Topic
Airwrap-style stylers
Multi-stylers dry, curl and smooth with airflow rather than hot plates. They differ in barrel sizes, how the attachments swap, and whether they double as a full dryer.
- Typical rating
- 1,000 to 1,300 W
- Barrels
- usually 30 and 40 mm
Airwrap-type stylers use the Coanda effect: fast air leaving slots in a barrel clings to its curved surface and draws a section of hair around it. Heat is lower than on a curling tong because the air, not a hot metal surface, does the shaping.
Compare the barrel sizes (smaller barrels give tighter curls), whether the barrels reverse direction for the left and right sides of the head, how many brushes and smoothing tools come in the box, and whether there is a dedicated pre-styling dryer attachment.
Some models, such as the Shark FlexStyle, have a hinged handle that turns the styler into a conventional hair dryer. Check the rated watts too: most multi-stylers sit between 1,000 and 1,300 W, so they dry more slowly than a full-size dryer.
Guides on this topic
- Is the Dyson Airwrap worth it?Is the Dyson Airwrap worth the money? Who gets the most from it, the learning curve, why it costs so much and how it compares with a dryer and curling wand.Guide
- How to use the Shark FlexStyleHow to use the Shark FlexStyle step by step: switching between dryer and wand mode, the Auto-Wrap curlers, the oval and paddle brushes, and short hair tips.How-to
- How to use a Dyson Airwrap: a beginner's guideHow to use a Dyson Airwrap step by step: prep and pre-dry, section sizes, curl direction, the cold shot and how to use each barrel and brush attachment.How-to
- How does the Dyson Airwrap work? The Coanda effect explainedHow the Dyson Airwrap curls hair with air: the Coanda effect, the fast digital motor, the 150°C temperature limit and what each attachment does.Guide
- Hot air brush vs straighteners: which is better for youHot air brush or straighteners? Compare finish, time, wet or dry use and heat, and find out when a multi-styler can replace your straighteners.Comparison
- Dyson Airwrap vs Shark FlexStyleDyson Airwrap i.d. vs Shark FlexStyle compared from the listings: attachments, weight, wattage, the twist hinge and which one suits your hair routine.Comparison
- Dyson Airwrap vs AirstraitDyson Airwrap vs Airstrait explained: a curling and smoothing multi-styler against an airflow straightener that dries and straightens wet hair at once.Comparison
- Can you use a Dyson Airwrap on wet or dry hair?How damp hair should be for each Airwrap attachment, why soaking wet hair will not curl, how to refresh curls on dry hair, and the same rules for Shark FlexStyle.Guide
Buying guides on this topic
- Best Airwrap-style multi-stylersAirflow multi-stylers from Dyson, Shark, Dreame and Clara compared on attachments, curling barrels, wattage and the dryer mode.Buying guide
- Best Dyson Airwrap alternativesNon-Dyson airflow multi-stylers from Shark, Dreame and Clara compared on curlers, smoothing tools, wattage and what each one leaves out.Buying guide
- Best multi-stylers for long hairMulti-stylers for hair past the shoulders compared on long-hair barrels, curl tools, smoothing heads and wattage, using listing facts only.Buying guide
- Best multi-stylers and hot air brushes for short hairHot air brushes and multi-stylers for short hair and bobs compared on brush shape, smallest stated barrel, wattage and weight.Buying guide