Hair dupes: the Dyson alternatives and bond repair for a fifth
Two kinds of pair, and they behave differently.
What is the best Dyson Airwrap dupe, and do the cheap bond-repair treatments work?
Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum, about $6.97 ($1.37 / fl oz), against the $32 OLAPLEX No.7 Bonding Oil, 96% less.
1. Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum
for OLAPLEX No.7 Bonding Oil
$6.97 $7.99vs $32−96% per oz
#1 in Hair Styling Serums on Amazon
Same silicone shine oil: a volatile carrier (isohexadecane and isoparaffin in Olaplex, cyclopentasiloxane in Garnier) evaporates and leaves dimethicone or dimethiconol to smooth the cuticle, with a little plant oil.
What it does worse: Olaplex adds its patented bond builder, phenyl trimethicone and corn, sunflower and pomegranate oils, while Garnier keeps to argan and apricot kernel oils and fragrance.
2. OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Weightless Healing Dry Oil
for Kérastase Gloss Absolu Glaze Drops
$7.97 $8.99vs $42−95% per oz
#23 in Hair Treatment Oils on Amazon
Built the same way: a water-free spray whose fast-evaporating carriers leave a thin silicone film for shine and frizz control, softened with an ester.
What it does worse: Kérastase uses isododecane and isoalkanes with dimethicone and amodimethicone, while OGX uses cyclosiloxanes with phenyl trimethicone and adds argan, coconut and avocado oils and cocoa butter, so it feels a touch richer.
3. COSRX Peptide 132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Treatment
for K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
$13.32 $23vs $75−93% per oz
#19 in Deep Hair Conditioners on Amazon
Both rebuild broken keratin bonds with a low-molecular-weight peptide (K18Peptide in one, Tripeptide-132 in the other), and both are aimed at bleach, color and heat damage.
What it does worse: This one is rinsed out after a few minutes instead of left in, and it is silicone-and-oil heavy, so fine hair can be left with a slight film K18 never leaves.
4. Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioner Cream
for Redken All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-In
$4.73 $5.99vs $34−93% per oz
#8 in Hair Conditioner on Amazon
Close to the same cream, from the same group: cetearyl alcohol, amodimethicone and cetyl esters lead both labels, with behentrimonium chloride, argan oil, trideceth-6, isopropyl alcohol and cetrimonium chloride on each.
What it does worse: Redken adds behentrimonium methosulfate and sodium hyaluronate, while Garnier adds apple, sugarcane and lemon extracts with niacinamide and vitamin B6.
5. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Power Restore Treatment
for Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Mask
$9.97 $12.99vs $46−92% per oz
#40 in Hair Treatment Masks on Amazon
Same conditioning base from the same group: cetearyl alcohol, behentrimonium chloride, dimethicone, amodimethicone, glycerin and isopropyl alcohol.
What it does worse: Redken adds citric acid and sodium citrate for its low-pH bonding claim, while L'Oréal uses lactic acid, cetrimonium chloride and wheat protein, in a 23 oz bottle.
6. BioSilk Silk Therapy Original Leave-In Treatment
for Kérastase Nutritive Split Ends Hair Serum
$14.27 $38vs $51−92% per oz
#20 in Hair Treatment Masks on Amazon
Built alike: a water-free serum whose carrier evaporates, isododecane in both (with C13-14 isoparaffin in BioSilk), leaving a silicone film that seals dry ends, dimethicone and dimethiconol in Kérastase, dimethiconol in BioSilk.
What it does worse: Kérastase adds vitamin E, corn germ oil and glyceryl linoleate for a softer, more nourished feel; BioSilk adds denatured alcohol, panthenol and a silk protein.
7. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm
for Kérastase Chronologiste Masque Intense Régénérant
$7.97 $8.99vs $72−91% per oz
#23 in Hair Treatment Masks on Amazon
Close to the same mask, from the same group: cetearyl alcohol, behentrimonium chloride, amodimethicone, cetyl esters, isopropyl alcohol and trideceth-6 lead both labels.
What it does worse: Kérastase adds bisabolol, vitamin E and a ceramide, while L'Oréal adds candelilla wax, arginine and a wheat protein.
8. Herbal Essences Lightweight Hair Oil with Aloe & Camellia
for Kérastase Elixir Ultime L'Huile Originale
$9.99vs $64−88% per oz
#37 in Hair Styling Oils on Amazon
Same camellia oil (Camellia oleifera seed oil) and dimethiconol over a fast-evaporating base, used the same way: one or two pumps on damp or dry ends.
What it does worse: It carries one plant oil where Kérastase layers six, adds denatured alcohol, and makes no heat-protection claim, so use a separate protectant before hot tools.
How this list was made
The tools get close on mechanism (the Shark FlexStyle uses the same Coandă airflow as the Airwrap for less than half its price, the Laifen Swift Professional spins a 110,000rpm brushless motor like the Supersonic Origin for less than half of that), and each gives something up: attachments on the Shark, quiet on the Laifen. The treatments diverge on chemistry: COSRX Peptide 132 is peptides, not K18's patented K18Peptide, and L'Oréal's bond repair is citric acid where Olaplex is bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate. Both leave hair feeling repaired; only one of the two mechanisms is the patented one. Sizes are in the dupe's favour throughout: 120ml against K18's 50ml, 200ml against Olaplex's 100ml.
