Australian Hairdressers share their favourite heat styling tools that aren’t a Dyson Airwrap
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
FROM THOSE WHO KNOW BEST.
It feels like in the world of hairdressing, the Dyson Airwrap is widely considered to be the Rolls-Royce of heat styling. It’s the heat-damage-free multi-styler that has spawned countless similar tools (some better than others) and thousands of TikTok tutorials. But we’ve been heat styling since long before the Airwrap (who else still has their GHD straightener from high school?), and the world of hair tools has really advanced in recent years.
Despite its professional-level price tag, not all hairdressers are die-hard Airwrap fans. A hairstylist requires an arsenal of tools for different looks and hair types, making them the default experts in heat stylers of all kinds. Here, Australian hairdressers share their favourite heat styling tools that aren’t a Dyson Airwrap.
Anthony Nader, founder of RAW Anthony Nader
My favourite heat styling tool is the Ltn Wide Heat Styler. The 38mm-wide plates are ceramic which create sleek, smooth looks and maintain constant heat for impeccable and consistent results. This tool is perfect for straightening… [but] also allows for adding waves or curls without any buckle indentations in the hair due to the engineered bevelled edges, which I’m a big fan of. Another plus is the universal voltage, making it a no-brainer essential for international travel and working backstage at fashion weeks.
Nina Lee, founder of Extra Silky
My favourite heat tool is the GHD Curve Thin Wand. It’s amazing for curly-haired people to finesse their curls when they go a bit frizzy after it is slept on. So easy to use, you just wrap your hair around it and hold it for five seconds! It mimics a tighter curl pattern or is good for someone wanting to style their hair in a bouncier curl than a traditional curling wand.
Becc Snow, founder of Alchemy Salon
My most loved and used hair tool in the salon is my Dyson Supersonic. I don’t have one of the newest models, it’s a few years old but I love it to death. It is so lightweight, so great for travelling… great long-term on my wrists and hands [and still] powerful, which makes it my favourite universal tool for all clients. It has multiple attachments that attach magnetically, which makes it so easy to chop and change on the go, and the diffuser attachment is my absolute favourite for my curly hair diffuse dries.
I also love supporting Dyson as a company. During a mentoring program that Dyson was a sponsor for a few years ago I was able to learn much more about them as a business, and how much work goes into the testing and trialling of their products as well as the research and development. I was very impressed. I’d recommend a Dyson Supersonic to anyone looking to invest in a premium hot tool for their hair that will last long term, look after their hair health and is easy to use.
Krystal Appleton, hairstylist at Stache Hair
I’m a fan of the GHD Soft Curl Tong [in] 32mm because it’s super versatile. It’s easy to create the curls you want, whether you’re aiming for a casual or a more dressed-up style. It’s very adaptable – from beachy waves to big, bouncy ’90s curls – and with its temperature control feature, your hair stays healthy and glossy. One of my favourite ways to use the tool is to alternate the direction of each curl to create an undone, textured look, finishing off with a dry texture spray and brushing out with a wide-toothed comb.
Emily Olsson, freelance stylist at Curlysiouxsie
Two of my absolute favourites I use in the salon are the GHD Curve Soft Curl Tong and the Curve Classic Wave Wand. When wanting more volume, for a blow-dry effect or brushed-out Hollywood wave, I always reach for the Soft Curl Tong. If clients are looking for something more textured, beachy and almost not too ‘done’, the Wave Wand is perfect. The shape allows you to pick up random pieces of your hair to create that lived-in, no-fuss hair.