Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexFusion: I Examined Each Hair Instruments on My Lengthy, Thick, Wavy Hair. There Was an Surprising Winner

Few high-tech hair instruments get talked about the way in which the Dyson AirWrap does in relation to high-tech hair instruments. It is glossy, well-designed and sure, costly. However lately, a brand new, extra reasonably priced contender has stepped into the highlight: the Shark FlexFusion. Each manufacturers promise salon-quality outcomes at residence with much less warmth injury.

After testing each hair styling instruments for a number of weeks, I discovered that whereas they promise comparable outcomes, every works greatest for various hair varieties. For the aim of this text, I parted my hair down the center and styled one half with the Dyson Airwrap and the opposite half with the Shark FlexFusion. I wore the outcomes all day, examined for maintain and quantity, and famous how all sides held up by the following morning.

How these hair instruments work

At first look, the Dyson Airwrap and Shark FlexFusion appear to vow the identical outcomes. Each are multi-styling instruments that dry, curl, volumize and easy hair utilizing quick airflow as an alternative of maximum warmth. Each styling instruments use what’s generally known as the Coanda impact, a method the place air follows the pure curve of a floor. It is what permits your hair to wrap across the barrel with out spinning elements or clamps.

First take a look at: Straightening my hair with each instruments

To match them pretty, I did a real side-by-side take a look at. I parted my hair down the center and straightened one half with the Dyson Smoothing Brush and the opposite half with the Shark Fusion Brush, each instruments set on the highest warmth setting.

The Shark smoothed out my roots loads higher than the Dyson. It took longer to straighten my hair with the Dyson as a result of I needed to do extra passes close to my scalp, and it nonetheless did not tame the amount in addition to the Shark. On the ends, the Shark additionally gave a sleeker, extra polished end. I anticipated the Dyson to do a greater job, however the Shark brush is designed to present you a extra blowout look and the Dyson smoothing brush is extra for strict straightening. The Shark undoubtedly gripped my thick waves extra firmly and formed them with higher stress.

I do must make an observation of the noise ranges, although. The Shark is far noisier than the Dyson. At instances, I felt the necessity to use earplugs when styling close to my ears with the Shark. The Dyson device carried out fairly quietly.

Dyson aspect:

• The bristles on the smoothing brush transfer back and forth, which avoids pulling on hair and prevents breakage. This mild motion made my hair really feel additional gentle.
• It did not grip my hair as firmly as I’d have favored, leaving seen waves close to the roots. In case your roots are straight, this would possibly not be a problem. However with deep waves, curls or coils, you could want a number of passes or a spherical brush to totally straighten them.
• The ends have been high-quality however lacked definition and elegance.

Shark aspect:

• The Fusion brush gripped my hair higher and supplied extra stress, giving the roots and ends a sleeker look. Due to this, I needed to do fewer passes, and it reduce my drying time by round 10 minutes in comparison with the Dyson.
• The airflow felt stronger, which additionally contributed to sooner drying time.
• General, the tip end result with the Shark regarded like knowledgeable blowout.

Verdict: For this a part of the take a look at, Shark was the apparent winner for my lengthy, thick hair. Shark’s half regarded higher styled (as if I had it professionally accomplished), with out the warmth injury. Nonetheless, you probably have high-quality hair with much less texture, the Dyson ought to offer you nice outcomes.

Second take a look at: Utilizing the curling rods

After straightening either side of my hair with the smoothing and Fusion brushes, I examined every device’s curling attachments. I used the Dyson Airwrap conical curling barrel on one aspect — the thinner barrel, not the thicker one that offers extra of a blowout look. This was the aspect I had blow-dried with the smoothing brush. On the opposite aspect, which I dried with the Fusion brush, I used the Shark FlexFusion curling rod. Each instruments have dry or damp settings, so I used them each on the best setting for dry hair.

Proper off the bat, the Dyson earns brownie factors for its single reversible curling barrel. It makes switching curl instructions simpler — simply twist the highest of the barrel. The older Airwrap model required two separate barrels to twist in numerous instructions.

The Shark FlexFusion makes use of two separate curling rods, every marked with arrows to point airflow route. That makes the Dyson extra handy — you solely want one barrel, not two rods, and it is faster to make use of. With the Shark, it’s a must to swap rods to model all sides of your head, and also you typically have to attend for them to chill down first. I regularly discovered them too sizzling to deal with.

Dyson aspect:

• This aspect of my hair had tighter, extra outlined curls
• Curl route was simpler to regulate due to the single-barrel swap choice
• The airflow and barrels felt much more mild on my strands, with much less pulling and tugging (higher for high-quality to medium hair)
• Curls have been much more structured and basic, which I discover extra acceptable for formal types or lengthy put on
• The Dyson additionally comes with two curling barrel sizes, 1.2-inch and 1.6-inch, so you possibly can resolve if you need tighter or looser curls. My expertise with the bigger barrel is that it would not offer you an enduring curl look however somewhat a extra blowout wave.

Shark aspect:

• Gave looser, bouncier curls with extra motion
• The airflow felt stronger, so I needed to spend much less time curling my hair
• The rods and airflow had a greater grip on my hair (higher for thick or textured hair)
• Curls had a softer, extra lived-in texture, which I discover higher for informal seems

Verdict: If you’d like precision, and comfort or have high-quality to medium hair, the Dyson is the only option. Alternatively, if you need extra relaxed curls and bounce and have thick or textured hair, the Shark is the higher alternative.

Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexFusion: Different attachments included

The most well-liked instruments used for each the Shark and Dyson are the curling and straightening attachments, however each manufacturers supply further attachments so as to add versatility to your routine. Here is a breakdown of what instruments each presents:

Dyson Airwrap attachments

• Conical Airwrap barrel (for tighter curls)
• 1.6-inch Airwrap lengthy barrel (for looser curls)
• Dryer and flyaway smoother
• Quick dryer
• Giant, spherical volumizing brush
• Comfortable smoothing brush

Takeaway: Dyson provides you extra customization attachments that cater to precision styling and polished outcomes. The Flyaway attachment actually stands out for sharpening frizzy hair.

Shark FlexFusion attachments

The Shark FlexFusion is a build-your-own bundle that comes with a Fusion brush and ceramic straightener (like a flatiron), and your alternative of two different attachments. For mine, I selected the curling rods and the styling concentrator so I may use it as a handheld hair dryer. You’ll be able to select two of the next:

• 1.25″ auto-wrap curlers
• Oval brush
• Curl defining diffuser
• Frizz fighter ending device
• Extensive-tooth comb
• Styling concentrator

Takeaway: Shark prioritizes effectivity, as you possibly can select the instruments you may truly use. You will get the necessities on your styling wants, so it is much less about countless combos and extra about practicality.

Which one is greatest: the Dyson Airwrap or Shark FlexFusion?

As an individual of colour with thick and textured hair, I do know all too nicely that almost all hair care instruments are constructed with finer hair in thoughts. I feel each of those instruments can work for all sorts of hair, with some caveats.

The Dyson Airwrap feels and appears extra premium, however you may must part and elegance smaller items of hair and it will require extra passes (and extra time) to get polished outcomes on thick hair (even on the best setting). For high-quality hair, you possibly can most likely get away with bigger sections.

The Shark handles my quantity effortlessly and offers a sleeker look to my roots and ends. I feel that the best setting could also be too robust for high-quality hair, so it is best to make use of a extra mild setting to keep away from breakage.

Dyson Airwrap execs and cons

Execs:

• Luxurious really feel and design
• Nice for tighter curls and gentle blowouts
• Decrease warmth, which makes it safer for day by day use

Cons:

• Struggles with thick or curly roots
• Expensive
• Takes extra time for dense hair

Shark execs and cons

Execs:

• Higher stress and grip for thick, wavy or curly hair
• Smoother outcomes for roots and ends
• Sooner styling
• Extra reasonably priced

Cons:

• Curling rods require you to change them out for various airflow instructions
• Louder airflow than the Dyson

Last verdict

In case you have lengthy, thick, curly or wavy hair like me, the Shark FlexFusion could also be the best choice for you. It delivers sooner outcomes, smooths each roots and ends extra successfully — and does all of it for a fraction of the worth of the Dyson Airwrap.

That mentioned, Dyson is a pacesetter within the hair care world for good motive. If you’d like extra polished curls, love the luxurious expertise, are a fan of the Dyson title or have high-quality to medium hair, it is undoubtedly definitely worth the splurge.

If we’re trying objectively at efficiency alone, particularly a device that’ll work nicely on all hair varieties, the Shark FlexFusion is actually spectacular.