This Foolproof $56 Tool Gives Me the Same Volumizing Results as a Dyson Airwrap

Like so many zillennials living through the 2020s, I once dreamed of owning a Dyson Airwrap. After trying my friend’s out, I was totally obsessed. The desire to achieve wonderfully bouncy, 90s supermodel-like curls in minutes was overwhelming — especially for someone like me who never quite got the hang of hair styling. The only obstacle was the $600 price tag. 

As a human being who needs to pay for food, shelter, and, of course, the occasional oat milk latte, there simply wasn’t room in the budget for such an investment, so I started browsing Amazon for affordable alternatives. As expected, so many others were facing the same struggle, and thousands had landed on one $57 solution for getting those same luxurious waves: the Hot Tools One-Step Volumizer.

Hot Tools One-Step Volumizer Key Features:

• How I tested: One to four times a week for about one and a half years, used after washing, towel-drying, and applying styling spray.
• Perfect for: Those who struggle with hair styling; those who want to achieve a “blow out look” in less time than using a traditional hair dryer.
• What you'll love: This styler detangles, dries, and styles hair at once, saving you time and effort. It adds tons of volume and works on both wet and dry hair.
• Keep in mind: The highest temperature setting can damage your hair’s structure. Be sure to pass the tool quickly through your stands and pair it with a heat-protective product.
• Features: Four heat settings, a detachable, rounded brush head, activated charcoal bristles for excess oil absorption. 
  

Buy It: Hot Tools One-Step Volumizer, $57 (was $70), amazon.com

Hot Tools One-Step Volumizer Review

For context, when I say I “never got the hang of hairstyling” I mean I’ve always been absolutely useless with blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons. To make matters worse, I’m impatient and would rather leave my apartment with wet hair in 20 degree weather than take time to dry it out. So, when I say this tool makes achieving a blowout incredibly fast and easy, I really mean it. 

After drying my hair with a towel and loading it up with my favorite heat-protectant styling spray (currently the Color Wow Dream Coat), I put half my hair up into a messy bun and, with the heat setting on medium, comb through my strands with the brush head. After mostly drying the top and bottom layers, I turn the heat to the highest setting and quickly run the brush through an addition three times, pausing for a moment at the ends to get that flipped-out look. In total, it takes me about 15 minutes. 

Finding this tool was a total game-changer for my hair routine, but to those in the know, it’s nothing new. When our testing lab compared the Hot Tools Volumizer to 12 of the most popular stylers on the market (including the Dyson Airwrap), testers ranked the device as ‘the best overall.’ “I liked this one because of how it seemed to get really hot, but I wasn't fearful of my hair getting damaged," wrote one participant. “This hot air brush is noticeably hotter than the other tools I've tested, and dried the soaked section of hair with only five passes of the brush," added another. 

In addition to validating my impeccable taste, these test results prove that this tool is totally worth it. If you have the funds and still want to splurge on a fancy device, I support you. However, if you want a more affordable option that yields the same results, you can shop the Hot Tools One-Step Volumizer for $57 while it’s on sale at Amazon.