Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexFusion: I Put Them Both to the Test on My Long, Thick, Wavy Hair

When it comes to high-tech hair tools, few names get thrown around as much as the Dyson AirWrap. 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.

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

Dyson side:

• The bristles on the smoothing brush move from side to side, which avoids pulling on hair and prevents breakage. This gentle movement made my hair feel extra soft.
• It didn't grip my hair as firmly as I would have liked, leaving visible waves near the roots. If your roots are straight, this won’t be an issue. But with deep waves, curls or coils, you may need several passes or a round brush to fully straighten them.
• The ends were fine but lacked definition and style.

Shark side:

• The Fusion brush gripped my hair better and provided more tension, giving the roots and ends a sleeker look. Because of this, I had to do fewer passes, and it cut my drying time by around 10 minutes compared to the Dyson.
• The airflow felt stronger, which also contributed to faster drying time.
• Overall, the end result with the Shark looked like a professional blowout.

Verdict: For this part of the test, Shark was the obvious winner for my long, thick hair. Shark's half looked better styled (as if I had it professionally done), without the heat damage. However, if you have fine hair with less texture, the Dyson should give you great results.

Left image: Left side styled with the Dyson. Right side styled with the Shark.

Right Image: Left side styled with the Shark. Right side styled with the Dyson.

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Second test: Using the curling rods

After straightening both sides of my hair with the smoothing and Fusion brushes, I tested each tool's curling attachments. I used the Dyson Airwrap conical curling barrel on one side -- the thinner barrel, not the thicker one that gives more of a blowout look. This was the side I had blow-dried with the smoothing brush. On the other side, which I dried with the Fusion brush, I used the Shark FlexFusion curling rod. Both tools have dry or damp settings, so I used them both on the highest setting for dry hair.

Right off the bat, the Dyson earns brownie points for its single reversible curling barrel. It makes switching curl directions easier -- just twist the top of the barrel. The older Airwrap version required two separate barrels to curl in different directions.

The Shark FlexFusion uses two separate curling rods, each marked with arrows to indicate airflow direction. That makes the Dyson more convenient -- you only need one barrel, not two rods, and it’s quicker to use. With the Shark, you have to swap rods to style each side of your head, and you often have to wait for them to cool down first. I frequently found them too hot to handle.

Dyson side:

• This side of my hair had tighter, more defined curls
• Curl direction was easier to control because of the single-barrel switch option
• The airflow and barrels felt a lot more gentle on my strands, with less pulling and tugging (better for fine to medium hair)
• Curls were a lot more structured and classic, which I find more appropriate for formal styles or long wear
• The Dyson also comes with two curling barrel sizes, 1.2-inch and 1.6-inch, so you can decide if you want tighter or looser curls. My experience with the larger barrel is that it doesn't give you a lasting curl look but rather a more blowout wave.

Shark side:

• Gave looser, bouncier curls with more movement
• The airflow felt stronger, so I had to spend less time curling my hair
• The rods and airflow had a better grip on my hair (better for thick or textured hair)
• Curls had a softer, more lived-in texture, which I find better for casual looks

Verdict: If you want precision, and convenience or have fine to medium hair, the Dyson is the best choice. On the other hand, if you want more relaxed curls and bounce and have thick or textured hair, the Shark is the better choice.

Left image: Left curled with the Dyson and right side curled with the Shark.

Right image: Left curled with the Shark and right side curled with the Dyson.

Nasha Addarich Martínez/CNET

Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexFusion: Other attachments included

The most popular tools used for both the Shark and Dyson are the curling and straightening attachments, but both brands offer additional attachments to add versatility to your routine. Here's a breakdown of what tools each one offers:

Dyson Airwrap attachments

• Conical Airwrap barrel (for tighter curls)
• 1.6-inch Airwrap long barrel (for looser curls)
• Dryer and flyaway smoother
• Fast dryer
• Large, round volumizing brush
• Soft smoothing brush

Takeaway: Dyson gives you more customization attachments that cater to precision styling and polished results. The Flyaway attachment really stands out for polishing frizzy hair.

Dyson Airwrap attachments

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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 choice of two other attachments. For mine, I chose the curling rods and the styling concentrator so I can also use it as a handheld hair dryer. You can choose two of the following:

• 1.25" auto-wrap curlers
• Oval brush
• Curl defining diffuser
• Frizz fighter finishing tool
• Wide-tooth comb
• Styling concentrator

Takeaway: Shark prioritizes efficiency, as you can choose the tools you'll actually use. You'll get the essentials for your styling needs, so it's less about endless combinations and more about practicality.

Shark FlexFusion attachments

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

As a person of color with thick and textured hair, I know all too well that most hair care tools are built with finer hair in mind. I think both of these tools can work for all types of hair, with some caveats.

The Dyson Airwrap feels and looks more premium, but you'll need to section and style smaller pieces of hair and it'll require more passes (and more time) to get polished results on thick hair (even on the highest setting). For fine hair, you can probably get away with larger sections.

The Shark handles my volume effortlessly and gives a sleeker look to my roots and ends. I think that the highest setting may be too strong for fine hair, so it's best to use a more gentle setting to avoid breakage.

Dyson Airwrap pros and cons

Pros:

• Luxurious feel and design
• Great for tighter curls and soft blowouts
• Lower heat, which makes it safer for daily use

Cons:

• Struggles with thick or curly roots
• Pricey
• Takes more time for dense hair

Nasha Addarich Martínez/CNET

Shark pros and cons

Pros:

• Better tension and grip for thick, wavy or curly hair
• Smoother results for roots and ends
• Faster styling
• More affordable

Cons:

• Curling rods require you to switch them out for different airflow directions
• Louder airflow than the Dyson

Nasha Addarich Martínez/CNET

Final verdict

If you have long, thick, curly or wavy hair like me, the Shark FlexFusion may be the best option for you. It delivers faster results, smooths both roots and ends more effectively -- and does it all for a fraction of the price of the Dyson Airwrap.

That said, Dyson is a leader in the hair care world for good reason. If you want more polished curls, love the luxurious experience, are a fan of the Dyson name or have fine to medium hair, it's definitely worth the splurge.

If we're looking objectively at performance alone, especially a tool that'll work well on all hair types, the Shark FlexFusion is really impressive.