Save yourself money and still save your hair — I won’t shut up about this budget Dyson Airwrap alternative

I’m just a girl, and one of my main goals when I get ready for the day is getting my hair as sleek as possible without frying it with heat every day. So, as you can imagine, the Dyson Airwrap has been at the top of my wishlist for some time. But after testing the Dreame Pocket Neo, I think it could be time to give the budget option its time to shine.
Despite its lower price compared to high-end stylers, like the Dyson and the Shark Flex Style, the Dreame can still achieve similar results. And not only that, it also uses the same ionic drying technology to speed up drying time and reduce heat damage — my dream(e)!
The Dreame Pocket Neo is the perfect travel companion if, like me, you have become swept up in the world of air styling. This foldable hair dryer is the most powerful I have ever used, despite being compact. It folds away to fit easily inside the travel bag along with its attachments. For bouncy blowout curls and tamed frizz, this is my favorite affordable tool.
Air styled curls with ease
The best part of the Dyson Airwrap is how easy it is to achieve the perfect barrel curl. So when I tried the Dreame and could achieve similar results, I was blown away. There was a little less tension on the curl, but for a fifth of the price, the Dreame does one heck of a good job.
I thought it would take some practice before nailing my technique, but I was able to get perfect, bouncy curls the first time I used the Dreame Pocket Neo. It blows the hair around the barrel, and you can adjust the heat settings depending on the result you want. I used cool air to set the curl while it was still on the barrel, and this made the style last much longer.
Ionic drying
Like the Dyson, the Dreame Pocket Neo uses ionic drying to decrease drying time. This means that the dryer emits negative ions, which break down the water molecules present in the wet hair into smaller particles. This reduces drying time because the water molecules are then able to evaporate faster, meaning you spend less time blasting your hair with heat.
The negative ions are also working to reduce the positive charge in the hair, which is what creates frizz. I have curly hair, so I can’t say it did much for me, but when I used it on my friend with straight hair, her locks were instantly smooth and shiny. I have never experienced a dryer as powerful or fast as the Dreame, and although it works at the same 110,000 RPM as the Dyson, it feels much stronger.
Polly pocket sized
Although I do love my Dyson, it is extremely bulky, and if I want to take it on vacation with me, I have to take the whole box, which is cumbersome. But the Dreame measures just 1.97 x 5.71 x 7.91 inches and weighs 0.66lbs, making it the ideal travel companion for styling. The Dreame comes with a little pouch that fits the dryer and all of its attachments neatly inside.
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You can find out more about my experience in my full Dreame Pocket Neo review.
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Ashley is a staff writer on the the Reviews team at Tom’s Guide. She has a master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and a BA in Journalism, Media and Sociology. She has written for titles including Women’s Health UK, writing health and wellness stories, and Virgin Radio UK, specializing in entertainment news and celebrity interviews. She has reported on a variety of topics including music, literature, motorsport, entertainment and health, and has her own bookish newsletter, Ashley’s Reading Nook.She has previously reviewed live music events, books, and wellness products but finding the best way to listen to new music releases is essential for Ashley, so discovering the top audio equipment on the market is what she does best.When she is not testing out the latest tech, you can find her either curled up with a cup of tea and a good fantasy novel or out hiking.
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