Dyson Airwrap vs Shark FlexStyle: Here is which scorching air instrument is price your cash

To dupe or to not dupe?

That is the query one should ask themselves when trying on the $600 Dyson Airwrap(opens in a brand new tab), a hair instrument with loads of hype and a hefty price ticket to match. Although there are many Airwrap dupes on the market, none have come so near recreating the Dyson expertise because the Shark FlexStyle(opens in a brand new tab), which begins at a way more manageable $279.99.

They appear mainly similar, however the similarities do not simply cease there. The Shark FlexStyle performs simply as properly, and in some instances even outperforms the Airwrap — however Dyson nonetheless has considerably of an edge. We have been testing each merchandise for months, and have performed a deep dive in evaluating them with the intention to decide as soon as and for all a winner on this battle of the recent air instruments. (And when you’re into deep dives, remember try our full opinions of the Airwrap and FlexStyle).

How is the Shark FlexStyle the identical because the Dyson Airwrap?

The FlexStyle bares a putting variety of similarities to the Airwrap, most likely because of the truth that the unique Airwrap dropped in 2018, and the newer era in June 2022, solely constructing on the product’s recognition. In pure dupe timing, Shark’s iteration got here out in September 2022.

The massive draw of the FlexStyle was that it makes use of the identical Coanda air know-how that Dyson appeared to have on lock for thus a few years (and from its web site appears to consider it nonetheless has sole declare over). With that tech and the curling barrels, gone are the times when folks needed to persuade themselves they might get Airwrap curls with their Revlon One-Steps.

In phrases with what comes with every multi-styler out of the field, Dyson does supply barely extra instruments. Nevertheless, Shark fees a cheaper price ($279.99) for fewer instruments — however instruments you could pick. Or, for $299.99, you possibly can select between the set for straight and wavy hair(opens in a brand new tab) or curly and coily hair(opens in a brand new tab). Each stylers have attachments accessible for extra buy, which we’ll contact on extra under.

What attachments are included with the Dyson Airwrap:

Word: I’ve lengthy hair, so Dyson despatched me the “lengthy” model of the Airwrap (which mainly simply applies to the curling barrels), but it surely’s the very same worth.

What attachments are included with the Shark FlexStyle:

Clearly, Dyson affords some selection within the curl sizes and Shark is available in scorching for textured hair with a diffuser (which even within the array of further choices, Dyson doesn’t have). When you’ve got curly hair, Dyson does supply a curly/coily model of the Airwrap(opens in a brand new tab) that swaps one of many smoothing brushes for a large tooth comb.

The FlexStyle additionally has a twisting mechanism in its base, which lets you use to instrument extra like a standard hair dryer. It does mean you can use the attachments and multi-styler in a manner that you just cannot with the Dyson, which helps make up for the truth that it comes with fewer attachments general.

For the attachments which can be mainly the identical between the 2 instruments, I hardly seen a distinction between their efficiency when reviewing the FlexStyle (which I reviewed after the Airwrap). To substantiate their similarity, I used essentially the most related attachments once more to type one half of my hair every, to get a real facet by facet comparability. Here is what I discovered:

The curling barrel attachments

As I discussed, the Dyson curling barrels are a little bit longer, the place Shark remains to be a one measurement solely operation. When really styling my hair, nevertheless, I did not actually discover the Shark feeling tougher to work with or extra limiting within the sizes of sections I may decide up.

The larger distinction comes from the truth that the Shark barrels are extra akin to gen-one Airwrap barrels — for switching the route of the curl, it’s essential to swap the barrels. As I famous in my FlexStyle evaluation, this was really manner much less of a problem than I anticipated, however I did discover the distinction extra when styling my hair facet by facet.

I like a barely extra undone look, and curls going towards and away the face assist obtain that — the Airwrap made that swap tremendous simple. Nonetheless, by itself, it is not sufficient of an inconvenience to spring the additional $300. On the finish of the day, curling my hair took roughly the identical period of time (with the Airwrap being a couple of minutes sooner) and produced the identical look.

Each wands additionally produced types that held for a similar period of time, which is to say not all that lengthy — in each of my prior opinions, I famous how even with prepping the hair and utilizing hair spray, scorching air curls simply do not maintain the identical manner these from a curling wand or iron do. For me, these attachments aren’t the rationale to get both of those multi-stylers, however some folks appear to essentially love them. Both manner, between the 2 instruments, the efficiency is almost similar.

Styling concentrator and smoothing dryer attachments

For drying down my moist hair to the 85 % dry vary for many of those types, I used every multi-styler’s dryer attachments (revolutionary). Right here is the place the Dyson’s grasp on the Coanda tech actually shined.

The smoothing dryer supplies an all-over tough dry, after which could be switched to a smoothing facet, which makes use of the Coanda air circulation to seize your hair, drying it and taming frizz on the similar time. It is tremendous easy to make use of, and whereas it won’t fully rid you of frizz (or do pretty much as good a job because the devoted smoothing brush), it does elevate the tough dry course of.

The Shark, alternatively, has a leg up in that it may be used to dry hair sans any attachments. The air circulation is in no way concentrated, but it surely will get the job performed, and undoubtedly provides to its travel-friendly issue. The styling concentrator itself works wonderful, is nothing all that particular, and type of appears like a vacuum attachment.

When it comes to dry time, Dyson as soon as once more has a slight edge, proving to be a pair minutes sooner.

Oval and spherical brush attachments

You is perhaps stunned (by which we imply in no way) once more to be taught that for essentially the most half, it was laborious to discern an actual distinction between the spherical brushes of the Shark and the Dyson. Most clearly, they produce barely totally different outcomes as a result of they arrive in numerous sizes.

Technically, the FlexStyle is an oval brush, which has a bigger, rectangular diameter. The Airwrap is a pure spherical brush, with a 2.21-inch diameter. The smaller measurement makes for getting a slight curl or flip on the finish of your hair simpler, as you possibly can see under, the place I styled the proper facet of my hair with the Dyson.

Shark has just lately launched a real spherical brush(opens in a brand new tab) that appears like an much more one-to-one duplicate of the Dyson brush. For what I examined although, each have been pretty simple to maneuver by way of my hair. The Shark has the basic combo of nylon and boar bristles whereas the Dyson makes use of solely tinier nylon bristles, and general appeared to have extra venting, which did barely pace up the drying course of.

The one different distinction right here is that the Shark brush can maintain a bit extra stress, which is particularly noticeable within the twisting mechanism within the base. It by no means felt prefer it was going to interrupt, but it surely did make the general Dyson expertise really feel higher.

Smoothing brush attachments

In my authentic evaluation of the Dyson, the smoothing brushes have been my private favourite of the attachments, as they proved nice for taming frizz (a godsend on my wavy, dry hair) and attaining a straight glossy look, all with simply the trouble it takes to mainly brush my hair.

The FlexStyle paddle brush affords an identical look, however has extra rounded edges if you wish to obtain extra flip on the ends of your hair. The place the Dyson affords two brushes, every with a singular easy and agency bristle sort respectively, the FlexStyle brush makes use of boar and nylon bristles, identical to its spherical brush.

Truthfully, these variations weren’t that noticeable within the precise efficiency of the brushes. True to type, the Dyson dried my hair a tiny bit sooner — although each stylers have been utilizing the center warmth and full fan pace — taking a little bit over 5 minutes the place the FlexStyle took nearer to 10. The Dyson was possibly a bit lighter, which felt extra noticeable as I slowly moved the comb down my hair.

When it was all mentioned and performed, my hair appeared and felt precisely the identical — straight, shiny, and delicate — and held the type all day (although this is not uncommon for my hair to do when straightened).

Extra attachments provided

The opposite main attachment that comes included in Shark’s curly hair set is the diffuser, which supplies Shark a giant benefit over the Airwrap. Wavy- and curly-haired of us repeatedly use diffusers, so it looks like fairly the oversight for the Airwrap to not have one.

That is the place Shark’s twisting mechanism actually comes into play, as a result of it means that you can use a diffuser in a manner that is extra pure, and that Dyson merely cannot replicate. We’ll preserve our fingers crossed for the long run, however in the intervening time, if you need a Dyson diffuser, you will need to go together with its Supersonic hair dryer.

Shark further attachments for buy:

Factoring in these further attachments, Shark affords a grand complete of eight totally different attachments, priced individually at $29.95 every.

Dyson further attachments for buy:

Dyson’s particular person attachments value a bit extra per piece at $39.99. General, the Airwrap has 10 suitable attachments, not accounting for the doubles between the “lengthy” and regular variations of the barrels (since you’ll doubtless get one or the opposite).

Neither model affords something that totally different with the extra attachments, however Shark affords extra selection on the whole with the meant goal of the instruments — providing a diffuser and a large comb, for example, feels higher than Dyson’s 4 totally different smoothing brushes. For those who’re into micro-customization although, the Airwrap will you could have you coated.

Variations in warmth injury

One of many enormous advantages of utilizing scorching air instruments is that they do not expose your hair to as excessive, direct warmth as conventional scorching instruments like flat irons or curling wands.

Dyson’s warmth management system measures the Airwrap’s temp over 40 occasions per second to verify the hair won’t ever be hit with air hotter than 302 levels Fahrenheit. A Shark consultant informed Mashable that the FlexStyle tops out at 203 levels and measures the system’s temperature as much as 1,000 occasions per second.

Clearly, it is a a lot larger quantity, and never doable to measure whereas utilizing it. What I’ll say is that I do not discover an enormous distinction between the highest warmth on the Dyson and the Shark, and positively not a 100 diploma one.

Although particular person injury can also be practically unimaginable to measure, I do not discover my hair initially feels extra fried utilizing one instrument over the opposite. I’ll say that the FlexStyle has extra warmth choices, providing a heat, medium, and scorching warmth along with the cool shot button. The Airwrap, alternatively, has a chilly, heat, and scorching air circulation, in addition to a cool shot swap, although there is not a discernible temperature distinction between the cool setting and funky shot swap. Each instruments have three air speeds.

As a fast apart, although the controls are barely totally different, neither felt higher than the opposite, although I did barely favor the cool shot swap mechanism of the Dyson to the button of the Shark. Nevertheless, I do not suppose that is a make or break characteristic.

General, each really feel higher for hair well being than conventional scorching instruments (and felt much better than cheaper scorching air instruments just like the One-Step). As with all warmth styling, it’s best to all the time be utilizing a warmth protectant when utilizing both.

The largest perks of splurging on an Airwrap

So why would anybody spend double the worth? As with all costly luxurious product, Dyson does surpass Shark when it comes right down to the small print.

As an illustration, Airwraps have all the time include a carrying case. It is a little bit cumbersome, however its velvet inside and easy exterior really feel good, and much beat storing your multi-styler in its authentic field, as I’ve with the FlexStyle. It’s price noting nevertheless, that Shark has just lately come out with its personal storage case(opens in a brand new tab).

Nonetheless, Dyson has the leg up, additionally providing a show stand(opens in a brand new tab) and a journey case(opens in a brand new tab) for taking your Airwrap on the go.

Past storage, as famous above, the Dyson does dry a tiny bit sooner. Personally, I am extra a fan of its colours than the beige Shark. Lastly, the Dyson is a tad quieter, however not a lot in order that it might make any purposeful distinction in say, waking up a roommate over the Shark — primarily, it is simply barely extra nice to hearken to as you do your hair.

Which is a greater worth?

For those who’re purchasing by way of pure worth, the reply is fairly apparent: Go for the FlexStyle. Once more, it’s at least half the worth of the Dyson, and largely performs the identical. Sure, there are some minor areas the place the Dyson might be a bit higher — and possibly if it have been $50 or $100 extra I might say go for the Dyson.

However you can purchase two FlexStyles for the price of one Dyson. You should purchase extra attachments for cheaper. Once more, I’ve had each for months, and neither feels prefer it’s performing any worse than the day I obtained it.

For those who’re prepared to let go of only a little bit of that luxurious really feel, and as an alternative simply need a instrument that can type your hair and do it properly, the FlexStyle is the best way to go.

Is it simpler to search out the FlexStyle in inventory?

Each the Airwrap and the FlexStyle can be found at a number of retailers, together with:

Although inventory can nonetheless be a hit and miss with each instruments, the Airwrap is just not practically as elusive because it as soon as was. On the time of writing, it is in inventory on Dyson’s web site, at Sephora(opens in a brand new tab) in its particular version colour, and at Finest Purchase(opens in a brand new tab). The FlexStyle can also be broadly accessible.

The ultimate verdict: Shark FlexStyle vs. Dyson Airwrap

This doubtless comes as no shock based mostly on every thing above, however when you’re not somebody who needs luxurious for the sake of luxurious, it is a clear go for the dupe — the FlexStyle affords practically every thing the Airwrap does, after which some extras that the Airwrap would not, for half the worth.

Based mostly on the FlexStyle’s additions to date, from the storage case to the expanded vary of attachments, evidently no matter Dyson does subsequent with its multi-styler, Shark is prone to observe. So why not go for innovation at a way more affordable worth?