Category: Drying and styling

Which Dyson Airwrap alternative for which job?

The Dyson Airwrap sold a simple idea: one tool that dries, smooths and curls with air instead of a scorching hot plate. Several brands now make the same promise for a lot less. They don’t all do the same thing, though, and that’s where your choice is made: some really curl, others only smooth and add volume.

Prices, ratings and rating counts checked on Amazon.com on October 21, 2026. Amazon.com does not display a price for the Airwrap Origin from our location, so its price comes from dyson.com the same day.

What each styler actually does

Shark FlexStyle: the closest thing to an Airwrap

This is the styler that copies the most Airwrap features. According to its Amazon.com listing, the HD430 comes with two 1.25-inch (3.2 cm) auto-wrap curlers that curl in opposite directions, an oval brush for volume, a paddle brush for smoothing and a rotating styling concentrator. Shark says it measures and regulates temperature 1,000 times per second, and the whole thing weighs just over 1.5 lb (0.7 kg).

Its real advantage is the handle: twist it and the styler becomes a regular hair dryer. If your natural curls need a diffuser, pick the Curly & Coily version (HD435), which swaps the paddle brush for a curl-defining diffuser: $349.00 on Amazon.com (checked October 21, 2026). Deal hunters should also look at the Copper edition (HD433CP), listed at $199.99 against a typical price of $314.00 the same day, with only 8 left in stock. For more on curls, see our guide to the best hair dryer for curly hair.

Mythsight StyleVibe 6-in-1: curls for under $100

The Mythsight uses the same idea of barrels that wrap the hair for you, at a third of the Shark’s price. Its Amazon.com listing promises fast drying, blowouts, root lift, straightening and left/right auto-wrap curls, with a 110,000 RPM brushless motor, 3 heat settings (135, 170 and 205°F, or 57, 77 and 96°C), 3 speeds and a cool shot that locks the curl. It’s sold by Amazon.com and holds 4.5/5 from 1,725 ratings.

For long hair you curl on weekends, it covers the essentials for about a third of the Shark’s price: $93.38 (checked October 21, 2026).

Revlon One-Step Volumizer: a blowout brush, not a curler

The One-Step Volumizer often shows up on “Airwrap dupe” lists, but it has no curling barrel. According to its Amazon.com listing, it’s a 2.8-inch (7.1 cm) oval brush that dries, smooths and adds volume in one pass on damp hair, with Cool, Low and High settings. It’s one of the most-rated beauty tools on Amazon.com: 4.6/5 from 352,915 ratings.

If your goal is a smooth, bouncy blowout, it does the job for $37.49 (see the Revlon One-Step on Amazon). For fine hair, compare it with our best flat irons for fine hair.

Dyson Airwrap Origin: what the extra money buys

The Origin is the simplest Airwrap. According to its Amazon.com listing, it ships with three attachments: a Coanda smoothing dryer, one 1.2-inch (3 cm) barrel that curls in both directions and a round volumizing brush. Its Dyson V9 motor spins up to 110,000 rpm, with three airflow speeds, three heat settings and a cold shot.

On October 21, 2026, dyson.com listed the Origin at $399.99, down from $549.99. If you’ve set your heart on the Dyson, that $150 markdown is the price to beat on Black Friday.

What you pay per curling barrel

Spec sheets list functions. We’d rather bring the price back to what actually curls: we divided each styler’s price (checked October 21, 2026) by the number of curling attachments the brand says is in the box.

What this shows: the Airwrap Origin is the most expensive styler and the one with the fewest curling barrels. The Shark costs $120.99 less and gives you two curlers. The Mythsight gets you two curlers for less than a quarter of the Dyson’s price.

Who should skip these stylers

• Anyone who skips the cool shot: air stylers set curls with cold air. Plan for that last step and your curls last.
• Anyone who only wants curls defined by a diffuser: choose the Shark HD435, the version that ships with one.

FAQ

What is the best Dyson Airwrap alternative?
The Shark FlexStyle: two auto-wrap curlers, an oval brush, a paddle brush and a concentrator, with a handle that twists into a hair dryer. It cost $279.00 on Amazon.com on October 21, 2026.

Is there an Airwrap dupe under $100?
Yes. The Mythsight StyleVibe 6-in-1 ($93.38 on Amazon.com, October 21, 2026) curls with left and right auto-wrap curlers and is rated 4.5/5 from 1,725 ratings.

Can the Revlon One-Step Volumizer curl hair?
Not like an Airwrap. It’s a 2.8-inch oval brush made for smooth, voluminous blowouts with curled-under ends, with no auto-wrap barrel.

How much is the Dyson Airwrap Origin?
On October 21, 2026, dyson.com listed it at $399.99, down from $549.99. It comes with a smoothing dryer, one 1.2-inch barrel and a round volumizing brush.

Shark FlexStyle HD430 or HD435?
The HD430 ($279.00) has a paddle brush; the HD435 ($349.00) replaces it with a curl-defining diffuser for curly and coily hair. Both have the same two 1.25-inch curlers.

Our verdict

The Shark FlexStyle is the most complete Dyson Airwrap alternative: two curlers, two brushes and a handle that turns back into a hair dryer, for $279.00 on Amazon.com, $120.99 less than the Airwrap Origin on dyson.com (both checked October 21, 2026). It’s the one to get if you want a single tool that dries, smooths and curls. If your budget stops at $100, the Mythsight StyleVibe gives you auto-wrap curls for $93.38, and the Revlon One-Step Volumizer is the best $37.49 you can spend on a blowout. If you’d rather have a rotating brush, our best hot air brush guide is a better fit. All our top picks are on our Our picks page.

Our pick: the TYMO CURLPRO, because it’s rated 4.2/5 from 18,761 Amazon.com ratings, sold by Amazon at $59.99, and its 1.25-inch (3.2 cm) barrel turns on its own with anti-tangle and anti-scald protection for big, easy beach waves (checked October 21, 2026). For a curl chamber from a well-known brand, the Conair InfinitiPRO Curl Secret at $69.99 goes down to 300°F (149°C); its ¾-inch version ($63.83) makes tighter curls.

Which hair types does an automatic curler suit?

An automatic curler does the wrapping for you. There are two designs: a rotating barrel that winds the section around itself (TYMO), or a heated chamber that draws the section in, spins it and beeps when the curl is ready (Curl Secret, MiraCurl). Either way, you no longer twist and hold the hair yourself, which is what changes everything if you burn your fingers or just don’t have the knack.

• Medium to long hair you curl several times a week: this is the sweet spot. The TYMO CURLPRO ($59.99 on October 21, 2026) makes loose waves with its 1.25-inch barrel.
• Longer or thicker hair: TYMO also sells the CURLPRO Plus with a 1.5-inch long barrel designed for long or thick hair, $76.49 on Amazon.com (4.4/5 from 11,651 ratings).
• Tighter, more defined curls: the Conair Curl Secret in the ¾-inch version ($63.83) makes smaller curls.
• Fine, color-treated or damaged hair: pick a model that goes below 350°F (about 180°C) (see below), and use a heat protectant.

TYMO and Curl Secret: the four side by side

Prices, ratings and stock checked on Amazon.com on October 21, 2026; features as the manufacturers describe them.

Prices, ratings and rating counts checked on Amazon.com on October 21, 2026. Features are the manufacturers’; we have not measured them.

What the listings don’t tell you: the lowest heat

Put the four Amazon.com listings next to the guide from French testing site Meilleurtest and one point stands out that listings never put up front: the lowest temperature on offer.

• The Conair Curl Secret 1¼” goes the lowest. Its listing gives five settings starting at 300°F (149°C). The BaBylissPRO MiraCurl starts at 360°F (182°C), and the TYMO’s listing only states its maximum, 410°F (210°C). Meilleurtest puts the sweet spot for fine or damaged hair between 170 and 180°C, or about 340 to 355°F.
• The priciest isn’t the gentlest. The MiraCurl ($169.99) costs 2.8 times as much as the TYMO ($59.99) and its lowest setting is already 360°F. In return, it makes three curl sizes with one tool and is a salon-brand machine.
• The Curl Secret is a family affair. BaByliss and Conair belong to the same group: in the U.S., the Curl Secret is sold under the Conair InfinitiPRO name.

One more price point: the TYMO costs $10.00 less than the Conair Curl Secret 1¼”. If you were tempted by a Dyson Airwrap, which curls with air instead, see our guide to Dyson Airwrap alternatives.

Who should skip an automatic curler

• Very short hair: the section has to be long enough to wrap; a hot air brush works better.
• Anyone in a rush the first time: a 2013 press review of the very first Curl Secret took 25 minutes for the first session and found the back of the head tricky (Beaut.ie). Models have changed since; the takeaway is that the first go is the slowest. Keep the hot head away from your ears and neck.

Method: this review combines published tests, user feedback and manufacturer specs, checked on October 21, 2026. We have not tested these curlers ourselves.

FAQ

Does an automatic curling iron damage hair?
It heats like a regular curling iron, from 300 to 450°F (149 to 232°C) depending on the model. For fine or damaged hair, choose a model with a setting below 350°F, like the Conair InfinitiPRO Curl Secret (300°F), and use a heat protectant.

Which automatic curler is best for long hair?
The TYMO CURLPRO with its 1.25-inch barrel, rated 4.2/5 from 18,761 ratings at $59.99 on October 21, 2026. For very long or thick hair, TYMO’s CURLPRO Plus has a 1.5-inch long barrel designed for it ($76.49).

Conair Curl Secret or BaBylissPRO MiraCurl?
The Curl Secret 1¼” costs $69.99 and goes down to 300°F, with three curl types and three directions. The MiraCurl costs $169.99, makes three curl sizes with one tool, but starts at 360°F.

How long does it take to curl your hair with an automatic curler?
TYMO says about 10 minutes with the CURLPRO. Plan for longer the first few times: a 2013 review of the first Curl Secret took 25 minutes for the first session.

Our verdict

Our pick: the TYMO CURLPRO, because it’s rated 4.2/5 from 18,761 Amazon.com ratings, sold by Amazon at $59.99, and its 1.25-inch barrel turns on its own with anti-tangle and anti-scald protection for big, easy beach waves (checked October 21, 2026). It’s made for anyone who wants waves without the technique. If you’d rather have a curl chamber and a gentle 300°F setting, the Conair InfinitiPRO Curl Secret at $69.99 is the right second choice, and its ¾-inch version ($63.83) is the one for tighter curls. Before Black Friday on November 27, keep $59.99 and $69.99 as the prices to beat: see our Black Friday 2026 beauty device deals. To curl without an iron, read our best hair dryer for curly hair; for the opposite effect, our take on steam flat irons. All our top picks are on our Our picks page.