Hair · Reviews · 15 March 2026

I tested the $99 GlamBeauty against a $650 Dyson Airwrap — and honestly? I wasn’t ready

Emily
Beauty blogger · 6 min read

one of these cost $99 and one cost $650… can you tell which is which? me neither ✨

For years the Dyson Airwrap was the dream. Everyone wanted one… but at $650, it was a luxury most of us just couldn’t justify. Perfect curls, salon blowouts, no heat damage — hard to beat, right? That’s what I thought too.

Then 2026 happened, and a little newcomer started smashing sales records and even out-selling Dyson on some best-seller lists. Its name? GlamBeauty. So I did the only sensible thing: I put them side by side.

So why is everyone talking about it?

From the moment it launched, GlamBeauty was turning heads. You’d assume it was just another knockoff riding Dyson’s wave — but no. In a few months it became the best-selling styler of 2026, even outpacing Dyson on some platforms.

It all comes down to something rare in beauty: insane word-of-mouth. It started on TikTok and Instagram, where the first review videos racked up millions of views. Women showing off their curls, their salon blowouts, and honestly their shock at how well it worked. Then the big influencers jumped on.

Then came the flood of reviews — a 4.9/5 average kept popping up, and some women even admitted they’d quietly stashed their Dyson away. I had to know if it was real.

GlamBeauty vs Dyson, side by side

One question kept coming up in my DMs: can it really go toe-to-toe with the Airwrap? So here’s the honest, line-by-line comparison.

At a glance they share so much: same technology, same promises, same results. But GlamBeauty pulls ahead where it counts — the price ($99 vs $650 is just… a lot), the ease of use (lighter, more intuitive, perfect if you’re a beginner), and the reviews (4.9/5 vs 4.7/5). The only place Dyson nudges ahead is power (1300W vs 1200W), and honestly? You can’t feel the difference.

I actually tried it — here’s how it went

Comparisons are cute, but nothing beats using the thing. So I lived with GlamBeauty for a few weeks — but first, the part you actually came for: the before & after.

left: me before ☕  ·  right: 15 minutes with the GlamBeauty 🥹

1. Ease of use

Straight out of the box, I was impressed. It’s light, well-balanced, easy to hold. Where the Dyson has a bit of a learning curve, this one just… made sense. I figured it out in minutes, no wrestling with the Coanda technique.

2. Styling time

Speed is one of Dyson’s big flexes, and GlamBeauty kept right up. In under 15 minutes I had defined curls and a blowout that looked salon-fresh — no loss of power, no going over the same section five times.

3. Results: curls, volume, shine

The real test. Would it live up to the hype? I was genuinely blown away. Curls soft, defined, natural. Volume gorgeous at the roots. Hair shiny, zero dullness. I tried it on clean, slightly damp hair and the results were just as good — if not better — than what I’ve had from a Dyson.

For a styler under $100, I did not expect to feel this smug about my hair.

4. Hold: does it last?

Great hair is one thing; hair that lasts all day is another. My curls kept their shape and bounce right through to evening, no frizz or puffiness even with a bit of humidity. A light mist of spray made it last even longer.

Can it compete with Dyson? Absolutely.  Does it deserve the hype? 100%.  Would I recommend it? Without a doubt.

My honest conclusion

I’ll admit it — I was a skeptic. But GlamBeauty won me over. At this price it’s hands down the best Dyson dupe I’ve tried, and even if you already own a straightener or a blow-dry brush, it makes everyday styling so much easier. If you’ve been circling the Dyson and can’t quite justify it — try this first.