When it comes to hair tools, there's no question that the "multi-styler" has become the it product of the last few years. Since Dyson introduced its iconic Airwrap system back in 2018, the concept of needing a single tool to dry, blowout, curl and even diffuse has blown up, and since, become the norm.
So, as expected, hair brands — and, yes, even other vacuum companies — started to hop on the bandwagon, developing their own versions; and unfortunately for wallets everywhere, a select few have been able to deliver. Shark dropped its 5-in-1 hair styler in 2022, offering a similar styling unit with two brushes, curling attachments and a rotating handle — at a more affordable price.
Then, last year, T3 joined in on the action with its Aire 360 system, promising to deliver voluminous results (without heat damage) and major shine, thanks to its high-performance ceramic coating. (As someone who owns and loves the Smooth ID straightener and Aireluxe hair dryer, I had a feeling this brand wouldn't disappoint.)
With so many do-it-all stylers to choose from, it can feel daunting when deciding which one to spend your hard-earned cash on. So, I did the work for you and tried all three, reviewing in-depth how well they style, curl and dry my hair. Below, check out my results, and receive a more thorough explanation of the pros and cons of each device.
The best part? All of them are on sale for Black Friday!
How I tried all three multi-stylers
For starters, my hair type is straight to wavy. It's thin near the root and gets gradually thicker down at the bottom. I'm not prone to serious frizz, but my strands knot pretty easily. My hair is also highlighted, so it can be prone to dryness.
All three multi-stylers and their attachments were used several times. For blowouts, I made sure to start with clean, post-shower hair, without using any product to get raw, unassisted results. I also started as I normally do, with about 75-80% air-dried hair.
I only tested attachments that all three stylers included to keep my assessment fair: a blow-dryer, curlers and a round brush.
Which has the better curling attachments?
My pick:
There's no doubt in my mind that I would reach for my Dyson the next time I'm in a curly hair mood. The barrel isn't the longest of the three brands I tried, which I thought would act as a deterrent; however, Dyson still provided the tightest and most long-lasting curls, by far. After some research, I've come to the conclusion that I can thank the brand's Enhanced Coanda airflow that was introduced with the re-engineered system. The new feature is powered by the digital motor V9, a 13-blade impeller that spins up to 110,000 RPM, according to the brand. I'm no engineer, so I can't go into detail on the specs more than that, but I can tell you that from experience, this tool suctions my hair up like a vacuum and doesn't let go.
Another feature that helps Dyson stand out from the rest is that you don't have to change barrels to switch airflow direction, unlike the two other multi-stylers, which require swapping accessories when you want the curls to go out or in. For the Airwrap, you simply have to turn the nozzle at the top. It's a game-changer. The Complete Long system also comes with two barrel sizes — a 1.2-inch and 1.6-inch — which can help you achieve tighter or looser curls, respectively.
- T3: If you have a lot of hair and need an extra-long barrel, the Aire 360 would absolutely work for you. Unfortunately, you have to switch barrels to change curl directions, but each one is long enough to fit a lot more hair than the Dyson or Shark.
- Shark: Don't discount this device when wanting a good curl. I loved using my Shark to get bouncy curls. I had to grab smaller amounts of hair, since the barrel is the smallest of the bunch, but once the hair wrapped fully around, it does a good job of styling each strand.
Which will give you a better blowout?
My pick:
I'm in love with T3's oval brush. First, it's large. In my experience, smaller brushes don't produce as much volume or lift, so using one that is both long and wide made styling my hair much easier. According to the brand, it's custom-designed with SmoothGrip bristles that gripped my hair well but didn't feel too harsh. (I noticed a lot less hair left behind compared to the brand's round brushes, too.)
T3 also boasts a CeraGloss ceramic surface, which is supposed to lift and smooth hair. It's also meant to boost overall shine, and that's something I did notice after completing my blowout. My hair gave off a healthy, just-got-back-from-the-salon look.
- Shark: I can't deny that the Shark is a great tool to get a fantastic blowout. The brush, while not as smooth as T3's, is a great size and grips my hair well. It also has the best and easiest-to-use cool shot button, which is placed right at the top of the drying barrel.
- Dyson: While this multi-styler has maximum power to dry hair, I really rely on the brush attachments to lock down my style. I could not get on board with the round brush; its bristles are much too coarse, which didn't feel great on my hair. They also didn't grip my hair well, which caused me to make more passes and that resulted in using more heat, time and energy. However, the Dyson comes with a 2-in-1 drying attachment that is specifically designed to smooth hair and style it with "58% less frizz and flyaways," per the brand. My hair isn't naturally frizzy (unless you stick me in a very humid climate, then watch out), so I can't speak to its effectiveness. But if this sounds useful to you, please keep that in mind.
Which will dry your hair the fastest?
My pick:
If you're the type of person who can't stand drying their hair, the Shark Flexstyle is going to make the process fly by. In my opinion, it has the most powerful motor and the hottest heat setting, two major factors when it comes to drying strands quickly. But when I say it is fast and hot, I don't mean it's inefficient and harmful; according to the brand, the tool "measures heat 1,000 times per second, ensuring consistent air temperatures and no heat damage." To its credit, my locks never felt dried out after a quick dry, just soft and smooth.
I also believe that its drying efficiency has a lot to do with the device's design. This is the only multi-styler that has a rotating function, which allows you to hold the wand like you would any other hair dryer. Making it more ergonomic made the drying process not only faster, but also much more precise. This feature is also great for users who prefer not to use brush attachments, since this can easily be used with your own tools.
Lastly, the Shark also comes with a Style Concentrator to help direct air, as well as, style and dry at the same time. While this is also a fantastic blowout tool, I found it most useful for quick-drying, since it helped me aim only at the areas I wanted to dry, and not make my hair fly all over the place (aka, less knots and potential frizziness). After timing my last quick-dry session, I was able to finish in approximately 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Do I even have to explain how convenient it is to have ready-to-style hair in that amount of time?
- Dyson: This tool also has a focused airflow feature that is designed for rough drying. While not as powerful as the Shark (in my opinion), it does a great job of setting your hair up for styling.
- T3: This device has the softest airflow of the bunch, but that isn't to say it doesn't dry hair well. According to the brand, its motor and drying concentrator offer the brand's "fastest drying yet," and its SoftAire design is made to protect your hair's natural moisture. So, if you're OK with a longer dry time, you'll still get great results. The only issue I have in this department is with the T3's heat output. Even when the device is turned to the hottest setting, it takes a few seconds for it to heat up — a problem I don't experience with the other two multi-stylers.
My overall multi-styler pick
So, the question you're probably asking yourselves is — which one should I buy? Taking overall construction, the attachments and price into account, I'd have to say the T3 Aire 360 just edges out the two other hair tools as the best overall multi-styler. While I had a great experience with all three, I can't help but feel that the larger round brush and longer curlers, combined with the more affordable price, put it on top. I really thought Dyson would take the cake with its superior curling attachment, but I couldn't justify that decision with the subpar brush. (Though, if the brand ever comes out with an upgrade on that one specifically, I'll have to revisit this.)
All that being said, I urge you to take your hair type and personal styling into account before making any decisions. This is the tool that worked well for my hair — again, shoulder length and straight-to-wavy. Your best choice might be different based on your hair needs.
What to consider
If I own the original Dyson Airwrap, do I have to buy the upgraded version?
Fortunately for you (and your wallet), you don't need to shell out another $600 for a brand-new system. According to Dyson, the re-engineered attachments are compatible with every Airwrap multi-styler. You can even buy the newer accessories in a set.
I tried the original Airwrap before getting my hands on the newer model, and I can confidently say that buying the newer attachments is well worth it, even for just the longer curling barrels alone. The older barrels were much too small and were barely able to grab my slightly longer-than-shoulder-length hair. Plus, you had to switch out the barrels when you wanted to change airflow directions.
What does the cool shot do?
A cool shot feature is the release of cool air that helps to literally cool down hair and set your style. According to experts, it's something to seriously consider when shopping for a hair dryer. "The cool shot button will help you seal down the cuticle of your hair, to 'lock' in the style you have created," celebrity hairstylist and colorist Jennifer Korab previously told Shop TODAY. "It also helps [to] add shine."
With how important the cool shot feature is, it would have seriously surprised me if any of the three multi-stylers I've spoken about thus far didn't have one. Shark's device is the only one with a button dedicated to it, but Dyson's and T3's can be accessed using the power button and temperature setting button, respectively.
Why trust Shop TODAY?
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
I tested each multi-styler for a minimum of two weeks. Three attachment categories were tested (dryers, round brushes and curlers) thoroughly and in a close time frame to show any major differences in performance.
Danielle Murphy is the audience development writer for Shop TODAY. She's been writing for the team since 2021, covering everything from fashion and beauty to product reviews and sales content.
