Shark FlexStyle review: A dupe with a difference

Bathroom storage is a hot commodity in my household, and, I’m guessing, most households everywhere. So when a product comes around that promises to replace multiple other bulky hair tools, you bet I’m interested. Fortunately, the TikTok-viral Shark FlexStyle lives up to that promise, delivering bouncy blow-outs and sleek styles with ease and only a few minor quirks.

The Shark FlexStyle is marketed as a sort of Jack-of-all-trades. When twisted, it’s like any other hair dryer, and can be used with the included diffuser to enhance curls or the concentrator for smoothing hair out. Back in its upright orientation, it does double (or rather triple) duty as a curler, straightener and volumiser, courtesy of the autowrap curlers, paddle brush and oval brush, respectively.

In hair dryer mode, the FlexStyle is exceptionally powerful, cutting drying time almost in half compared to my cheap Remington blow dryer. It’s got four temperature settings (low, medium, high, and a cool shot button) and three airflow settings.

But as capable a hair dryer it is, styling is where the FlexStyle truly shines.

I tested the FlexStyle on two guinea pigs: Myself, with ultra-thick curly hair; and my wife, who has quite fine hair with a gentle wave. For an upcoming wedding, she wanted bouncy curls with more volume, whilst I wanted the exact opposite–smooth locks with less volume. Being able to do both with the one tool proved to be a total game changer.

First, the curls. The FlexStyle comes with two auto-wrap curlers—one for the left side of your hair, the other for the right side, enabling you to get the exact curls you’re after. Using the same Coanda effect as the Dyson Airwrap, it allows hair to grab onto the curved surface, meaning the FlexStyle does most of the heavy lifting for you.

The included styling guide recommends waiting until hair is about 80% dry before styling, but we found the best results at about 50% dry. It did mean holding the curling barrels in place a little longer, but when finished with a blast from the cool shot button, the result was a much more defined curl.

My wife was thrilled with the results, and they held up for a few hours before dropping to a more relaxed beachy wave. To be fair, I think our poor choice of hair spray was to blame for its lack of longevity. A word of warning: “normal hold” ain’t gonna cut it.

Then it was my turn. Using the paddle brush reminded me of a similar hair tool (which has since found its way to the donation pile having been replaced by the FlexStyle), the Dafni hair straightening brush. The difference is that the FlexStyle uses air, thus causing significantly less hair damage than the Dafni’s heated elements for the same time investment.

I wouldn’t exactly call the Shark FlexStyle the most petite or lightweight device in the world, but considering it’s essentially three hair tools in one, its hefty 700g weight is somewhat forgiven, and it’s still mostly operable one-handed. It also comes with a 2.8m long power cable, which is a godsend and never seemed to get in the way.

Switching the FlexStyle from blow-dry mode to air style mode is as easy as pressing a button and twisting the barrel into position. Likewise, each attachment simply snaps into place, but be sure to follow the instructions on where to hold the attachment during removal, as they can get seriously hot.

All the temperature and airflow controls are easy to access while styling. The only somewhat annoying quirk is the placement of the power switch. Located right at the base of the FlexStyle, just above the power cable, it’s a bit fiddly to reach. And reach it you’ll need to, as the styling guide recommends turning the FlexStyle off after each curl.

At an RRP of $499, the Shark FlexStyle is $350 cheaper than its biggest rival, the Dyson Airwrap. For your money, you get the FlexStyle itself and five attachments (including autowrap curlers, a paddle brush, oval brush, styling concentrator and diffuser) in a large storage case with compartments for each accessory.

Don’t write the Shark FlexStyle off as just another Dyson Airwrap dupe. Unlike the plethora of other products attempting to ride the coattails of the Airwrap’s success, the FlexStyle has its own identity. The twisting mechanism is a legitimate game changer, lending itself to better ergonomics and greater flexibility for when you want to use it as a regular hair dryer.

I’m not someone who regularly styles their hair. In fact, I let it air dry 99% of the time, and the only product I use is a dash of curl cream once in a blue moon. Since the FlexStyle entered my life, however, I’ve been having more fun with my hair than ever before.

Although $499 isn’t cheap, the FlexStyle is absolutely worth every cent. Its ability to curl and straighten has meant I’m able to get rid of not one, but two other hair tools, freeing up some of that much-needed bathroom storage. Win-win.