Shark’s FlexStyle Hair Tool Is Half the Price of the Dyson Airwrap—And We’re Obsessed
Updated: Mar. 13, 2024
The Shark FlexStyle Air Drying and Styling System is a more affordable version of the oh-so-popular Dyson Airwrap—but how does it hold up? And is it worth it?
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
As a curly-haired girl, I’m always looking for the latest and greatest hair styling products. I’ve thoroughly tested the best shampoos for my hair type, best frizzy hair products and the buzz-worthy K18 hair mask in hopes of maintaining my mane. While I love my curls, there comes a time every few weeks when I want to switch it up. A fresh blowout for a wedding? What about sleek straight hair for easy maintenance while traveling? I had yet to find a styling tool that delivered on results—and doesn’t pull chunks of hair out in the styling process. Hence, my Shark FlexStyle review.
When I heard about the Shark FlexStyle Air Drying & Styling System, I was intrigued. For starters, it boasts very similar technology to the Dyson Airwrap—and it’s half the price. Top that off with the five different styling attachments and its ability to prevent heat damage and I was hooked. But is it too good to be true? Here’s my Shark FlexStyle review.
What is the Shark FlexStyle Air Drying & Styling System?
The Shark FlexStyle Air Drying & Styling System is an all-in-one styling tool that blow-drys, straightens and curls hair. The main blow drying unit comes with five attachments: style concentrator (basically a blow dryer), two, 1.2-inch curling barrels, oval brush and paddle brush. Similar to the Dyson Airwrap, it minimizes heat exposure to prevent hair from becomings susceptible to heat damage. For anyone who styles their hair on the daily—or even weekly—that factor alone is attractive.
Why is it trending?
There are two main reasons why the Shark FlexStyle is trending: It boasts similar technology to the Dyson Airwrap (but at half the price!) and it comes with five unique styling attachments. The blow dry handle also turns for more precise blow drying, which is something the Dyson doesn’t offer.
The tag #SharkFlexStyle has racked up over 161 million views since it launched in September 2022. In a video posted by @elysemyers, she shows exactly what sets the Shark FlexStyle apart. It boasts five attachments for achieving every kind of blowout: Straight, wavy or curly. And the volume it creates in unmatched. The price is just the cherry on top.
@elysemyers I feel like this is breaking some sort of patent somewhere but honestly I’m not gonna ask any questions. 😂 #sharkbeauty
How we tested it
Full transparency—I was nervous to test this hair styling system. Because I have curly hair, I’ve never actually mastered the art of curling my hair. Every time I’ve tried, I can’t quite figure out which motion to curl and end up burning my strands in the process. So, the fact that the Shark FlexStyle practically curls hair on its own was very exciting—but more on that later.
Oval brush
Upon receiving the styling system, I planned a hair wash day and got to work. I made sure to top it off with a hair mask in hopes of achieving extra-smooth results. This was followed up with heat protectant and styling cream. The first victim to be tested: the oval brush. The attachment easily sticks onto the main unit. I set the heat and airflow to the highest settings and watched it work its magic.
After a few swipes through my hair, I was pleasantly surprised it didn’t pull my hair out. I typically blow out my hair with the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer, which is a popular oval brush hair dryer for at-home blowouts. Though similar, the design and quality of the Shark FlexStyle oval brush is far above the Revlon version. As much as I love my Revlon styler, it tugs and pulls my hair. The Shark FlexStyle oval brush gave me a beautiful blowout in under 10 minutes, and my hair flowed through the brush so smoothly. One styling tool down and three more to go!
Curling wands
Now for the fun part: Curling! If you’re familiar with the Dyson Airwrap, you know it basically curls your hair for you—same thing with the Shark FlexStyle. This version, however, comes with two curling barrels for the right and left side. I popped in the right barrel, set the heat to medium and airflow to light. This one had a bit of a learning curve. You have to put the barrel right above the piece of hair you wish to curl, then it picks it up.
Once I got the turning motion down, curling was easy-peasy. Just like a regular curling wand, I held the wand with my wrapped-around strands for about a minute before releasing. I repeated this process with the left side of my hair. Again, it only took 10 to 15 minutes to curl my whole head from top to bottom layers. My hair is quite long right now, so if you have short hair, it will style much faster. Not only did the curling wands achieve curls that stayed in place all day, they were bouncy and soft.
Style concentrator
“Style concentrator” is basically a fancy term for blow dryer. I tested this tool one week after testing the oval brush and curling wands. Instead of the circular end of a regular blow dryer, the style concentrator has a flat edge end for ultra-precise drying. This is where the turn feature on the main unit comes in handy. Pushing down the button on the main unit, I turned the end with the style concentrator until it was locked into the horizontal position. Then, I blow dried my hair like normal.
Any fellow curly- or wavy-haired girlies know the struggle of blow drying their hair. It usually ends up looking like a lion’s mane by the end of it—and not in a good way. I’ve sworn off blow drying my hair because of this, so it was up to the style concentrator to “wow” me. Much to my delight, it delivered. The angle of the blow dryer allows for more straightening downward and less blowing outward. I actually preferred this tool to the oval brush when I’m following it up with the curling wands or paddle brush. It took five minutes total to dry my hair—and I didn’t look like a hot mess afterward.
Paddle brush
Last but not least, time for the paddle brush. My hair was still a bit fluffy after the style concentrator, so I followed it up with the paddle brush. This attachment is just like the oval brush, except only one end has the brush bristles (hence the paddle aspect). It’s designed to be used as a hair straightener comb, and the beauty is it prevents heat damage since strands aren’t squished between two super-hot plates. It took a tad longer to smooth out the rough edges with the paddle brush when compared to a traditional straightener, but it was more than worth it for less heat damage. It took 10 to 15 minutes total to comb my hair with the paddle brush.
Product features
As we just went through, the Shark FlexStyle Air Drying & Styling System is complete with five styling tools: an oval brush, two curling wands for the right and left side of hair, a styling concentrator and a paddle brush. What really sets it apart are the heat and blow dry settings. It boasts three heat settings and a cool air button designed to lock in the hairstyle and prevent heat damage better than standard hot tools. So, if you love styling your hair every day, this all-in-one system certainly has its perks.
Pros
- Advanced blow dry technology prevents heat damage
- Five styling tools included
- Curling barrels specifically designed for right and left sides
- The main unit turns for precise styling
- Cool air button to lock in curls
- Three heat settings
- Three blow dry strengths
- 60-day money back guarantee
- Limited two-year warranty
Cons
- Travel bag/tools organizer not included
- Steep price tag despite being more affordable
FAQ
Is the Shark FlexStyle good for your hair?
Though all heat tools technically aren’t “good,” the Shark FlexStyle uses a similar technology as the Dyson Airwrap, which allows hair to cool (or straighten) at a lower temperature. It’s technically better for hair because less heat is applied, leading to significantly less damage compared to standard hot tools.
Is the Shark FlexStyle or Dyson Airwrap better?
It really comes down to personal preference. The two air dry systems are extremely similar in terms of quality and technology. The five versatile styling attachments and lower price tag make the Shark FlexStyle hard to beat.
Does the Shark FlexStyle cause heat damage?
Technically, no. The product claims to produce absolutely zero heat damage, but it’s common for hair to become more brittle the more it’s styled with hot tools. Still, the Shark FlexStyle produces very little (if any) heat damage, thanks to its unique technology.
What other shoppers had to say
“This was life-changing, no joke,” shares Angela44, an enthusiastic five-star reviewer. “I’ve never been more impressed by a product and what it can do. It makes getting ready easy and fast. It’s like a hair salon in one. You can do a blow out in less time, plus no heat damage.”
Five-star reviewer, JenP1982, attests to its styling ability with short hair. “I’m not good with hair and I look for tools that are easy to use and work well,” she writes. “This Shark FlexStyle is so easy to use and it works on short, thick hair. It’s better than my hair straightener and adds volume and shine. It dries hair fast and has multiple attachments that provide you with whatever style that you want, from sleek straight to full curls with ease and comfort. I absolutely love this hair styling system and it’s the only one that I need now!”
Product comparison
If you haven’t caught on by now, the FlexStyle Air Drying & Styling System is Shark’s answer to the Dyson Airwrap. I haven’t tested the Dyson, but it’s safe to say from my research and thorough testing that both products brew extremely similar results. The main difference between the two products are the styling attachments. The Shark version comes with five, whereas the Dyson comes with six. They both include two 1.2-inch curling barrels for precise styling on both sides of your hair.
Upon first glance, the Dyson Airwrap is flashier. It has one more styling attachment, and the thoughtful add-ons, like the traveling case, traveling pouch, hair brush and comb, are smart. Still, you’ll have to decide if that’s worth the extra $300 tacked onto the Dyson’s lofty price tag.
Final verdict
It’s hard not to love the Shark Flexstyle Air Dry & Styling System. The overall design and technology is impressive, and it performs far above any other styling tool I own. Aside from that though, I can notice a considerable difference in the texture of my hair, thanks to the product. My hair is softer, less brittle and healthier now that heat damage is out of the picture.
I know what you’re thinking, and yes—$300 for a blow dryer and straightener is steep. But considering most hot tools cost upwards of $50 (if not more), it’s a fair price to pay for an all-in-one styling system. I always get compliments on my blown-out hair, and learning different styling techniques is my new favorite hobby. Trust me, you won’t have to buy another hot tool again.
Where to buy
Take this as your sign to invest in a pro hair styling system that lasts a lifetime. You can find the Shark FlexStyle Air Drying & Styling System on Shark’s website, Sephora or Amazon for $299. Considering it comes with five styling tools and is half the price of similar options (hi, Dyson), it truly is the crème de la crème of hair styling tools. Bye-bye, expensive blowouts!
Bonus: Take 10% off with code FLEX10 when shopping on Shark’s website.
Originally Published: March 13, 2024
