Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexStyle: Everything to Know

I'm pretty savvy when it comes to hair. I can manage a '90s blowdry with a round brush and a hairdryer like a pro, and I can give myself beachy waves in five minutes flat. As someone who tests new beauty tools and products almost every single day, anything in the hair category is by far my favourite. I love learning new styles, tips and tricks, and fun hacks, and whenever there are new hot tools on the market, I'm always excited to try them out. Whether it's a blow-dryer brush or a curling iron, I volunteer as tribute.

I've previously written a love letter to my Dyson Airwrap (£480), but when I saw how much my coworkers loved the Shark FlexStyle (£300), I knew I wanted to test it out and see which one worked better.

Keep reading to check out my full reviews of the Dyson Airwrap and the Shark FlexStyle and see how they compare to one another.

About the Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler

• The Dyson Airwrap comes with six different styling attachments, as well as a carrying case.
• It features three different speed settings and four different heat settings.
• Its maximum temperature is 302 degrees.
• It has a limited warranty of two years.

Attachments: The Dyson Airwrap comes with six different styling attachments: the Coanda smoothing dryer, which hides flyaways; 1.2" barrels for tighter curls; 1.6" barrels for looser curls; a soft smoothing brush for straight styles; a firm smoothing brush for frizz-prone hair; and a round volumising brush.

Price: £480

About the Shark FlexStyle

• The Shark FlexStyle comes in two options, straight and wavy hair or curly and coily hair. Each set comes with five different styling attachments.
• It features three different speed settings and four different heat settings.
• Its maximum temperature is 203 degrees.
• It has a limited warranty of two years.

Attachments: The Shark FlexStyle for curly and coily hair comes with five different attachments: two 1.25" auto-wrap curlers, a curl-defining diffuser, an oval brush, and a styling concentrator. The Shark FlexStyle for straight and wavy hair comes with five different hair attachments: two 1.25" auto-wrap curlers, a paddle brush, an oval brush, and a styling concentrator.

Price: £300

Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexStyle: Dryer

This is the second iteration of Dyson's Airwrap, and I have to admit, there are some aspects of it that I like less than the older version. The previous version had a dryer attachment that looked similar to a bladeless Dyson fan, but the latest update replaced it with the Coanda dryer attachment. While it has two settings (one meant to dry and one meant to smooth flyaways), I found that the setting used for drying the hair didn't work very well. On the other hand, I do have issues with flyaways, and it does work well for that.

The FlexStyle has a concentrated air attachment that works OK at drying hair, but it does take a while. One plus is that the handle can be swivelled so it's a bit easier to use than the Dyson.

In all honesty, I found both of these attachments to be much slower and less powerful than using a regular hairdryer, and I typically find myself skipping them altogether.

Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexStyle: Smoothing Brush

FlexStyle on left, Dyson Airwrap on right

I've used these attachments on lightly damp hair as a way to finish my blowdry and add volume to my hair after using the curling attachments. Dyson has two different attachments: a firm brush and a soft brush. I found that they both feel like they do the same thing, but they add a lot of volume, whereas the FlexStyle version did not.

I found both the Dyson and the FlexStyle brush attachments to be slow-going. Even though my hair is fine, I needed to get it at least 90 percent dry before going in with either of them. However, the results were about the same with both — my hair was straight and sleek, although I did notice more flyaways with the FlexStyle.

Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexStyle: Blow-Drying Brush

FlexStyle on left, Dyson Airwrap on right

Any time I used either of these attachments, I made sure my hair was at least 80 percent dry. Full disclosure: the Dyson round brush attachment is likely my most-used hair tool ever. The size of it is absolute perfection, and it handles my fine hair like a dream. I can use it to give myself a bouncy blowdry or loose waves.

The FlexStyle, on the other hand, utilises an oval brush. It's also big, which made it a bit harder for me to use. However, the larger size means I'm able to dry larger sections of hair and finish much faster. Since I've been testing the FlexStyle, Shark has released a smaller round brush, which could give the Dyson a run for its money, but I haven't tested it out.

Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexStyle: Curlers

FlexStyle on left, Dyson Airwrap on right

These curling attachments are what originally piqued my interest. I found that the Dyson gave me a more defined curl, but the FlexStyle curls seemed to last longer. The FlexStyle comes with two 1.25" barrels that you switch between depending on whether you're working on the left or the right side of your head.

Where the Dyson differs is with the newer version, you don't have to switch the attachment. The update allows you to just switch the direction of the airflow. It also comes with two different-size barrels, 1.2" and 1.6", so you can choose whether you want looser or tighter curls. There are also short and long versions available.

Dyson Airwwrap vs. Shark FlexStyle: Who Is the Winner?

Both tools have their advantages and disadvantages, and ultimately, I think it depends on your hair type and budget. If you have curly or coily hair, the FlexStyle makes more attachments that are geared toward you. However, as someone with fine hair, I feel as though I can get a more defined, frizz-free style with the Dyson. The Dyson also offers more variety in terms of curling barrels. Price-wise, though, the FlexStyle is a great option, seeing as it's more affordable and still gets the job done.