Shark FlexStyle Review: The Dyson Dupe Is On Sale This Black Friday
The word dupe is freely bandied in the beauty world, often without factoring in the most important feature of quality. You will find a make-up product that, while it might aesthetically compare to a more expensive counterpart, is filled with nasties over the premium ingredients of the original. For hair tools, it works in quite the same way. At first use, you may find that it resembles another on the market, but it is not as kind to hair and is prone to disrepair. That is not the case for the Shark FlexStyle.
Featured in this article
Almost a year to the day was the first time that I experimented with the Shark FlexStyle. I have long been a huge fan of Dyson hair tools, especially the Corrale and Supersonic. But, and I know I will be hugely judged for saying, I always found the Airwrap tricky to use and not suitable for my hair type. But with the FlexStyle, which I have dubbed a dupe for the multi-styler, it is quite the opposite experience.
Shark
Flexstyle 5-in-1 Air Styler & Hair Dryer
I have fine, relatively straight hair. I’m prone to frizz and flyaways, and I recently had a fringe cut. Airwrap styles simply do not hold in my hair. As much as I’m reluctant, I require heat for lasting looks (rather than the pressurised air favoured by the tech giants). This is why the FlexStyle has changed the game for me.
The heated brush attachment is my most used in the collection. I opted for the oval brush, but there is a paddle brush too. Wet to dry, it runs through my lengths, easing hair wash day and leaving my locks dry, smooth and soft. But it’s the curling function that is the most impressive. First and foremost, there are two barrels: a left and a right. Arrows signify the direction in which the hair will be curled, and through high-powered wind, you only need to hold the tool vertically near the midlengths for them to wrap around for an effective curl – no tangles. It’s entirely foolproof.
Other attachments include a styling concentrator that transforms the tool into a dryer, diffuser and straightener, which, in my experience, are largely unused. The hot brush acts as both the dryer and straightener, while the diffuser is designed for curly and coily hair.
Shark
FlexStyle 4-in-1 Air Styler and Hair Dryer
Why it’s Vogue-approved: The multitasking FlexStyle creates smooth, soft styles from wet to dry. It also works to refresh looks, too, with three heat settings, three fan settings and a cold shot for locking them in place. The attachments are interchangeable, from the oval hot brush and the classic drying concentrator to dual barrels for the easiest curling process on the market. For the latter, arrows signify the direction in which the hair will be curled, and through high-powered air, you only need to hold the tool vertically near the mid-lengths for them to wrap around for an effective curl. It’s entirely foolproof.
- Key specifications:
- Attachment highlights: Auto-Wrap Curlers, Oval Brush, Styling Concentrator
- Weight: 700g
- Cord Length: 2.4 metres
- Max Temperature: 95°C
- Warranty: One year
What sets the FlexStyle apart from the slew of Dyson Airwrap dupes is its quality. The brand, known for its vacuums and LED face mask, prides itself on innovation. The FlexStyle measures the heat 1,000 times a second to minimise heat damage, there is the added benefit of a cool shot, and the base can rotate – that’s how the dryer works. It’s a premium product, while remaining pleasingly purse-friendly.
The five-in-one tool is typically a penny shy of £300 but, in honour of the Black Friday sales, can be purchased with up to 34 per cent off.