Thursday, May 2, 2024

Shark FlexStyle Review 2023: Is the 'Dyson Airwrap Dupe' Worth It?

shark hair tools

They not only look extremely similar but also perform in nearly identical ways. Considering that it retails for hundreds of dollars less than the competition, the Shark FlexStyle is a great value for its versatile features and effective styling. I found downsizing to one tool a great investment, especially since I typically use a separate hair tool for everything. Not to mention, it does it all without sacrificing drying time — every styling routine I tried took less than 20 minutes compared to my typical 35 minutes. It did a good job at grabbing large sections of hair, and I appreciated its holding knob at the end so I could get a better grip for curling.

Oval brush

This hair tool is a Dyson Airwrap dupe—and it's half the price - Reviewed

This hair tool is a Dyson Airwrap dupe—and it's half the price.

Posted: Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

This concentrated airflow also helps the cuticle of the hair lay flat so that it will be shinier and less frizzy, according to Los Angeles-based hairstylist Kiki Heitkotter. The oval brush accessory stood out for replicating the bouncy, sleek blowout results of a hair dryer brush. This attachment has a leg up on the Dyson, which does not have an oval brush attachment at all. Our editors are constantly trying out new products and speaking to experts to determine the best of all things beauty, and hair dryers are among the most tested. Ahead, read up on how we tested, reviewed, and determined the best hair dryers for seamless drying and styling pleasure.

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Finally it’s time to get into my PJs, put my feet up and treat myself to an uninterrupted scroll session—of course it’s the first thing I see when I open social media. Not every FlexStyle kit comes with a storage case, but every Airwrap set does; Shark sells a FlexStyle storage case for $50. The Airwrap case is mostly functional—cramming the styler and all its attachments back inside can take some finessing—but depending on your taste, it’s possibly display-worthy.

Best hot brushes to buy 2024 UK - Good Housekeeping uk

Best hot brushes to buy 2024 UK.

Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

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The first is the FlexStyle’s ability to switch from being a standard blowdryer to a versatile styling wand, making it a truly do-it-all, one-and-done hair tool. The second win is the FlexStyle’s customization–you get to choose between three dryer heads, with options including a flat brush, round brush, diffuser, style concentrator and two curling rods (one for the left side of the head and one for the right). So for example, if you have curly or coily hair, you can opt for the attachments that work best for your specific texture, like the diffuser or the brushes, while someone with straight hair may choose the curling rods. The FlexStyle uses an air jet design (in three heat and three speed settings) that claims to be less damaging to hair than traditional styling methods.

Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System Ultimate Travel Set in Copper

Keep reading for our in-depth comparison of the Dyson Airwrap versus the Shark FlexSyle air styling system to see who comes out on top. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission. Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping, where she covers everything from holidays to food. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping. The top image shows the retracted prongs for shorter, finer hair and the bottom image shows the extended prongs for longer, thicker hair. The FlexStyle also comes in only two colors (black and stone) with seasonal limited editions, while the Airwrap comes in multiple colors year-round, including special editions like the delightful Ceramic Pop.

shark hair tools

Unlike Dyson products, which rarely go on sale, our shopping team often catches Shark products at a discount. Keep tabs on the SpeedStyle, especially around big shopping moments, and you may be able to snag it at a budget-friendly price. If you're specifically looking for a multi-styling tool, the Shark FlexStyle is a really great investment. If you consider that the average blowout including tip is around $75 (depending on where you live), then you would need to use your Airwrap eight times to make it pay for itself, while you’d only need to use the Shark 3.5 times to break even. Plus, each has a two-year warranty for a little insurance bonus, just in case anything goes haywire.

Launched in 2018, the Dyson Airwrap became the prototype for one styling tool that can do it all. With features including drying, curling and smoothing capabilities, it delivered salon-quality results all from the comfort of your home. Not long after, vacuum company Shark tried its hand at a similar tool, the Shark Flexstyle, albeit at a much lower price point. The styling concentrator, oval and paddle brush really stood out to me for adding unrivalled shine, volume and smoothness to the hair.

Shark SpeedStyle Hair Dryer

She keeps her finger on the pulse of all things related to beauty and wellness, as well as the latest shopping trends and clothing brands. Sullivan has tested all of Shark’s hair styling tools, and used her testing notes to pen this article. Last but certainly not least, the Shark HyperAir IQ Hair Dryer is a tool to consider for those who prefer simple, straightforward hair styling tools. The HyperAir IQ Hair Dryer was Shark’s first entry into the hair tool world, debuting in fall 2021. It became an instant hit, lauded for its ability to dry hair quickly without damage — that’s thanks to the tool’s high velocity airflow and mild heat.

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Teich noted in her use of both brands that the Shark Flexstyle has noticeably shorter curling barrels, which may leave users with longer hair with less real estate for styling purposes compared to the Dyson Airwrap. Depending on how you personally like to style your hair, both the Dyson Airwrap and the Shark Flexstyle offer great options with their round brush attachments. But the FlexStyle—which, unlike the Airwrap, can in effect replace a traditional hair dryer—is a superior value overall. Try as I may, mastering the wrist flick and tension that stylists employ with a round brush to create bouncy waves has proven practically impossible.

I typically only use the concentrator in conjunction with a round brush, so if you're willing to spend the extra money for the round brush attachment, I found it more useful than using the concentrator with a separate round brush. Jessica Cruel blow drying her natural hair with the Dyson Airwrap straightening brush. Angela Trakoshis after using the Shark hair dryer and attachments with smooth, blown-out hair.

One analysis by our Beauty Lab product testing pros revealed that the Shark reached 183ºF on average, compared to curling irons and hair straighteners that can reach temperatures of 350ºF and over. If you’re anything like us, your hot tool arsenal is jam-packed with styler after styler. You may own a traditional blowdryer, flat iron, curling iron, curling wand and round brush blowdryer, just to name a few. Meanwhile, Dyson markets the Airwrap as a finishing tool for use on slightly damp—not wet—hair. The Airwrap’s smoothing dryer attachment is not a traditional hair dryer, so we did not test it as such. Fully drying a head of hair using the dryer-attachment-equipped Airwrap is not impossible, but it’s clunkier and more time-consuming compared with using the FlexStyle with or without any drying-specific attachments.

Each tool serves a different purpose, so we also tapped fellow staffers to see how it styled various hair types. Read ahead how the attachments worked across short to long hair and wavy to curly textures. The oval brush is designed to smooth, defrizz and add volume and bounce, while the paddle brush features bristles designed to create added tension for straightening, smoothing and shining. I am extremely prone to flyaways, and I really rated both heads for making it look super slick while adding the most incredible shine and softness to the hair.

Familiar additives like aloe and argan oil help, too, sealing the hair cuticle for extra defense. The flattened paddle brush left hair styled and dried in a few swipes, though we found it worked best moving through coarser hair types, but wasn't as well-suited for finer or straighter locks. The IQ 2-in-1 Concentrator attachment is adjustable via a sliding switch — the ‘Pre-Style’ mode is designed for rough drying hair, while the ‘Precision’ mode narrows the concentrator’s opening for more direct airflow that smooths strands. For curly girls, the diffuser attachment is a seamless option for maintaining any curl pattern, courtesy of the tool’s adjustable prongs. And if you’re after a smoothed-out style, the IQ Styling Brush will deliver — this attachment features two types of bristles that remove unwanted texture, smoothing your hair while drying it.

It doesn’t come with a diffuser, so although it’s marketed for all hair types, those with curly or coily hair may find it lacking. It takes some time to figure out the best ways to use the attachments — especially as a first-time multi-styler user — but I got the hang of it more and more with each try. My wavy hair got more use out of the curling barrels, oval brush and diffuser. I appreciated that there is the option to choose dryer sets for individual hair types (at varied price points). Along with the FlexStyle and HyperAir hair dryer, she received advanced samples of Shark’s new hair styling tools to thoroughly vet their styling capabilities and attachments.

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