The Best Dyson Airwrap Alternatives in 2026: Shark FlexStyle, T3 Aire 360 and More
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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The Dyson Airwrap is one of the most wished-for gifts of every holiday season, and one of the most expensive: TechRadar lists the current range from $549.99 for the Airwrap Origin up to $749.99 for the Co-anda 2x, with the app-connected Airwrap i.d. at $649.99. The good news for anyone shopping on a budget is that the multi-styler category has grown up. Several rivals now dry and style hair with airflow in a single tool, and some testers think they match or even beat the Dyson on results.
This guide is built on hands-on testing: The Guardian’s month-long head-to-head of the Airwrap i.d. and Shark FlexStyle; Cosmopolitan’s beauty team, which tested dozens of multi-stylers across different hair types; TechRadar’s full review of the next-generation T3 Aire 360; and Mamabella, a UK site that has tested multi-stylers from Dyson, Shark, T3, Dreame and BaByliss over several years. We have not tested these tools ourselves. Results vary a lot with hair type and length, so we note who each tool suits.
Quick answer: The Shark FlexStyle is the closest overall alternative. The Guardian found it gave identical results to the Airwrap i.d. for nearly half the price, and Mamabella calls it the model it would recommend first. If you want a more premium tool, Cosmopolitan names the T3 Aire 360 its best Dyson dupe overall, and TechRadar says it is the closest it has got to Airwrap-style results without Dyson prices.
Our picks at a glance
| Styler | Reported price | What stands out | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shark FlexStyle | About $300 to $350 (The Guardian, TechRadar) | Rotates into a regular dryer; auto-wrap barrels | Most people |
| T3 Aire 360 (next gen) | $349.99 (TechRadar) | Ceramic curling barrels; dual voltage | Long-lasting curls, travel |
| Shark Glam | $449.99 (TechRadar) | Ceramic barrels; heat capped at 302°F (Cosmopolitan) | Curly, coily and thick hair |
| Dreame AirStyle Era | £349 in the UK (Mamabella) | Eight attachments | Versatility |
| Ella Bella 6-in-1 | Under $150 at Amazon (Cosmopolitan) | Two round brush sizes | Fine hair, bangs, budgets |
| Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross dryer | About $189 at Amazon (Cosmopolitan) | Flexible-bristle brush, diffuser, comb | Curly and coily hair |
| Amika Blowout Babe thermal brush | A fraction of Airwrap’s price (Cosmopolitan) | Heated round brush | Quick volume on dry hair |
Prices are as reported by the cited outlets and change frequently, especially around Black Friday. The Dreame price is UK pricing.
How we chose
We chose based on the sources above, starting with tools that more than one outlet tested against the Airwrap and adding specialist picks for hair types the all-in-one stylers don’t serve as well. We weighted what testers say makes or breaks a multi-styler: whether the auto-wrap curls actually hold, how quickly it dries hair, weight and button placement, the attachments included, noise, and heat control. We also looked at gift-friendly details like included storage cases and dual voltage for travel. Amazon links go to the exact listing an outlet linked to where we have one, otherwise to an Amazon search.
The best Dyson Airwrap alternatives
1. Shark FlexStyle: best overall alternative
Best for: most people who want Airwrap-style blowouts and curls for much less.
The Guardian’s tester used both tools for a month on clavicle-length fine hair. Both took her hair from damp to blown out in exactly seven minutes, neither felt nearly as hot as a curling iron, and both gave near-identical bouncy blowouts. She slightly preferred the FlexStyle’s brushes, which mix hard and soft bristles and grip better, and she liked that its base bends into a standard hair-dryer shape for rough drying. It comes with a clear paper manual, two curling barrels (one for each direction), an oval brush, a paddle brush and a concentrator. Her verdict: identical results for nearly half the price. Mamabella agrees it is the closest overall alternative and the one it would recommend first, and Cosmopolitan’s beauty editors found its smaller curling barrels give tighter, longer-lasting curls.
The Guardian found it doesn’t feel or look as deluxe as the Dyson: it is slightly noisier and heavier, the bottom-of-the-wand buttons are harder to reach, you have to swap barrels to change curl direction, and a storage case costs $59.99 extra. Mamabella found its auto-wrap curls slower and less consistent than Dyson’s.
Pros
- Near-identical results to the Airwrap i.d. (The Guardian)
- Rotates into a regular hair dryer
- Much cheaper
Cons
- Slightly heavier and louder
- Case sold separately
Best for: someone with mid-length to long hair who wants glossy curls that last, or who travels internationally.
TechRadar’s reviewer says the T3 Aire 360 is the closest she has got to Dyson Airwrap-style results without paying Dyson prices. Its CeraGloss ceramic barrels consistently created bouncy, glossy curls that held into the next day on her fine hair, which she says plastic barrels just don’t match. The SoftAire concentrator dried her fine, mid-length hair in just over three minutes. The next-generation model launched in the US in March 2026 at $349.99 with a lighter 1.3-pound base, a shorter handle and dual voltage, and comes with two 1.35-inch ceramic barrels, an oval brush and a vegan leather storage tote. Cosmopolitan names the Aire 360 its best Dyson dupe overall, with a contributing beauty editor praising its blowouts and dual voltage for travel.
There is a learning curve, especially with the large oval brush, and TechRadar says people with short hair will find limited appeal. At 71 dB it is about as loud as a standard dryer. Cosmopolitan notes you can’t easily take the attachments off mid-use the way some Airwrap fans do.
Pros
- Ceramic barrels for long-lasting curls
- Dual voltage and storage tote
- Undercuts the Airwrap range
Cons
- Learning curve
- Not ideal for short hair
3. Shark Glam: best for curly, coily and thick hair
Best for: a household with textured or thick hair, or anyone who wants ceramic barrels from Shark.
Cosmopolitan tested the Shark Glam with three editors who have different hair textures and says it works for everyone, from curls and short lengths to thick, coarse hair. It comes in two versions, one for straight and wavy hair with a concentrator and one for curly and coily hair with a diffuser, each with six attachments and both wet and dry styling modes. Shark’s heat-sensing technology keeps it from exceeding 302°F, which Cosmopolitan says helps cut down on damage. One editor with curls says the two-length diffuser and wet-hair setting made all the difference. TechRadar lists it at $449.99 and notes it has the ceramic design that the FlexStyle lacks.
Cosmopolitan notes it has a single curling barrel that you swap for each side of the head.
Pros
- Versions for straight or curly hair
- Heat capped at 302°F
- Wet and dry modes
Cons
- Pricier than the FlexStyle
- One barrel to swap sides
4. Dreame AirStyle Era: best for versatility
Best for: someone who loves having a tool for every finish.
Mamabella calls the AirStyle Era one of the strongest Airwrap alternatives it has tested. It includes eight attachments, each of which feels included for a reason, and its testers found themselves swapping between them depending on the finish they wanted. Airflow was powerful enough to take hair from wet to styling-ready quickly, the brushes left a smoother finish than expected, and the auto-wrap curls were excellent. Mamabella lists it at £349 in the UK.
Mamabella says it is less refined than the Dyson, the attachments take a little more practice, and its 80°C maximum heat may limit results on thicker hair. Check US availability and pricing before you buy.
Pros
- Eight attachments
- Strong airflow and excellent auto-wrap curls
Cons
- Less polished than Dyson
- Lower maximum heat
5. Ella Bella 6-in-1 Professional Hot Air Styler: best budget pick
Best for: fine or short hair, bangs, or a budget gift.
Cosmopolitan names the Ella Bella its best Dyson Airwrap dupe on Amazon. Its beauty editor with fine, short hair says the smaller of its two round brushes is the closest thing she has found to the Airwrap’s smallest round brush, perfect for volumizing at the roots and styling bangs, and the brushes don’t tug. It comes with two round brushes, two curling barrels, a paddle brush and a dryer attachment, plus a case. Cosmopolitan listed it at $149, on sale for $134.
Cosmopolitan’s praise centers on fine hair and bangs; there is less testing evidence for thick or curly hair.
Pros
- Two round brush sizes
- Six attachments and a case
- Low price
Cons
- Less refined than the big brands
6. Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Blow Dryer: best for curly and coily hair
Best for: someone with textured hair who needs tension without harshness.
Cosmopolitan notes some users find the Airwrap’s paddle brush too firm for stretching curly hair. Pattern’s dryer comes with four attachments for drying, diffusing, defining and stretching 4c hair, including a brush with flexible nylon bristles that detangles while adding just enough tension, plus a diffuser, a concentrator and a wide-tooth comb. Cosmopolitan’s beauty editor-at-large calls the attachments a curly girl’s dream. It was about $189 at Amazon when Cosmopolitan checked.
It is a dryer with attachments, not an auto-wrap curler.
Pros
- Designed for textured hair
- Flexible-bristle stretching brush
Cons
- No curling barrels
7. Amika Blowout Babe Thermal Round Brush: best for quick volume
Best for: someone who mostly wants the Airwrap’s round-brush blowout.
Cosmopolitan suggests that if a voluminous blowout is what appeals to you about the Airwrap, a thermal brush may be all you need. The Amika is essentially a curling iron in the form of a round brush, with ion technology to smooth frizz. An assistant beauty editor uses it on days when her hair is dry and wavy and she doesn’t want to assemble Airwrap attachments, and says it takes under 10 minutes for her thick hair. Cosmopolitan says it costs less than a fifth of the Airwrap’s price.
It styles dry hair; it doesn’t dry hair.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Fast volume and bounce
Cons
- Doesn’t dry hair
Or buy the real thing
If the recipient has their heart set on a Dyson, The Guardian says the Airwrap i.d. is quieter (about 7 decibels on the highest settings), about an ounce lighter, has better-placed buttons, comes with a handsome storage box and switches curl direction at the touch of a button. Its i.d. curl feature lets you program wrap, heat and cool times in the app, though The Guardian’s tester had occasional Bluetooth hiccups. Cosmopolitan’s assistant beauty editor calls it deserving of the hype. Check Dyson Airwrap prices on Amazon
Airwrap alternative buying advice
Start with hair type and length
Cosmopolitan’s advice is to focus on what your hair needs: flexible bristles to stretch coily hair, more heat for fine hair that won’t hold a curl, and mixed-bristle brushes for thick hair. TechRadar says the T3 suits mid-length to long hair, while Cosmopolitan’s short-haired editors like the FlexStyle’s smaller barrels and the Ella Bella’s small round brush.
Air-wrap or heat?
The Airwrap, FlexStyle and T3 use airflow to pull a section of hair around the barrel, a principle called the Coanda effect that The Guardian explains dries and curls at the same time. TechRadar found the T3’s ceramic barrels made curls last longer than plastic ones. Cheaper dupes often rely more on heat, so use a heat protectant and the cool shot to set curls.
Check the practical details
The Guardian notes the Airwrap i.d. and FlexStyle both have cords of about 8 feet but neither is dual voltage, so they stay home on international trips; the next-generation T3 is dual voltage. Check whether a storage case is included, how easy the filter is to clean, and how much extra attachments cost. The Guardian says Dyson and Shark both charge $39.99 per add-on attachment.
Help curls last
Cosmopolitan’s testers found some stylers’ curls dropped within an hour or so. Their fixes: scrunch in mousse before styling, hold each barrel for 10 to 15 seconds, then hit it with the cool shot for 10 seconds. TechRadar adds that T3 recommends starting with hair that is about 80% dry. Shop heat protectant sprays on Amazon
Make it a gift
A multi-styler pairs naturally with a plush robe or a silk pillowcase; see our guides to the best luxury robes and whether silk pillowcases are worth it. If the recipient really just needs a great dryer, start with our best luxury hair dryers.
FAQ
What is the best Dyson Airwrap alternative?
The Shark FlexStyle, according to The Guardian and Mamabella. The Guardian found it gave identical results to the Airwrap i.d. for nearly half the price.
Is the T3 Aire 360 better than the Shark FlexStyle?
It depends on hair. TechRadar found the T3’s ceramic barrels made glossy curls that lasted into the next day and noted the FlexStyle lacks ceramic barrels; Cosmopolitan names the T3 its best dupe overall. The FlexStyle converts into a regular hair dryer and is usually cheaper.
Do Airwrap alternatives damage hair?
Air stylers run cooler than curling irons. The Guardian’s tester found neither the Airwrap nor the FlexStyle made her hair as hot as her curling iron, and Cosmopolitan reports the Shark Glam caps its heat at 302°F.
Is there a cheap Airwrap dupe that works?
Cosmopolitan recommends the Ella Bella 6-in-1 as its best Airwrap dupe on Amazon, especially for fine or short hair, and the Amika Blowout Babe thermal brush for quick volume.
Can I travel abroad with these stylers?
Check the voltage. The Guardian says the Airwrap i.d. and FlexStyle are not dual voltage, while TechRadar notes the next-generation T3 Aire 360 is.
The bottom line
The Shark FlexStyle is the Airwrap alternative to buy for most people: near-identical results in The Guardian’s test for far less money. Step up to the T3 Aire 360 for ceramic barrels and longer-lasting curls, or the Shark Glam for curly and thick hair. On a tight budget, the Ella Bella or the Amika thermal brush covers the blowout. And if only a Dyson will do, watch for Black Friday pricing.
