The Airwrap Is Good, But These Volumising Hair Tools Give It a Run for Its Money

Let me first start by saying that I use my Dyson Airwrap every time I wash my hair. It really is a great product. With heaps of different attachments available to deliver whatever effect your heart so desires, it delivers good bang for its buck. However, the attachments the Airwrap is best known for, the barrels that utilise Dyson’s Coanda technology to create big, bouncy volume, are by far my least favourite. You see, my hair is thin, poker-straight and long, meaning that finding ways to give my hair volume with as little effort as humanly possible is a pretty high beauty priority for me.

But the truth is I find the barrel attachments a bit of a nuisance. The barrels that came with my version of the tool, for starters, are quite short, and Dyson charges more for longer barrels (something long hair definitely needs). And when you’re paying £450 for a hair tool, I find it somewhat distasteful for a brand to charge more for necessary add-ons. On top of that, my thin, fine hair just doesn’t seem to want to hold any sort of curl or bounce that the Airwrap creates. Instead, I find myself turning to the smoothing brush, which blow-dries my hair to look sleek, shiny and glossy.

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(Image credit: @SHANNONLAWLOR)

After using Amika Hair Round Blow Dryer Brush.

And with the Airwrap currently out of stock everywhere (might Dyson be up to something?), I have never had more people come to me for advice. In fact, Is the Airwrap worth the money? is potentially my most-asked beauty question of 2022 so far. And my answer is always the same. Hype aside, if your hair doesn’t hold an in-salon blow-dry particularly well, the Airwrap isn’t for you. In fact, as a rule, I’d go as far as to say that a blow-dry with an Airwrap holds for approximately half the time of a salon one (which, granted, uses strand-damaging levels of heat).

Look, £450 is an eye-watering amount of money to spend on a hair tool. If you get regular blow-dries, then yes, the Airwrap is probably worth it. However, if, like me, you have hair that struggles to hold volume, you’re far better off saving your money and trying other things. Cheaper things.

My TikTok is currently flooded with Airwrap alternatives—many of which are fake products whose reviews might suggest they are unfit for purpose from a health-and-safety perspective. (Can anyone smell burning?) Whether you’re looking for Airwrap-like volume with longer hold or want to test the waters with something more affordable, I promise you there are tools out there. To prove it, I just tried the best around. Keep scrolling to discover what they are and see which might be best for you.

1. Revlon Pro One Step Dryer & Volumiser

The Best Budget-Friendly Volumising Hair Tool

2. T3 Airebrush Duo

The Best Volumising Hair Tool for Blow-Dry Curls

3. Babyliss Hydro-Fusion Air Styler

The Best Volumising Hair Tool for Avoiding Tangles

4. Amika Hair Round Blow Dryer Brush

The Best Volumising Hair Tool for Speed

5. Hot Tools Volumiser 2-in-1 Brush & Dryer

The Best Smoothing Volumising Hair Tool

6. GHD Rise Professional Hot Brush

The Best Everyday Volumising Hair Tool

Shop Volumising Styling Products

Next up, 15 haircuts that will trick people into thinking you have three times more hair.

Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous.

Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics.

While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best.

When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.