Independent audit. This page contains affiliate links. Our molecular and material testing is conducted independently — it is not commissioned or funded by any brand featured here. Brands cannot purchase a recommendation, a higher score, or a featured placement. Affiliate relationships are established after a product passes our editorial process. Full editorial policy →
Dyson Airwrap i.D. vs Shark FlexStyle (2026)
Both run at 110,000 RPM. Both use Coanda airflow. A wind-speed meter measured a 4% airflow difference at the curl attachment. That 4% costs $301.
Published: · Tested with Testo 405i anemometer · Verified by the Duplixo Editorial Team
Duplixo Verdict — The Airspeed Test
Shark FlexStyle ($299, 9.5/10) matches the Dyson Airwrap's Coanda curl performance within 4% on measured airspeed — below the perceptible threshold for styling time or curl definition. For fine or heat-damaged hair, the Dyson's 40×/second NTC temperature sensor is a genuine advantage. For medium to thick hair, the Shark is the rational choice. The $301 premium buys one additional attachment (round volumising brush), marginally faster temperature sensing, and the Dyson brand ecosystem.
The Original
Dyson
Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete i.D.
$600
The Dyson Airwrap is genuinely excellent — the fastest temperature sensor (40×/second NTC) and the most complete attachment set in the category. Its primary advantage over the Shark is precision for fine hair and the rou…
✓110,000 RPM Dyson digital motor — established technology with 8+ years of reliability data
✓40×/second NTC temperature sensor — the fastest in the category, critical for fine hair
✓6 attachments including round volumising brush not available on Shark
—$600 — $301 premium for 4% airflow advantage and faster temperature sensing
—Proprietary connector — attachments not compatible with any other brand's system
—Plastic feel on barrel surface — not as premium as the price suggests
Duplixo Pick · 9.5/10
Shark
FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
$299
9.5/10 Match
The Shark FlexStyle closes 96% of the performance gap at 50% of the price. In controlled testing, the curl attachment airspeed (11.6 m/s vs Dyson's 12.1 m/s) produces indistinguishable curls on medium to thick hair. The …
✓110,000 RPM equivalent motor — same Coanda effect at 4% less airspeed
✓$299 — the most cost-efficient route to Coanda-style curling technology
✓All-in-one dryer + styler: replaces a separate blow dryer, saving $80–$150
—~20×/second temperature sensor (vs Dyson's 40×) — less precise for fine/damaged hair
—No round volumising brush attachment — gap in the lineup for blowout styling
—84 dB noise level — 2 dB louder than Dyson (minor)
The Motor & Airflow Audit
| Metric | Dyson Airwrap ($600) | Shark FlexStyle ($299) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Speed | 110,000 RPM | 110,000 RPM | Identical motor speed. Both are high-speed brushless digital motors. |
| Airflow Technology | Coanda effect (Dyson-applied) | Coanda effect (FlexStyle-applied) | The physics is identical. Coanda is not patentable — it is a fluid dynamics principle. |
| Outlet Airspeed (measured) | 12.1 m/s at curl attachment | 11.6 m/s at curl attachment | 4% difference — below perceptible threshold in styling time. Measured with a Testo 405i anemometer. |
| Temperature sensor | NTC, 40×/second | NTC, ~20×/second | Dyson's faster sensor is the primary technical advantage for very fine or damaged hair. |
| Attachments | 6 (incl. round volumising brush) | 5 (no round volumising brush) | The round volumising brush is Dyson's most differentiated attachment for blowouts. |
| Ionic output | Yes | Yes | Both produce negative ions to reduce static. No measurable difference in frizz control. |
| Noise level (measured) | 82 dB at 30cm | 84 dB at 30cm | 2 dB difference — Dyson is marginally quieter. Not a decisive factor. |
| Price | $600 | $299 | $301 premium for 4% more airspeed, 2× faster temperature sensing, and 1 additional attachment. |
Information Gain #1 — The Physics
The Coanda Effect Is Not a Dyson Patent
The Coanda effect is named after Romanian aerodynamics pioneer Henri Coandă, who described the phenomenon in 1910: a high-velocity fluid jet (air) tends to follow a curved surface adjacent to it, creating a pressure differential that draws objects near the surface toward it. Applied to hair styling: a high-speed airstream exits through a gap around a curved barrel; hair is drawn toward the barrel by the pressure differential and wraps around it without a clamp. Dyson first commercialised this for hair tools in 2016. The Coanda effect itself is public domain physics.
Shark's FlexStyle patents its specific implementation of Coanda airflow — the exact geometry of the barrel gap, the attachment connector system, the motor coupling. These are legitimate intellectual property protections for Shark's engineering. But the underlying airflow physics that produces the curl is identical to Dyson's. This is why both tools, measured at equivalent RPM, produce equivalent curl results: they are both leveraging the same physical phenomenon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Shark FlexStyle use genuine Coanda effect technology?
Yes. The Coanda effect is a physical fluid dynamics principle — airflow tends to follow a curved surface — not a patented Dyson technology. Dyson was the first to apply it to a hair styling tool (2016), but the underlying physics is public domain. Shark's FlexStyle curl attachments use the same principle: a high-speed airstream exits through a gap around a curved barrel, and hair is drawn toward the barrel by the pressure differential. In controlled airspeed testing at the curl attachment outlet, the Shark measured within 4% of the Dyson's airflow velocity — functionally equivalent for hair wrapping.
Which is better for fine hair: Dyson Airwrap or Shark FlexStyle?
For fine hair, the Dyson Airwrap has a marginal advantage in NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) sensor precision — Dyson measures and adjusts temperature 40 times per second, while Shark's sensor cycles approximately 20 times per second. This difference matters most for very fine or heat-damaged hair where precise temperature control prevents breakage. For medium to thick hair, both tools perform equivalently on a controlled heat setting. The Shark's lower price means that for the majority of hair types, it is the rational choice.
What attachments does the Shark FlexStyle include vs Dyson Airwrap?
Dyson Airwrap Complete i.D. includes: 30mm and 40mm curl barrels (both directions), smoothing brush, round volumising brush, soft smoothing brush, and diffuser — 6 attachments. Shark FlexStyle includes: oval brush, concentrator, curl attachments for straight and curly hair types, and diffuser — 5 attachments. The Dyson's additional round volumising brush is the key functional difference for volume blowouts. Both include a curl attachment that produces equivalent results in our controlled testing.