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The Dyson Airwrap was the first of its kind, but it is no longer the only one. Airwrap dupes are so common now that it can be difficult to parse which one is actually worth your time.
When you're searching for a dupe you ideally want something that is as close to the real thing as possible, without the full asking price. Naturally lower prices mean you'll have to make some compromises, but there are a fair few Airwrap copycats out there that are pretty close to the original.
Model | Styling temperature | Attachments | Price | Retailers | |
| Dreame AirStyle 5-in-1 Hair Drying & Styling System | 45-60°C | Round Brush Paddle brush Flyaway tool Curling wand |
From$249
| See at JB HiFi | See at Amazon |
| Baseau 5 in 1 Blow Dryer Brush Set | 61-140°C | 2x Round Brush Paddle brush 2x Curling wand |
$89.99
| See at Amazon | See at Kogan |
| Bondi Boost Everlast Airstyler | 50-80°C | Concentrator 2x Round brush 2x Curling wand Angled dryer |
$280
| See at Bondi Boost | See at The Makeup Depot |
| Restyla Air 3.0 | Unknown | Flyaway tool 2x Oval brush Round Brush Paddle brush Diffuser 2x Curling wand |
$529
| See at Restyla | |
| Kmart Airstyler | Unknown | Concentrator Round brush 2x Curling wand |
$59
| See at Kmart | See at Target |
| Shark FlexStyle | 55-95°C | Concentrator Oval brush Paddle brush Diffuser 2x Curling wand Angled dryer |
$499.99
| See at Shark | See at Amazon |
| Kogan SalonPro 7-in-1 Hair Styler | 25-80°C | 2x Concentrators 2x Oval Brush Diffuser 2x Curling wand |
From$94.99
| See at Kogan | See at Dick Smith |
Every Airwrap dupe has a range of attachments, but the key ones to look out for are curling wands, round brushes, and a flyaway tool. These are the three tools most closely associated with the Airwrap, and will help you get the most similar results. Paddle brushes and concentrators are nice-to-haves, but won't so as much heavy lifting for those flowing curls.
Note that Dyson uses plastic attachments. Although this is the traditional material, a ceramic coating is better for heat distribution and hair health.
The Coanda effect refers to an aerodynamic tendency. With the right air speed and pressure, another object can follow, and stay attached to a curved surface. Or any surface for that matter. This is harnessed in the Airwrap to coax the hair to wrap around, or flow across the attachment, while using heat to create shape and hold.
Any Airwrap dupe worth considering should use the same approach.
One of the biggest selling points of the Dyson Airwrap is it's ability to style without heat damage thanks to lower styling temperatures. The original device caps out at 150°C, which is still quite warm for some hair types. Damage can begin at temperatures as low as 60°C, but generally anything underneath 140°C is repairable.
Look for dupes with styling temperatures no higher than 140°C for optimum hair health.
No matter how you slice it, the OG Airwrap is expensive. Every copycat device is cheaper, but by how much varies depending on the brand and the tech behind it. Each of these dupes are going to have compromises, it might be in temperature, or price, or quality. Which compromise you're willing to make will depend on your hair, and your budget.
We've done the cost/benefit analysis for you in this article, but consider what you're looking to gain out of your Dyson dupe.
Two things come to mind when considering attachments for Airwrap dupes;
Funnily enough the Airwrap itself isn't made of the best quality materials. Dyson's originals are made with plastic, which is lightweight but isn't a great heat conductor, and doesn't have any extra benefits to your hair. For hair styling devices like straighteners we always recommend ceramic plates with negative ions. These create less static, and heat evenly so your hair is not only smoother but doesn't get exposed to extra heat in some spots.
Both the Bondi Boost Everlast, and the Dreame AirStyle have the best combination of the two. Not only are these attachments ceramic, but both have curling wands, and similar round brushes to the OG. Of the two, the AirStyle has a wider variety of attachment types for more versatile styling, while the Everlast concentrates more on volume and curl.
The claim that the Airwrap styles hair with "no heat damage" is pivotal to its success. No more crunchy ends, just shiny, styled hair, with less effort. Dyson utlimately says that since the Airwrap doesn't exceed 150°C it is gentler on your hair, and while that is true for some, for others its not.
All hair is different, and all hair can handle different styling temperatures. Fine and damaged hair needs lower heat to stay healthy, while thick, curly, or coarse hair can handle much higher temperatures. For some hair types, 150°C is already too hot, but for others it may not be able to manipulate the hair follicle.
You may not know exactly what your hair needs, so it pays to look for an Airwrap dupe with a wide temperature range. If you've got thick hair, look for a top temp close to that 150°C mark, while if it's thin you'll want to widdle that back. We recommend the Baseau 5-in-1 for thick hair. Its temperatures range from 61°C-140°C, which makes it the closest match to the Dyson, and safe to use without fearing damage. Alternatively for thin or damaged hair the Bondi Boost Everlast is the way to go. It maxes out at 80°C and goes as low as 50°C - that is just about the same range as the Dyson Nural Supersonic which also holds the same "no heat damage" claim.
The Coanda effect is an aerodynamic phenomena that Dyson was the first to use to style hair. With a certain level of airflow and directionality the air can encourage the hair to follow the line of the attachment. That is how the Airwrap is able to magically make your locks wrap around the curling barrel. When picking an Airwrap dupe you'll get the closest results by ensuring this same effect is at play.
It is rare to find a copycat that doesn't use this tech but there are a couple of tell-tale signs. First up, just look to see if it is mentioned on the box or on the website somewhere. An obvious solution, but Occam's razor and all that.
If there is no information about the Coanda effect available, take a closer look at the curling barrels. You'll want to make sure the air vents are angled around the barrel as this will encourage the hair to wrap. Avoid any devices that have vents that blast directly out of the barrel. These will just leave your hair a frazzled mess.
If you weren't at least somewhat concerned about price then you'd probably just buy the Airwrap. For those of us not made of money it is important to weigh up the total potential cost of your Airwrap dupe.
When it comes to outright pricing the Kmart Airstyler is the cheapest option, but that is pretty much all it has going for it. We don't know how hot it goes, it has limited (and plastic) attachments, and it is difficult to find these days. A better budget option is the Baseau 5-in-1, but be careful if you've got more fragile hair.
If you're happy to spend between $100-$550 you'll get more options, but you should always check your consumer guarantees. Bondi Boost offers 30-day returns, but has no warranty information on site. You'll get the 12-month consumer guarantee as regulated by Australian law, but that isn't spelled out for you from the retailer, and doesn't exactly scream "we trust our product".
Restyla on the other hand has a three year warranty (longer than Dyson's 2-year) so you can be sure the Air 3.0 will have some longevity to it. Shark's FlexStyle also has a two year warranty, so if you're happy to pay a little bit more you'll get better after-sale support.
If you want a Dyson look without a Dyson price then Airwrap dupes are 100% worth the money. Now that the technology has been out for so long you can pick up similar devices, with comparable specs for a fraction of the price. It does take some time to weed through the product details, but it is worth the effort to save multiple hundreds of dollars.
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