The short answer
If you want the full Airwrap routine (dry from wet, then curl or smooth with one tool) and you want it from Amazon.ie stock with an Irish 3-pin plug, the Shark Glam is the closest match: it uses the same airflow trick to wrap hair around its curlers. It is cheaper than an Airwrap, but it is still a premium buy. Most people do not need the whole kit, though. Work out which part of the Airwrap you would actually use, and a cheaper tool usually does that job: an automatic curler for curls, an air styler for sleek hair, or a one-step brush for a bouncy blow-dry.
Below: what the Airwrap does well and how its Coanda curling works, why people look elsewhere, which alternatives wrap the hair for you and which need you to wind it yourself, each alternative with what you gain and what you give up, options by budget and hair type, running costs, and tips for buying one as a Christmas present. Every catalog pick is sold and dispatched by Amazon.ie in the UK/Irish 3-pin version.
What the Airwrap does well (and what Coanda means)
Dyson launched the Airwrap in 2018, and its big idea was curling with air instead of a hot clamp. The curling barrels blow fast air out along their curved surface. Air moving quickly over a curved surface tends to follow it, which is called the Coanda effect, and that airflow pulls a section of hair onto the barrel and winds it round without you twisting it on by hand. You hold it for a few seconds while warm air shapes the curl, then switch to cool air to set it. Dyson says the Airwrap keeps the air below 150°C, well below what many curling tongs and straighteners reach.
- One tool from wet to styled. A pre-styling dryer takes out most of the water, then you swap to curling barrels, smoothing brushes or a round brush, depending on the bundle and version.
- Curls without the knack. Auto-wrap takes away the hardest part of using a curling wand, the wrist twist, so curls are easier to get right.
- Controlled heat. Lower styling temperatures appeal to anyone worried about heat damage, colour-treated hair or breakage.
- It feels like a treat. Part of the appeal is the box, the case and the name, and part of why it turns up on so many Christmas lists.
- It keeps improving. Dyson has updated it several times since launch; newer versions such as the Airwrap i.d. add app-linked curl settings. Bundles differ in their attachments, so compare them on Dyson’s Irish website.
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Why people look for an alternative
- Price. The Airwrap is one of the most expensive hair tools you can buy, and big discounts on it are uncommon.
- It is hard to buy safely on Amazon.ie. When we checked on 26 October 2026, Amazon.ie did not sell the Airwrap itself. Listings from marketplace sellers can be EU-plug units, grey imports with a different warranty route, or worse: Dyson has warned that counterfeit Airwraps are sold online at prices that look too good to be true. Our hair dryer and styler guide explains the plug and seller pitfalls in more detail.
- Air-styled curls can drop. Curls set with warm air rather than a hot barrel are softer, and a common complaint is that they fall out sooner, especially on fine or very heavy hair and on a damp Irish day. Technique and setting products help, but some people prefer a hotter curler.
- It needs length. Auto-wrap barrels need enough length to wind the hair round them. On a short bob or a crop they struggle.
- You may only use one or two tools. Plenty of owners say they mostly reach for the smoothing brush, or only the curlers. Paying for the whole kit makes less sense if you know which one you would use.
- It takes up space. A full multi-styler kit with a case needs a drawer of its own, and swapping heads takes a little time on a busy morning.
If you still want the Airwrap itself
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Dyson Airwrap
Amazon.ie did not sell the Airwrap itself when we checked on 26 October 2026. If this search shows one, buy only if the seller is Amazon.ie and the listing shows the UK/Irish 3-pin plug and a normal price. Otherwise buy from Dyson’s Irish website or a major Irish retailer, where you get the right plug and Dyson’s own warranty.
Auto-wrap, automatic or manual: how each alternative makes a curl
This is the single biggest difference between Airwrap alternatives, and listings do not always make it clear. “Air styler” and “multi-styler” are used for everything from a Coanda auto-wrap kit to a hot brush with a curling head that you wind by hand.
| Curling method | How it works | Examples | Learning curve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coanda auto-wrap (air) | Fast airflow round the barrel pulls the hair on and winds it; warm air shapes the curl, cool air sets it | Dyson Airwrap, Shark Glam, Shark FlexStyle | Low to medium: the skill is in taking neat sections and holding still |
| Motorised automatic curler | A motor turns the barrel and winds the section for you; heat and airflow set it. A curler, not a dryer: dry your hair first | BaByliss Style Secret Air | Low |
| Manual hot-air curler | You wind the hair round a warm, vented barrel or cone yourself, as with a hot brush | Revlon Multi Air 5-in-1, BaByliss Air Style 1000 | Medium to high |
| No curler: brush only | Oval, round or paddle brushes dry and smooth, giving volume and bend at the ends rather than curls | Revlon One-Step, BaByliss Air Wand | Low |
The alternatives: what you gain and what you give up
Shark Glam Ceramic & Air 5-in-1 Multi-Styler and Dryer with FrizzFighter & Storage Case (HD6051SUKPK, Pink)
Best for: Someone who wants the whole Airwrap experience, as a big Christmas or birthday gift.
If the person you are buying for has asked for an Airwrap, this is the alternative that works most like one. The Coanda Auto-Wrap Curlers wind hair around the barrel with airflow, the Styling Concentrator handles drying, the Silki Tool smooths and straightens on wet or dry hair, the Glossi brush gives a smooth, bouncy blow-dry and the FrizzFighter tool calms flyaways. You gain heat-controlled ceramic plates on the smoothing tools, styling that Shark says never goes above 150°C, a storage case, and a UK/Irish-plug model that Amazon.ie sells and dispatches itself. You give up the Dyson name, and the saving is smaller than with the other alternatives here: the Glam is cheaper than an Airwrap but still a premium tool, and like any auto-wrap kit it needs mid-length to long hair.
Pros
- Auto-wrap curling works like the Airwrap’s
- Dries, smooths, straightens and curls with one kit
- Shark says it stays at or below 150°C
- Two-year Shark warranty on registration
Cons
- Still expensive, and the kit needs a drawer of its own
- Auto-wrap curlers need enough length to wrap
BaByliss Style Secret Air Automatic Rotating 25mm Curling Wand with Heat & Airflow, 48 Settings and Auto Shut-Off (C6686U)
Best for: Mid-length to long hair, and anyone who mainly wanted the Airwrap’s curling barrels.
If curls are the main reason you want an Airwrap, this gets you hands-free curling for a fraction of the price. A motor turns the 25mm ceramic-coated barrel and winds the hair for you, then heat and airflow set the curl. BaByliss lists an airflow-only mode plus 170°C, 185°C and 200°C, four curl timers and three rotation directions, so you can go from loose waves to firmer curls. You gain curls that need very little skill, heated settings for a firmer curl if air-set curls drop on your hair, auto shut-off, a 2.4m swivel cord and a three-year warranty. You give up drying and smoothing: this is a curler, not a dryer, so you dry your hair first, and its heated settings run hotter than an Airwrap, so start at the lowest one that works and use a heat protectant.
Pros
- Winds the hair automatically, no wrist twist needed
- Airflow-only mode as well as three heat settings
- Auto shut-off, heat mat and three-year warranty
Cons
- Curls only; you dry your hair first with a dryer
- Heated settings go up to 200°C, hotter than air-only stylers
BaByliss Air Wand All-in-One Hair Dryer, Straightener and Styler with Ultra-Care Mode and 3 Attachments (AS6553U, Blue)
Best for: Sleek, straight or smooth styles, and frizz-prone hair in damp weather.
If you would mostly use the Airwrap’s smoothing brushes, the Air Wand is built for exactly that job. It is a light, wet-to-dry air styler (380g, according to the listing) that BaByliss pitches at drying, straightening, smoothing and volume, with three attachments, three airflow and four heat settings. Its Ultra-Care mode alternates hot and cool air to keep the temperature in check, and a dual-ionic system targets frizz. You gain a smooth, straighter finish in one step at a much lower price, a removable magnetic filter for easy cleaning and a three-year manufacturer warranty. You give up curls entirely: there is no curling barrel. A version with a diffuser is also sold for wavy and curly hair; if you choose it, check the seller is Amazon.ie.
Pros
- Dries and smooths from wet in one step
- Light to hold, with Ultra-Care temperature control
- Three-year manufacturer warranty listed
Cons
- No curling attachment
- No diffuser in this bundle
Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Air Styler 5-in-1 with Detachable Curler, Brushes and Concentrator (RVDR5370UK)
Best for: A first multi-styler on a budget, and teenagers or students.
This is the Airwrap idea at a budget price: one handle and five detachable, air-powered heads. There is a 32mm vented curler for loose curls, Revlon’s 64mm oval brush for volume, a 38mm round brush for root lift and flicks, a paddle brush for sleek looks and a root-drying concentrator, with four heat settings including cool. You gain most of an Airwrap’s range of looks for a fraction of the price, and a three-year warranty on the listing. You give up auto-wrap: Revlon does not describe the curler as auto-wrapping, so expect to wind the hair round it yourself, which takes practice and gives looser curls, and on long, thick hair it is likely to be slower than a premium high-speed styler.
Pros
- Five heads cover drying, volume, smoothing and curls
- Four heat settings, including cool
- Three-year warranty listed
Cons
- Curler is manual, not auto-wrap
- Likely slower on long, thick hair than a high-speed styler
BaByliss Air Style 1000 Adjustable Hot Air Styler with 4 Attachments and Ionic Frizz Control (2136U, Copper/Grey)
Best for: Small budgets, generous Kris Kindle gifts, and trying hot-air styling before spending more.
The cheapest way to try the multi-styler routine. The BaByliss Air Style 1000 comes with a drying nozzle, a 50mm volumising thermal brush, a smoothing paddle brush and a conical curling attachment, plus ionic frizz control. You gain four tools for around the price of a basic dryer. You give up speed and ease: at 1,000W it is slower than a full-size dryer, so rough-dry long or thick hair first, and the conical curler is manual.
Pros
- Four attachments, including a curler
- Ionic frizz control
- Very low price for a multi-attachment kit
Cons
- 1,000W, so slow on long or thick hair
- Manual curling only
Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumiser for Mid to Long Hair, with Sectioning Comb (RVDR5222UK, Black)
Best for: Smooth, voluminous blow-dries on mid-length to long hair.
If what you love about the Airwrap is the bouncy, salon-style blow-dry, this oval brush does that one job very well. You roll it from roots to ends and it dries and smooths at the same time, which takes far less practice than a dryer and round brush. You gain a simple, long-established tool at a budget price, with three heat and two speed settings, a cool tip and a 2m swivel cord. You give up curls and versatility: it is a single brush designed for mid-length to long hair, and it smooths rather than defines, so it is the wrong tool for natural curls.
Pros
- Dries and volumises in one step
- Easy to learn
- Budget price
Cons
- No curler or smoothing tools
- Not for keeping natural curls
The dryer route. If your hair is curly or wavy and you want definition rather than a blow-out, a good dryer with a diffuser is often a better buy than any multi-styler. The Shark SpeedStyle Pro is a high-velocity dryer whose DefrizzFast Diffuser and other attachments set their own heat and airflow. Pair a dryer with the Style Secret Air above and you cover drying and curling with two tools. For thick hair that takes ages to dry, the BaByliss Super Power rough-dries quickly before you style.
Shark SpeedStyle Pro High-Velocity Hair Dryer with Scalp Shield, 5 Attachments & Storage Bag (HD752UK, Black)
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BaByliss Super Power 2400W Ionic Hair Dryer with AC Motor, 3 Heat & 2 Speed Settings (5240U, Black)
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Check price on Amazon.ieMore alternatives to search for
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Shark FlexStyle
Shark’s best-known Airwrap rival: Coanda auto-wrap curlers, and a handle that pivots to turn the styler into a dryer. It was not sold by Amazon.ie itself when we checked, so buy it only if the seller is Amazon.ie and the model code contains UK, not EU.
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Shark Glossi 2-in-1 Hot Tool and Air Glosser
The Glossi brush from the Shark Glam, sold on its own: airflow plus ceramic plates for smoothing, volume and shine. A cheaper way into Shark’s system if you would never use the curlers. Check the plug and the seller on the listing.
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BaByliss Big Hair rotating brush
A 50mm hot brush that rotates for you, with two speeds and alternating directions. It gives volume and smooth, turned-under ends rather than curls.
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BaByliss Thermo-Ceramic heated rollers (3035U)
The old-school route to big, bouncy curls and volume on dry hair: a set of heated rollers and no airflow at all. Slower to set up, but rollers can be left in while you do your make-up.
The Airwrap and its alternatives at a glance
| Model | Type | Curls | From wet? | Heat (maker or listing) | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyson Airwrap | Air multi-styler | Coanda auto-wrap | Yes | Below 150°C (Dyson) | Premium: several hundred euro |
| Shark Glam | Air and ceramic multi-styler | Coanda auto-wrap | Yes | Up to 150°C (Shark) | €300–€400 |
| BaByliss Style Secret Air | Automatic rotating curler | Motorised auto-curl | No: dry hair first | Air only, 170°C, 185°C or 200°C | €100–€200 |
| BaByliss Air Wand | Wet-to-dry air styler | None | Yes | 4 heat settings, Ultra-Care mode | €100–€200 |
| Revlon Multi Air 5-in-1 | Hot-air brush set | Manual 32mm curler | Yes | Low, medium, high, cool | €50–€100 |
| BaByliss Air Style 1000 | Hot-air styler set | Manual conical curler | Yes, from damp | 1,000W hot air | €50–€100, often less on offer |
| Revlon One-Step | One-step volumiser brush | None (volume and bend) | Yes, from damp | 3 heat, 2 speed settings | Under €50 |
Match the Airwrap tool you would use to a cheaper one
| If you would mostly use the Airwrap’s… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Curling barrels | Shark Glam or BaByliss Style Secret Air | Both wind the hair for you: the Glam with air from wet, the Style Secret Air with a motor on dry hair |
| Smoothing brushes | BaByliss Air Wand | Wet-to-dry smoothing and straightening at a much lower price |
| Round volumising brush | Revlon One-Step or the oval brush on the Revlon Multi Air | The bouncy blow-dry these brushes are known for |
| Pre-styling dryer | Shark SpeedStyle Pro or BaByliss Super Power | A proper dryer is faster for rough-drying, then style with a cheaper tool |
| Diffuser, for curls and waves | Shark SpeedStyle Pro | Its DefrizzFast Diffuser keeps curl definition |
| A bit of everything | Revlon Multi Air 5-in-1 or BaByliss Air Style 1000 | Several heads on one handle, with manual curling |
Alternatives by budget
- Around €50: the Revlon One-Step for a smooth, bouncy blow-dry, or the BaByliss Air Style 1000, often on offer at around this level, for four attachments including a curler. Both suit teenage gifts and a generous Kris Kindle budget.
- €50–€100: the Revlon Multi Air 5-in-1, the most Airwrap-like kit at this level, with five heads and a manual curler.
- €100–€200: the BaByliss Style Secret Air for hands-free curls on dry hair, or the BaByliss Air Wand for sleek, straight styles from wet.
- €300 and up: the Shark Glam, the full Coanda auto-wrap experience from Amazon.ie stock.
- Two tools instead of one: a one-step brush plus the Style Secret Air covers blow-dries and curls, and together they cost far less than an Airwrap. A good dryer plus the Style Secret Air covers drying, diffusing and curling.
Which alternative suits your hair type?
- Fine or thin hair. Easy to dry, but air-set curls can drop quickly. Use a lower heat, finish each curl with cool air, and use a light setting product. The Style Secret Air’s heated settings give a firmer curl if air-only curls will not hold.
- Thick or long hair. Drying time is the problem. Rough-dry to about 80% with a powerful dryer before you use any hot brush or styler, and take smaller sections so auto-wrap barrels can grip them.
- Wavy and curly hair. Brushes stretch curls out. For definition, use a diffuser on low speed; for a smooth blow-out on curly hair, the Air Wand or Shark Glam smoothing tools work from wet.
- Coily and Afro-textured hair. Look for low-heat settings, a cool shot and a comb or pik attachment. Our hair dryer and styler guide suggests a dryer designed for this hair type.
- Short hair. Auto-wrap and automatic curlers need length to wind. A smaller brush or a dryer with a concentrator suits short cuts.
- Colour-treated or damaged hair. Prioritise temperature control: the Shark Glam’s 150°C limit, the Style Secret Air’s airflow-only mode and the Air Wand’s Ultra-Care mode are all aimed at this. Use a heat protectant whatever you buy.
Running costs and warranties
Electricity is a small cost whichever you choose. A 1,600W styler on full power for 15 minutes uses at most 0.4kWh, roughly 13c at an electricity price of around 32c per kWh, and less in practice because the heat cycles and you rarely use the top setting throughout. For how hair tools compare with the rest of the house, see our appliance running costs guide.
- Warranty. The Revlon Multi Air, BaByliss Air Wand and BaByliss Air Style 1000 listings show three-year manufacturer warranties, and BaByliss lists a three-year warranty for the Style Secret Air. The Shark Glam and SpeedStyle Pro listings show a two-year Shark warranty on registration, so register them when you unbox them. Check the maker’s site for the exact terms.
- Replacement parts. Dyson and Shark sell some attachments separately. On budget stylers, spare heads are often hard to find, so treat them as a set.
- Filters. Most air stylers have an intake filter. Clean it every few weeks, as a clogged filter makes the motor work harder and can trigger the overheat cut-out.
- Products. A heat protectant, and a light setting spray if curls drop, are the only ongoing costs most people have.
Buying an Airwrap alternative as a Christmas present
The Airwrap is a perennial Christmas request, so an alternative has to land well. Find out, gently, what they would use it for: curls, sleek hair or a bouncy blow-dry. Someone who has asked for an Airwrap for its curls will be happier with an automatic curler than with a smoothing brush, however good. Check their hair length too, as auto-wrap and automatic curlers need mid-length hair or longer.
- If they want “the Airwrap experience”, the Shark Glam comes with a storage case and is the closest match.
- For a mid-sized budget, the BaByliss Style Secret Air or BaByliss Air Wand, depending on curls or sleek.
- For teenagers, students and Kris Kindle, the Revlon One-Step or BaByliss Air Style 1000.
- Order early. Popular stylers can sell out on Amazon.ie in December. Black Friday often brings discounts on hair tools, and our Black Friday guide explains how to tell whether a deal is genuine.
- Keep the box sealed until you are sure it is right, as personal-care items can be harder to return once opened, and check the return-by date in Your Orders. Our Amazon.ie returns guide explains how returns work.
For more ideas, see our Christmas gift guide, gifts for her and Kris Kindle gift ideas.
Before you buy: plug, seller and lookalikes
- Check the seller. Make sure the buy box names Amazon.ie as both the shipper and the seller. Some styler pages also show Amazon UK or marketplace offers, which can bring import charges, a different plug or a different warranty route. Here is how to find Amazon.ie stock and why customs charges happen.
- Read the model code. UK/Ireland Shark models include UK in the code (HD6051SUKPK, HD752UK), BaByliss UK/Ireland models usually end in U (C6686U, AS6553U, 2136U), and Revlon’s include UK (RVDR5370UK). EU versions come with a European two-pin plug.
- Avoid adaptors for daily use. A cheap travel adaptor on a high-wattage styler used every morning is not a good idea. Buy the 3-pin version.
- Be wary of unbranded “5-in-1 air stylers”. Marketplace lookalikes copy the Airwrap’s look at very low prices. Build quality, plugs and safety markings vary, and support can be hard to get. Stick to established brands sold by Amazon.ie.
For dryers, including the Dyson Supersonic question, read our hair dryer and styler guide. See all our Beauty & Grooming guides, or browse the Health & Personal Care category. Here is why we only list Amazon.ie stock.