In today’s beauty world, we’re all chasing that one product that makes us look like we’ve just stepped out of a salon, but without the salon-sized bill attached. And honestly? Every now and then, we do discover a product that actually lives up to the hype. That’s what our ‘Tried + Tested’ series is all about: finding you boujee, budget-friendly buys that improve your routine and save you money down the line.

If you somehow haven’t had the Shark FlexStyle take over your TikTok feed yet, where have you been? Ever since air styling exploded around 2020, the beauty world has been obsessed with achieving big, bouncy blowouts without frying your hair in the process. And honestly, I get it. Anything that promises salon-worthy hair with less heat damage is always going to have people straight on the bandwagon (myself included).

I trialled the viral Shark FlexStyle Air Styling System in the Limited Edition Red Ruby Diamond colourway. First things first, the device is stunning, genuinely one of the prettiest beauty tools I’ve ever owned. Between the deep ruby finish and the crystal detailing, it feels less like a hair tool and more like something that belongs on display on your vanity at all times. But thankfully, it’s not just pretty to look at; it actually works, and when it comes to beauty investments that genuinely improve your routine while saving you money in the long run, this is one I’ll stand by wholeheartedly.

After adding the FlexStyle into my wash-night routine over the last few weeks, I can confidently say it’s become one of the easiest ways to get that soft, bouncy, salon-style kind of hair in under 20 minutes.

To make things even more chic, Shark Beauty is also partnering with Australian Fashion Week this week, hosting a beauty masterclass on Thursday, May 14, celebrating all things glam. (Very fitting, honestly.) For consumers, you can book your tickets starting from just $30, here.

Without further ado, here’s how the viral Shark FlexStyle held up on my hair.

The FlexStyle comes with three heat settings, three airflow settings, and a cool-shot feature for locking everything in place at the end of your dry cycle. It sounds simple, but having that level of control actually makes a huge difference depending on your hair type, and I could tell after one use that being able to tailor my drying routine made a huge difference not just on how my hair looked, but how it felt. For me, the sweet spot was low heat with medium airflow. It dried my hair quickly without making it feel crispy or overworked, and I could still build shape and movement while styling.

And the styling concentrator attachment? Easily my favourite. From fully wet hair, my hair was about 95% dry within 12-15 minutes using low heat and low airflow. Considering how much I usually dread blow-drying my hair, that alone was impressive. If you’ve got thicker or curlier hair, you’ll probably need a little more time and heat, but for fine hair, this was the sweet spot.

Then came the curling barrels, aka the attachment everyone buys this for, and probably the most innovative air styling invention to come out of the FlexStyle device. There are two curling barrels in the set, one for each side of your hair. I’ll be honest: there is a slight learning curve at first. The TikTok girls make it look suspiciously easy: Section hair, hold the attachment close by, and using tension, roll up, with the option to add hair rolls for added volume hold. But after a couple of attempts (and a few tutorials later), I started getting the hang of the wrapping technique pretty quickly. One thing I will note is that you can definitely tell which side is meant to be used where; you won’t get the same hold if you use the left on your right side and vice versa, so make sure you’re paying attention when curling your hair, and take note of which barrel is used on either side.

One thing I would recommend for basically everyone, regardless of hair type, is using a good mousse or styling prep product beforehand. The curls definitely hold better with a little extra support, especially if your hair struggles to keep shape like mine does. All you need is a little product, it goes a long way: Simply dispense evenly into your hair before curling, and continue with your routine, it’ll keep the hold for twice as long. With mousse, my curls held for 6 hours, without, roughly 3.

The final attachment I tried out was the paddle brush, the heated brush option that’s best if you’re after a quick, glossy blow-out on a time crunch. This attachment is incredibly smooth. With minimal heat-up time, all it took was 3-4 brushes per section, and my hair was glossy, dry, and ready to go. With this one, the best practice is to brush each section once over, wait until it cools down, and go back in for a final touch-up, this way you can avoid heat damage and ensure your style holds for longer. Brush from underneath the hair up for volume on the crown, and brush from top down for total smoothness; both practices can be done depending on your desired effect.

Pictured: My first time trialling the auto-wrap curlers.

One thing I genuinely didn’t expect to love so much was how travel-friendly this thing is.

The FlexStyle comes in a sleek storage case with separate compartments for each attachment, so everything stays organised instead of turning into a tangled nightmare at the bottom of your suitcase. As someone who chronically overpacks beauty products, I can appreciate anything that simplifies my routine, and when I see an organised packing system, it’s an immediate yes from me.

One thing I really loved about the FlexStyle was how easy it was to learn as I went. Because there aren’t a million confusing attachments to figure out, you actually get comfortable using each one pretty quickly, and it becomes really easy to tailor the tool to your own routine. After just a few uses, I found myself experimenting with different finishes and styles depending on the kind of look I was going for.
The customisable heat and airflow settings also make it feel versatile and adaptable across different hair types, whether your hair is thick, fine, curly, straight, or somewhere in between.

The Verdict

The Shark FlexStyle is absolutely worth the hype if you want polished, fresh-looking, and feeling hair at home without spending an hour styling it every wash day. It’s also a great option for those looking to up their hair health routine by introducing cooler airflow drying as a way to minimise heat.

For fine-haired people like me, it feels like a much gentler alternative to traditional heat styling tools. My hair still felt soft and shiny afterwards, rather than dry, straw-like, and frizzy. My biggest tip? Stick to lower heat where possible and lock in every use with a round of the cool-shot button.

And aesthetically? She’s gorgeous.

Covered in over 20,000 crystals and packaged in a sleek travel case, the Red Ruby Diamond edition feels like the beauty equivalent of a Pinterest moodboard come to life. It’s luxe, glamorous and just the right amount of extra, perfect for those who want quality haircare without compromising their vanity set-up. The only downside? It’s a limited edition, so if you’ve been eyeing it off, this is probably your sign to stop procrastinating.

Anyway, I’m off to wash my hair. I’ll see you on the other (good hair) side.

Shop the Shark FlexStyle in limited-edition Red Ruby diamond below.