Popular hairstyling tools you need to recreate salon-worthy hairstyles at home — including a TikTok-viral one that costs less than S$30

In an ideal world, everyone would always be sporting freshly washed and styled hair straight out of the salon. Unfortunately, that’s not possible, but here’s the next best thing.

This is where hair styling tools come in, whether it is a hair dryer, hair straightener or curling iron that you may have seen in countless hairstyling tutorials on #BeautyTok. Can’t quite figure out which ones will truly give you more bang for buck, or style your luscious locks during this festive party season? We’ve done the work for you. 

Ahead, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best and most popular hair tools in the market, from the buzzy Dyson Airwrap and TikTok-viral curling irons to wallet-friendly heated styling brushes and heatless curling tools. 

With these in your mane arsenal, you can achieve anything from a sleek blowout or voluminous beachy waves in the comfort of your own home. Pro tip: always use a heat protectant before styling with a heated hair tool to reduce heat damage. 

Hairstyling tools for curls, waves and volume 

Best multi-styler: Dyson Airwrap Hair Multi-Styler Complete (from $859)

If you’re going to splurge on a hair tool, might as well invest in one that does everything. The Dyson Airwrap can help you achieve a multitude of styles ranging from bouncy curls and voluminous waves to straight, sleek hair with the different attachments it comes with. The barrels use Coanda airflow to self-wrap hair to create waves and curls while the brushes smooth and control frizz. For those who need more volume at the crown, use the round brush. You can also use Airwrap without any attachments to double as a hair dryer too. Likewise, there are various colourways to pick from as well as a Long version for those with longer lengths. 

The brand recently launched more colourways — the Blue Blush hue and a limited Ceramic Pop (above) — which have a smooth finish similar to unglazed ceramic. The latter is only available in Dyson stores and its website. Meanwhile, red/nickel option is available on Amazon here. 

What people love about it: Don’t take our word for it – see what this user had to say. “I have long natural curls and the multiple attachments help me to achieve a variety of hairstyles, from voluminous to sleek straight hair. No extreme heat and quick drying. The smoothing brush attachment helps me to reduce my frizz and create a sleek look. Easy to use and time-saving with long-lasting results.” Dyson Airwrap Hair Multi-Styler Complete (from $859). Buy it here

Best single-barrel curling iron: Wavytalk 5 in 1 Curling Iron ($64.85)

The Wavytalk curling iron set has made, er, waves on beauty TikTok. The viral hair tool comes with four curling wands and a curling brush — each creates a different curl pattern, ranging from smaller, tighter curls to looser, relaxed waves. The curling wands work at 210 degrees Celsius while the brush operates at 180 degrees Celsius, and the wands are coated with ceramic to allow even heat spreading and reduce heat damage. The set also comes with a heat-resistance glove and two clips to section hair during styling. 

What people love about it: One reviewer on Amazon recounts the ease of using the set. “The thermal round brush works very well and makes achieving a blowout look so simple/quick! I have a blow dryer round brush as well but hate how loud it is, how long it takes, and how I am sweating by the end of it. This is a nice alternative and also easy to pack when travelling abroad!” Wavytalk 5 in 1 Curling Iron ($64.85). Buy it here

Best three-barrel curling iron: Alure Three Barrel Hair Waver/Crimper ($52.46)

This Alure hair tool is another product that has gone viral on TikTok. Unlike a single-barrel curling wand that creates either curls or waves, a three-barrel iteration aids you in achieving beachy waves. This machine heats up to 210 degrees and uses one-inch ceramic barrels coated with non-stick Teflon that produces negative ions to reduce frizz. Other functionalities include an LCD screen to read the temperature, a 360-degree swivel cord and a non-slip handle. 

What people love about it: Folks with naturally straight hair have said that while “anything that curls will last… a couple of hours tops”, they have waves that last until the next day using this product. Other feedback: it’s among the easiest to use. Alure Three Barrel Hair Waver/Crimper ($52.46). Buy it here

Best heated hair brush for voluminous, wavy hair: Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus ($92)

A hairdryer and an oval hairbrush in one, this Revlon aims to help you achieve salon-style blowouts in the comfort of your own home. The rounded brush helps you build volume at the roots and slight waves and curls along the lengths as it dries and smoothens. The barrel is coated with ceramic titanium to ensure heat distribution and less damage. There are also four setting settings including a cool function to set the style. The brush head is detachable for easy transportation, too. 

What people love about it: “Love the fact that I can do my hair quickly after shower without having to get a hair dryer, hair straightener and a brush. It’s really all in one,” one reviewer raved. Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus ($92). Buy it here

Best hairstyling tools to tame the mane

Best hair dryer: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer ($699)

You already know the Supersonic hair dryer as the one that introduced Dyson as a serious contender in the hair tools game. And it now comes in more colourways including a new Blue Blush hue and the limited edition Ceramic Pop (only available at Dyson stores and website). 

The Supersonic touts to dry and style hair faster while causing minimal to no heat damage, thanks to the V9 motor that spins up to 110,000 rpm and the Air Multiplier technology that creates high-pressure and high-velocity controlled air. The hair dryer also has a sensor that measures air temperature over 40 times a second to ensure that the heat is always regulated and controlled.  Each set comes with four attachments — Flyaway Smoother, Gentle Air Attachment, Smoothing Nozzle and Styling Concentrator — so you’re ready for the mane event no matter your hair type. 

What we love about it: We’ve used it on thick, medium-length hair and can attest to how much faster (and quieter) it dries hair, compared to other brands we’ve tried. It’s not too heavy so we’ve travelled with it as well - and that’s how you know the hair dryer has become integral to your life. Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, $699. Buy it here

Best heated hair brush for sleek hair: Revlon XL Hair Straightening Heated Styling Brush ($58.74)

If you want a sleek, everyday look that’s less poofy and frizzy, but don’t need the pin-straight look that comes with using a hair straightener, reach for the Revlon heated styling brush. The brush comes with ceramic-coated bristles that detangle and smooth hair from the roots to your ends. An ion generator helps to tame frizz and increase shine and manageability too. It is also built with multiple heat settings up to 220 degrees Celsius, a tangle-free swivel cord and a soft-touch handle. 

What people love about it: One shopper’s comprehensive review talks about their “straighter wavy hair that gets poofy when I blow dry it and is on the finer side of normal hair type”. They add: “This straightener is beautiful at getting it straight in one or two passes. Because it is longer than the typical oval brush head it does it in less time for me. I love how long and narrow it is. I like to give myself a blowout look and this easily does the flips at the end to achieve that look. I had to straighten my hair with a regular flat iron until this arrived and I could immediately tell it was damaging my hair but when I used this with fresh hair it didn’t look/feel dry or damaged at all. I 100% believe this doesn’t put nearly as much heat on my hair as the regular flat iron and makes my hair feel smooth and silky.” Revlon XL Hair Straightening Heated Styling Brush ($58.74). Buy it here

Hair styling tools: Heatless or reduced heat options

Best for heatless curls: Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set ($26.41)
 

Those with damaged hair (from colouring and bleaching, for example) or who have more time can consider heatless hair tools as they are gentler alternatives to using heat. This Kitsch heatless curling set is another that has gained favour among the TikTok crowd for its efficacy in creating overnight curls. To use, just wrap your hair around the curler and secure it with the included scrunchies. Finally, airdry your hair or sleep with it before waking to curls in the morning. Because it is made with satin, it reduces the chance of frizz or breakage. 

What people love about it: Users attest to frequent use “because it’s heatless” and can be used without hairspray, though you can use some hair oil for shine. What they love the most? “And after sleeping and less than 5 minutes of styling, I have perfect curls,” one commented. Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set ($26.41). Buy it here 

Best heatless hair rollers: Conair Self-Grip Rollers ($19.05)

While the Kitsch set is better for those with medium-length hair, these Conair rollers are great for lengths across the spectrum, whether it is your short, wispy bangs or anything beyond the shoulders. Just roll the hair, wet or dry, onto the roller and let time set your hair into curls. The self-grip design also doesn’t require pins and clips to secure the hair onto the roller.  Lastly, there are also rollers of differing sizes to create either smaller, bouncy curls or larger, looser curls. 

What people love about it: The Conair self-grip rollers have scored over 12,000 ratings on Amazon, with some shoppers having been recommended them by their stylists. Said one: “I started using these rollers to give my fine, limp hair a boost… I really like this kit as it had all the different sizes so I could experiment to find what works best. I found out which sizes I needed and supplemented them with additional rollers. I like the Conair rollers as they do not get caught in my hair like the other brands, but I do recommend that your hair is combed out and about 70-80% dry before putting them on. They work for me.” Conair Self-Grip Rollers ($19.05). Buy it here

Best hair straightener: Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener ($749)

There are three key features that set the Dyson Corrale apart from other hair straighteners in the market. The first is the flexing copper plates that ensure heat and tension are evenly applied with each pass, thereby reducing the reliance on heat. The second is the sensor that measures temperature 100 times a second to ensure that the heating is precisely at either 165, 185 or 210 degrees Celsius. Finally, the Corrale is fitted with a four-cell lithium-ion rechargeable battery that affords up to 30 minutes of cordless styling - yes, you don’t have to be plugged in while straightening your hair. 

If you’re taking it with you on vacay, do note that Japan has a regulation that prohibits you from bringing the Dyson Corrale into the country, though we hear from Dyson that that has since been lifted. Either way, the Corrale has universal voltage, a Flight-ready feature and automatically switches off after 10 minutes of inactivity. 

What people love about it: “Bought this a few weeks back - and to be very frank, I don't see myself going back to other brands again. The colour and build feel extremely premium. Love the fact that it's cordless, the flexing plates really help to straighten my hair evenly unlike any other straighteners that I've owned in the past,” said one shopper. Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener ($749). Available here in the new Blue/Blush colourway, and in Nickel/Fuchsia and Bright Copper/Bright Nickel over here.

Best hair clips while styling: Drybar Hold Me Styling Hair Clips ($27.91)

Everyone talks about the hair tool to use for hair styling. But did you know that just as important in creating the desired style you want are hair clips? Not just any clip, mind you. These alligator-style clips from Drybar help to hold your tresses into manageable sections for styling, and also hold the final shape in place without tugging or leaving a dent. Use them for wet and dry styling. 

What people love about it: Shoppers rave about how easy they are to use, and that they can clip “firmly but comfortably”, even on thicker bunches of hair. It has also changed the way people styled their hair, as this review reveals. “This is the first time in my life that I have divided my hair to style it, and I wish I had done it sooner. If I had known about these clips sooner, I could have saved time and done a better job. I can reclip my hair sections as I dry and style my way around my head without a hassle. I can't emphasise enough how well-designed these clips are. They are a great tool even for someone who is usually all thumbs trying to do her own hair." Drybar Hold Me Styling Hair Clips ($27.91). Buy it here