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Buying guide

Best multi-stylers and hot air brushes for short hair

Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick

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Top picks at a glance

Compare them all

  • Best overall

    Dyson Airwrap i.d.: conical barrel near the root

    The i.d. curl sequence stores wrap, style and cold shot times for repeatable curls.

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  • Best value

    Dyson Airsmooth: teardrop brush, 580 g

    The teardrop shape gives easy root access around the back and crown, per Dyson.

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  • Most features

    Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1: includes 24 mm curler

    Two curler sizes, 32 mm and 24 mm, for loose or tighter curls.

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Short hair needs a different tool from long hair. A big 40 mm barrel has nothing to wrap round on a bob or a pixie cut, and a heavy styler is overkill for a ten minute blow-dry. What tends to help is a smaller barrel or a brush head that reaches the roots, plus enough airflow to dry and shape at once. This guide compares hot air brushes and multi-stylers on brush shape, the smallest barrel each maker names, wattage and stated weight. Few listings mention hair length directly, so we point out where a maker does and flag where barrel sizes are missing. Weights shown as packed figures in kilograms are marked as unclear rather than used.

All products compared

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

The products in detail

No. 1 · Dyson

Dyson Airwrap i.d.: conical barrel near the root

The Airwrap with Bluetooth and the i.d. curl sequence, which adjusts heat, airflow and timing per section. Keeps temperatures under 150°C.

In its favour

  • The i.d. curl sequence stores wrap, style and cold shot times for repeatable curls.
  • Includes a 2-in-1 Coanda smoothing dryer that the maker says gives up to 58% less frizz.
  • At 600 g it is the lightest Dyson Airwrap listed here.

Good to know

  • No air straightener, unlike the Co-anda2x.
  • Designed for straight and wavy hair according to the listing.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Dyson Airwrap i.d. Hair Styler & Hair Dryer Straight/Wavy - Ceramic Ap...

No. 2 · Dyson

Dyson Airsmooth: teardrop brush, 580 g

A Dyson hot air brush that dries, stretches and smooths from wet. The teardrop head is designed for easy root access, which suits shorter cuts.

In its favour

  • The teardrop shape gives easy root access around the back and crown, per Dyson.
  • Weighs 580 g with the motor in the handle for balance, according to the listing.
  • Automatically adapts to voltage abroad, so it travels well.

Good to know

  • It is a single brush head with no curling barrel.
  • The spec table shows 620 g against 580 g in the bullets.
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Listing title: Dyson Airsmooth Hot Brush – Hair Dryer & Smoothing Brush - Ceramic Pin...

No. 3 · Shark

Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1: includes 24 mm curler

A limited edition FlexStyle set with two curler sizes, a FrizzFighter finishing tool, oval brush, concentrator, clips and a storage bag.

In its favour

  • Two curler sizes, 32 mm and 24 mm, for loose or tighter curls.
  • FrizzFighter tool smooths flyaways on dry hair.
  • Alligator clips and storage bag are included.

Good to know

  • No diffuser in this set, unlike the standard 5-in-1.
  • Listed weight of 2.5 kg looks like a packed figure; the bullets say 700 g.
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Listing title: Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler & Hair Dryer, No Heat Damage HD456TL...

No. 4 · ghd

ghd Duet Blowdry: heated bristles, 120°C

ghd's 2-in-1 dryer brush that takes hair from wet to blow-dried with heated bristles and an elliptical barrel plate held at 120°C.

In its favour

  • Sensors check temperature 400 times per second, per ghd.
  • Elliptical barrel plate builds volume close to the root, useful on short layers.
  • The maker lists conversation-friendly sound levels and up to 40% less energy use.

Good to know

  • Only one speed and one setting are listed.
  • Barrel dimensions and product weight are not clearly stated in the listing.
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Listing title: ghd Duet Blowdry Hair Dryer Brush, Wet to Blow Dried, Smooth Results

No. 5 · dreame

Dreame AirStyle Pro: 369 g handle and barrel

A lighter Dreame multi-styler with seven attachments, two curling barrels and a cold shot. Dreame quotes 369 g for the handle and barrel.

In its favour

  • 369 g for handle and barrel is very light for full-head styling.
  • Dreame states a lifespan of up to 600 hours.
  • One-touch cold shot to set curls and lock in the style.

Good to know

  • Barrel sizes are not stated in the listing.
  • Warranty is listed as 1 year in the specs but 2 years in the bullets.
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Listing title: DREAME AirStyle Pro, 7-in-1 Professional Airflow Multi-Styler

No. 6 · CLARA

Clara 6-in-1: round and oval brushes

A 6-in-1 ionic multi-styler with left and right auto-wrap curlers, round and oval brushes, a concentrator and a dryer head.

In its favour

  • Separate left and right curlers for curls in both directions.
  • Three heat and three speed settings plus a cold shot.
  • Removable filter for cleaning, per the listing.

Good to know

  • Barrel sizes and motor speed are not given.
  • Warranty terms are not stated in the listing.
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Listing title: Clara 6-in-1 Gold Multi Styler with Auto-Wrap Curlers, Hair Dryer, & B...

No. 7 · Shark

Shark FlexStyle 3-in-1: oval brush and curlers

The pared-back FlexStyle with two auto-wrap curlers, an oval brush and a concentrator. A simpler entry to the FlexStyle twist design.

In its favour

  • Same twist from dryer to styler as the bigger FlexStyle sets.
  • Heat measured 1,000 times per second, per Shark.
  • 700 g with three speed and three heat settings.

Good to know

  • Only three tools, with no diffuser or paddle brush.
  • The model code ends in EU, so check the plug type before ordering.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Shark FlexStyle 3-in-1 Air Styler & Hairdryer, Auto-Wrap Curlers, Oval...

Read before you buy

More buying guides: Airwrap-style stylers

Blow and Barrel chooses every product independently, based on what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission on purchases made through the affiliate links above. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.