Hair dupes: the Dyson alternatives and the bond repair that costs a fifth
Two kinds of pair, and they behave differently. The tools get close on mechanism — the Shark FlexStyle at $299 uses the same Coandă airflow as the $599 Airwrap, the $169 Laifen Swift spins a brushless motor like the $429 Supersonic — and lose on attachments and weight. 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.
What is the best Dyson Airwrap dupe, and do the cheap bond-repair treatments work?
COSRX Peptide 132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Treatment, about $19 ($4.68 / fl oz), against the $75 K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask — 89% less. 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, colour and heat damage. 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. About a tenth of the price per ounce.
- 5
- 89%
- $673
1. COSRX Peptide 132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Treatment for K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
$19 against $75, 89% less ($4.68 / fl oz versus $44.36 / fl oz).
−89%per ozCost per fl oz
K18$44.36 / fl ozCOSRX$4.68 / fl oz- Size
- 50 ml
- 120 ml
- Key ingredients
- K18Peptide™
- Tripeptide-132 HCl, Biotin, Soluble collagen, Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid
What matches
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, colour and heat damage.
What the dupe 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.
2. OGX Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil for Moroccanoil Moroccanoil Treatment
$8 against $48, 83% less ($2.37 / fl oz versus $14.20 / fl oz). Both list Argan oil.
−83%per ozCost per fl oz
Moroccanoil$14.20 / fl ozOGX$2.37 / fl oz- Size
- 100 ml
- 100 ml
- Key ingredients
- Argan oil, Linseed extract
- Argan oil, Dimethicone
What matches
Same argan-and-silicone base, same use on damp mid-lengths before drying, and the same shine without weight on fine hair.
What the dupe does worse
Thinner texture and a sweeter fragrance, and it runs out faster because people over-pour it.
3. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment for OLAPLEX No.3 Hair Perfector
$13 against $30, 78% less ($1.92 / fl oz versus $8.87 / fl oz).
−78%per ozCost per fl oz
OLAPLEX$8.87 / fl ozL'Oréal Paris$1.92 / fl oz- Size
- 100 ml
- 200 ml
- Key ingredients
- Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate
- Citric acid
What matches
Same job and same routine slot: citric acid bond builder worked through damp hair before shampoo, left 10 minutes.
What the dupe does worse
The bonding chemistry is citric acid rather than Olaplex's bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, so very bleached hair may need it weekly rather than fortnightly.
4. Laifen Swift Special High-Speed Hair Dryer for Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
$169 against $429, 61% less.
−61%on priceWhat each one costs
Dyson$429Laifen$169- Size
- one unit
- one unit
- Key ingredients
- Not disclosed
- Not disclosed
What matches
Same high-speed brushless motor concept with temperature control and magnetic nozzles, at well under half the price. Heavier in the hand and louder, with a shorter warranty.
5. Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System for Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-Styler
$299 against $599, 50% less.
−50%on priceWhat each one costs
Dyson$599Shark$299- Size
- one unit
- one unit
- Key ingredients
- Not disclosed
- Not disclosed
What matches
Also uses Coanda-style air curling.
What the dupe does worse
The handle twists into a real hair dryer, which the Airwrap doesn't do. Slightly louder and heavier.
