TRENDING ON AMAZON
Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System Review: Is It Worth It?
The multi-attachment hair styler that does what the Airwrap does — curls, smooths, dries and volumizes — for roughly half the price.
Illustrative image — see Amazon for the actual product.
Our verdict
The Shark FlexStyle is the genuine Dyson Airwrap alternative that finally exists. The same Coanda-effect curling magic, the same multi-attachment versatility, hair-safe heat capped at 302°F, and a clever flex body for storage — at roughly half the Airwrap's price. For anyone who wanted the Dyson but couldn't justify the cost, this is the answer.
The short version
The Shark FlexStyle is the multi-attachment styler that finally gives the Dyson Airwrap real competition. It dries hair, creates curls with the Coanda barrels (the hair literally wraps itself around the attachment), volumizes with the oval brush and smooths with the paddle brush — all from one body that bends in half for storage. The styling motor and heat controls aren't quite Dyson-level, but the results are close enough that most users won't notice — at roughly half the price. For anyone priced out of the Airwrap, this is the alternative that actually delivers.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Multi-attachment system covers dry, curl, smooth and volume
- Coanda-effect curling barrels wrap hair automatically
- Body flexes in half for compact storage
- Roughly half the price of a Dyson Airwrap
- Heat protection: max temp stays hair-safe (under 302°F)
- Works on damp hair — no need to fully blow-dry first
Cons
- Slightly noisier than the Dyson
- Heavier than the Airwrap
- Attachments take some practice to master
Why people love it
Towel-dry, then attach
After a quick towel-dry, snap on the attachment for the look you want — paddle brush to smooth, oval brush for volume, curling barrels for curls, or the round dryer attachment to finish drying.
Let the air do the work
The Coanda-effect curling barrels use airflow to literally wrap hair around the barrel — no manual winding required. The dryer and brush attachments dry and shape in one pass.
Set with cool shot
Hit the cool button at the end of each section to set the style — hair holds its shape much longer when it cools in position than when it sets while still warm.
Who it's for
- Anyone priced out of the Dyson Airwrap
- Medium-to-long hair
- At-home blowouts and curls in one tool
- People who hate juggling multiple hot tools
Shark FlexStyle vs Dyson Airwrap vs Revlon One-Step: which multi-styler is right for you?
These three tools represent three price points and three philosophies. The Revlon One-Step Volumizer (around $40-60) is a dryer brush — it dries and adds volume in one pass with a fixed brush head. It's brilliant for one specific look (a soft blowout with body) but doesn't curl, doesn't smooth dramatically, and doesn't change attachments. For most people who want a simple at-home blowout, it's all they need and a fantastic value.
The Shark FlexStyle (around $250-300) and Dyson Airwrap (around $500-600) are in a different category: multi-attachment styling systems with Coanda-effect curling barrels that auto-wrap hair. They do curls, waves, blowouts, sleek straight styles and volumizing — multiple looks from one tool. The Dyson is the premium build with quieter operation and more refined attachments; the Shark delivers 90% of the result at half the price with a clever flex-storage body. If you're a one-look person, save money and get the Revlon. If you want salon-style flexibility, get either the Shark or Dyson based on budget — the Shark is the smart-money choice for most.
How to curl, smooth and volumize: technique that makes the FlexStyle actually shine
For curls with the Coanda barrels, start with damp hair (around 70% dry), section it into pieces about 1-2 inches thick, and hold the barrel vertically near the ends. The hair will be sucked toward the barrel and wrap automatically — give it 8-15 seconds depending on hair thickness, then hit the cool shot for 5 seconds before releasing. The trick most beginners miss is the cool shot: curls that release while still warm fall flat within an hour; curls cooled in shape hold all day. Use the directional barrels (left and right) to alternate curl direction for a more natural beachy look.
For smooth, sleek styles use the paddle brush attachment with the heated setting, pulling slow controlled passes from root to tip — exactly like a normal brush blowout but with the heat built in. For maximum volume, use the oval brush at the roots with the brush held vertically, lifting the section up and holding for 3-5 seconds before pulling through. The 'cool shot to set' rule applies to every style — get in the habit of finishing each section with cool air and your styles will hold dramatically longer. Section your hair into clear pieces (clipped up while you work) for the cleanest results; trying to do all your hair at once is the main cause of patchy styling.
How to care for your FlexStyle and its attachments to make them last
Two simple care habits prevent most reliability issues. First, clean the filter at the back of the body regularly — every 1-2 weeks if you use it daily. Hair, lint and product buildup clog the airflow, which both reduces performance and overheats the motor over time. The filter pops off and brushes clean in seconds; ignoring it is the most common cause of premature failure on these styling tools.
Second, remove the attachments after each use and let them cool fully before storing. The auto-wrap curling barrels in particular pick up product residue from hair sprays and serums; wipe them down weekly with a damp cloth (motor unit unplugged) to keep the airflow channels clear. Store attachments in the included case or a drawer rather than tangled in a bathroom cabinet — the prongs that release them can bend if mishandled. With those two habits, the FlexStyle holds up to multi-year daily use easily; without them, the filter clogs and the motor strains within a year. Replacement filters and individual attachments are sold separately if you ever need them.
See Shark FlexStyle on Amazon
Check the latest price, photos and buyer reviews on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Sold and shipped by AmazonFrequently asked questions
Shark FlexStyle vs Dyson Airwrap: how does it actually compare?
Honestly, closely enough that the price difference is the deciding factor for most people. The FlexStyle uses the same fundamental Coanda-effect curling technology — air wraps your hair around the barrel automatically — and produces similar curl and volume results. The Dyson edge is a quieter motor, slightly lighter weight, a more refined feel and better attachment quick-release. The Shark wins on price (about half) and on the flex-body storage. If money is no object and you want the best, Dyson; if you want 90% of the result for half the money, Shark FlexStyle.
Does the Shark FlexStyle work on all hair types?
It's best on medium-to-long, medium-texture hair (straight to wavy to loose curls), which is what the Coanda attachments are designed for. Thick or coarse hair works but takes longer and may need more passes. Very fine hair gets dramatic volume but curls drop faster — use the cool shot to set them. Very tight curly or coily textures may find the brush attachments useful but the curling barrels less so — they're designed to add curl, not stretch existing curls. Short hair (chin-length and shorter) doesn't have enough length to wrap around the curling barrels.
How hot does the Shark FlexStyle get?
Shark caps the max temperature at 302°F (150°C), which is intentionally below the 'damage threshold' for healthy hair (around 350°F). This is heat-safer than most flat irons and curling irons (which hit 400°F+) but means styles may set more slowly and require the cool shot to lock them in. The trade-off is dramatically less heat damage with daily use — your hair will be in noticeably better condition after a year of FlexStyle than after a year of a hot curling iron.
Do you need to fully blow-dry hair before using the FlexStyle?
No — that's one of the appeals. The FlexStyle is designed to be used on damp (not soaking-wet) hair, around 60-80% dry. Use the round dryer attachment to finish drying as you style, or use the curling barrels on damp hair so it sets into the curl as it dries. Using it on truly soaking-wet hair is slow and strains the motor; using it on completely dry hair makes curls harder to form because there's no moisture to set the shape.
What attachments come with the Shark FlexStyle and which ones do I actually need?
The standard kit includes the auto-wrap curling barrels (the headline feature), a paddle brush for smoothing, an oval brush for volume, and a styling concentrator/dryer attachment. The styling-only kit drops the dryer attachment if you don't need it. For most users, the curling barrels and oval brush get used the most; the paddle brush is for sleek straight styles. There are also bundles that add a wide-tooth comb attachment for curly hair and a diffuser. Start with the standard kit; you can buy individual attachments later if needed.
How long does it take to do a full style with the FlexStyle?
About the same time as a regular blow-dry-and-style routine — 15-25 minutes for medium-length hair depending on how complex the style is. The advantage isn't speed (it's not magically faster than a dryer + curling iron); it's that you do everything with one tool and one heat source, which is both gentler on hair and less hassle. Many users find their morning routine drops by 5-10 minutes once they're practiced because they're not switching tools or letting hair re-cool between steps.
As an Amazon Associate, TopCrate earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. The image above is illustrative; price, availability and current ratings are shown on Amazon and are subject to change.
