Dyson Airwrap vs Shark FlexStyle
A genuine contender finally arrived for the Airwrap. Whether it beats the original depends on what you actually use it for.
By Vaulted Luxe Editorial · Published 5/5/2026 · Updated 5/6/2026
For five years the Dyson Airwrap had no real competition — until the Shark FlexStyle launched at roughly half the price and meaningfully closed the gap. Both tools use airflow rather than direct heat to style hair, both come with multiple attachments, and both will dry and style in a single session. The differences are real but specific.
How we compared them
We evaluated both on five criteria: dry time on shoulder-length hair, the Coanda-style barrel''s ability to actually grab and curl hair without slipping, attachment quality and ease of swapping, weight and balance during a 15-minute styling session, and noise level (a real factor for early-morning use).
The contenders
The Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long Buy → is the original and remains the more refined tool. The motor is quieter, the airflow at the longer barrels is stronger and more consistent, and the attachment swap is the cleaner mechanical action — clicks on, clicks off, no fumbling. The intelligent heat control measures airflow temperature 40 times per second to prevent damage; in practice this matters most for color-treated and fine hair, where the Shark''s heat can feel less precisely modulated. The included case is also better: the Dyson box is genuinely organized; the Shark''s is a soft pouch that gets messy.
The Shark FlexStyle Air Styling System is the smarter pure-product offer. The headline trick is that the main wand pivots — flip it 90 degrees and it becomes a high-speed dryer, which means it''s genuinely two tools (a hair dryer and a styler) rather than just an Airwrap competitor. The dry-then-style time on thicker hair is actually faster on the Shark because the dryer mode pushes more raw airflow than the Dyson''s drying attachment. The trade-off: it''s louder, the attachments are clunkier to swap, and the curls don''t hold as long on fine or stick-straight hair.
| Dyson Airwrap | Shark FlexStyle | |
|---|---|---|
| Approximate price | Premium tier | ~half of Dyson |
| Best for | Fine, color-treated, curl longevity | Thick hair, faster dry, dual-purpose |
| Doubles as a dryer | Drying attachment only | Yes (true high-velocity) |
| Noise | Quieter | Louder |
| Attachment swap | Click in/out | Twist + slide |
| Heat regulation | 40x/sec measurement | Standard |
| Storage | Hard organizer | Soft pouch |
Verdict
If your hair is fine, color-treated, or you''re primarily trying to extend curl-and-wave longevity over a 24-hour wear: get the Dyson Airwrap Buy →. The heat regulation is a real benefit, the curl-set is more durable, and the lower noise floor matters if you style early and don''t want to wake the house.
If your hair is thicker, you''re currently using a hair dryer and a styler as two separate tools, or the Airwrap''s price was the only reason you hadn''t bought one yet: get the Shark FlexStyle. The pivot-into-a-dryer trick genuinely replaces a second tool on your counter, and on thick hair the higher airflow saves real minutes per session.
The honest take: the Airwrap is still the better-engineered tool. The FlexStyle is the better value, and for a meaningful percentage of users, the value gap is bigger than the engineering gap. Both are genuinely good. Pick by hair type and counter-real-estate, not by brand loyalty.