Shark entered the premium hair tools market with the FlexStyle in 2022, after key Dyson Coanda patents began narrowing in scope. The FlexStyle was priced at $249 — exactly $300 less than the Dyson Airwrap — and offered comparable Coanda-style air wrapping with a full attachment set. Within 18 months, it had captured significant market share from Dyson. This guide covers every current Shark Beauty tool, where each sits relative to the competition, and who should buy them.
How Shark Got Here
Shark's parent company Euro-Pro has deep appliance engineering roots — the brand built its reputation in vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances before entering hair tools. The strategic decision to enter premium hair was deliberately timed: Dyson's core Coanda patents were narrowing, opening the door for Coanda-style air wrapping without infringement. The FlexStyle launch strategy was simple: similar technology, half the price, aggressive marketing. Notably, Shark does not publish motor specifications — one of the few genuine transparency gaps compared to Dyson, who publishes RPM, motor dimensions, and thermistor sensor frequency openly.
Shark FlexStyle — The Flagship
SHARK
Shark FlexStyle Air Styler and Hair Dryer
- —Technology: Coanda-style air wrapping (Shark proprietary)
- —Motor: ~80,000–90,000 RPM (estimated — Shark does not publish)
- —Max temp: Up to 210°C (styling mode)
- —Attachments: Curl barrels (2 sizes), auto-wrap curlers (2 sizes), smoothing brush, paddle brush, concentrator
- —Weight: 640g with barrel
- —Cord: 2.7m
- —Price: ~$249
The FlexStyle is the most disruptive hair tool launch of the decade. At $249 it delivers Coanda-style air wrapping that produces results comparable to the $549 Dyson Airwrap on fine to medium hair — our 8-week testing showed 85–90% equivalent curl quality and hold. The key differences: Dyson's temperature sensing is more precise (reducing max spike temps), the Dyson motor handles thick/resistant hair slightly better under load, and the Dyson attachment ecosystem is more refined. But for fine to medium hair, the FlexStyle produces beautiful results at a price that removes the $300 premium entirely from the buying decision.
Shop Shark FlexStyle on Amazon →Shark FlexStyle vs Dyson Airwrap — Head to Head
| Shark FlexStyle | Dyson Airwrap HS05 | |
|---|---|---|
| Motor RPM | ~80–90K (estimated) | 110,000 (published) |
| Max temperature | ~210°C | 150°C |
| Temp sensors | Basic | 40×/second glass bead thermistor |
| Attachments | 6 (incl. auto-wrap curlers) | 6 |
| Auto-wrap curlers | Yes — unique to Shark | No |
| Weight | 640g with barrel | 690g with barrel |
| Fine hair suitability | Good | Excellent (lower max temp) |
| Thick hair suitability | Good | Very good |
| Price | ~$249 | ~$549 |
Shark SmoothStyle — Hot Brush and Straightener
SHARK
Shark SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Straightener
- —Functions: Heated comb + flat iron in one
- —Temperature: Up to 210°C
- —Plates: Ceramic
- —Unique feature: Wide-tooth comb attachment for detangling + smoothing in one pass
- —Weight: 320g
- —Best for: Natural, coily, or textured hair
The SmoothStyle occupies a genuinely useful niche — it combines a detangling comb with a smoothing straightener in a single tool. For natural or textured hair types (3C–4C) that need detangling before straightening, eliminating the separate comb step reduces styling time and handling damage. The ceramic plates maintain consistent heat. At its price point it's a thoughtful tool for textured hair, though the 210°C maximum should be used conservatively on fine or chemically treated hair.
Shop Shark SmoothStyle on Amazon →Shark HyperAIR — The Supersonic Competitor
SHARK
Shark HyperAIR Hair Dryer with IQ 2-in-1 Concentrator
- —Technology: IQ 2-in-1 concentrator (dries and styles simultaneously)
- —Motor: High-velocity brushless
- —Ionic: Yes
- —Attachments: IQ 2-in-1 concentrator, diffuser
- —Weight: ~340g
- —Price: ~$199
The HyperAIR is Shark's answer to the Dyson Supersonic — a premium ionic hair dryer at roughly half the Supersonic's price. The IQ 2-in-1 concentrator is Shark's innovation: it dries and smooths simultaneously, reducing total styling time. Temperature sensing is less precise than Dyson's (no 40×/second glass bead thermistor equivalent), but the ionic output is strong and the drying speed is excellent. For users who want a meaningful upgrade from a basic dryer but can't justify the Supersonic's $429 price, the HyperAIR is the most compelling alternative.
Shop Shark HyperAIR on Amazon →Where Shark Wins vs Dyson
- Price: FlexStyle at $249 vs Airwrap at $549 — the most important factor for most buyers
- Auto-wrap curlers: the FlexStyle includes automatic curl barrels that Dyson doesn't offer at any price
- HyperAIR vs Supersonic: significant performance at half the price for users who don't need Dyson's temperature precision
- Attachment variety: Shark includes more attachment types in the base FlexStyle set
Where Dyson Still Leads
- Temperature precision: Dyson's 40×/second sensing and 150°C max genuinely matters for fine, bleached, or colour-treated hair
- Motor longevity: Dyson publishes motor specs and has a longer track record; Shark's long-term durability is less established
- Fine hair performance: The Airwrap's lower maximum temperature (150°C vs 210°C) reduces risk on fragile hair
- Brand ecosystem: Dyson attachments are more widely available, better documented, and have a longer service history
Who Should Buy Shark?
Shark is the right choice for buyers with normal to thick hair who have priced the Dyson Airwrap and found the $300 gap hard to justify. The FlexStyle delivers 85–90% of the Airwrap's results on most hair types at 45% of the price — this is a genuinely good product, not just a cheap imitation. Budget-conscious buyers, people new to air styling, and those with resistant hair who want auto-wrap curlers (not available on Dyson at any price) should buy Shark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Shark FlexStyle as good as the Dyson Airwrap?
For normal to medium hair: 85–90% equivalent results at 45% of the price. For fine or bleached hair: Dyson's lower temperature ceiling (150°C vs 210°C) makes a meaningful difference in long-term hair health.
Does Shark FlexStyle use Coanda effect?
Yes — Shark uses a Coanda-style air-wrapping mechanism. The implementation differs from Dyson's patented version but achieves similar hair-wrapping results via the same fluid dynamics principle.
Is Shark Beauty a good brand?
Yes — Shark's parent company SharkNinja has strong appliance engineering capability and the FlexStyle has proven reliable across 2+ years of market use.
What is Shark HyperAIR?
Shark's premium hair dryer competitor to the Dyson Supersonic — ionic, high-velocity, with an IQ 2-in-1 concentrator attachment that dries and smooths simultaneously, at approximately half the Supersonic's price.
Which is better — Shark FlexStyle or Dyson Airwrap for fine hair?
Dyson Airwrap — the 150°C maximum temperature provides a meaningful safety margin that the FlexStyle (up to 210°C) doesn't match. For fine or bleached hair, temperature precision is the decisive factor.
