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CNET
a day ago
- CNET
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. Dyson vs. Shark: Comparison table undefined Feature Dyson Airwrap Shark FlexFusion Price $599 $349 Attachments included 6 4 Heat settings 2 heat settings + cool shot 3 heat settings + cool shot Technology Coanda effect Coanda effect Cord length 8.5 ft 8.0 ft Hair types supported Mostly for fine to medium hair thicknesses Works well on all hair types, including thick and curly 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. Nasha Addarich Martínez/CNET 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 Nasha Addarich Martínez/CNET 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 Nasha Addarich Martínez/CNET 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.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
I tried the shiny new GHD gadget beauty insiders are raving about right now. Here's my honest review
When a new product piques the interest of beauty editors, you know it's something to pay attention to, so when ghd unveiled its first triple waver earlier this month - it got the lifestyle team talking. As someone who has incredibly fine and painfully straight hair, I've spent years willing it to give me some sort of movement, an ounce of bounce, just a hint of a wave. I've spent hours teasing it with curling wands, as a child I'd beg my mum to rag it overnight, which never worked, and I've spent the past two decades attempting and failing to master techniques with my ghd straighteners. I've obviously never actually needed them to straighten my hair. A tight curl that drops is the best I've been able to achieve and when it comes to beachy wave vibes, that's always been a pipe dream – until now. The new ghd Wave is seriously impressive and in a matter of minutes I was able to create beautiful, bouncy waves. The three-barrel unit is the first professional triple waver from the iconic hair tool brand, and it absolutely delivers on it's claims. Trust me, if I can create effortless waves, it must be universal. It's not only super speedy, but the ghd Wave is also foolproof to use. Hold the piece of hair, open the waver, slide it across your hair, close and hold for between five to eight seconds. Release and move down the hair. The previous waves show you exactly where to place the tool too, so it's incredibly user-friendly. Not only is my hair rather reluctant to be forced into a curl or wave, but it just won't hold for long either, it's feeble, so the time spent teasing it often outweighs the duration it looks good. Not true with the Wave. On my first attempt it took me just five minutes so with a little practice I imagine I'll get slightly quicker. Five minutes is considerably shorter than the 40 minutes it usually takes me to try and curl it. The waves also lasted all day and I made a point of just putting a light mist of hair spray so I could really test the holding power. This step did make the overall look less polished and I did brush it through, but I like messier waves. Given how bone straight my tresses are, any inconsistencies are noticeable so if I curl my hair and mess one up, it's obvious and stands out. The waves created with the new ghd buy are relaxed, they are uniform but there are no creases that stand out. This is down to the soft curved edges of the waver which alleviate indentations, which really stand out in super straight hair like mine. Initially I didn't go all the way to the ends of my strands but I did revisit this to ensure waves throughout the entire length of my hair. You probably can't get as close to your scalp as you can with straighteners but it doesn't matter as wide, loose waves are created and appear to add volume from the root. The tool heats quickly to 185 degrees, where it remains consistently while in use. ghd has identified this temperature as optimum for styling and to protect hair from excessive heat damage. The Wave boasts an in-built stand meaning you can put it down safely and there's also an automatic sleep mode if you've not used it for 60 minutes. Priced at $290, the waver is somewhat more affordable than other ghd products but you can tell that it is a quality piece of kit that will last a long time, an assurance of reliability that the brand is known for. The tool launched earlier this month but it's already racked up glowing reviews on the website. One user who gave the product five stars titled their review 'Foolproof Hair-salon Waves!' 'This waving tool has given me so much more confidence in styling my hair and the amount of compliments I get after a 5 minute job, is incredible! Thank you for making something so foolproof and giving me long-lasting beach waves all day; every day!' Another raved: 'Love it. Really quick and easy to use to get nice waves. You also don't have to section your hair off as much as normal curler which saves a lot of time. Anyone can use it which is great.' A number of people shared that they found the tool heavy and noted that it was large and took up some space. I didn't find it heavy personally and I'd be put off by a flimsy tool, but when the box arrived I did think it was on the larger side so if space is a premium where you live it might not be for you. Those minor points of feedback aside, the Wave is an excellent tool to create really lovely waves in such a short period of time. The Wave comes just months after ghd launched the Chronos Max earlier this year. Dubbed the 'ultimate hair styling tool' it delivers exceptionally quick styling that lasts and leaves you hair a glass-like shine. The straighteners boast large high gloss plates and advanced technology to tease hair into the perfect look, eliminating frizz but without extreme heat damage to hair. The Chronos Max have larger plates than the original so you can tackle larger sections of your hair in less time. Just like the Chronos Max, the Wave is perfect for time-poor and you don't need to be a professional to achieve a salon quality look. To shop the ghd Wave click here or to see the deals in the ghd frenzy sale to get up to 25 per cent off the most popular products, click here.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I tested Kmart's $59 gadget against Dyson's $850 Airwrap - and I couldn't believe the results
Savvy Aussie shoppers on the hunt for an affordable hair tool have discovered a $59 item from Kmart that works just as well - if not 'better' - than a Dyson Airwrap. Lisa Davenport has put the budget-friendly Air Styler to the test to see how it compares to the hugely popular, high-end brand priced between $599 to $849. The lifestyle and beauty content creator, also known as the Hampton Housewife on social media, filmed herself curling one side of her hair with the Kmart model and the other with the Dyson. Much to her surprise, the bouncy curls from the Kmart styler appeared to hold up better than those from its pricier rival. 'I did a side-by-side comparison… and I'm shocked at the result,' the Aussie mum said in her Instagram Reels. 'One side styled with my Dyson the other with the Kmart dupe with results I didn't expect.' Lisa said the Kmart tool was a perfect, affordable alternative - especially for shoppers who can't afford to fork out hundreds of dollars on big name brands. 'I love that there's an affordable option for this sort of style and it's good,' she said. 'I couldn't believe how good it was.' Her video has been viewed more than 310,000 times - with many Kmart shoppers confirming it's the 'best' hair styling tool. 'I have the Kmart one and it is fabulous. Now everyday is a good hair day... I can do it in 10-15 minutes... go to work and it's still fab when I get home,' one raved. 'It is an absolutely amazing product - I love it,' another revealed. Many said they couldn't wait to give the tool a go after seeing Lisa's glowing review - while others revealed they have been struggling to find it in stock. 'Everyone is running to Kmart there will be none left,' one said, laughing. Many agreed the cheaper version was 'better'. 'Wow! I actually like the Kmart one better, it gives more bounce,' one said. 'Kmart wins,' another shared. 'Wow - great comparison,' one suggested. 'Wow that's crazy - go Kmart,' another added. She filmed herself curling one side of hair with the Kmart model and the other with the Dyson The sell-out Air Styler from Kmart has been flying off the shelves, with some fans claiming it's 'giving Dyson a run for its money' after achieving bouncy, wavy curls for a fraction of the price. The hair tool comes with four attachments: left side curler, right side curler, 32mm brush and hair dryer nozzle. It features three speed and heat settings, a self-clean function, and a three gear temperature display lights. With a near perfect rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, it's safe to say customers are obsessed with the Kmart product. 'I was super surprised! I was very skeptical... (but) I love it. It's amazing and easy to use,' one said. 'Great Air Styler and gives my daughter's Dyson a run for it's money, brush is wider but shorter... There's a nozzle and two curling attachments, three temperatures although the hottest is too hot. Works well and great price. Brilliant,' another shared. 'The Kmart Air Styler is amazing. As good if not better than the Dyson. If you can find one buy it,' one revealed. 'I was looking for a styler that automatically sucked the hair around as I am useless with trying to curl with a straighter. After 10 minutes of trial and error, I mastered this one. It works well on my thin, medium-length hair, takes less than 10 minutes to do and lasts all day. I have bleached hair and have not noticed any damage or dryness from using this, although I do protect my hair well and only use it maybe once a week,' another added.
CNN
12-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNN
Ulta Beauty is secretly taking up to 30% off hair tools from Shark, Drybar and more
If you want to elevate your hairstyling routine, I found a golden opportunity to upgrade your arsenal at a fraction of the cost. Ulta Beauty secretly slashed up to 30% off a wide selection of hair tools and accessories, including popular brands like Drybar, T3 and Tangle Teezer. From salon-quality blow-dryers to versatile curling irons, the discounts span the Ghd Flat Iron, renowned for its sleek design and smoothing results, to the Shark Flexstyle, a favorite for its ability to dry and style simultaneously. Refresh your beauty collection with these limited-time deals on hair tools that we've tested or hail from brands we love. Shark HD430 Flexstyle Air Styling and Drying System for Straight and Wavy Hair Diffuse, curl, smooth — you name it, the Shark Flexstyle does it all. This multi-styling system has captivated our experts, editors and readers alike for years. At Ulta, it's down to just $240, a great value when you think about the hot tools it'll replace in the long run. Read our review Ghd 1-Inch Platinum+ Styler Flat Iron For sleek, pin-straight hair, look no further than this top-tier styler from one of our favorite flat iron brands. It's bolstered with tech that recognizes the thickness of your hair and the speed at which you are styling to adjust its power accordingly. Drybar The Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush The first-ever hair dryer brush I liked was the Double Shot from Drybar. It felt like the only one that excelled at drying my hair while creating voluminous, smooth strands rather than slightly damp and frizzy hair. Wet Brush Go Green Scalp First Exfoliator I need to double shampoo to feel a true clean, and on that first run, I go in with a scalp massager. This one from Wet Brush features a combination of thin and thick bristles to run gently through wet hair. It's also made with trace amounts of lavender oil for a total spa experience. Tangle Teezer The Chrome Ultimate Detangler in Champagne Gold Give your hair a break by reaching for these detangling brushes that landed the top spot in our best hairbrush testing. Many of our editors (me, included) keep it handy in their own rotation. Snag this chic chrome design while it's on sale. T3 Aire IQ Intelligent Hair Dryer This buzzy hair dryer has rocketed in popularity for its smart capabilities. For example, it automatically adjusts heat and airflow based on your hair texture. It also has a built-in memory storage to keep your personalized settings ready each time you pick it up. INH Triple Barrel Hair Waver Now that we're inching closer and closer to summer, mermaid waves will no doubt start rotating back into hair trends. Get ahead of the game while this triple-barrel crimper is maxing out the Ulta sale discount of 30% off. Bio Ionic Long-Barrel Curling Iron If you have extra-long hair, don't sacrifice your curly hairstyles. Bio Ionic's Long-Barrel Curling Iron is 2 inches longer than most curling irons, making it much easier to curl. I also appreciate that it comes with an automatic shutoff for those who are a little forgetful. L'ange Le Duo 360 Airflow Styler A great option for curly, thick hair types, according to hairstylists we consulted for our best flat irons roundup, this styler from L'ange is equipped with cooling air vents to better lock in hairstyles and boost shine. Get it for $59 exclusively online. Shark SmoothStyle Designed to simultaneously straighten and smooth hair, this heated comb and blow-dryer brush puts in the work for you. It also features a wet-to-dry volumizing effect with its ceramic-coated plates. It's all yours for 30% off at Ulta. It's quite rare to see such an impressive lineup of hair tools and accessories from top-tier brands marked down as much as 30% off. You'd usually expect these sorts of mass savings during a major sales holiday. While it may be too late to buy a gift for Mom, the sale was curated especially for Mother's Day. You can always treat yourself or snag a belated present, though, and with offerings this good, it's likely she won't mind the wait. Armed with years of experience testing and reviewing beauty products, plus expertise covering sales on said picks, our deals editor Jacqueline Saguin curated a list of only the best makeup, skin care, hair care and fragrance deals for your wallet, mostly including those products other CNN Underscored editors buy themselves.
CNN
09-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNN
Ulta Beauty is secretly taking up to 30% off hair tools from Shark, Drybar and more
If you want to elevate your hair styling routine, I found a golden opportunity to upgrade your arsenal at a fraction of the cost. Ulta Beauty secretly slashed up to 30% off a wide selection of hair tools and accessories, including popular brands like Drybar, T3 and Tangle Teezer. From salon-quality blow dryers to versatile curling irons, the discounts span the Ghd Flat Iron, renowned for its sleek design and smoothing results, to the Shark Flexstyle, a favorite for its ability to dry and style simultaneously. Refresh your beauty collection with these limited-time deals on hair tools that we've tested or hail from brands we love. Shark HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System for Straight and Wavy Hair Diffuse, curl, smooth — you name it, the Shark Flexstyle does it all. This multi-styling system has captivated our experts, editors and readers alike for years. At Ulta, it's down to just $240, a great value when you think about the hot tools it'll replace in the long run. Read our review Ghd 1-Inch Platinum+ Styler Flat Iron For sleek, pin-straight hair, look no further than this top-tier styler from one of our favorite flat iron brands. It's bolstered with tech that recognizes the thickness of your hair and the speed at which you are styling to adjust its power accordingly. Drybar The Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush The first-ever hair dryer brush I liked was The Double Shot from Drybar. It felt like the only one that excelled at drying my hair while creating voluminous, smooth strands, rather than slightly damp and frizzy hair. Wet Brush Go Green Scalp First Exfoliator I need to double shampoo to feel a true clean, and on that first run, I go in with a scalp massager. This one from Wet Brush features a combination of thin and thick bristles to run gently through wet hair. It's also made with trace amounts of lavender oil for the total spa experience. Tangle Teezer The Chrome Ultimate Detangler in Champagne Gold Give your hair a break by reaching for these detangling brushes that landed the top spot in our best hair brush testing. Many of our editors (me, included) keep it handy in their own rotation of hair care. Snag this chic chrome design while it's on sale. T3 Aire IQ Intelligent Hair Dryer This buzzy hair dryer has rocketed to popularity for its smart capabilities. For example, it automatically adjusts heat and airflow to your hair texture. It also has a built-in memory storage to keep your personalized settings ready each time you pick it up. INH Triple Barrel Hair Waver Now that we're inching closer and closer to summer, mermaid waves will no doubt start rotating back into hair trends. Get ahead of the game while this triple-barrel crimper is maxing out the Ulta sale discount of 30% off. Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling Iron If you have extra-long hair, don't sacrifice your curly hairstyles. Bio Ionic's Long Barrel Curling Iron is 2 inches longer than most curling irons, making it much easier to curl. I also appreciate that it comes with an automatic shut-off for those who are a little forgetful. L'ange Le Duo 360 Airflow Styler A great option for curly, thick hair types, according to hairstylists we consulted in our flat iron tests, this styler from L'ange is equipped with cooling air vents to better lock in hairstyles and boost shine. Get it for $59 exclusively online. Shark SmoothStyle Designed to simultaneously straighten and smooth hair, this heated comb and blow dryer brush puts in the work for you. It also features a wet-to-dry volumizing effect with its ceramic-coated plates. It's all yours for 30% off at Ulta. It's quite rare to see such an impressive lineup of styling tools and accessories from top-tier brands marked down as much as 30% off. You'd usually expect these sorts of mass savings during a major sales holiday. While it may be too late to buy a gift for mom, the sale is curated especially for Mother's Day. You can always treat yourself or snag a belated present, and with offerings this good, it's likely she won't mind the wait. Armed with years of experience testing and reviewing beauty products, plus expertise covering sales on said picks, our deals editor Jacqueline Saguin curated a list of only the best makeup, skin care, hair care and fragrance deals for your wallet, mostly including those products other Underscored editors buy themselves.
