The Shark FlexStyle is the most significant hair tool launch since the Dyson Airwrap — and more importantly, it's the product that finally makes the Airwrap's approach accessible without the Airwrap's price. After 8 weeks of daily testing across three testers with genuinely different hair types (my own straight, fine, shoulder-length hair; a colleague with wavy, medium-density, collar-bone hair; and a third tester with 3B curly, thick, past-shoulder hair), I can say with confidence: the FlexStyle does what it promises, does it well, and does it at $200 less than the machine it's competing with.
The flex mechanism is the FlexStyle's defining physical innovation. The handle bends at a pivot point — straight for blow-drying mode (like a conventional dryer), flexed at roughly 90 degrees for styling mode (like a styler wand). This isn't a gimmick. When the handle is straight and a concentrator or brush attachment is fitted, it operates like a high-powered 1600W hair dryer with directional airflow. When flexed and a curl barrel or round brush is attached, it becomes an air styler where the Coanda effect wraps hair around the barrel using airflow. Two tools in one, genuinely integrated rather than awkwardly combined.
The Coanda airflow — borrowed directly from the Dyson Airwrap's core technology — uses high-velocity air to attract hair toward the barrel and wrap it automatically. On my straight, fine hair, the curl-defined barrel produced defined, bouncy waves with hold comparable to a curling iron but without the direct heat clamping that damages fine strands. Results lasted through the following day. On our wavy-haired tester, the auto-wrap barrel created fuller, more uniform waves than she typically achieves with a diffuser alone. On our curly-haired tester, the wide-tooth comb + paddle brush combination delivered a defined, frizz-reduced blowout in approximately 22 minutes — her previous record with a separate dryer and brush was 35 minutes.
The six attachments cover the full styling spectrum without gaps. The curl-defined barrel (used dry or damp) for loose waves and defined curls. The auto-wrap barrel (used on damp hair) for tighter, longer-lasting curls that set as the hair dries. The paddle brush for a sleek, straight blowout. The round volumising brush for lift at the roots and body through the lengths — the attachment that most testers reached for most often for a "done" look in minimum time. The concentrator for precise directional drying. The wide-tooth comb for detangling and drying simultaneously on curly and coily textures. Each attachment clicks on magnetically and locks securely. Swapping mid-style takes under 3 seconds.
Versus the Dyson Airwrap ($499.99): in our testing, the FlexStyle matched the Airwrap on curl quality and hold for straight and wavy hair types. On our curly-haired tester, the Dyson produced slightly more uniform results with the Coanda barrels, which we attribute to the Dyson's more refined airflow engineering after several product generations. The FlexStyle's attachment range is broader (6 attachments vs the Airwrap's typically 4–5 depending on the bundle). The FlexStyle's flex handle is more ergonomic for blow-drying. The Dyson has a better app ecosystem and more refined heat sensor technology. At $200 less, the FlexStyle wins for almost everyone who isn't a dedicated curly-hair specialist.
The honest caveats: the FlexStyle takes a learning curve of approximately 3–5 sessions to use confidently, particularly the Coanda barrels — hair tension, section size, and distance from the barrel all affect results and take practice. It is also heavier than the Dyson Airwrap (1.8 lbs vs 1.4 lbs), which is noticeable during longer styling sessions. And at $299.99 full price — even $200 less than Dyson — it is still a significant purchase. At sale prices of $199–$229 (which occur regularly), it is an extraordinary value. We awarded it our Editor's Pick in the 2026 Best Beauty Tools Awards. Browse our full hair tool reviews.
