Shark FlexStyle Air Drying and Styling System Review: Why We Love It

Here at T&C, we pride ourselves on our discerning eye for quality. With Tried & True, our editors will give you an inside look at the pieces they simply cannot live without.

You know the old saying about everyone wanting what they can't have? It really rings true when it comes to hair. People with straighter strands often crave more curl, body, and bounce, while those with wavier tresses frequently dream a 'do that is less voluminous and decidedly tame. I fall in the latter category.

Shark Beauty Shark FlexStyle™ Hair Blow Dryer & Multi-Styler

$299 at Sephora

As long as I've had hair on my head, my thick curls (to be specific, I fall on the 3A/3B curl chart) have been the bane of my existence. I have vivid memories of a young me grimacing and yelping while my mom tried to untangle my hair with a comb and Johnson & Johnson's No More Tears. Oh, and I'll never forget the time when we went on a family trip to Hawaii, and I had to get my hair cut bob-length at the hotel's salon because there was a huge matted knot at the nape of my neck that couldn't be combed through. It's certainly been a follicular journey. While most people in my life prefer me with my natural hair texture—and don't get me wrong, I'm embracing my curls more and more as I get older—I've just always felt more comfortable with straight strands.

The only problem is that getting weekly blowouts really adds up, especially in this day and age when prices in NYC are astronomical. So in recent years, I have resorted to doing my own hair at home—and as those of you with curly hair know that's no easy task. I've tested just about every cult-favorite hot styling tool on the market (you name it, I have it) and I find that most deliver just satisfactory results, nothing really wow-worthy. But I recently came across the Dyson AirWrap competitor, the Shark FlexStyle Air Drying & Styling System (thanks, Tiktok!), and let me tell you, nothing really gets the job done on my unruly strands quite like this device.

First let's talk specs: the Shark tool has several different attachments for various drying and styling techniques that you can pick and choose to buy based on your hair and the look you're going for. There are two self-rotating curling heads for adding long-lasting bounce, a paddle brush for straightening and smoothing at once, an oval brush for achieving a bombshell blowout, and a rotatable nozzle for blowing out/drying the old fashion way. (Depending on the bundle you get, there's also a diffuser attachment for those who want to wear their hair naturally.) It has three safe-for-hair heat settings, three-speed settings, as well as the ever-so-handy cool shot button for setting your style.

Shark Shark FlexStyle Air Drying & Styling System

$300 at sharkclean.com

What also sets it apart is its unique body that twists into an L-shape like a traditional blow dryer and then twists straight back for multi-styling. The whole thing is so lightweight—like, won't-tired-out-your-arms lightweight—and delivers crazy-fast results and power. It typically takes me about an hour to dry and style my long hair (and 45 minutes by a professional), but it only takes 30 minutes with the SharkFlex, which is the biggest pro for me.

My favorite and most used head is the oval brush because it makes the entire process of achieving a big, voluminous blowout so much easier. It's really a game-changer not having to deal with balancing a round brush in one hand and a blow dryer in the other to get my strands straight. (Though, my mom does like a traditional brush-and-blow-dryer combination and loved how well the SharkFlex nozzle worked on her hair.) The paddle brush is also great. It sleeks out my sections in mere minutes and keeps them straight until my next wash day.

As for the other auto-curlers... they've never really been my thing. I'm more of a curl-with-a-classic-clamp kind of girl, but that's not to say they're not effective. They really do work and achieve a soft wave that holds.

All in all, I'm a fan of the SharkFlex because it makes the experience of doing my hair less dreadful. And the fact that it retails for less than $300, which is more than half of Dyson's price, makes it an even more worthwhile purchase. Dare I say it... I think it's the best multi-styler tool on the market for those with thick, curly hair.