Shark Flexstyle vs Dyson Airwrap Review 2024: Tested by Our Lab
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The bristles on its rounded barrel got much closer to the roots of my hair, which helped give optimal volume and worked wonders at tackling my outgrown curtain bangs. Dyson's round brush, in contrast, uses very thin individual bristles that don't tug on hair quite as much. This Shark attachment is not quite as adept at tackling thick or long hair, but it's just as great at blowing out small sections of bangs and adding more oomph to roots. If you’re on the hunt for a hair tool that will completely revitalize your at-home blowouts, you really can’t go wrong with either hair styler.
Curl-Defining Diffuser
For me, the oval brush reigns supreme when compared to its more-expensive counterparts, as it has more grip and adds way more volume. But only the FlexStyle is billed as a standard hair dryer, and for good reason. When bent into the hair-dryer position and used free of attachments, the FlexStyle is nearly as fast and hot as many of the best traditional hair dryers, so you can use it to go from just washed to fully styled, no other device needed.
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With the newest version of the Dyson Airwrap, users can expect a single, reversible curling barrel that can be simply twisted to change directions of the curls. The Shark Flexstyle utilizes two curling attachments, each featuring an arrow to notify users of which way it will curl their hair. Whether for the superior button placement, the bidirectional curling barrels, the color options, or the storage case, some people may find the Airwrap well worth the additional investment in comparison with the FlexStyle. After having three people with different hair lengths, curl patterns, and textures test them head-to-head for nearly a year, we’ve determined that they’re both excellent tools. As dozens of comparison videos also conclude, when one is testing the FlexStyle against the Airwrap on each side of the same head of hair, it’s almost impossible to tell which side has been styled with which tool. She has tested dozens of hair dryers, toothbrushes, and pairs of period underwear.
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This unique capacity essentially eliminates the need for a separate hair dryer for people who blow dry as the first of multiple hairstyling steps. The Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System is a multi-functional hair tool that simultaneously dries, styles, and sets. Designed for all hair types and textures, it relies on a stream of temperature-controlled air—which, unlike traditional hot tools, is damage-free, per the brand. After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30?
Shark FlexStyle vs. Dyson Airwrap
One of my biggest hair woes is its overall puffiness and semi-wave that, when put together, looks like a frizzy, poofy Lego head. When I’m in the mood to lean into my natural wave and want to encourage a bouncier curl pattern, I reach for the Shark’s diffuser attachment to dry my hair before going in with a curling wand to tighten up any wayward pieces. But since there’s no diffuser with the Dyson, I need to use the smoothing dryer attachment until my hair is about 75% dry, then go in with a curling barrel. Shopping direct through Shark has added benefits of access to Shark’s full suite of hair styling tools and accessories, including site-exclusive extra attachments and accessories (like the FlexStyle Storage Case). Sharkclean.com also has special offerings and configurations, like the option to build your own FlexStyle with three attachments of your choosing. You’ll get free ground shipping on your order (purchases above $99 are shipped free of charge via Shark).
Bottom line: Is the Shark FlexStyle worth it?
The Shark FlexStyle Is on Sale Right Now and It's Less Than Half the Price of a Dyson Airwrap - Entertainment Tonight
The Shark FlexStyle Is on Sale Right Now and It's Less Than Half the Price of a Dyson Airwrap.
Posted: Wed, 03 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser hair dryer worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet. Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for Footwear News and WWD, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion and lifestyle stories. She has over six years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie.
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According to our Beauty Lab assessments, Shark's curlers replicated Dyson Airwrap's Coanda effect, creating robust, tighter waves on hair. But the most notable feature of the Shark FlexStyle is its lockable, twistable rod to accommodate different hair drying and styling methods. Shark also offers a diffuser attachment equipped with extendable prongs to accommodate all sorts of hair types, which Dyson lacks.
It's also worth noting that the Shark heated up quite high and the cool shot button took ample time to kick in (at least 10 seconds). Holding the cool shot button once the curl finished wrapping ensured that the temp simmered at the right time and gave good hold, which requires you to hold each curl for about 15 seconds. Though, the 2-inch wide barrels don't offer much real estate length-wise at only 6 inches long, which meant dividing long hair into smaller sections. I also found it a bit tasking to switch the barrels in order to curl hair in different directions. Meanwhile, the Dyson has an option for longer or shorter barrels, depending on hair length, and feature a knob to switch airflow direction so you don't have to switch between barrels. Fortunately, the sets have a helpful visual guide that walks through each attachment, its purpose, proper heat and speed settings and styling tips.
The $400 Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer Is Maddeningly Expensive. But My Hair Loves It.
Along with product testing, we relied on customer reviews, TikTok statistics, and detailed comparison of other hair tools on the market to write this story on the best Shark hair styling tools. When it comes to the latest hair tools, Dyson has reigned supreme, starting with the brand’s revolutionary Supersonic, followed by its original Airwrap curling wand. But now, thanks to some incredible innovations in the hair styling tools category, Dyson has some company—and competition. Enter the Shark FlexStyle, a multi-use air styling and drying system that transforms from a typical hair dryer to styling wand and comes with a collection of versatile attachments. This is where the two stylers are nearly neck-and-neck, but there are two aspects that give Shark the final edge.
If you’re new to the Shark Beauty world, we have you covered — our editors have thoroughly tested each of Shark’s tools and their attachments. This is a particularly good hair dryer for those who want something that doesn't sound like a jet engine taking off in your bathroom. According to Dyson, the Supersonic measures 79 decibels on average and emits less noise than the average hair dryer.
Since Dyson is renowned for its Coanda-effect curlers (which use airflow to wisp hair around the barrel as the airflow dries and sets hair), I was most intrigued by whether Shark's iteration could stand up against it. The FlexStyle comes with two curlers that swirl hair clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending on the section you're working on. Each section took about 15 seconds each — 20 minutes in total — shaving about 10 minutes off my usual routine.
Keep reading for my honest first thoughts, including my opinions on the attachments and if it’s worth investing in. A quick email back to the PR and I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of my newest hair tool. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
The Dyson has all the bells and whistles of a luxury splurge tool, while the Shark harnesses similar technology, offers a more diverse set of attachments and provides the same glossy, runway-style hair. Like the Shark FlexStyle and the new Shark SpeedStyle, this tool comes preset with carefully-calibrated heat and airflow settings to prevent breakage and damage you otherwise get from too-hot styling tools. Because the FlexStyle base twists 90 degrees into a hair dryer, all of its attachments can work in this position, too, affording you a different grip and more styling versatility. As with any hairstyling tool, a learning curve is involved, and depending on your skills and hair type, you might find your styling efforts falling flat over time (though that’s a possibility with any styling tool). Depending on your hair type, you can opt for either the curly hair set, straight hair set or build your own to choose up to three attachments. Its latest wide tooth comb and round brush are sold separately, unless you add each onto your custom bundle.
My hair felt much smoother and bouncier when using it, but the device did get quite hot. Consequentially, the cool shot button takes significant time to kick in, and I often ended up foregoing using it for the full time... And while it's more affordable than the Dyson, it's still got a hefty price tag. You'll likely get the most use of it if you regularly style your hair with different hot tools. It all depends on your budget and hair care needs, but we found the Shark FlexStyle well worth every dollar. To better compare them, I tried the Dyson Airwrap on one side of my hair and the Shark FlexStyle on the other.
Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. For instance, an innovative new blow-dryer may feature industry-leading technology, but if the only people who find it intuitive to use are professional hairstylists, we have to consider this when determining whether it is worthy of a recommendation. Many hair dryers come with (or are compatible with) attachments that allow you to tailor your blow-out experience to your needs. Abergel noted that, for example, using a concentrator nozzle that precisely hits hard-to-reach areas is key to achieving salon-level results. "It concentrates the air and aids in directing the airflow exactly where you want it to go," Abergel previously explained.
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