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 Best Blow-dryer Brushes 2024 The Strategist - New York Magazine
The Best Blow-dryer Brushes 2024 The Strategist.
Posted: Fri, 26 Apr 2024 17:50:00 GMT [source]
Best-buy multipurpose hairstyling tool
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.
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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.
Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark Flexstyle: Which Hair Tool Wins? - The Mom Edit
Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark Flexstyle: Which Hair Tool Wins?.
Posted: Sat, 18 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Beauty
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.
What makes a blow-dryer the best tool for styling hair?
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.
Best Lower-Heat: BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Dryer
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.
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.
Shark FlexStyle System
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.
The Dyson Airwrap Costs 10 Times As Much As the Revlon One-Step. But Does It Deliver a Better Blowout?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
