THE DYSON Airwrap is a coveted hair tool, especially when party season rolls around, and for good reason.
There’s no denying the Dyson Airwrap is a clever bit of kit, but with prices starting around £450, it’s a serious investment.
Dyson Airwrap I.D
£479.99 from Dyson
Luckily, there are brilliant alternatives that deliver a salon-worthy finish at a fraction of the price.
We’ve tested standout options from Shark, Nicky Clarke, Revlon, and Babyliss to see what really holds up through frosty mornings and festive nights out.
They also make a smart gift if you’re ticking off your list early.
Curious how the original stacks up? Read our reviewer Sophie’s Dyson Airwrap i.d review for the full lowdown.
And if you prefer a sleek, straight finish over a big blow-out, head to our best hair straighteners guide to find your next styler.
Best Dyson Airwrap dupes at a glance
Want to compare prices? Here are all the prices of the Dyson Airwrap dupes we’ve put to the test.
- Revamp Curl Air Style 7 in 1 Ionic Hair Airstyler,
£179.99£119 at Boots – BUY HERE - Shark FlexStyle System,
£269.99£169.99 from Shark – BUY HERE - Babyliss Corded Electric Air Styler,
£75£35 from Boots – BUY HERE - GHD Rise Professional Hot Brush,
£179£134 from GHD – BUY HERE - Nicky Clarke AirStyle PRO Dryer and Styler, £249.99 from Amazon – BUY HERE
- Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Air Styler 5-in-1,
£80£40 from Argos – BUY HERE
Best Dyson Airwrap dupes UK
Revamp Curl Air Style 7 in 1 Ionic Hair Airstyler
REVAMP Dynamic Radiance Pro Blow Dry 7-in-1 Ionic Air Styler
£119.99 (was £179.99) at Boots
Pros: Affordable, holds a curl extremely well and leaves nice waves for days after, easy to use, detachable styling heads, a twisting head function to get closer to the root, and fairly quiet
Cons: Feels like it could be hotter
Rating: 9/10
Price Difference with Dyson: £360 cheaper
I tried the Revamp Curl Airstyler after having no experience with the brand before, and was completely sold within half an hour.
Not only is this the quickest form of air styling I’ve ever done, but the rotating head function goes above and beyond other models, allowing you to get close to the roots for extra volume and coverage.
There are 7 different heads, including two barrels, a diffuser, a barrel brush head, a paddle hot brush, a diffuser and a normal hairdryer nozzle.
The barrels offer a big, bouncy curl that lasts all day, then can be combed for two days after into smooth waves that genuinely hold.
I also loved the hot paddle brush function, which instantly smooths and defrizzes, meaning you can change style throughout the day with ease.
The brush usually retails at around £180 but is currently on sale at Boots for just £119.99.
Review by Lucy Powell
Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler & Hair Drying System
Shark FlexStyle
£169.99 (was £269.99) at Shark
Pros: Effective styling, causes minimal heat damage, option to build your own set, rotates between dryer and styler, and a powerful hair dryer
Cons: Noisy, hot brush attachment can feel rough on the hair, bulky for travelling, two curling barrels for each side
Rating: 8.5/10
Price difference with Dyson: £310 cheaper
I added the Shark FlexStyle to my routine just over a year ago, and it’s been an absolute game-changer.
Mastering the bouncy blow-out with a hair dryer and a round brush always felt beyond my skill set, but Shark’s tool makes creating voluminous styles that much easier.
The feature that sets it apart from its competitors is its ability to switch between a hair dryer and a styler with the touch of a button, and I love that it feels just as powerful as a traditional dryer.
The FlexStyle isn’t as sleek as the Dyson Airwrap, with two curling barrels for each side of the head and a slightly bulkier design, but it’s a great alternative in terms of power and attachments.
I like that the Shark comes with a cold shot button for setting styles in place, and for around £300 less than the Dyson, it’s a great alternative.
Read my Shark FlexStyle review for more information.
Review by Sophie Bates
BaByliss Corded Electric Air Styler
Babyliss Corded Electric Hair Styler
£35 (was £75) at Boots
Pros: Four attachments included, suitable for all hair types, long-lasting results, leaves hair looking shiny, comes with a heat-protecting glove, great smoothing and barrel attachments
Cons: Hair dryer attachment isn’t very powerful, feels flimsy, noisy, and the curling barrel lacks power
Rating: 6.5/10
Price difference with Dyson: £445 cheaper
The Babyliss Air Styler features anti-frizz technology and an ionic system, releasing positive and negative ions that attach to each strand of hair, leaving hair sleek and glossy.
There are several heat settings that help prevent damage from excess heat, and the drying nozzle is similar to Dyson’s concentrator attachment.
You’re supposed to move the appliance down your hair and start rotating the brush away from your head. This will create tension throughout the strand, giving it a blow-dry finish.
The motion in itself takes a bit of practice, and you’re better off starting slow, as you can easily find hair tangled around if you’re not careful.
While the curling barrel lacked power, the straightening and smoothing brushes worked well for eliminating frizz.
This isn’t one I’d recommend for creating curls, but for those who want a sleek blow-out, it’s an affordable option worth considering.
Review by Lucy Powell
GHD Rise Professional Hot Brush
ghd Rise Professional Hot Brush
£139 (was £179) at GHD
Pros: The brush’s bristles are good for combing through knotty hair and tangles.
Cons: No interchangeable attachments, no adjustable heat settings. Cannot be used on wet hair.
Rating: 7.5/10
Price difference with Dyson: £290.99 cheaper
The GHD Rise Professional Hot Brush works seamlessly to tame pesky flyaways (of which I have many), create a sleek straight style, or give a subtle curl.
Similarly to the Revlon dupe, it does not have interchangeable attachments like the Dyson Airwrap.
The GHD design lacks adjustable heat or speed settings, but it features Ultra Zone Technology to ensure even heat distribution and minimal damage.
The brush on the GHD Rise is hugely different from those on the Dyson attachments, as the bristles are like small pronged teeth that glide seamlessly through the knottiest hair.
Known for its hot tools, our team also put the best GHD hair straighteners to the test.
Unlike the Airwrap, the GHD Rise can’t be used on wet hair, but it’s great for achieving soft, bouncy waves.
In the hot brush category, the GHD Rise ranked well against the best hot brush stylers.
Review by Mia Lyndon
Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Air Styler 5-in-1
Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Air Styler 5-in-1
£40 (was £80) at Argos
Pros: Affordable, lightweight, easy to use, detachable styling heads for variety
Cons: Hot brush attachment creates some friction when passing it through your hair, feels very hot against your scalp, and the style fell flat within a few hours
Rating: 7/10
Price Difference with Dyson: £440 cheaper
The Revlon One-Step Multi Styler is the largest hot brush I’ve used, but also the lightest, and features a clever swivel cord, making it very easy to manoeuvre around your head.
The hair tool can be used on damp hair, but the thick, plastic bristles struggled to pass through my hair, which caused some tension.
The Oval Shaped Brush attachment does a brilliant job of drying the root—meaning you could actually skip using the root-drying concentrator—and has a wide barrel covered in soft bristles.
Its long, sleek curling wand made wrapping my hair into curls easy, but it got very hot near my roots, so I had to lower the temperature setting.
At first, I was very impressed by the curling wand’s clip (which helps hold everything in place as you wrap your hair around the barrel), but its strong grip left a noticeable kink in my hair.
It took me a long time to style my hair, thanks to styling it in small sections on a low heat setting, but the result was gorgeous.
Review by Mia Lyndon
Dyson Airwrap dupes: What is the closest thing to a Dyson Airwrap?
While the Dyson Airwrap still tops the charts as the gold standard in multi-styling tools, there are some alternatives that rival the real thing.
The Shark FlexStyle is the closest alternative to the Airwrap, featuring similar attachments with the same high-powered air technology.
Our eCommerce Fashion & Beauty writer, Sophie Bates, notes: “If you’re looking for a cheaper Dysone alternative, the Shark FlexStyle really does come close in terms of performance (and it’s £200 cheaper)
Shoppers can choose a Shark FlexStyle model based on their hair type or build their own Air Styling System on the Shark website.
Nicky Clarke’s Air Styler is also a top choice and is the same price as the Shark FlexStyle.
Although it doesn’t offer as much variety as the Airwrap or FlexStyle (since it lacks the hot-brush attachments), it does feature curling barrels and a styling concentrator.
Are Dyson Airwrap dupes worth it?
The Dyson Airwrap is a big investment, so scoping out a dupe is a great way to save some money or to try out air styling before taking the plunge.
Several alternatives have received rave reviews for how they hold up against the real thing, and some have almost identical attachments.
Other options take it back to basics with fewer attachments, which is great for beginners who don’t want to overcomplicate their routine.
Leading brands, including Shark, Revlon, Babyliss, and Nicky Clarke, all have air stylers that resemble the Dyson Airwrap.
Some Dyson dupes cost as little as £25 and achieve similar styles efficiently, so you don’t have to spend a small fortune to get impressive results.
Is Shark Airwrap as good as Dyson?
While the Dyson Airwrap is still at the top of its game, Shark’s FlexStyle comes pretty close.
Shark’s version of the air tool dries and styles hair just as effectively, creating bouncy blow-outs with the same level of efficiency.
Shoppers can also choose their attachments with the FlexStyle, or buy a bundle designed for their hair type.
The attachments do slightly differ between the two brands, and I found that Shark’s hot brush attachments weren’t quite as smooth as the Airwrap’s.
However, the curling barrels worked just as well (Dyson only slightly taking the win for its power), but I found they generally gave the same result.
Shark provides two barrels for curling each side of the head, whereas Dyson has an efficient twist button on a single barrel, making it a better option for travelling.
When it came to drying, I actually preferred the Shark FlexStyle for its rotating design that mimics a traditional hair dryer.
Overall, the two stylers come pretty close in terms of quality and design, so Shark is a great option for those looking to save some money.
Best Dyson Airwrap alternatives you can find on Amazon?
There are plenty of affordable alternatives to shop instead of the Dyson Airwrap from various retailers.
Why is Dyson Airwrap so expensive?
As far as premium styling tools go, Dyson’s Airwrap is at the top with a £479.99 price tag.
There’s no denying the styler is extremely expensive, as are most of Dyson’s products.
The Airwrap is a luxury product that’s paved the way for similar tools, and the latest I.D. model is also ahead of the game with its app-controlled features.
It’s no surprise that other beauty tech brands have followed suit with their own cheaper versions.
Whether it’s the original or a dupe, it’s worth researching which models suit your hair type before taking the plunge.
Dyson’s hair stylers are sometimes on sale, especially during Black Friday, so if you’re set on saving, it’s worth picking up the Airwrap when it’s discounted.
