Spoiler: I love the Shark FlexStyle. In fact, there are a few hair tools I love more. Make no mistake — this innovative device is not your average hair dryer, but rather an air styler that's also primed to replace your beloved curling iron, hot air brush and diffuser in one. Oh, it's primed to work with and for all hair types, including wavy hair, curly hair and straight hair. Praise be.
But I didn't jump to this conclusion. Even though I'm a beauty writer who's literally paid to test hair tools, I'm still an amateur in the styling department. As someone with Asian heritage, my thicker hair takes a lot longer to dry and style, meaning an at-home styling session can long over an hour. So, largely, I don't bother.
Like most, I'll try any hair tool that helps cut down on styling time and minimises the amount of hand manoeuvring that is normally required for a salon-worthy blowout. And since its launch in 2022, countless beauty obsessors have confirmed those claims to be true.
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Even better news: thanks to the return of Shark's Black Friday sale, you can now save 37% (or £100) on the FlexStyle Build Your Own Air Styling & Hair Drying System, which allows you to choose which four (of nine) styling attachments the styler arrives alongside. Go, go! After something else? Discover the best Black Friday beauty deals across countless other brands.
So, stay tuned for my thorough Shark FlexStyle Air Styler review after two years of extensive testing, as well as answers to all those common FAQs. For example, how does it compete with the Dyson Airwrap? But, essentially, it's combined all my favourite hair devices in one and saved me vital space in my haircare cabinet.
Shark FlexStyle, at a glance:
| Product type: | Air styler. |
| In the box: | Shark FlexStyle, plus four accessories of your choosing. |
| Weight: | 700 grams. |
| Cord length: | 2.44 metres. |
| Wattage: | 1650w |
| Settings: | 3 heat and airflow settings. |
| Guarantee: | 2 years. |
Pros:
- Beginner-friendly.
- Fairly priced.
- You can tailor to your hair type and preferred styles by choosing four appropriate accessories.
- Versatile enough to create a range of hair styles.
- Minimal heat damage.
- Fast drying.
Cons:
- The styler only offers one 24mm width for both curling barrels, which means less flexibility for those of us after a looser or a tighter curl.
How I tested the Shark FlexStyle & why you can trust me:
As mentioned above, I have thick hair, which comes with its own set of challenges. Not only does it take longer to wash, dry and style, but it's also trickier to hold in place. I find that even if my curls look great instantly, they do have a tendency to drop within the first two hours, and before I know it, I'm left with hair that doesn't even remotely resemble the style that I was going for. The only way to remedy this is to resort to using an obscene amount of hairspray, which also isn't ideal, since it leaves my hair crunchy and covered in a sticky residue.
While reviewing the Shark FlexStyle, I made sure to take careful note of not only how quick and easy it is to use but also how long my hairstyle actually lasts throughout the day. I also made sure to test it on rainy days to heatwaves alike to see how the style fares with various weather conditions.
| Hair type: | Thick. |
| Hair length: | Long. |
| Hair concern: | Damaged hair from dyeing and bleaching. |
| Testing period: | Two years. |
What is the Shark FlexStyle?
Since its release in 2022, the Shark FlexStyle quickly garnered a reputation as one of the most talked-about hair stylers, and deservedly so. This 5-in-1 styling wand makes easy work of curling, smoothing and creating volume, making it versatile enough to use on just about every hair type. In fact, it comes endorsed by none other than Chris Appleton, the celebrity hairstylist behind some of Kim K's most iconic looks.
With a simple twist, it transforms into a regular hair dryer shape and can be switched back to a vertical wand whenever your hair is ready to be styled using the other four attachments: be it an auto-wrap curling wand, a smoothing paddle brush, a volumising oval brush or a curl-defining diffuser. Weighing just 700g, this multi-purpose hair tool is lightweight enough to hold and use even on those trickier bits of hair at the back. For easier storage, the Shark FlexStyle also comes with an included storage case that helps store all the attachments separately.
My favourite part about this innovative tool is that it doesn't use extreme heat that would normally result in a fair amount of hair damage. In fact, the FlexStyle's technology cleverly measures heat 1,000 times per second to ensure a consistent air temperature throughout the whole styling session. You can also switch between three different airflow and heat settings, including a separate button for the cool shot mode to set your style in place post-heat.
Shark FlexStyle: Early impressions
Full transparency: as someone who – in the name of beauty – tests hundreds of products for a living, I wouldn't say that I'm easily impressed when it comes to hair tools. And given Shark's reputation in the beauty tech space, my expectations going into this review were through the roof. Now, let's dive right in, shall we?
Let's start with some of the standout features. First of all, I loved how easy it was to twist and switch to the classic hair dryer mode. Having just towel-dried my hair, I was able to get it to a 70% dry state within minutes – a result that isn't so easily achieved on thick hair, might I add. In fact, I'd go as far as to declare that it was the quickest hair-drying experience ever, which is exactly what I need for those busy morning routines.
The ultimate guide for all hair types and lengths.
Next up, the auto-wrap curling barrels. These hero attachments use a similar Coanda Technology that's present in a certain competitor's multi-styling tool (IYKYK) that automatically curls the hair around the barrel, eliminating the need for excessive manoeuvring. You also have the option to switch between the two barrels to play around with different directions depending on your desired finish. My only complaint? Both of the included barrels have the same 24mm width, which offers a bit less flexibility if you wanted to opt for either a tighter or a looser curl.
As someone who has naturally wavy hair, I also appreciated the diffuser attachment, which helped create more definition for when I was after some beach-y curls that made me look as though I'd just hopped off a plane from Bali. Needless to say, throughout my two years of testing, I frequented this look all throughout the summer.
Personally, I found that both the paddle brush and the oval brush were where the FlexStyle really shines. While the former does a superb job at smoothing and strengthening out my lengths, the latter gives all the volume minus the fuss that may come with traditional run-of-the-mill hot air brushes. Not to mention both come with boar and nylon bristles, which help create a better grip and add more shine to the final look. I also loved the larger size of the brushes, which meant that if I was in a rush, I was able to easily create bouncy, swish-y texture in half the amount of time than anticipated.
Shark FlexStyle: My verdict
While it's true that the Shark FlexStyle competes in the big league with other coveted hair tools like the Dyson Airwrap, I'd say that this multi-styler is definitely worth considering if you're after something that combines multiple functions at a more reasonable price point. I would also recommend it to anyone who wants to crack the code to a quicker styling process, as this tool definitely managed to cut down my morning routine by at least half.
To my surprise, most of the looks I created using the FlexStyle tool lasted way longer than expected, particularly when it came to the waves created using the curling barrels. In fact, I can recall one particular day when I'd styled my hair in the morning before heading into the office and forgot to spritz on any hairspray. Yet, despite having dropped a little, the style still managed to stay in place and survived windy weather, a journey on the tube and a post-work press dinner without the need for a touch-up. Needless to say, the Shark FlexStyle is fully deserving of a spot in my hair tool cabinet.
While Black Friday doesn’t officially kick off until Friday, 28 November, countless Black Friday beauty deals have already started dropping — and honestly, the savings this year are seriously good. And yes, this includes 14% off one of our top-rated LED face masks.
So while we insist you check out these Trinny London Black Friday deals and stock up on Magic Cream, courtesy of these Charlotte Tilbury Black Friday deals, we've also shared our Shark favourites below.
Shark FlexStyle FAQs:
What does the Shark FlexStyle come with?
You've got options when checking out on the Shark FlexStyle. Personally, I'd opt for the ‘Build Your Own Air Styling & Hair Drying System’, which gives you the option to tailor the device to your hair type and preferred styles by choosing four of the following accessories:
- Shark FlexStyle Auto-Wrap Curlers 32mm (2x)
- Shark FlexStyle Auto-Wrap Curlers 24mm (2x)
- Shark FlexStyle Diffuser
- Shark FlexStyle Styling Concentrator
- Shark FlexStyle Oval Brush
- Shark FlexStyle Wide Tooth Comb
- Shark FlexStyle Paddle Brush
- Shark FlexStyle Round Brush
- Shark FlexStyle FrizzFighter Finishing Tool
Otherwise, the 5-in-1 Styler arrives with everything you need to curl, straighten, volumise, smooth and define. Specifically, that's two auto-wrap curlers, a paddle brush, an oval brush, a concentrator, a diffuser, plus a chic storage case.
Can you use the Shark FlexStyle on dry hair?
The tool was created for use on damp hair. Basically, it'll dry and style your hair in one go – so you don't need to dry your hair thoroughly first. TBH, you can use the tool on dry hair if you like, it's just that you can't expect the same results and bounce. If you're going to do this, turn your speed dial down to the lowest setting, so that your hair doesn't end up too big and static.
How do you go from the styling wand mode to the hair dryer mode?
It's as simple as sliding down the hinge latch on the back and rotating the nozzle to the left until it licks. To go from hair dryer mode to styling, rotate the nozzle back to the right until it clicks again.
How do you activate the ‘cool shot’?
Hit the button in the middle of the handle (the one with the blue dot). Simply hold it down, which turns off the heater and blows room temperature air instead.
