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Shark has been hot on Dyson’s tail for years, offering similar products for lower prices. It doesn’t stop at vacuums, however. The $299.99 FlexStyle is Shark’s take on the $599.99 Dyson Airwrap. The FlexStyle falls under the multi-styler category, which the Airwrap essentially created (and leads, earning our Editors’ Choice award). As its full name suggests, the FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System dries and styles your hair at the same time. While the results aren’t as picture-perfect as you get with the Airwrap, it makes styling a look that used to be mostly left to professionals simple to do on your own. And considering it costs half as much as the Airwrap, the FlexStyle is a worthy alternative depending on your budget.PriceThere are different configurations of FlexStyle packages. I reviewed the Straight & Wavy, which is $299.99, though frequently on sale for $249.99. In functionality and accessories, it’s comparable with the Dyson Airwrap Complete, which is $599.99. Other packages are available, including one for curly and oily hair and ones that include travel and storage solutions. You can also build your own.
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The package I tested did not have any way to store the multi-styler or its accessories. The Airwrap, for comparison, comes with a color-coordinated box.As with the Airwrap, there are deals to be had during sale seasons at authorized retailers like Sephora or Ulta. You can also buy a refurbished FlexStyle directly from Shark, but expect it to be only about $20 less than you would score at a sale. Although it still costs more than the FlexStyle, Dyson offers much deeper discounts on refurbished Airwraps.Design and AccessoriesThe FlexStyle is made up of the wand itself, which transforms into a dryer with a quick motion, as well as two 1.25-inch Auto-Wrap Curlers, a Styling Concentrator, a Paddle Brush, and an Oval Brush.Unlike the Airwrap, which has curling attachments that can switch curl direction with a turn of a knob, the FlexStyle Auto-Wrap Curlers go in one direction only, so you have to swap out the curlers midway through styling. The FlexStyle comes in Stone, as well as limited edition colors, which currently include Black Diamond and Malibu Pink. What Makes the FlexStyle Different?It is impossible to talk about the FlexStyle without invoking the Airwrap, so though the FlexStyle is not unique, it stands nearly alone with the Airwrap when it comes to multi-stylers. The FlexStyle has three fan settings and three heat settings that top out at 203 degrees Fahrenheit, significantly less than most hot tools and about 100 degrees less than the Dyson Airwrap. When it comes to hair, less heat equals less damage, though with any heat styling, you should use a heat-protectant spray, which I did every time with the FlexStyle. Like the Airwrap, the FlexStyle uses the Coanda effect, which involves directing a stream of air at hair in such a way that it follows that direction and then wraps around a curved surface. There’s a little less oomph in FlexStyle’s Coanda, though. The FlexStyle bends into a traditional shape for drying and has the advantage of being all one diameter, unlike most dryers that tend to be top-heavy. Used in this way, it’s about the size of a travel-size hair dryer, making it easy to pack if you just want to carry it for that purpose. The wand is comparable in width with larger curling irons and smaller than the Airwrap, making it more comfortable to hold for smaller hands. At 1.54 pounds, it’s barely heavier than the 1.5-pound Airwrap.Drying With the FlexStyleYou can use the FlexStyle as is for a rough dry or attach the Styling Concentrator on the end for a shinier, smoother style.
(Credit: Chandra Steele)
It made quick work of drying my long hair in testing, taking only about five minutes. But it was hard to ignore how loud it was. The FlexStyle immediately made me conscious of the fact that I should always put earplugs in while drying my hair. The Airwrap is much quieter by comparison.I used the dryer at maximum fan and heat and despite the temperature claims, it was not recognizably cooler to me than any other hair dryer I’ve used. That said, it wasn’t hot enough to be uncomfortable on my scalp or skin as I dried my hair.
(Credit: Chandra Steele)
I have 2C hair that I straighten pretty much every day with the help of a dryer, a round brush, and a flat iron, so I was hopeful that the FlexStyle would achieve the same effect with one tool and an attachment or two. The FlexStyle comes with two brushes to choose from: an Oval Brush for volume and a Paddle Brush for straightening. Both brushes have a mix of nylon bristles and round-tip plastic bristles. This is the mix I tend to use for the brushes I use for blowing my hair out, so I was pleased to see it. But because these are designed to be a one-and-done situation for creating #hairgoals, I was disappointed that they achieved the same effect as my usual drying routine—mostly straight but with a bit of frizz—and my hair still would need a pass or two of a flat iron for me to feel comfortable with how it looked. Still, it was nice to need only one tool and not have to work with both a brush and a hair dryer at the same time, and those with hair that is naturally straight or less curly than mine would likely see sleeker results. But anyone with a decent amount of texture should expect to work a bit more if they want silkiness. Despite the slightly different shapes of the brushes, both gave me pretty much the same look of straightish hair with a bit of bounce. The presence of all those nylon bristles meant that I had to regularly comb strands of hair out of them, something that happened far less with the mostly plastic options of the Airwrap. Curling With the FlexStyleIf you’re spending money on blowouts, it’s likely to get that done-but-not-too-done look of hair that’s straight on top and has shiny loose curls on the bottom. That’s what this particular model of FlexStyle is made to do, at the cost of about six visits to Drybar.
(Credit: Chandra Steele)
Unlike the Dyson Airwrap, which comes with two barrels of different diameters for curls of different sizes, the FlexStyle comes with two Auto-Wrap Curlers that both make curls with a 1.25-inch diameter but in two different directions. So, if you want to have a realistic-looking curl pattern, you have to swap out the curlers midway through your styling session. Because the curlers get pretty hot, you have to either wait for the one you just used to cool down before you remove it or use something to protect your hand. To use a curler, you hold the FlexStyle at the bottom of your hair, a bit away from your head. Air coming through the vents draws your hair onto the curler, and you pull your arm in to complete the curl. Hold the curl for a few moments, then pull the curler out and move on to the next set of strands. For a looser curl, run your fingers through the strands. My hair cannot hold an artificially created curl, so a spritz of hair spray is necessary to lock in the look. I would be remiss not to bring up the Airwrap here. It has a bit more oomph when creating that Coanda effect, with the pull of your hair seeming more magnetic, but the results are largely the same—that is, if you have shorter hair. My chest-length hair was not served too well by the curler size, which is about the same as the regular Airwrap barrel but does not come in a version for longer lengths like the Airwrap Complete Long. For those who already have curly hair and want the benefits of not having to wait hours for your hair to air dry, there is a package that includes a diffuser, or you can buy one a la carte. Smoothing With the FlexStyleAnyone who has taken my photo knows that there are some hairs at the top of my head that because of years of heat styling will just stand up no matter how many times they ask me to smooth my hand over them. This is the result of breakage and strands that just don’t want to obey. But the Coanda effect is designed to get rid of all that. I attached the included Style Concentrator to the FlexStyle in dryer mode and ran it along my part in the direction I wanted my hair to go. It did a pretty decent job of making my hair look less flyaway at the part and less frizzy throughout. Shark now has a new FrizzFighter Finishing Tool that comes in some variations of its FlexStyle and is also available to purchase separately. It is a direct take on Dyson’s Coanda Smoother included with the Airwrap. The FlexStyle’s Cool Shot ButtonWhether styling or drying, you can press the Cool Shot button to increase shine and help a hairstyle hold, particularly in hot or humid weather. The one on the FlexStyle works the same as you’re used to on most hair dryers where you hold down a button. It’s awkward, but it’s actually better than the Airwrap, which makes you push and hold the button up, a painful endeavor.Verdict: A Fine Alternative to the AirwrapYou’re either going to buy the $300 FlexStyle because you really want the Airwrap but don’t want to spend $600 on a hair tool, or you’re looking for a step up from your usual hair routine. Either way, it’s a good decision. Dyson’s $600 Airwrap is worth the premium if you regularly go for blowouts and want salon-quality styling at home, earning it our Editors’ Choice award. But the FlexStyle produces results that look nearly as good, so you don’t have to spend more than half a grand to get hair that looks like it was done by a professional.
Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
Pros
Matches the Dyson Airwrap tool for tool
Much less expensive than the Airwrap
Fast, easy styling results
The Bottom Line
The Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System is clearly designed to compete with the Dyson Airwrap but with a budget in mind, and it mostly succeeds.
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