Hot tools lead the week: Dyson deals, Shark rivalry and a dryer-brush recall

Analysis

Styling hardware continues to set the agenda. Which? published its round-up of the best Dyson deals for September 2026 for UK shoppers ^[1], while US title Good Housekeeping flagged a rare $130 discount on the Dyson Airwrap over the Labor Day weekend, noting the tool seldom goes on sale ^[2]. Head-to-head testing is where the heat is: Cosmopolitan put six beauty editors to work to settle the Shark versus Dyson multistyler debate ^[3], and InStyle reported that an under-$100 hair dryer outperformed a $750 tool, smoothing very curly hair on humid days ^[4] — a useful counterweight for value-led UK buyers as blow-dry season arrives, with Woman & Home listing nine dryers for a pro finish at home ^[5].

Search and video data suggest broad rather than brand-narrow demand. UK Google Trends shows 'hair dryer' averaging 43/100 over the last three months and 42/100 in the week of 31 August ^[6], ahead of 'dyson airwrap' at 24/100 average and 19/100 that week ^[7], and 'olaplex' at 14/100 ^[8]. On YouTube, Airwrap review uploads from the past fortnight drew 2,393,592 views across 10 videos ^[9], dwarfing hair dryer brush reviews at 152,468 ^[10] and Shark FlexStyle reviews at 60,234 ^[11].

Elsewhere, straighteners remain a crowded review category, covered by both Wirecutter and Glamour ^[12][13], while the Irish Times profiled six new beauty tech devices including an AI straightener and an LED mask ^[14]. On safety, the US CPSC announced a recall of Wantefully hair dryer brushes over electrocution, shock and burn hazards ^[15]. WWD, meanwhile, charted the 'skinification' of prestige hair care in France ^[16].