Dyson Airwrap versus Shark FlexStyle: Which brand wins the battle of the hair stylers?

How does the Shark FlexStyle differ from the Dyson Airwrap?

When Shark unveiled the FlexStyle three years ago, it was largely seen as a direct response to Dyson’s revolutionary Airwrap, which created a genuine shift in styling by promising to protect hair and dry, curl and smooth it without using extreme heat.

In the years since, both brands have released updates though these were more tinkering than transformation – longer barrels here, new brush designs there - but this year Dyson has broken the pattern. Its latest model, the Airwrap Co-anda 2x, introduces a re‑engineered motor said to produce twice the air pressure of earlier versions. It’s designed to produce more secure curls and style hair faster, while a new straightening attachment suggests Dyson is keen to position its machine as a true one‑stop alternative to blow‑dryers and straighteners.

Both devices rely on the so‑called Coanda effect; the aerodynamic quirk that allows airflow to “stick” to a curved surface and draw the hair with it. Clever though it is, neither device has convincingly solved the problem of curls that collapse within hours, which leaves consumers with a familiar dilemma: pay Dyson’s premium for technical novelty, or accept Shark’s more modest price tag and near‑identical compromises. I tested both hair-stylers to find out which is best.

JUMP TO:

• How we test
• Review
• Technical specifications
• Final verdict
• FAQs

How we test hair-stylers

Over the course of my career reviewing beauty tools, I have developed a consistent testing process to make sure my recommendations are grounded in more than just first impressions. My own hair is long, thick and slightly wavy, which means it frizzes easily and becomes dry if overexposed to heat – factors that make it a useful, if demanding, test case.

When trialling hair‑stylers, I start with how quickly I can clip in attachments and whether they feel intuitive in practice, rather than fiddly in my bathroom mirror at 7am. Curl performance comes next: I’ll often style my hair in the morning then see how it fares on a commute across London, battling the humidity of the tube and the drizzle outside. If the curls survive that, they have real merit.

Comfort and safety are everyday concerns, too. After half an hour of holding a tool, do my arms ache? Is it deafening or dangerously hot? Build quality matters, too, as flimsy attachments or plastic that overheats never bodes well.

I assess broader suitability by analysing temperature ranges and attachments aimed at different textures. Once finished, the tools either go back to manufacturers or sit in a cupboard, ready for longer‑term comparisons.

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Ease of use

Dyson: 9/10

Shark: 8/10

The Dyson Airwrap and Shark FlexStyle appear evenly matched at first glance. Both have long swivel cords to avoid tangling, intuitive button layouts and attachments that click into place without a struggle, but in reality, Dyson has the upper hand.

Both tools place their airflow and temperature buttons low on the handle, with small LED lights showing the settings so you can avoid mistakenly pressing them, but it also makes mid‑session adjustments awkward. Dyson sidesteps this with a power and “cool shot” button higher up the handle, which is easier to reach without interrupting your grip.

Dyson has also added a “Curl ID”. Each attachment contains a small RFID chip – the same contactless technology found in travel cards and bank cards – that tells the styler which tool has been connected. The device then automatically selects the heat and airflow levels Dyson has calibrated for that attachment, removing the need to adjust settings manually. By contrast, the Shark FlexStyle leaves all adjustments to you to figure out.

Curling also feels more streamlined with Dyson, as you don’t have to swap physical barrels to change the curl direction as you do with Shark, instead you simply twist a dial. The only caveat is that, as with any air styler, mastering Dyson’s technique takes patience.

Winner: Dyson

Curl performance and hold

Dyson: 10/10

Shark: 8/10

Longevity has always been a weak spot with air stylers. My first‑generation Airwrap rarely held curls beyond an evening unless I drowned my hair in mousse. Both the FlexStyle and the Co-anda 2x mark a noticeable leap forward, however.

It took me roughly 30 minutes to dry and curl my damp hair using the FlexStyle. The barrels didn’t grip as securely as I’d like, so I improvised, sliding out each section while holding down the “cool shot” button. That burst of cold air fixed the curls better than expected; after a day spent darting across London and on the tube the style may have softened into relaxed waves but my hair kept its shine and volume.

The Dyson went further, however. Its new motor wrapped larger sections of my thick hair effortlessly, and the RFID “Curl ID” technology adjusted heat and airflow automatically to the correct settings. I went from wet hair to dry, styled curls in just 20 minutes. More importantly, the curls survived two days that included a humid commute and a night out and still looked presentable into day three.

For speed and lasting power, Dyson wins. Shark remains the value pick, but it demands more effort, and a little product, to keep up.

Winner: Dyson

Comfort and safety

Dyson: 9/10

Shark: 8/10

This was another contest decided by fine margins. Both the Dyson Co-anda 2x and Shark FlexStyle take safety seriously, with “cool‑touch” tips on each attachment so they can be held and guided through your hair without fear of burning your fingers. Even so, I discovered with Dyson’s new AirSmooth straightener attachment that while the tip remains safe, the heated plates along its length do not.

Both tools also regulate temperature with impressive vigilance. Sensors monitor the airflow up to 1,000 times per second, making constant adjustments to prevent sudden spikes in heat, to protect your hair long term by avoiding the hidden hot spots that contribute to breakage and dryness.

Where they diverge is in comfort. The Shark is slightly bulkier and, when used as a hair dryer, the twisting section of the handle got warm enough to be uncomfortable when clicked back into place. Its power switch is awkwardly placed at the base of the handle, which made making adjustments mid‑style feel clumsy.

On balance, Dyson only just wins this category. When the Airwrap costs more than double the FlexStyle, those minor grumbles with Shark begin to feel more forgivable.

Winner: Dyson

Suitability for different hair types

Dyson: 10/10

Shark: 9/10

Both the Dyson Co-anda 2x and the Shark FlexStyle score high marks here. Each has three heat and three airflow settings, plus a “cool shot” button to set a style in place, creating enough flexibility to suit fine, thick, curly or straight hair without excessive heat damage.

The real difference lies in the attachments. Dyson has a slight edge, offering nine in total. These range from three sizes of curling barrel to cater for different lengths of hair, through to two types of smoothing brush, a wide‑tooth “tension” comb for detangling, a diffuser for curls, a dedicated straightener and a concentrated nozzle for faster drying. You receive a set of six tailored to your hair type, with additional pieces available separately.

Shark’s lineup is fractionally smaller, with eight attachments instead. The bundle I tested included a 32mm curling barrel, paddle and oval brushes, a diffuser and a styling nozzle. Available separately are a frizz‑reducing finisher, a larger round brush and a wide‑tooth comb.

But both brands cover the essentials and neither excludes any hair texture but Dyson takes a narrow win thanks to its versatile straightener attachment. For those wanting extra straightening power, Shark counters with its FlexFusion Straight – a separate styler at a lower overall cost.

Winner: Dyson

Build quality and features

Dyson: 10/10

Shark: 7/10

One thing I noticed immediately when testing both stylers was the difference in materials. The Dyson Co-anda feels deliberately engineered: its reinforced plastic body has a matte, slightly textured finish that resists scratches and doesn’t show every fingerprint.

The attachments click firmly into place with almost no movement, which gave me confidence when tugging a round brush through my hair. Even after repeated testing, the bristles, which are thicker and more densely anchored than most brushes I’ve used, held their shape. It felt like a tool designed to last years rather than months.

The Shark FlexStyle, by comparison, was lighter and easier on my wrist, which is a blessing when you’re holding it above your head for half an hour. But the casing warms noticeably in its dryer mode, and the twisting hinge that allows it to double as a hairdryer introduces a slight wobble with heavier attachments. I particularly felt it when testing the round brush: the fine bristles bent under tension, something that didn’t inspire much confidence in its long‑term durability.

I’ve no doubt Dyson will weather years of use. The Shark, while less refined, still held up, but I suspect I’d be replacing its brushes long before Dyson’s.

Winner: Dyson

Technical specifications

Here’s how the numbers compare between the Shark FlexStyle and the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x (Straight and Wavy).

Should you buy the Dyson Airwrap or Shark FlexStyle?

On paper, it is a clean sweep for the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x. It proved faster, more comfortable and more robust than the Shark FlexStyle, creating curls that lasted well beyond the day – something most air‑driven stylers have historically struggled with. For those who prize speed, polish and longevity, it is the best of its kind.

Yet the verdict is not as straightforward as the scores suggest. The FlexStyle trails Dyson by only a point or two in most areas, yet costs less than half the price. It offers a wide range of attachments, and while its curls soften sooner than with Dyson, they settle into smooth waves that still look presentable by evening. For many, that will be more than enough.

In short, Dyson may win on performance, but Shark makes a much stronger case for your wallet – offering 80 per cent of the results for well under half the price.

Buy the Dyson Airwrap if:

• You want long lasting curls
• Your budget extends that far
• You like effortless hair styling

Buy the Shark FlexStyle if:

• You’re on a budget
• You want a large, oval round brush
• You have more time to style your hair

FAQs