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Medical disclaimer: This article is for information only and isn’t medical or professional advice. If you have a scalp or hair-loss condition, or sensitive skin, talk to a doctor or dermatologist before using heated styling tools, and follow each maker’s safety instructions. Any regulatory listing or certification of a tool doesn’t mean it will work for everyone or suit every hair type.
Celebrity hair tools are easy to want and hard to justify at $450–$650. So we checked who has actually gone on the record with each celebrity-linked tool, what each one costs at US retailers right now, and where an Airwrap-style alternative or cheaper option makes more sense.
Quick answer
If you want the Airwrap’s curl-and-dry idea for less, the Shark FlexStyle ($349.99 at SharkNinja) is the closest Airwrap-style alternative by listed attachments and features (researched, not a hands-on review). If you mostly want a bouncy blowout, the Revlon One-Step Volumizer ($49.99 at Ulta) costs about a thirteenth of the Airwrap’s price. Dyson’s tools come last in our value ranking. The Airwrap has the highest listed price among these tools.
- Best value overall: Revlon One-Step Volumizer 1.0 (about $50)
- Closest Airwrap-style alternative by listed attachments and features: Shark FlexStyle (about $350)
- Best Supersonic alternative: Laifen Swift Special (about $170)
- Best ghd Platinum+ alternative: CHI Original 1″ flat iron (about $100)
How we ranked these (and what we didn’t do)
“Ranked” here means our editorial ranking by value for money. We based it on each tool’s published specs and its current US price from the brand or a US retailer (checked October 2026). This ranking is researched, not a hands-on review. A cheaper tool ranks higher when its listed features cover similar styling tasks for much less money.
On the celebrity side, we only included claims we could trace to a source we opened: a brand press release, a stylist’s red-carpet breakdown or a publication quoting them. Paid ambassadors are labeled. Most of these sources are from 2019–2024, and routines change, so treat them as “this is what was used then”, not “this is what they use today”.
Celebrity hair tools at a glance
| Tool | What it does | Typical price (US$) | Who it suits | Cheaper alternative | Alternative price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyson Airwrap i.d. | Multi-styler: dries, curls, smooths and volumizes with interchangeable attachments | $649.99 (Ulta) | People who style daily and want one tool for drying, curls and volume | Shark FlexStyle | $349.99 (SharkNinja) |
| Dyson Supersonic Nural | High-speed hair dryer with styling attachments | $449.99 (Ulta) | Frequent blow-dryers who prize a high-speed dryer | Laifen Swift Special | $169.99 (Laifen) |
| Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 | Multi-styler and dryer: auto-wrap curlers, oval brush, diffuser, concentrator | $349.99 (SharkNinja) | Airwrap fans on a smaller budget; curly hair (diffuser included) | Revlon One-Step Volumizer 1.0 | $49.99 (Ulta) |
| ghd Platinum+ Styler 1″ | Flat iron, preset to 365°F, for straightening and curling | $319.00 (Ulta) | Regular straighteners who want fixed, moderate heat | CHI Original 1″ Ceramic Iron | $100.00 (CHI) |
| T3 AireLuxe | Full-size ionic dryer, 1875W, 5 heat / 3 speed settings | $224.99 (T3) | Round-brush blowout fans who want a conventional dryer | Revlon One-Step Volumizer 1.0 | $49.99 (Ulta) |
| Revlon One-Step Volumizer 1.0 | Hot-air brush: dries and adds volume in one pass | $49.99 (Ulta) | Anyone who wants a quick at-home blowout on a budget | (It is the budget pick.) PLUS 2.0 is the upgrade | $65.99 (Ulta) |
Prices were checked in October 2026 on the retailer or brand pages listed in our sources. They change often, especially around sales, so check before you buy.
Our value-for-money ranking
1. Revlon One-Step Volumizer 1.0: best value overall
The One-Step is a popular hot-air brush for at-home blowouts. Ulta lists the original 1.0 at $49.99, with “2 Heat/Speed Settings plus Cool Option”. The PLUS 2.0 is $65.99 at Ulta.
Celebrity link: We couldn’t find an on-the-record celebrity or celebrity-stylist source for this tool that we could verify, so we aren’t claiming one. It’s here because it’s a lower-cost alternative to the pricier blowout tools below.
Why it’s #1 for value: It combines drying and volumizing at a lower price than the Airwrap. It doesn’t do curls or diffusing, and it has fewer settings than the premium dryers here.
2. Shark FlexStyle: closest Airwrap-style alternative by listed attachments and features
Celebrity link: In August 2023, SharkNinja named celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton its Global Ambassador in a two-year deal (SharkNinja press release, 2023). He is a paid brand ambassador. In the release he said, “I can confidently take their hair tools with me to any client and know I’ll be able to deliver the look.” That release launched the SmoothStyle and SpeedStyle and mentions the FlexStyle, but his quote is about Shark’s tools in general. The deal term suggests it may have ended by now.
What you get: SharkNinja lists the FlexStyle 5-in-1 with diffuser (HD435) at $349.99. The box includes two 1.25″ auto-wrap curlers, an oval brush, a curl-defining diffuser and a styling concentrator, and the tool runs at 1,600 watts.
Why it’s an Airwrap-style alternative: It’s built around the same idea: a dryer handle that switches between air-wrapping curl barrels, a smoothing brush and a drying nozzle. It is not the same tool, and attachments, airflow and finish differ. But the core use case is shared, and it costs about $300 less than the Airwrap i.d. at current list prices. A diffuser is included, which is a plus for curly hair.
3. T3 AireLuxe: a classic dryer at a mid-range price
Celebrity link: For the 2023 Oscars, hairstylist Jenny Cho “blow-dried Ana’s hair with a T3 blow dryer and round brush”, according to NewBeauty, 2023, which covered Ana de Armas’s red-carpet look. The article doesn’t name the dryer model, so we aren’t claiming it was the AireLuxe specifically. That was one event, three years ago.
What you get: T3 lists the AireLuxe full-size dryer at $224.99: 1,875 watts, 5 heat and 3 speed settings, a volume-boost switch, two concentrators, a 9 ft cord and a 2-year warranty.
Value take: It costs about half as much as a Supersonic and fits people who already like a round brush. If you’d rather not learn round-brush technique, a hot-air brush like the Revlon is a lower-cost option for blowout styling.
4. ghd Platinum+: a pricey flat iron with smart heat control
Celebrity link: ghd’s own report from the 2019 Academy Awards says hairstylist Justine Marjan, whom it calls a “ghd Brand Ambassador”, used the ghd platinum+ styler on Ashley Graham. Stylists Anh Co Tran and Adir Abergel used it on Awkwafina and Charlize Theron (ghd x 91st Academy Awards via Good Salon Guide, 2019). This was brand-run red-carpet content, and Marjan was a ghd brand ambassador at the time.
What you get: Ulta lists the Platinum+ 1″ at $319.00. Ulta says it’s preset to 365°F, monitors heat 250 times per second and has a 3-year warranty.
Cheaper alternative: The CHI Original 1″ Ceramic Hairstyling Iron is $100.00 at CHI. Like the ghd, it has a fixed preset temperature (392°F per CHI), ceramic plates and dual voltage for travel. It lacks ghd’s adaptive heat control and runs hotter, so use heat protectant and keep passes to a minimum.
5. Dyson Supersonic Nural: steep price
Celebrity link: In January 2024, BLACKPINK’s Jisoo was announced as a Dyson ambassador for hair care (Hypebae, 2024). She is a paid brand ambassador. Hypebae quotes her: “I’m really excited to be the ambassador for Dyson Hair Care products, which I use daily.”
What you get: Ulta lists the Supersonic Nural at $449.99.
Cheaper alternative: The Laifen Swift Special is $169.99 at Laifen. Laifen lists a 110,000 RPM motor. It’s a high-speed dryer in the same category as the Supersonic. It isn’t the same machine, and Dyson’s features and attachments differ. But if motor speed is what you want, it costs less than half as much.
6. Dyson Airwrap i.d.: the original, last on value
Celebrity link: For the 2023 Met Gala, hairstylist Bryce Scarlett styled Margot Robbie’s hair using the Dyson Airwrap, according to Biography, 2023. A follow-up piece says he used the round volumizing brush attachment (Biography, 2024). Neither article mentions a paid Dyson partnership. Jisoo’s Dyson ambassador campaign (above) also featured the Airwrap. Before launch, Dyson asked celebrity stylist Jen Atkin and about 20 other stylists to try the Airwrap, according to a 2018 report (Salon Today, 2018).
What you get: Ulta lists the Airwrap i.d. Multi-styler and Dryer (Straight+Wavy) at $649.99. It comes with a conical barrel, a 1.6″ long barrel, a 2-in-1 dryer and flyaway smoother, a large round volumizing brush, a soft smoothing brush, a fast dryer and a case.
Why it ranks last: It’s a versatile tool. But at roughly $300 more than the FlexStyle and about thirteen times the price of a One-Step, the Airwrap has the highest listed price among these tools.
Worth it?
Buy a Dyson if you’ll use it most days, have the budget and want the brand’s specific attachments. Otherwise, the Shark FlexStyle is the closest Airwrap-style alternative by listed attachments and features (researched, not a hands-on review). The Revlon One-Step combines drying and volumizing for about $50, and the Laifen Swift Special has a 110,000-RPM motor and costs under $200. The cited reports show that the named stylists used the tools for those particular red-carpet looks. It doesn’t tell you it’s the best value for you.
How to choose without overspending
- Start with what you actually do. Mostly blow-drying? Buy a good dryer, not a multi-styler. Mostly volume? A hot-air brush may be enough. Curls plus drying? That’s where the Airwrap and FlexStyle make sense.
- Check what’s in the box. Multi-styler bundles vary a lot, and buying attachments later adds up.
- Watch the heat. Fixed-temperature irons like the ghd (365°F) and CHI (392°F) aren’t adjustable. Use a heat protectant with any hot tool.
- Compare at sale time. These tools are often discounted, so the gap between brands can shrink or grow from week to week.
FAQ
What is the closest Airwrap-style alternative by listed attachments and features?
Based on listed attachments, features and price, the Shark FlexStyle is the closest Airwrap-style alternative we found in our research. It combines a dryer with air-wrapping curl barrels, a brush and a diffuser for $349.99 at SharkNinja, versus $649.99 for the Airwrap i.d. at Ulta (checked October 2026). It is a similar concept, not an identical tool.
Which celebrity hair tools have stars or their stylists actually used?
From sources we checked: Bryce Scarlett used a Dyson Airwrap on Margot Robbie for the 2023 Met Gala (Biography). Jenny Cho used a T3 dryer on Ana de Armas at the 2023 Oscars (NewBeauty). ghd’s 2019 Oscars report says its stylists used the Platinum+. Jisoo (Dyson) and stylist Chris Appleton (Shark) are paid brand ambassadors.
Is the Revlon One-Step a lower-cost alternative to the Airwrap?
It combines drying and volumizing at a lower price than the Airwrap and costs $49.99 at Ulta. It doesn’t curl or diffuse, so if you want curls from one tool, a multi-styler like the FlexStyle is the better comparison.
How did Opeau rank these hair tools?
By research, not hands-on use. Our ranking is editorial and based on published specs and listed US prices.
Do these celebrities still use these tools?
We can’t say. Our sources date from 2018 to 2024, and routines, stylists and brand deals change. Shark’s deal with Chris Appleton, for example, was announced as two years long in 2023.
Sources
- SharkNinja newsroom — Shark Beauty partners with Chris Appleton as Global Ambassador (Aug 15, 2023) — Appleton paid ambassador, two-year deal, quote
- Hypebae — BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Is Dyson’s Newest Ambassador (Jan 19, 2024) — Jisoo ambassador role, Airwrap campaign, quote
- Biography — Margot Robbie Met Gala beauty (May 2, 2023) — Bryce Scarlett used Dyson Airwrap
- Biography — Margot Robbie’s Dyson (Apr 5, 2024) — round volumizing brush attachment
- Salon Today — Dyson launches the Dyson Airwrap styler (Oct 11, 2018) — Jen Atkin among ~20 stylists who tried it pre-launch
- NewBeauty — Ana de Armas Oscars hair (Mar 13, 2023) — Jenny Cho used a T3 dryer and round brush
- Good Salon Guide — ghd x 91st Annual Academy Awards (2019) — Platinum+ used by Justine Marjan (ghd Brand Ambassador) and others
- Ulta — Dyson Airwrap i.d. Straight+Wavy (checked Oct 2026) — $649.99, attachments
- Ulta — Dyson Supersonic Nural (checked Oct 2026) — $449.99
- SharkNinja — Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 HD435 (checked Oct 2026) — $349.99, specs
- Ulta — ghd Platinum+ Styler 1″ (checked Oct 2026) — $319.00, 365°F, warranty
- T3 — AireLuxe Hair Dryer (checked Oct 2026) — $224.99, specs
- Ulta — Revlon One-Step Volumizer 1.0 (checked Oct 2026) — $49.99, settings
- Ulta — Revlon One-Step Volumizer PLUS 2.0 (checked Oct 2026) — $65.99
- Laifen — Swift Special (checked Oct 2026) — $169.99, 110,000 RPM
- CHI — 1″ Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron (checked Oct 2026) — $100.00, 392°F, dual voltage
Last updated: October 30, 2026. Prices and availability change; check the retailer before you buy.