Styling tools have come a long way in the past few years – today's best hair stylers can help you create all kinds of different looks, often just by switching on a different attachment. There are options for a range of hair types and lengths, and I'm increasingly seeing a focus on prioritizing long-term hair health by minimizing the use of extreme heat, which is a welcome development.
I've tested a range of different hair stylers, from different brands and sitting at different price points. I can tell you that once you find the right one, it can totally transform your getting-ready routine, enabling you to create exactly the look you want with minimal effort and minimal skill. Below you'll find my pick of the best hair styler and multi-styler tools on the market right now. All of these picks have been thoroughly tested, either by me personally or by one of my experienced beauty reviewers.
The best hair stylers: reviewed and approved by experts
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best multi-styler overall
The Airwrap i.d. takes everything that was great about the original Dyson multi-styler, and adds a new feature that's a complete game-changer. If you can afford it, this is the best hair styling tool on the market.
The original Airwrap rose to popularity for introducing a new, healthier way to create curls. Rather than applying extreme heat with a traditional curling tong, this tool harnesses a phenomenon called the coanda effect to cause hair to wrap itself around the barrel, shaping it and setting it into curls using just air. The i.d. version adds an i.d.curl switch that launches an automated curling sequence (wrap > curl > cool shot), taking all the guesswork out the process and making it absolutely effortless.
Where the Airwrap i.d. really shines is when creating curls, but there's a wide range of other compatible tools that increase its versatility. It can be used as just a hair dryer, and there are various brush attachments for creating bouncy blow-dries, a diffuser and wide-tooth comb attachments for curls and coils, and a flyaway smoother, amongst other things. Unusually, there's also the option to pick a longer or shorter curl barrel to suit your length of hair.
The sticking point for many will be the price – there's no getting around the fact that the Airwrap i.d. is extremely expensive. There are other multi-stylers in this list that also use the coanda effect to create curls (see the Revamp at #3 and Shark at #2) but none that can create clockwise or anti-clockwise curls on the same barrel, and none that offer an automated curl sequence.
Note: there's a newer version of this styling tool now – the Dyson Co-Anda 2X. We haven't been able to test it out yet, but the main differences compared to the i.d. version is that this one is lighter, more powerful, and has a compatible 'AirSmooth' attachment for straightening.
Read our full Dyson Airwrap i.d. review
The second best multi-styler
The Shark FlexStyle is a hair tool with a range of useful attachments for creating different styles. It's Shark's answer to the Airwrap (#1) and of all the hair stylers I've tested, this is the one that comes closest to matching Dyon's offering. It comes with very similar auto-wrapping curl barrels, which create curls using directed air, resulting in less heat damage than traditional tongs. However, unlike with the Airwrap, you'll need to manually swap over the barrels to create clockwise and anti-clockwise curls, and there's no automated curl sequence.
You can also use the FlexStyle as a dryer – the pivotable top section makes it comfortable to hold and easy to direct the airflow in this mode. Plus, there are brush tools and a concentrator that can be snapped on for different looks.
Where this styler really stands out from the crowd is with its diffuser, which has prongs that can be extended or retracted to suit different hair lengths. I haven't seen this feature elsewhere and it makes the FlexStyle a great choice for naturally curly customers. In some countries you can build your own bundle, and choose only the attachments you'll actually use, which is a neat option.
Price-wise, it's much more affordable than an Airwrap, although still not super-cheap. The quality is fine (the black version looks and feels more premium than the beige one) but it's still worth keeping an eye out for a deal if you decide this is the hair tool for you. Shark loves a sale, so you shouldn't have to wait too long.
Note: Shark now has a new multi-styler in its range – the Shark Glam, which adds ceramic plates to certain attachments for extra smoothing power. Although it's in some ways an upgrade on the FlexStyle, I was put off by the fact you couldn't turn these plates off for use on wet hair.
Read more in our Shark FlexStyle review
The best affordable multi-styler
The Revamp Dynamic Radiance Pro Blow Dry 7-in-1 Ionic Air Styler is the best budget multi-styler I've tested, as well as being one of the best Airwrap dupes if you can't stretch to the real thing (it's UK only – US shoppers should hop to the slightly pricier Shark FlexStyle at #2).
Like many modern multi-stylers, the design combines a tube-shaped dryer – the top of which pivots for more comfortable drying – and various attachments for different styling tasks. These include the all-important auto-wrapping curl barrels, which I found worked just as well as any I've tried (although they do require more effort than the Airwrap i.d. version – you'll have to manually swap them over when you want to switch from clockwise to anti-clockwise curls, and there's no automatic curl sequence option).
There's a decent selection of attachments bundled in: the two auto-wrap curl barrels, a concentrator, flat paddle brush, large oval bristle brush with ceramic barrel and a round barrel with retractable bristles. Other brands' efforts have a wider selection of compatible attachments, but most bases are covered here, with the notable exception of a diffuser.
Of all the attachments, the only one I wasn't impressed with was the round barrel – I couldn't get the bristles to stay out long enough to actually style anything. However, I am a big fan of the large bristle brush. It's great at adding volume, and I still reach for this tool and attachment whenever I want to create a big, bouncy style.
Although it understandably doesn't feel ultra-premium, the build quality is decent and functions as intended – all the attachments clip on and off easily and feel secure in use, for example. The helpful addition of an easily accessible 'pause' button means you can remove the wand without disturbing your curls. In fact, my only minor complaint was that it was a little too easy to accidentally change the settings mid-style.
In general, Revamp is worth checking out if you're looking for a cheap multi-styler. The even more affordable Progloss appears in my list at #6.
Read more in our Revamp Dynamic Radiance Pro Blow Dry 7-in-1 Ionic Air Styler review
The best hair brush dryer
If you're on a tighter budget and want something that'll help you create bouncy blow-dries, Revlon's Pro Collection One Step is the best brush dryer we've tried. It's not much to look at, but it really delivers when it comes to results – and it's extremely affordable too.
This kind of hair styler tool dries and shapes your hair at the same time. It's quite heavy, but on test my reviewer found it was so efficient that the extra weight didn't really matter. There are just two drying settings: lower powered and less hot, or higher powered and hotter. The higher setting created an irritating noise, but my tester found the lower setting was powerful enough that she never had to use anything else. The large barrel enables you to tackle large sections at a time, and its oval shape makes it easy to create volume at the root.
Although the design isn't perfect, the results more than made up for any flaws: the Revlon Pro Collection One Step consistently left my reviewer's hair sleek, bouncy and voluminous. If you're seeking more versatility – including the ability to create curls – there are plenty of multi-stylers in this list to choose from. But for bouncy blow-dries on a budget, this is the tool for you.
Read more in our Revlon Pro Collection One Step Dryer and Volumiser review
The best straightening tool
The Dyson Airstrait uses an angled blade of focused airflow to dry and straighten at the same time – meaning you can use it on wet hair. Its design has an 80s sci-fi vibe and swaps the usual straightener hot plates for unheated panels, with vents to deliver the air.
At 1.18lb / 536g, the Airstrait is heavier than a traditional straightener, but it makes light work of drying/straightening hair, with my reviewer able to achieve both in 10 minutes, less than half the time it would take to dry and straighten her hair usually. It has some neat features too: one that senses when there's hair clamped in and adjusts the volume of airflow in response, and another that cuts airflow when its arms have been open for more than three seconds.
Our reviewer found that there was little-to-no hair snagging or sizzling and that the Airstrait was able to dry segments of her hair with just one pass. Its results were natural-looking straight hair rather than pin straight, however, and the Airstrait can't get right up to the root, so may not be as effective for those with tight curls.
Talking of curls, what the Airstrait is not so good at is creating them – for that, you'll want the Airwrap (#1) or another multi-styler. In fact, for maximum versatility, you might want the Dyson Airwrap Co-Anda 2x, which is essentially an Airwrap with an Airstrait attachment (although I haven't tested it so can't vouch for it personally).
If you have wavy or slightly curly hair and are looking for a styling tool that will help you smooth things out without damaging your locks, the Airstrait would make an excellent choice. It's expensive, but top quality, and there's nothing else like it on the market right now.
Read our full Dyson Airstrait review
The best cheap multi-styler
The Revamp Progloss Airstyle 6-in-1Air Styler DR-1250, or the Revamp Progloss, is a very budget-friendly multi-styler that comes with with six attachments: a wide-bristle brush, a paddle brush and a rotating hard bristle brush, which is designed for creating soft waves. There's also a conical attachment for creating curls, a drying attachment and a diffuser.
The dryer works well, drying my reviewer's hair relatively efficiently, and she found the smaller barrel brush and paddle brush were particularly well-suited to her fine hair. The larger, rotating brush was easy to wind hair around, but the width of the barrel makes it better suited to longer-haired users, if defined waves and curls are your aim.
There were a couple more compromises to note, too. My reviewer found it hard to grip the hair styler when creating curls, due to the length of the handle, and the Progloss was also rather noisy at 80dB. Still, you're getting decent quality for the price – I'd recommend the Progloss to those who want to create a variety of styles without spending big.
Read more in our Revamp Progloss Airstyle 6-in-1Air Styler DR-1250 review
How to choose a hair styler tool
When choosing a hair styler, you first need to consider what you want to achieve. Are you looking to create waves, straight locks or to enhance or define existing curls? If there's only one style you know you'll want to create most of the time then you may want to choose a hair styler dedicated to that function, or if you want to be able to mix up styles then a multi-styler may be better for you. Think about your hair type – some tools are better suited to some hair types than others. I've indicated where this is the case in our list.
It's also worth considering design and portability, do you need something that will travel easily or will your tool likely stay in one place? Do you have the space to keep several accessories and a large hair styler tool or do you need something that's relatively compact? Is an included carry case important to you?
Budget will also likely play a key part in your decision. The price of hair stylers ranges from relatively inexpensive 2-in-1 hair brush dryers to advanced multi-stylers, which vary in price, with Dyson being the most expensive.
What is the best hair styling tool brand?
There are a number of brands in the hair styling tool market. Dyson is top of the range in terms of price and quality, but elsewhere there's Shark, Revlon, Remington, BaByliss, plus GHD and T3.
