Big-volume, super-smooth, Nineties supermodel-style hair is the holy grail in beauty right now. A quick scroll through BeautyTok suggests that with the help of certain trending hair tools, anyone can create the look.
The likes of the Dyson Airwrap i.d, Shark Flexstyle, and a new breed of smart hot brushes are being used to create blowouts on wet hair at the push of a button – and boost volume in the process.
Though recently a rival has emerged, which many users claim is the most user-friendly tool of all for creating a blowout. It has sold out three times.
The Cloud Nine Airshot Pro can be bought in a bundle with the new Volumising Set, of two magnetic barrel attachments to curl hair. They use rapid airflow to wrap and set the hair.
Sounds familiar, but what feels new is the fact that the Volumisers attach via a simple magnetic mechanism to the Airshot Pro, which is a powerful, traditional-look hairdryer.
So rather than having to switch between tools, or swapping over attachments on a multi-tool, you can use the same tool to do the groundwork – get the roots bone dry, and the lengths smooth and part-dry – before doing the finishing touches with the Volumisers.
Cloud Nine, founded in 2009 by industry giants Robert and Susan Powls (previously the co-founders of GHD), is known for its intuitive tools which adapt to different hair types and textures to maintain their health. In my experience, their products excel in functionality and quality – so I wanted to see if the new pairing lived up to the hype.
How I tested
Hayley Spencer/The Standard
To get the best results with the Airshot Pro and Volumisers, I washed and gently towel-dried my hair – never rub wet locks, especially if your hair is frizz-prone like mine. Hairdresser and educator Marie Nieuwoudt suggests, “gently squeeze the hair and dry first, as less heat equals less damage to the hair.”
I then applied my favourite heat protectant, the K18 HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant (£48, Cultbeauty.co.uk), which guards against damage up to 230°C, while moisturising and detangling in the process. I also used Cecred’s Volumising Mousse (£30, Spacnk.com) for added root lift and hold.
I then used the Airshot precision nozzle attachment to completely dry my roots and to get the lengths of my hair about 85 per cent dry, smoothing it with a brush. If your hair is more dense, then you may wish to dry it up to 90 per cent to get the hair super-smooth. I used the middle heat setting of 47°C (my hair is fine, but I have a lot of it), and used the highest of the three airflow settings.
As Nieuwoudt explains: “The medium setting is a great everyday option for most hair types, while the lowest 39°C heat setting is suited to fine, fragile or damaged hair. And the highest, 85°C, is for thicker, denser or harder-to-style hair when more heat is needed.”
Next, once I had brushed out my hair so it was completely tangle-free, I clipped up the top half in readiness to use the volumising attachments to add curls.
I went in closer to the root around my face for added body, curling it backwards but with the airflow directed towards my forehead. I spritzed each section with Sam McKnight’s ultra-fine Modern Hairspray (£29, Lookfantastic.com) before working on it to help the curls to hold. It contains heat protection and leaves hair soft, not tacky or crispy to the touch.
I worked on a few inches of hair at a time, with the handy arrows on the two barrels confirming which side of the face to work on – it should point away from the side you are styling. Holding the section between thumb and forefinger, I let the barrels’ airflow guide each section and wrap it, leaving it for around 15 seconds before finishing with a cool shot (by holding down the heat setting button) and then releasing it by lifting the Volumiser out vertically.
Once all my hair was cooled completely, I brushed it through with my fingers and added some finishing oil; Oi Oil from Davines (£31.50, Cultbeauty.co.uk), which is super lightweight, smooths, tames and adds shine.
If you want even more volume and your hair is naturally straight or flat, Nieuwoudt suggests: “Pin or roll each section while it cools for an even longer-lasting bounce.”
Cloud Nine Airshot Pro
Cloud Nine
★★★★★
What we love: Self-clean mode on the hairdryer keeps it dust-free; easy-to-use magnetic attachments snap into place and release easily; three airflow settings and heat settings, plus cool shot to seal the cuticle and lock in moisture; overheat protection using technology that automatically adjusts and lowers temperatures when it’s too high and powers off the device if needed until it cools down; advanced ionic and mineral-infused technology for increased shine
Take note: Attachments are only compatible with Airshot Pro; only straight, non-tapered attachments are available, so the tool is best suited to those who want to create a voluminous, soft look over tight or very defined curls; hairdryer not compatible with brush attachments like multi-tools; attachments do become hot to the touch
I’ve tried dozens of hair and beauty tools in the name of work, and what stood out most about using the Airshot Pro and Volumizers as a pair was – as the reviews had suggested – the simple user experience. It’s a lazy girl's dream in terms of how easy the attachments snap into place, and the fact that the device self-adjusts so it won’t overheat your locks.
Once I got the knack of letting the barrel slowly pull my hair around it, I didn’t feel like they were ever pulling or snagging my hair, which is something I have experienced with competing attachments. And it is a major bonus for those with delicate, coloured or fine hair like myself.
The Airshot Pro and accessories also feel very grown-up in aesthetic versus colourful multi-tools on the market, as they come in matte black with silver hardware. For Christmas, a dark burgundy colour has just been released as well. The Airshot Pro is surprisingly lightweight and feels comfortable to hold throughout the process.
I didn’t perfect my preferred combination of directions on the different sections, nor the height of the curls on my first go, so I’d recommend a few test runs to perfect your style. And to wait longer than you think for your hair to fully cool. My locks looked a little fluffy before they settled – but resist the temptation to touch them!
Hayley Spencer/The Standard
Of course, bear in mind your hair thickness and texture and adjust timings accordingly to avoid damage. The whole process took me around 20 minutes, and I can imagine getting this time down with practice – impressively swift versus a traditional blowout with a hairdryer and brushes.
As I’d predicted, it felt like a major plus that the Volumisers attach to a powerful, precision hairdryer (the hairdrying attachment on a multi-tool is usually 1300 watts and the Airshot is 1600W). When using competing tools, I’ve found it tricky to ensure the hair near my roots is adequately dry up to the point I want my curls to start, which often causes frizz to form after I’ve completed the styling process.
After my style was fully set and brushed out, it had a clear shine, and the shape remained intact the following day. Only minor kinking around my ears and temples had formed overnight – my hair has Type 2C curls if left to dry naturally and can be wayward, so this impressed me.
A minor negative was that the barrels do get very hot to the touch while you’re working your way around, so ensure you only touch the finger rest on the tip of them, or use the heat-proof glove provided.
- Temperature settings: Low, medium and high, plus cool shot
- Power: 1600W, 220-240V
- Attachments: Diffuser head, small nozzle (precision), large nozzle (for added body)
Is the Cloud Nine Airshot Pro worth it?
The Airshot Pro combined with the Volumiser Set is good value for money if it’s a powerful, user-friendly tool you want that allows you to hack a blowdry with minimum effort. If you’ve considered buying a multi-tool but also wish to have a classic hairdryer in your arsenal and wouldn’t anticipate using all the attachments, it would be an ideal choice.
The combo would also be perfect for anyone typically enslaved to a pair of tongs to create soft curls or add bounce, as it saves you from working over dry hair with more heat that could potentially damage it. And reduces time spent too.
Swapping between the nozzles and Volumisers is also simpler than on any other tool I’ve tried, especially those with safety mechanisms that require flipping a switch, such as the Dyson Airwrap i.d.
For creating smooth, bouncy hair, and due to being pleasing to handle as well as looking good on the shelf, the Airshot Pro and Volumisers have definitely earned a place in my kit.
Why trust me?
Hayley Spencer is a lifestyle editor with over 16 years of experience writing for major magazines, dailies and nationals. She has written on beauty, wellness and style for titles spanning The Guardian, Elle, The Independent and Grazia, and is a former lifestyle editor at The Standard. Hayley lived through the launch of the first-ever GHDs and, over the years, has tested numerous hair tools to smooth and style her naturally wavy hair.