Few high-tech hair tools get mentioned the way the Dyson AirWrap does when it comes to high-tech hair tools. It's sleek, well-designed and yes, expensive. But in recent years, a new, more affordable contender has stepped into the spotlight: the Shark FlexFusion. Both brands promise salon-quality results at home with less heat damage.
After testing both hair styling tools for a few weeks, I found that while they promise similar results, each works best for different hair types. For the purpose of this article, I parted my hair down the middle and styled one half with the Dyson Airwrap and the other half with the Shark FlexFusion. I wore the results all day, tested for hold and volume, and noted how each side held up by the next morning.
How these hair tools work
At first glance, the Dyson Airwrap and Shark FlexFusion seem to promise the same results. Both are multi-styling tools that dry, curl, volumize and smooth hair using fast airflow instead of extreme heat. Both styling tools use what's known as the Coanda effect, a technique where air follows the natural curve of a surface. It's what allows your hair to wrap around the barrel without spinning parts or clamps.
Dyson vs. Shark: Comparison table Feature Dyson Airwrap Shark FlexFusion Price $599 $349 Attachments included 6 4 Heat settings 2 heat settings + cool shot 3 heat settings + cool shot Technology Coanda effect Coanda effect Cord length 8.5 ft 8.0 ft Hair types supported Mostly for fine to medium hair thicknesses Works well on all hair types, including thick and curly
First test: Straightening my hair with both tools
To compare them fairly, I did a true side-by-side test. I parted my hair down the middle and straightened one half with the Dyson Smoothing Brush and the other half with the Shark Fusion Brush, both tools set at the highest heat setting.
The Shark smoothed out my roots a lot better than the Dyson. It took longer to straighten my hair with the Dyson because I had to do more passes near my scalp, and it still didn't tame the volume as well as the Shark. On the ends, the Shark also gave a sleeker, more polished finish. I expected the Dyson to do a better job, but the Shark brush is designed to give you a more blowout look and the Dyson smoothing brush is more for strict straightening. The Shark definitely gripped my thick waves more firmly and shaped them with better tension.
I do have to make a note of the noise levels, though. The Shark is much noisier than the Dyson. At times, I felt the need to use earplugs when styling near my ears with the Shark. The Dyson tool performed pretty quietly.
This is what my hair looks like naturally, air-dried with no products before styling with the tools. Nasha Addarich Martínez
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