I tried Bondi Boost’s $280 Dyson Airwrap dupe, here’s how it went

Who am I to turn down a chance to transform my limp locks?

Despite having two full drawers, an entire vanity shelf and a secret under-the-bed stash dedicated to beauty products, my hair is often neglected. While I like my hair, particularly when it’s long like it is right now, I’ve never really understood what to ‘do’ with it. I use relatively cheap products, let it air dry and sometimes scrunch in a curl enhancer. I have an aversion to slicked-back styles (on my egg head, anyway) so my hair usually hangs long, lacking the ‘bounce’ and ‘brilliance’ touted in those conditioner commercials.

After trying several kinds of straighteners and two-in-one curling tools (I have neck burns to prove it), I discovered hair styling just doesn’t come super easily to me, so naturally I decided to give it up altogether. That was, until, Australian-made haircare brand Bondi Boost reached out and offered me a chance to try its Airwrap dupe, the Everlast Airstyler.

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Let me break the fourth wall for a second. I’m the Features Editor here at Fashion Journal and in my time, I’ve edited multiple articles about the Dyson Airwrap and its magical hair-wielding abilities. There are some beauty influencers whose opinions I trust with my bank account (sometimes quite literally), and they all seem to be masters of a bouncy at-home Airwrap blowout. Was I tempted to get one? Absolutely, but I held off because $799 is too much for a hesitant hair girlie like me. I only just got the hang of a curling iron, and barely. Six attachments were intimidating.

But god loves a trier, and who am I to turn down a chance to transform my limp locks (see above)? In preparation, I got myself some heat protectant, pulled a smoothing oil from my stash and watched countless TikTok tutorials on the different looks you can create with a multi-styler. Turns out that with a little persistence, this Airwrap dupe can work for even the most reluctant of at-home hair stylists.

What is the Bondi Boost Everlast Airstyler?

Designed for those who want ‘champagne styling on a prosecco budget’, the Everlast Airstyler is – obviously – Bondi Boost’s answer to the beloved Dyson Airwrap. It works on all hair types and comes with six detachable ceramic heads, including a 58mm volumising brush, a 32mm round brush, two curling attachments, one smoothing​ dryer concentrator and one angled dryer. It’s got four heat settings (including a cool shot) and three airflow speeds, plus it comes in a convenient carry case.

What are the differences between it and the Dyson Airwrap?

Let’s start with the obvious – there’s a $519 difference between the two stylers. The attachments on the Airwrap are slightly different and include three different kinds of smoothing heads, plus 30mm and 40mm Airwrap long barrels. Both tools include six attachments, but the Bondi Boost only includes one size of curling barrel. Aside from the attachments and the obvious point of appearance (the Dyson is a silvery-copper colour; the Bondi Boost is black and white) reviews say the two products are very similar.

Putting it to the test

I wasn’t kidding when I said I was a novice. The first thing I did was immediately pick up the smaller round brush, clip it in, turn it on and try to use a kind of curling barrel-like motion to style my hair. Don’t do this! It will tangle your hair greatly (particularly if you haven’t brushed it recently) and you will have to spend 20 minutes of your afternoon removing strands from the bristles.

On my next attempt, I actually followed the instructions and started by rough drying my freshly washed hair about 90 per cent of the way. Attempting a bouncy blowout, I then used the biggest volumising brush (I have a lot of hair, and this giant brush is a huge timesaver) to go over and smooth my dried locks. I found this is a good time to put in some nourishing oil or high-shine product, as you’re not disrupting the curls you’re about to create.

Now, the air-wrapping technology of the curling barrel took a little bit of getting used to. You get two with the Bondi Boost – one labelled ‘R’, and one labelled ‘L’. Aiming to get the curls moving away from my face, I used a different barrel for each side of my head. Just hold a small amount of hair out and wait for the barrel to catch it, then roll away from your face. It’s just like a curling iron, except this technology does the work for you.

After a couple of wonky curl attempts and the aforementioned tangling incident, I got the hang of the Everlast Airstyler. And I’m obsessed. Because I’m only just getting the hang of a blowout, I’m yet to try any other styles. But I’m open, which says a lot – I’ve come so far! If you’re also apprehensive, don’t be. All you need is a little patience.

You can get your own Everlast Airstyler here.