Belissima Air Wonder 8 in 1 Hot Air Styler review

Get salon-quality results every day in the comfort of your own home with the Belissima Air Wonder 8 in 1 Hot Air Styler. For less than £100 you can style hair from wet to dry with this hair drying brush and accessories. From bouncy blow-dry curls to sleek poker straight tresses, this hot air styler is an all-round solution to your hair routine. If you're looking to reduce your number of hair tools, this 8 in 1 hair appliance could be the answer to your styling-related prayers.

We'd all love a Dyson Airwrap, but retailing at around £480 it's not at everyone's price-point. Even the Dyson dupe, Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler is around £300. So, is this Belissima hair dryer brush and accessories a cost-effective alternative that can provide superb drying and styling performance? We took a look at what customers said having tried and tested this hair tool.

Key features

• 8-in-1 system

• 2 air flow / temperature combinations + cool shot to set your hair style in place

• Ionic technology reduces frizz, tames flyaways, and conditions hair to make it shinier

• Ceramic and keratin coating for heat protection and glossy results

• Three metre swivel cord

• 10 second heat up time

Testing the Belissima Air Wonder 8 in 1 Hot Air Styler

On first inspection, it looks the business in an elegant white and gold colourway. When unboxing the appliance, a tester said: "I was so excited to receive this as the packaging was beautiful, in a big sturdy slide box (like iPhone box quality), and when I opened it, OMG the tools inside were stunning. The colours are very on trend in neutrals: beige, black and gold. This will look stunning on any dressing table or hair salon."

Inside, you get the Bellissima Air Wonder Hot Air Styler and eight accessories:

• Drying nozzle to dry hair fast with a concentrated and powerful air flow
• Detangling brush gently tames hair in preparation for styling
• Volume brush gives hair body, from roots to ends
• 50mm round brush creates luscious curls on longer hair
• 32mm round brush transforms straight and wavy hair with more defined waves
• 19mm curling iron – coated in ceramic and keratin – creates distinct curls
• Diffuser adds texture and body to naturally curly hair
• Beauty bag stores all the accessories and offers portability

The attachments click securely into place and you can work your way through the tools to find what brush shapes work best on your hair type. Use it for straightening, curling, volumising and creating waves. Express your style in so many ways and create new looks.

Testers are positive about the effectiveness of the Air Wonder's accessories. One said: "I'm a hair dryer and straighteners kinda girl; but I'm glad I tried this. It makes my hair feel fantastic and smooth, it dries very well and quickly and the styles you can create are beautiful." The tester tried the other tools too and found: "The curler was slightly disappointing though, maybe it's my hair type or length but the curls didn't stay in long at all, dropped out almost immediately which was sad but my hair looked great for an hour or so anyway. The straight attachments are fab, left my hair silky smooth and straight. I love it. The natural curl drying attachment is fab too, my hair is very straight naturally and this tool created gorgeous loose bouncy curls."

Belissima advise four steps to achieving perfect curls:

Step 1: Use the concentrator nozzle to pre-dry hair

Step 2: Use detangling brush to untangle hair from roots to tips

Step 3: Use oval volumising brush to give your hair body

Step 4: Use 19mm curling tongs for defined curls

Performance

Testers are positive that the Bellissima Air Wonder 8 in 1 Hot Air Styler is a bargain and a perfect hair styling kit for everyday use. However, a tester did note that it was difficult to put attachments on the styler and take them off. The tester says: "I found it a little tricky and it wasn’t as easy as it looks as sometimes it gets a little stuck so you need to wiggle it around a bit." But we think this is something that should become easier with prolonged use.

On the whole, the consensus is that this hot air styler is sensational for fast hair grooming and creating a variety of looks. Testers have even used the appliance on their children and said, "they didn’t complain so it’s gentle enough for little heads too".

Just be aware that this is not an automatic appliance; Belissima state: "it's essential to actively use each attachment in the styling process, rather than relying solely on the attachments to style your hair automatically". It's not like a rotating brush which does the curling for you. So, do expect to work with the attachments. For best results, use on damp hair and apply a heat protection spray. If your hair is long, divide it into sections and use the drying nozzle in a downward direction. Now, you can create different styles, including sculpted curls and waves. It's ideal if you don't have time to use a set of curlers.

Get the straight look with ease, or add volume. For shorter hair, use an accessory with a thinner barrel. Also. use the lower heat setting if your hair is fine or damaged. For thick or coarse hair use the high setting and finish with a cool shot to lock in moisture.

Finally, Belissima recommends, to get the best results from this hair brush dryer regularly clean the accessories. Rest assured, you'll be using it every day.

Final verdict

It may not be a miracle maker, but the Belissima Air Wonder 8 in 1 Hot Air Styler is a super affordable styling kit that is extremely good value. Say goodbye to a drawer full of hair styling accessories, all you need is one handy tool and it's less than £100. Hair is given some heat protection from the ceramic and keratin coating, though do use a heat protection spray especially if you're using the hair styling tools every day.

Hair is hydrated, thanks to the ioniser technology, which also helps to banish frizz. Testers were positive that this hair-drying brush makes styling faster because blow-drying and finishing tools are combined in one handy appliance. Combat damp weather, rejuvenate lacklustre locks, or get voluminous results with the Belissima Air Wonder 8 in 1 Hot Air Styler. It's travel-friendly too, as you can use the beauty bag to take your favourite styling accessories on holiday. Enjoy beach-ready curls anytime, anywhere.

FAQs

What is a hair dryer brush?

A hair dryer brush is a hybrid of a hair dryer and straightening irons, that makes drying and styling hair more convenient. Use directly on damp hair and brush the hot air styler through as if you were combing it. Hot air will dry and the bristles will smooth your hair all-in-one. For best results, use on towel-dried air that's around 80 per cent dry. If you have long hair, work the air dryer through your hair in sections. Because an hair dryer brush heats your hair, it's a good idea to use a heat protection spray or serum especially if you are styling your hair everyday.

How does ionic technology work?

Ionic technology smoothes the hair cuticle. It produces negative ions to neutralise static charge, reducing frizz, for smooth and shiny hair.

Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances. When she's not testing sparkling water makers, she flexes her creative flair as an artist.