The Best Hair Styling Tools We’ve Tested
From the Dyson Airwrap to budget blowdryers, we tested 14 hair tools to find what’s actually worth the investment.
Heat styling damages hair over time — but the right tools minimize damage while delivering better results than lower-end alternatives. After testing 14 hair tools over three months with three testers across different hair types, these are our recommendations.
Best All-in-One Styler: Dyson Airwrap Complete Long
The Dyson Airwrap does something no other styling tool does: it uses the Coanda effect — the tendency of air to follow a curved surface — to wrap hair around the barrel without a clamp. No extreme heat is required because the air movement does the work. This means less damage, more consistent results, and a learning curve of about two uses before it clicks.
The Complete Long set includes six attachments: two barrel sizes, a smoothing brush, a volumizing brush, a paddle brush, and a pre-styling dryer. It’s a full styling kit in one device. At $599 it’s expensive; when it drops on sale, it’s one of the better premium beauty investments available.
What to Look For in Hair Tools
Temperature control: Fine hair needs lower temperatures (below 350°F). Coarse or thick hair can handle higher heat. Tools with adjustable, precise temperature settings protect your hair better than tools with just low/medium/high settings.
Ionic vs. ceramic: Ionic technology reduces frizz by breaking up water molecules on the hair surface. Ceramic distributes heat more evenly. The best tools combine both. Titanium heats up fast and stays consistent but runs very hot — not ideal for fine hair.