During the Berlin IFA show, Shark demonstrated its new styling tool, the FlexStyle, capable of drying, straightening or curling hair. Very strongly inspired by the Dyson Airwrap, it is launched much cheaper than it.
Alongside its stick vacuums and robots, Shark gave a massive demonstration of its new styling tool at IFA. The American manufacturer proudly exhibited its FlexStyle, a versatile styler that can only remind us of Dyson’s Airwrap, from which it seems to be very strongly inspired. And for good reason, the FlexStyle is a styler that not only allows you to dry your hair, but also to straighten it, wave it or even give it volume.
For this, the styling tool comes with several tips that are grafted one by one to the structure of the device by simply clipping. To date, five accessories are compatible: a flat drying nozzle, a diffuser to define curls, a roller to wave, a round brush for volume and a straightening brush. A twist of the contraption is enough to transform it into a hair dryer or “ultra-versatile multi-styler”.
The Dyson inspiration is obvious and even goes so far as to exploit the physical phenomenon Coanda, the process of which consists of propelling a very rapid flow of air over a profiled surface to give the hair the desired shape. Shark therefore exploits the technology that made – in part – the success of the Dyson Airwrap.
If that were not enough, the American manufacturer also communicates (like its English competitor) on respect for the hair. Without committing to a maximum drying temperature, Shark specifies that his styler “uses air and low heat to dry and style instead of higher heat, which helps prevent damage and promotes healthier, longer-lasting styles”.
In the little game of differences, we can however grant that the Shark FlexStyle is compatible with all hair types (including type 4: frizzy, very curly), which was not the case with the first version of the Airwrap from Dyson. But what further sets the FlexStyle apart from its competitor is its price, as it launched in the US at $250.
And where the British firm’s styler comes with all the accessories, the American’s comes with three tips, at the user’s choice. Remember that this is not the first time that Shark has stepped on Dyson’s toes. Manufacturers’ stick vacuum cleaners have many similarities. Recently, Shark presented its Style IQ in France, a hair dryer with characteristics very similar to those of the Dyson Supersonic. It’s a safe bet that the FlexStyle will be marketed in France, but to date no date has been announced.