TNS Auto Curler vs Dyson Airwrap: An Honest Comparison

The short version: the Dyson Airwrap is a versatile Coanda air-styler that curls with no direct heat and does far more than curl; the TNS Auto Curler is a dedicated heat-set curler that holds curls for three days at a fraction of the price. Both are good tools for different priorities. Here's an honest comparison to help you choose.

How they curl (the core difference)

The Dyson Airwrap uses the Coanda effect: fast airflow attracts and wraps your hair around the barrel, shaping curls with air rather than direct high heat, which is gentle on the hair. The TNS Auto Curler heats a Diamond-Titanium-Ceramic barrel and thermally sets the curl. That difference is the whole story of hold: air-shaped curls are softer and tend to relax within hours, while a heat-set curl locks in and can last up to three days.

Hold and longevity

If your hair has never held a curl, heat-setting is usually what changes that. The Auto Curler is built for longevity: curls that last 3 days, not 3 hours. The Airwrap's curls look beautiful fresh but, like most air styling, loosen faster through the day, especially on fine or stubborn hair.

Versatility

This is the Airwrap's strength. As a multi-styler it dries, volumises, smooths and curls with several attachments, so it replaces a few tools at once. The Auto Curler does one thing, curl, and does it hands-free: it wraps, times and beeps when the curl is set. If you want an all-rounder, the Airwrap wins; if you mainly want reliable curls, the Auto Curler is simpler and faster.

Price

The Airwrap is a premium tool priced several times higher than the Auto Curler, which is $259. For many shoppers the question is simple: do you want a versatile premium multi-styler, or long-lasting curls without the premium price?

Which should you choose?

• Choose the Dyson Airwrap if you want one gentle, do-everything tool and don't mind the premium price or softer, shorter-lived curls.
• Choose the TNS Auto Curler if you mainly want curls that actually last, hands-free, for a lot less. It's backed by a 2-year warranty and 60-day money-back, so you can test the hold risk-free.

For the fuller picture on what makes curls last, see our guide to long-lasting curls, and to weigh curler features generally, choosing the best automatic hair curler.

FAQs

Does the Dyson Airwrap use heat?
It styles mainly with airflow (the Coanda effect) rather than direct high heat, which is gentler, but it also means curls are air-shaped and tend to hold for hours rather than days.

Which holds curls longer, the Airwrap or the TNS Auto Curler?
The Auto Curler. It heat-sets the curl, so it can last up to three days; air styling generally relaxes faster.

Is the TNS Auto Curler a good Dyson Airwrap alternative for curls?
For curling specifically, yes, and at a fraction of the price. The Airwrap is more versatile; the Auto Curler is a dedicated curler that holds longer.

Is the Airwrap worth the extra money?
If you want one tool that also dries, volumises and smooths, it can be. If you mainly want lasting curls, a dedicated heat-set curler gives you that for much less.

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