Key takeaways
- The Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x features a 30% more powerful motor and new Air Straightener 2x attachment that dries and straightens simultaneously.
- Shark Beauty's Shark Glam uses Heat Sense Technology that monitors temperature 1,000 times per second and maxes out at 302°F with Scalp Shield for root protection.
- WavyTalk Multi Curl offers five ceramic barrel options for curling and is compact, dual voltage, and costs significantly less than air-styler alternatives.
One device that can curl, straighten, smooth, volumize, and dry hair sounds like a fantasy—yet multi-stylers have become essential tools for anyone who wants to rotate between looks without hoarding a bathroom drawer full of hot tools. Allure editors tested three standouts across different hair types and routines, and all three earned Best of Beauty Awards for their innovation and performance.
Understanding Multi-Stylers and Their Purpose
A multi-styler bundles several styling jobs into a single device using interchangeable attachments. Some rely primarily on airflow to dry and style hair, others combine heated surfaces with air, and some use traditional hot-tool technology. The benefit is clear: you get the versatility of multiple tools without the clutter, making them ideal for anyone who switches between bouncy curls on Monday, sleek waves on Wednesday, or a blow-dried finish by the weekend.
Heat is heat, regardless of how a multi-styler delivers it, so professionals recommend using a heat protectant before styling. According to New York City-based hairstylist Kaprisha Gipson, who has previously discussed hair care with Allure, “I tell all my clients to think of it as a lightweight shield that keeps the cuticle sealed while the heat does its work.” Heat protectants create a barrier over the hair that helps limit moisture loss and damage, making them especially important if a multi-styler becomes part of your regular routine.
Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x: The Powerhouse Upgrade
What’s New in the Latest Version
Allure’s 2026 Best of Beauty Award winner, the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x Multi-Styler and Dryer, represents a significant jump from its predecessor. The new Hyperdymium 2 motor is 30% more powerful than the previous generation and delivers twice the air pressure, which translates to faster drying, more tension for smoothing and straightening, and a stronger Coanda airflow—the physics phenomenon that uses fast-moving air to draw hair toward and around an attachment for easier curling.
The six-in-one tool can dry, curl, wave, smooth, volumize, and now take hair from wet to straight with the new Air Straightener 2x attachment. This attachment uses powerful airflow and smooth plates to pull hair taut as it dries rather than subjecting it to the high heat of a traditional flatiron.
Weight, Convenience, and Smart Features
For all its upgraded technology, the Co-anda2x weighs just under a pound and automatically shuts off when set down—particularly useful when sectioning thick or curly hair. The device recognizes which attachment you’ve clicked into place, automatically adjusts the heat and airflow to match that attachment, and remembers your preferred settings for next time. The main drawback: it is not dual voltage, so frequent international travelers will need to bring a separate travel hair dryer.
Real-World Performance
Allure senior commerce director Shanna Shipin, who has type 3A curly hair, reported that the Airwrap “gets whatever look I want to achieve done in 15 minutes or less—yes!” despite having low-porosity hair that typically takes a long time to dry. She particularly praised the round brush for creating gentle tension that makes blowouts last for days, noting the new iteration gets far closer to the roots for a more natural finish. “There’s zero frizz, all volume, and just the most Farrah Fawcett-like hair of your life,” she said, “no tugging, singing, or sore arms necessary.”
Jenny Bailly, Allure’s executive beauty director, found her blow-dry time cut down by at least five crucial minutes. She noted that the dryer attachment performs as effectively as Dyson’s dedicated Supersonic dryer on her long, wavy, medium-thickness hair. After rough-drying, she sections and uses the large round brush to smooth and create volume at the roots, then switches to a curling barrel to create loose waves—all in less than 10 minutes total.
Shark Beauty Shark Glam: The All-Rounder
Combining Airflow and Heat Technology
The Shark Beauty Shark Glam 5-in-1 Air Styler & Dryer won the 2026 Best of Beauty Award by combining powerful airflow and heat-controlled ceramic. This hybrid approach lets you bounce between air-powered styling and traditional hot-tool territory without reaching for a separate flatiron or hot brush. The Silki Hot Tool + Air Straightener sandwiches hair between powered ceramic plates while high-speed air dries it, taking strands from wet to straight in one step. The Glossi Hot Tool + Air Glosser pairs airflow with a heated ceramic surface to stretch hair, smooth it, and build a bouncy, high-shine blowout. Coanda Auto-Wrap Curlers use airflow to automatically wrap hair around the barrels, plus there are a Styling Concentrator and FrizzFighter Finishing Tool included.
Heat Safety Technology
For anyone who has sacrificed a fingertip in pursuit of perfect styling, the Glam includes reassuring technology: Heat Sense Technology checks the temperature 1,000 times per second and regulates airflow so it never exceeds 302 degrees Fahrenheit. The dermatologist-developed Scalp Shield mode automatically lowers the temperature around the roots to limit extreme heat exposure on new growth.
Tested Across Different Hair Types
Allure commerce editorial assistant Hailey Roy, who has 3C curls, praised how easily the Glam takes her coils to silky-smooth. “When you have hair as curly as mine, it’s important to have a heavy-duty tool to turn those coils straight,” she said, adding that she normally goes to the salon but has since set up a home styling routine with this device.
Allure managing editor Alessandra Foresto, who has thick hair and washes it frequently, called the 5-in-1 set “no exaggeration, life-changing.” She goes from damp hair to straight, curly, or wavy in about 10 minutes. Her only wish was that the set came with a case to keep all the attachments organized.
WavyTalk Multi Curl: The Curling Specialist
Purpose-Built for Dry Hair
Unlike the air-styler options, the WavyTalk Multi Curl 5-in-1 Curling Wand Set is designed specifically for dry hair and uses traditional hot-tool technology with five interchangeable ceramic attachments. The 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner lets you create tight spirals, wavy bends, bouncy curls, and volume without five separate tools taking up space. The kit includes a skinny 0.5-inch Micro Wand for tight spirals, a 0.5-to-1-inch Tapered Barrel for curls that vary in width, a 1-inch Bubble Barrel for tousled, beachy texture, a 1.25-inch Curling Wand for bigger curls and waves, and a 1.5-inch Thermal Brush for smooth, bouncy volume.
Simplicity and Compact Design
Each attachment clicks onto the same handle, which heats up in about 30 seconds. Ceramic coatings help distribute heat evenly as you style. There are two temperature settings—356 and 410 degrees Fahrenheit for the curling attachments, with slightly lower heat options for the thermal brush. The set is compact, costs a fraction of many multi-stylers, and is dual voltage, making it practical for travel and home use alike.
Allure senior art director Ingrid Fowler appreciated that the kit focused solely on curling rather than drying. “This kit is wonderful for travel because it’s so compact in its tiny carrying bag and allows me to achieve a large variety of looks on my long, mostly straight hair,” she said. Her favorite attachments are the 1-inch bubble curling wand for dimensional curls and the 1.5-inch thermal brush for a soft blowout look after air drying.
Multi-Stylers for Fine Hair
Multi-stylers can work well for fine hair, especially with adjustable heat and airflow settings. New York City-based hairstylist Eddie Parra, in previous conversations with Allure, noted that “fine hair generally needs much less heat than coarse hair or curly textures.” Start with a lower temperature and work your way up only if needed. Pay attention to the attachments as well—some are particularly helpful for giving fine hair volume at the roots. The Conical Co-anda2x curling barrel included with the Dyson Airwrap, for example, has a tapered shape that lets you curl closer to the root for more definition and lift from root to tip.
Which Tool Is Right for You
The Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x is ideal if you want to take hair from wet to styled in one device with powerful, intelligent technology. The Shark Beauty Shark Glam suits anyone who wants versatility across multiple styling methods without reaching for separate tools. The WavyTalk Multi Curl is the choice for those who focus primarily on curling and prefer a compact, affordable, travel-friendly set. All three earned their Best of Beauty recognition by delivering professional results at home.
Source: Allure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a multi-styler and how does it work?
A multi-styler combines several styling tools into one device using interchangeable attachments to dry, straighten, curl, or add volume. Some rely on airflow, others on heated surfaces, or a combination of both. According to Allure, the benefit is getting the versatility of multiple tools without bathroom clutter.
Do I need a heat protectant before using a multi-styler?
Yes. Heat protectants create a barrier over hair that limits moisture loss and damage. Hairstylist Kaprisha Gipson, who has discussed hair care with Allure, recommends thinking of protectants as a lightweight shield that keeps the hair cuticle sealed while heat does its work.
Can multi-stylers work on fine hair?
Yes, multi-stylers can be a great option for fine hair, especially with adjustable heat and airflow settings. Hairstylist Eddie Parra recommends starting with a lower temperature and working up only if needed, and paying attention to attachments that give fine hair volume at the roots.
