shot feature to seal the cuticle and set your finished style.
The Airebrush uses ionic technology to reduce drying time and to hydrate, giving hair a soft, frizz-free and glossy finish. Like the Airwrap, the Airebrush can be used on damp hair, saving you time since you can dry as you style. This is a good option for those who want to blow-dry from damp and like to switch up their look between curls and smooth styles.
Key specs – Styling method: Hot air with ceramic-coated brush; Barrel size: 64mm; Heat settings: 5; Cool blast: Yes; Cord length: 2.7m
5. GHD Oracle: Best for a natural-looking curl
Price when reviewed: £195 | Check price at We Do Hair & Beauty 
GHD’s Oracle is a ceramic-plated curler – and like the Airwrap, it’s a curler developed with hair health very much in mind. The Oracle heats up to GHD’s optimal styling temperature of 185ºC, using U-shaped ceramic plates surrounded by a “cool zone” to create curls as the hair is pulled through; the motion is similar to gliding a pair of scissors along a ribbon to curl it. By varying the angle and speed at which you use the tool, you can create a wide range of curl effects, from Hollywood ringlets to loose curls and mermaid waves.
The gliding method results in a more natural-looking curl than traditional tongs, and a soft and shiny finish. It also reduces damage compared to curling at higher temperatures. There’s a slight learning curve to creating curls using the Oracle, but both GHD’s in-salon instructions and online videos are helpful. We found that the curls produced by the Oracle were soft and lustrous, with hair looking and feeling healthy immediately after styling. If hair health and a natural finish are your main reasons for looking at Airwrap alternatives, the Oracle could be the tool for you.
Read our full GHD Oracle review
Key specs – Styling method: Ceramic-coated, U-shaped styling plates; Barrel size: N/A; Heat settings: 1; Cool blast: No (but tool includes a cool zone); Cord length: 2.7m
6. Shark FlexStyle Air Styler & Hair Dryer: Best for versatility
Price when reviewed: £300 | Check price at Argos
The Shark FlexStyle launched earlier this year and is the closest to Dyson’s multi-styling tool you’ll find on the market. The styling wand uses the same air-powered Coanda effect to wrap hair around a barrel to create ringlets; and this styling set includes a paddle brush for smooth styling, an oval brush for volume, and concentrator and diffuser attachments so you can use the FlexStyle like a normal hairdryer. There are three temperature and three speed settings, which can be independently selected using the two buttons on the handle, along with a cool shot for setting your curls.
Unlike the Airwrap, the FlexStyle has only one size of barrel (31.75mm), so there’s less variety to the size of ringlets you can create. To change the direction of the curl, you’ll physically need to change the barrel from the clockwise to the anti-clockwise option (the direction of airflow is marked on the barrels); the Airwrap allows change of direction with the simple flick of a switch. However, the FlexStyle produces smooth and bouncy curls, and with its array of attachments it’s the most versatile of our Dyson alternatives. It isn’t exactly cheap, but at around £200 less than the Airwrap, the FlexStyle could be a good option if you’re looking for the nearest equivalent to the Airwrap at a budget-friendlier price.
Read our full Shark FlexStyle review
Key specs – Styling method: Hot air with Coanda effect hair wrapping; Barrel size: 31.75mm; Heat settings: 3; Cool blast: Yes; Cord length: 2.44m
7. BaByliss Hydro Fusion 4 in 1: Best for a soft and shiny finish
Price when reviewed: £80 | Check price at Boots
The BaByliss Hydro Fusion 4 in 1 brush uses BaByliss’s patented Advanced Plasma technology, which delivers a combination of negatively charged ions to break up the water molecules for faster drying, and positive ions to distribute moisture through the hair, leaving locks looking shiny and feeling healthy and hydrated. The tool comes with a paddle brush for drying hair straight, and an oval-shaped ceramic barrel for a more voluminous blow-dry. There’s a quick-drying attachment, too, to rough-dry hair before styling, and a smoothing brush to reduce frizz and flyaways.
The 1000W brush features two temperature settings plus a cool setting. In addition, it’s light in the hand, easy to manoeuvre and super-simple to use. Both the paddle brush and the round brush give good results that last all day, and thanks to the combination of ceramic coating and ionic technology in the brush, hair feels soft and shiny after styling. A good addition to the Hydro Fusion range.
Read our full BaByliss Hydro-Fusion 4-in-1 review
Key specs – Styling method: Hot air with ceramic-coated brush; Barrel size: N/A; Heat settings: 2; Cool blast: Yes; Cord length: 2.5m