The Dyson Airwrap revolutionised hair styling when it launched in 2018, offering blow-drying and styling simultaneously. Its latest iteration, the Airwrap i.d, features AI technology via a Bluetooth-connected app that creates a personalised styling sequence. Priced between £499 and £579, it remains a premium investment.
Shark, another vacuum brand, entered the market with the Flexstyle in 2022. The newer Shark Glam model costs £299, nearly half the price of Dyson's offering. It includes five attachments and an in-built hair dryer, promising similar versatility for straight, wavy or curly styles.
Both tools use Coanda technology to wrap hair around barrels and reduce heat damage. The Dyson Airwrap i.d has six attachments, including two barrel sizes, a rounded brush, a flat brush, a smoothing dryer and a blow-dry attachment. Shark's Glam model offers comparable attachments but at a lower price point.
In testing, the Dyson Airwrap i.d excelled at creating loose curls and bouncy blow-dries, with the app taking the guesswork out of styling. The Shark Glam performed well for everyday use, though it lacked the advanced AI features of the Dyson. For those willing to spend more, the Dyson remains the top choice; for budget-conscious buyers, the Shark Glam offers excellent value.
