Shark Glam Review: We Tested on Straight, Wavy, and Curly Hair
There was a time, not so long ago, when it was necessary to own at minimum three hair tools—hair dryer, straightener, curling iron—to get all the trending hairstyles. And if you wanted a true blowout, throw in a round brush too. Don't even get me started on varying curling iron sizes. My bathroom drawers were overflowing and cords were tangled. A whole mess. But then, I found the magic that is a multi-styler (like the original Shark FlexStyle and the Dyson Airwrap), and my drawers have been tidy ever since (and ofc, my hair looks pretty good too).
Perhaps this mangled situation is one you're still dealing with now. In this case, let me introduce you to Shark's newest tool: the Shark Glam, a multi-styler that utilizes both air styling and ceramic-coated plates to style straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair. Cosmo editors have been testing tools like this for over four years, making us experts with very-high standards. Three editors with a mix of hair textures put both the straight/wavy and curly/coily sets to test.
Related: Check out more Cosmo HQ Reviews on beloved beauty brands like Dae, Clinique, Dior, and Dieux.
Cool thing about the Shark Glam: It's fully meant to replace your suite of a bajillion hair tools. This is why it's so versatile. It's meant to work on every hair texture, hence why there are multiple versions with different attachments based on your hair's needs. But the device also has what the brand calls "Heat Sense Technology," which essentially monitors the heat the tool emits and regulates it so that the temperature never exceeds 302 degrees Fahrenheit. This can help cut down on heat damage (essential for fine or already damaged hair types), as well as ensures that you still get the look you're after, even if you have a coarse hair type that requires a bit more heat.
As for styling, the tools each come with a few different attachments. Regardless of hair type, each set comes with the Shark Glossi (a ceramic and air-powered round brush to smooth and dry hair—just like a heated round brush), the Shark Silki (an air straightener that combines hot air with ceramic-powered plates—the plates, though, are not hot—to get a silky, smooth finish on wet or dry hair), and two 1.25" auto-wrap curlers. Plus, you can always use the tool with no attachments as just a high-powered blow-dryer. It even turns on its side to help you.
In the straight/wavy set, though, you also get the FrizzFighter tool that helps slick down flyaways and adds shine, plus a concentrator nozzle to help control airflow when you use the tool as a blow-dryer. For curly/coily hair, the set comes with a diffuser to define curls and a wide-tooth comb to stretch and lengthen curls and coils.
Hair type: 2A—Long, fine, wavy, and very frizz-prone
Initial thoughts: I may be the only beauty editor in the world who didn't use the original Shark FlexStyle (I rarely heat-style my hair these days), so I came into this review with fresh eyes and no prior opinions. At first glance, I was impressed with how luxe the device looked and felt in my hand. The new name, Shark Glam, is very fitting for its metallic color and weighty feel. The device attachments feel sturdy and durable, but are definitely heavier than other multi-styler attachments I've used, which could be tiring if it takes you a long time to dry, smooth, straighten, or curl your hair.
How I used it: I'm notorious for showering and going right to bed with wet hair. Then, in the morning, when my hair inevitably looks like I stuck my finger in a socket, I just throw it up in a claw clip and call it a day. But I decided to give the Shark Glossi attachment a go on one of these mornings to see if it could minimize my frizz and flyaways and give my hair some polish before running out the door. Ten passes and literally four minutes later, my hair looked LIGHTYEARS better (please look at my makeup-free before and after that I took in my bathroom at 6:45 a.m. for proof). I was so impressed by how easy the Glossi (which is a tear-drop shaped round brush) glided through my knotty, tangled hair and gave it polish—like I had taken the time to actually blow dry my hair before bed instead of falling asleep with it in a tangled lump on my pillow. The Glossi attachment is the best blow-dry attachment of any multi-styler I've ever tried— it made my hair smoother, shinier, and much more manageable.
The next morning, on day two, I used the new Silki straightener attachment in an attempt to smooth my ends and face-framing pieces. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to maneuver Silki without causing creases or dents in my hair, but once I got the hang of it, this straightened just as well as my beloved CHI. It's a little bulky, so using Silki near your roots can be a little tricky, but on mid-length and ends, it's a dream.
My pros:
My cons:
Hair type: 3B—thick, curly, and medium length
Initial thoughts: I've been using the original Shark FlexStyle since I first got my hands on it two years ago, so I was intrigued and excited to try out the new and improved version, AKA the Shark Glam. I immediately noticed that it weighs significantly less than the older model and includes new modes for wet and dry hair. As someone who uses the diffuser attachment on my wet-styled hair daily, I looked forward to seeing how the new mode made a difference in my process.
How I used it: While all the attachments are incredibly clutch, my daily use for the Shark Glam is pretty much limited to the diffuser. The new diffuser attachment is pretty much identical to the original one and features two lengths to reach the roots and ends of my hair. After throwing on a deep conditioner, curl cream, and flexible hold hairspray, I switch between both while using the highest air pressure and temperature settings.
I was most excited to try the new wet hair setting on the Shark Glam, and it made all the difference. Honestly, I'm not sure if the air pressure and heat settings are readjusted on the wet versus dry settings, but it's magical either way. With my old styler (and after a few years of losing its juice), I'd finish styling my hair in 10 to 15 minutes. With the new one, it only took me eight. And as someone who would rather not spend so much time on my hair, I'm obsessed with that.
My pros:
My cons:
Hair type: Straight, fine, and fragile
Initial thoughts: I've used the original Shark FlexStyle many times (I'm a bit of a connoisseur of Dyson Airwrap dupes in pursuit of good hair and a good deal). It's a really solid tool, especially for the price, but it didn't quite push me over the edge to fully swap out my Airwrap. I use the Airwrap every single day because the round brush is legit perfect to style my full bangs. But with all the new attachments and heat settings on the Shark Glam, I was optimistic it could give me other go-to tools a run for their money.
How I used it: The first attachment I tested was the air straightener on dry hair. I have the Dyson Airstrait and love it, so I wanted to see if this would live up to those expectations. My hair got shockingly smooth and shiny after only a few minutes of use. It was so easy to quickly touch up my hair at the end of the day. The next day, I tested the air straightener on wet hair to see just how quickly I could dry my hair. This immediately became my favorite, having not even tested any of the other attachments. I can dry and completely style my hair in five minutes flat. I just know this is going to be a lifesaver when I'm short on time.
Obviously, I had to give the other tools a shot too. I started with the round brush, which as stated before, had pretty strong competition. While it was a smidge too large for my short lil bangs, it was fantastic for my hair. Honestly, IDK which I prefer to dry and style with now—this smoothing round brush or the air straightener. They both get my hair dry quickly but don't leave it feeling fried.
Finally, I played around with the curl attachments. Obviously, my hair is quite short, so these aren't gonna be the cascading, long waves you see on social media. But they do help add a little texture and bounce to my otherwise flat hair. Grabbing small, 1" sections was key here to get the best curl, since the barrels are shorter. It's air, so of course they aren't going to last like a curling iron would. However, when I blast it with the cold shot for 10 seconds, this helps set the curl and definitely increases longevity. Hairspray is also my best friend with these curls—I spritz all over after each section for optimal hold.
My pros:
My cons:
While most air stylers are designed for use exclusively on wet hair, the Shark Glam takes things to a whole new level. With a range of heat and speed settings depending on if you're styling wet or dry, this tool really can replace a lot of the other ones you've already got sitting in your drawers right now. What we love most, though, is that it's inclusive to all hair types, including curly and coily hair, meaning legit everyone can get use out of it. If you've used the original Shark FlexStyle, be prepared for a huge upgrade with the Glam, which all three of our editors fell in love with during their testing.
Shop the Shark Glam
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from the best curly hair brushes to the best conditioners for curly hair. She also worked with beauty editor Lauren Balsamo and assistant news editor Sam Olson on this review.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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