Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System HD440S

I like the Shark Flex Style Kit - my second order was perfect and I’m happy with the product itself. But my first order was a mess - the website glitched, dropped two of the three free promotional attachments, and still checked me out. Customer service told me tough luck - either pay for return postage on the two unopened boxes (around $23) or… Read more

reject delivery, which wasn’t possible since the parcels were just left at my door. Even after explaining it was a website error, they wouldn’t cover return shipping.

Okay products, but very poor and inflexible customer service when something goes wrong, so be careful when placing any orders!

Short hair review – I am 70 years old and have a layered chin-length bob. This styler is promoted as being “For All Hair Kinds.” I did not find this to be true. The brushes and barrels are far too big to use for my length hair. And with any of the attachments on it it is ridiculously long. You would have to be a contortionist to do anything with the back of your hair… Read more

with this, especially with 70-year-old shoulders! Luckily I was able to sell it to a young friend who has long hair.

Happy with purchase – Couldn’t be happier, took a bit to get use to but dryer is fantastic, dries hair quickly and airwrap curlers give beautiful curls with body !! I’m an ex hairdresser and impressed with this product. My advice is to curl at 80-90% dry. I purchased the Malibu limited edition and a bit annoyed it didn’t come with box to store but still can’t complain. Show details

A hair stylist in a box however the Shark FlexStyle Air & Drying System is not for everyone – I recently had the opportunity to try out the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System as part of the Product Review Ambassador program. It has taken time to master a new way for me to style my hair. I am sure you have read many reviews so I hope mine is also helpful. I am very happy to answer any questions you may have. My first impression… Read more ·  2

of the Shark flexstyle was very impressive. I love the carry case, plus the look and colour of the dryer and accessories. This is a quality made product and packaging was excellent.

My hair is fine and wavy, shoulder length. I'm not experienced in modern hairstyling so I found using the auto wrap curlers to be quite simple to use. I've tried multiple times trying to use a hair straightener to curl like you see on all the videos unsuccessfully. With a curling wand, the curls would drop out. I gained excellent results the first time I tried the flexstyle just by watching the short videos supplied by Shark using only heat protectant on my hair. The auto wrap curlers gently suck the hair around the rod. And I mean so gentle, you cannot feel it! Now that is clever technology.

I love the large round brush to give me volume, something you need with fine hair. The bristles grip my fine hair really well.

The cool air button helps quickly to set the style you have created.

I am yet to use the curl defining diffuser as I am still learning about how to create curls with my very wavy hair. I will update this post when I have given that a go as there is lots to learn and a bit of a process and requires skill.

Now after using the system for over a month I have become very critical from my first time using it.

NOISE. I do not use the dryer to semi dry my hair before styling as recommended in the instructions. The noise is painfully too loud for my hearing. Instead I use my salon type hair dryer and a paddle brush to dry my hair to styling stage. I guess ear plugs could be used if the Shark flexstyle is all you have.

THE COOL BUTTON. It is annoyingly difficult to locate being flat. By the time you fumble your way to find it your hair and head is starting to get very hot. Luckily I can guarantee, with practice you will find it easier to find. This button should be raised. See photo.

PADDLE FLAT BRUSH. Totally useless for my type of fine fair. It is difficult to grip my hair. I have tried using it many times and have given up. Maybe great for people wanting a slick, straight look. It removes all volume but not flyaways.

OVAL BRUSH. It is large and limits your styling. Hopefully a smaller oval brush will be brought out. A smaller oval brush should also be part of the set.

AUTO-WRAP CURLS. I have no problem using these. I tend to use one and change my arm position for left or right curls to save time changing them over. I really wish they were longer. I would like to have small, medium and large sizes. The one offered is limiting your curl size.

THE CASE. I thought it was a needed accessory to house everything. I don't use it as it takes up too much room in my bathroom. It also weighs 1.3kg so not the sort of thing to take on a plane, but perfect for road travel or a cruise. There is room for other accessories in it. Such a shame Shark does not provide a few clips and a comb in the set.

POWER CORD RECTANGLE BOX. I can see due to its position, it can easily hit the floor and may crack on tiles. Just be careful plugging in the dryer to avoid any mishaps with this plastic box. See photo.

The Shark FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System offers an effective solution for hair styling needs if the person is starting out with very little equipment or perfect for the person struggling to achieve hair styles that will last and would then make the perfect gift. However, if the person already owns all the latest styling gadgets unlike me, then save your $500.

This would be a perfect gift for a teenager starting out in hairstyling or someone who finds hairstyling difficult as it is so easy to use.

With the results I am achieving in a short period of time, I will continue to put up with all the negative aspects I experienced that would put many others off using. I cut my own hair using the Brad Mondo 'wolf' cut and the Shark FlexStyle is a perfect tool to achieve the look I am after for this style.

There are many youtube tutorials for this type of system to help you become your own hairstylist. Just imagine all the money you will save on salon visits. No more flat hair.

Better than the ‘competitor’ for everything but curls – I have very long hair with a natural wave and propensity to frizz. I own the direct competitor’s tool which I really like. I was sent the Shark for a trial and was thrilled to see a nicer storage box, a better selection of hot brushes and a superior handpiece that both pivots and has easy to use button controls. The Shark has incredible capacity… Read more

with power and heat which produces a soft and wide wave. Both blow-drying and the hot brush produce a better result. I followed the instructions for the curling barrels and used the cool shot until cool to get a nice bouncy curl.

This tool should be the winner…it genuinely is a great multitool.

But…

What I really want are simple soft curls that last for days…

My curls start out great, but by the end of the day, my curls disappear which isn’t a problem with my ‘competitor’ small barrel curler where my waves stay in place until the next wash…

I suspect this is to do with the width of the Shark’s curling barrel, which falls between the small and large barrel for the competitor.

My only guess is that the Shark curling barrel is too wide for my hair type and length to hold a curl.

Depending on your hair length and type, this it may not even be a problem for you. I wish there was a narrower barrel, but this is my personal preference to get a long lasting curl.

Honestly, I really think the Shark is pretty excellent.

Would I buy this over the competitor?

Well…I keep reaching for the Shark styler for daily use despite owning the ‘competitor’. If you don’t mind refreshing your curls on the daily, it’s an excellent buy.

Give it a go!

Quality, effective, reasonably priced – For someone trying to decide between the Shark flexstyle and its competitor, I personally feel the Shark comes out on top. For the significantly lower price point of the Shark, having to switch between left and right barrels is not too much of an issue, and when using it on myself I found it easier to just stick with the one and hold it facing up… Read more

on one side of my head and pointing down on the other. The Shark seems a bit louder, the buttons are less accessible while in use, and when I'm going for a dead straight silky smooth finish I am not able to achieve that as easily with the Shark but none of these small issues are worth an extra $400 to me, so the Shark is a much more accessible way to own a similar product achieving similar results. 

I found using the hot-air-barrel curling method took some getting used to when first moving from using either regular straighteners or a regular curling wand, but with some playing around with what works best for your own hair, once you have it down, it gives amazing results. Trying out the Shark curling barrels on the various heads in our household, I found depending on thickness and texture some needed to be drier than others before curling, and I needed more product than I do with a regular curling wand for the curls to last the full day. With some patience and experimenting there was a sweet spot for all of the long hair I tried it on. This product says it is for use on medium-long hair and this is definitely true for the curling barrels, even medium length hair with very choppy layers is awkward as it doesn't suck in evenly. I would purchase an extra accessory if the Shark had the option of a smaller width curling barrel, for tighter curls or use on shorter hair.

As with all curling devices it's important to make the curls hot, then cool them right down and let them sit for a bit before running your fingers through or breaking them up at all, for the longest lasting results. Having the option to have the barrel running hot and then adjust the temp to cool (or use the cool shot button if you find that easier) makes this part of the process fast and easy.

As a hairdryer it is definitely more powerful than any regular hair dryer I've used. The concentrator is great for directing the airflow to the exact spot you want it. I loved the swivel feature, making it feel like a regular hairdryer to hold. If moving from a regular hairdryer though it feels natural to hold it at the bottom and cover up the vents, which can be annoying to start with, but no-one is buying this as just a straight swap out for just a hairdryer, so for all the other features/accessories it is worth reworking the muscle memory to hold it differently, and doesn't take long to get used to.

The diffuser worked well for me, and I love the adjustability of the heat settings - especially with this attachment where the ability to have it blowing cool without having to manually hold in a cool shot button is so convenient. The ability to diffuse without heat is great. For the family member with super thick long hair, we found the diffuser not big enough and so drying took ages having to work in small sections. My hair is thinner and fit in well, so I loved this accessory for keeping natural curls.

The brushes both seem to do much the same job as each other for me. I have a rotating/spinning blowout brush from another brand which I love for giving extreme volume and smoothing - neither of the Shark's brushes rotate/spin, yet they still achieved the same volumising result without doing so. They grip the hair really well for perfect tension - and did on every length of hair I tried them on, including short hair. I struggled to get a super sleek straight finish that would replace the need for my separate straighteners, but to be fair I haven't played around with this as much as with the curling/drying/diffusing features so I possibly just need to persist to find the way that works for my hair best with the brushes.

Having the case to keep everything neatly together in is convenient. It is not small - I don't feel like having an all in one tool saves all that much space compared to having multiple tools honestly, but it does save switching out plugs, and simplifies the process. Overall a really good product jam-packed with features that does a great job at a realistic price.

Unbeatable value for money – When I was sent the Shark FlexStyle to test and review, I’d never heard of it to be honest. I already have a competitor’s hairdryer and straightener that I use daily. Firstly I was surprised to see it came in a case that was very sturdy and substantial. It’s a great case to keep the appliance and all its bits together in. (It’s such a good… Read more

idea and a real shame these types of appliances don’t all come in a suitable case.) It’s way too big to travel with though, and I probably wouldn’t take all the attachments anyway.

The FlexStyle also comes with a cardboard insert in the case that shows a few simple bits of information for the auto wrap curling attachments, quite helpful when starting out. And there is also a small booklet covering each of the attachment uses – this is also a great inclusion.

For some reason it took me a minute to twig to how to convert it from the straight wand to the hairdryer but do it once and you’ll never forget. I was trying to push it forward instead of swivel to the left. A true head slap moment once I realised.

There are 3 heat settings and 3 airflow settings as well as a cool shot button to be used as needed. The included booklet points out the recommended settings for each attachment.

It’s very simple to fit the attachments and then change them. Be careful though because they can be quite hot. It comes with a paddle brush, round/oval brush, diffuser, styling concentrator, and 2 auto wrap curlers (a left and a right).

I have fine shoulder length layered hair, so I found the brushes were awkward for me. They felt too large - smaller would be better. If my hair was longer or thicker, perhaps they’d be easier to use. And whilst the paddle brush is recommended for straightening hair, I am so used to using a dedicated straightener, I did not find this easy to do. Nor did I find it straightened my hair like I like to have it. This is very likely a simple technique issue, meaning I am lacking in coordination. I finished off with my straightener and it took no time at all. There is no doubt my fine hair has more body using the brushes.

The wand and attachments feel sturdy and substantial, not flimsy or cheap. Once you add the brush to the wand, it’s significantly longer than any straightener I have used, and I struggled. It felt quite awkward to me in my small hands. See the photo's for size comparison to my dryer and straightener.

I constantly felt like my hand was in the wrong position on the wand/hairdryer. Either I was covering the vent or inadvertently leaning on the cool button. I don’t know if it’s just because it’s different than I’m used to. I suspect I always feel this way when I change hair appliances because I use them daily and generally keep using them for long periods. I’ve used my current hairdryer every day for 6 years.

Something I found weird is the angle of the hairdryer. Once you convert it from the wand, it’s not 90° and quite different to what I am used to. It’s not much different but I found it frequently not pointing quite where I intended, and I had to adjust.

I have fine hair and it dries pretty fast. This appliance was no different, and very comparable to the Dyson.

As with any new gadget it takes a bit of practice to get familiar with it and the attachments, but it’s absolutely worth it. I’ve mentioned I found it awkward many times above, but do not let that deter you. I am very much a creature of habit, but even I will persevere and can see a future for the FlexStyle in my life. I’m pretty happy to have it regardless of my small hands and being stuck in my ways. I can't give it a 5 star review as it didn't all gel for me straight out of the box.

I love my Dyson products, but they are pricey.

For a RRP of $499, you just can’t beat the FlexStyle. I paid the same for my Dyson Supersonic hairdryer 6 years ago and a bit more than that for my Dyson Corrale straightener on sale last year. To get the equivalent of the Airwrap included and it be under $500 for all of it just seems a no brainer. And I can't distinguish the quality from the Dyson.

If the FlexStyle had been available when I got my Dyson hairdryer, I don’t think I could have justified buying the Dyson, no matter how much I wanted it. The Flexstyle is very good value for money, and in my short experience, seems to be quite good quality too.

Making hair fun. Satisfying clicks and curling are addictive. I love the future – I’d have to admit, I was looking forward to using the Shark Flex Style for a while. My hair is long, down past my waist. I was hoping for something novel and useful. I am far from being disappointed. The rotating unit is superb. Well-designed, well tested. Always read the manufacturer's instructions and check out the diagrams for curling with… Read more

the attachments. I have found over the years that lack of familiarisation with a product can make them unpleasant. Do yourself a favour and use the diagrams. What looked tricky became a fun skill with only a half a head of practice.

Firstly, the hair dryer is powerful. Because you can use this unit for high heat, it’s best to monitor how warm you have it. It doesn’t always need to be high during drying. The buttons feel solid, but the clicking from straight to bent is also satisfying too. The attachments get really hot (that’s the point) and they have a little nub where you can hold them. Brilliant.

The large brush attachments are fantastic. They glide through my long hair and straighten it with wonderful ease. I only have one criticism of the brush attachments. I wish I had a handle to use them as normal brushes during other parts of the styling phase or when not using the unit. That would be perfect, and I would buy one separately if offered. It would allow to keep the same tension and shape. However, using them on the wand is brilliant and kind of works out better. Doing my hair has become a lot of fun again. Love these attachments and will use these a lot. Hair stays silky for days.

I’m not usually a fan of diffusers, but this one is great. I can get a beachy look pretty easy with some product and manipulation. So this is a winner too. Adjust for the right amount of heat and air, and you will avoid tangles. Great.

I thought the curling was going to be tricky, and I’ve used a myriad of curling equipment over the years. In the past I’ve burned my neck and ear badly from wands and the auto-curlers can clog long hair and burn entire sections away. Eek! It’s not really possible with this, and I felt safe using it each time. Just don’t touch your curls as they drop, they’re hot as Hades. That’s a good thing.

Snapping the dryer straight and clicking the attachments is tingle inducing. Nice clicks make the equipment feel good. The curling is fun. I want to curl my hair just for something to do. It’s hypnotic.

Hold the curl for a while (longer the better), shoot some cold air on it and drop it, but don’t spread it out, let it cool. It makes for incredible natural looking waves and curls. Very pretty, very easy, a lot of enjoyment. Again, if you get stuck, just look at the pictures. I use this a lot more than I ever intended to. One barrel for a different direction curl. I use one for each side of my head, but also randomise it a bit too. I know there are some super creative people that would work it like magic. I think this would be fun to use on kids too because it looks so cool and feels safe.

So, the attachments are brilliant; the unit is quality, and the motor feels strong. A small amount of practice and this is a tool I won’t be pushing to the back of my bathroom cupboard. It comes with a wonderful carry-case that I can put makeup or product in and take anywhere. I would recommend this for sure to people who like impressive design and fun, useful equipment. Honestly, I’ve never said fun so many times whilst doing my hair. Love this. A daily use tool for sure.

Daily user, I don't think I can live without it now – I'm so lucky to have this in my life. This has made styling my hair so easy. It took a few tries to get use to, however I'm amazed. Honestly it's so much more quiet and you don't have that horrible loud woosh in your ears. It's extremely light and thin. I love that it has a right and left side for the curls. The fact that it's air. Means that my… Read more

hair is not drying out and feels so much softer. I'm honestly converted. My only negative it that the storage box is large. But that's not a fault. Every thing is stored in its place and won't fall out.

Once you get used to it you will love the effortless style with minimal damage -unlike many hair tools I own – I had a lot of fun over the past few weeks using this powerful gadget with its high quality, good looking sleek design. Not going to lie, this is an expensive hairdryer but when you consider the extra attachments it works out very cost effective and totally worth the dollars. I absolutely love that it takes up minimal room for travel and is… Read more

lightweight. I used to take three different hair appliances with me travelling, this is all of those in one small package which I love. It comes with a handy case which also has room to hold travel size hair products and keep all your attachments away neatly.

On first using the SHARK flexstyle system, I started with the hairdryer only for the first few days until I got used to the buttons and using it. You can easily switch from a dryer to a styling tool with an easy swivel. It dried my hair in no time at all compared to my old dryer. When I got more confident, I started to use the attachments and referred to the webpage videos for help. All the attachments were easy to switch and securely click in. The videos were easy to follow and helped greatly. There are lots of groups on social medial also to help you use this mutlistyler with lots of tips and tricks.

My hair is damaged and very fine. I have recently lost a lot of hair due to stress and have a lot of new growth coming through so it was nice to be able adjust the heat so not to damage my hair any further. Big Tick!

THE ATTACHMENTS: OVAL BRUSH: Love that the bristles are flexible, and they don’t scratch my head. I do wonder if these bristles will wear over time like my blow out brush has. I don't think it will as the heat is not as hot. I prefer this attachment compared to my blow out brush as it does not pull my hair out of my scalp like the blow out brush does. As stated before I have super thin hair and love anything that gives me volume up top. This volume lasted me for two days.

PADDLE BRUSH: This is great for detangling and smoothing hair but to be honest they both the oval and paddle brushes gave a similar outcome. Again, the bristles are bendy to avoid damage to the hair and scalp with enough aeration and air flow to dry the hair really quickly. This smooths hair but does not give you a sleek look like a flattening iron would.

CURLING WANDS: Ok so if I can do this anybody can. You can't muck it up as they are labelled left and right. It took me a few goes to get used to how to do the air wrapping style curls especially as you are looking into a mirror and hard to get your head around everything being in reverse but once I got the hang of it then it was no issue. Remember to cool shot the wand before changing to the right or left as they can be hot. I can see why this is way less damaging than using a flat iron after singeing my hair a few times over the years. The curls with the shark are more of a loose curl than tight like you would get with a flat iron or curling wand, and I actually prefer the more natural look I get with this styler. I find that you need to set the curl with the cool shot button combined with a heat styling spray then the curl lasts a lot longer. (photo below before going out for dinner)

DIFFUSER: Who would have known I have a natural wave in my hair! I used the diffuser basically just to see what would happen. I referred to the video on the shark webpage and the attached photo was the result. I am blown away! These curls lasted all day. I would say this way to dry hair would be minimally damaging especially if used with a heat activated hair mask. The hair stayed easily in the “cup” of the diffuser and the low air setting helped get maximum curl out of my straight hair.

STYLING CONCENTRATOR: I didn’t use this attachment very much, but it did help to smooth my new baby scalp hairs back down after curling my hair.

Any negatives? not really any deal breakers and the below would not stop me purchasing but worth a mention. - For some reason I seemed to naturally place my hand on the vent at the bottom when holding it, obstructing air flow a bit. -The paddle brush and the round brush gave me pretty much the same results. If I were to go away travelling, I would just take one attachment with me as they are not vastly different. I am going to buy another one of these for my daughter as she has been wanting the competitor. I have not used the competitor, but I think this would be just as good as well as being much more budget friendly. VERY happy with this Shark Flex style airstyler.

Unbelievably awesome – I was sent this product in return for my unbiased review. It was a pleasant surprise to open such a premium box that is well packed and all the accessories are together in the very premium zip case. Initially there is cardboard protecting everything which made the unboxing even more awesome. The colour of the product is stunning its light to hold… Read more

and has a few different settings like level of air and heat as well as on off and the delightful swivel head to turn it into a hairdryer. I was skeptical about how good this would curl my hair as its usually dead straight and i need to work hard at curling my hair. This product is now my fave it was so easy and you’ll see in the attached pic the ringlet from the curling wand attachment is soft and wavy so perfect . But not only do you get the curlers you get two brushes and the hair dryer that flips into a 90 degree angle. Its an all in one hair styler. The hair device also leaves your hair feeling silky and looking shiny so it really doesn’t burn like the old curling wands. You can easily change between the different heads by a little click of the unlock button to take it out and then a twist and click to put one of the curling wands or brushes in. So easy and they stay in really sturdy. My question to anyone that is looking for an awesome hair device like this is why would you ever consider wasting your money on a overpriced Dyson when this beautiful shark hair styler is affordable and gives you so much in the box. No shark did not pay me to say that i am genuinely this excited about my new hair styler and will be buying one for my sister in law who wanted a Dyson but there was no way we could afford that. Do yourselves a favour and buy this product for hair styling. Im going to have to style my hair for work everyday now as i cant wait for night outings. Even considering taking this on my travels the case seems like it will stand the road trips. The instructions in the box are quick and easy but the product is so easy to use i figured it all out in seconds and was off to curl my hair. The air power on this device is fantastic drying my hair with the brush was fantastic. Im a bit shocked at how nice my hair feels and looks afterwards. Alot less damage. Its worth noting im the sort of person who usually flips my head blow drys my hair and walks out the door. This makes styling so easy i want to do it all the time. Well done Shark. Great product affordable price and good build quality.