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
