Another day, another hair tool. I feel like I have said it before and I fear I will say it again but do we need anymore? Erm, well, consider the new Shark Beauty FlexFusion Straight 5-in-1 Air & Ceramic Styling System (£370) – and my insistence that the answer is, yes we do. There is no doubt the at-home hair tool market is pretty saturated and each one promises to do something even more incredible. But this one promises to replace every single hair tool you own and after one use, I have to say I think I agree.
Recently I have loved both GHD Duet Blowdry and Babyliss Air Wand, believing I will love and use it forever… However, both don’t promise you will be able to ditch your tongs, hot brush, straighteners, hairdryer, blow dry brush, diffuser and even your bloody hair brush, like the Shark Beauty FlexFusion. This nifty tool not only has an air dry option like the original FlexStyler and the Dyson Air Wrap, it can also be used on dry hair so it means you don’t need to save it just for hair wash days – which as someone who can go a good five days without washing their hair speaks to my soul. Especially as I actually find doing my hair quite therapeutic, similar to my skincare routine, as I tend to switch my brain off and focus on the actual task in front of me rather than whatever is playing on my mind.
Read on to find out how to use the new Shark FlexFusion and why, according to my girl maths, I think this could be the investment hair tool you need right now.
About Shark FlexFusion Straight 5-in-1 Air & Ceramic Styling System
What I Like About the Shark FlexFusion Straight 5-in-1 Air & Ceramic Styling System
I didn’t really think about the fact that, no matter which hair tool I was loving that month to dry and style my hair I was still always reaching for my straighteners to touch up the ends or my tongs to add the curl back after a day or so. I took it as just part and parcel of doing my own hair that I would need multiple tools throughout the week, so really none of them were enough to maintain a monogamous relationship with for very long.
The minute I tried the FlexFusion straightening head on my dry hair I knew this was a game changer. Similarly to using many of the top of the range straighteners, after a couple of swipes my hair was poker straight and kink-free.
The usability is super simple, one button for wet hair, one for dry, with a light that goes green once it’s ready to use. This is easier to understand than a noise that you may miss. I also prefer the new travel bag to the old Shark Flexstyler box; this is just way more practical and lightweight.
The hot bush is my favourite, I recently used the Shark Beauty Smooth Styler for the first time and I was blown away by not only how voluminous it made my hair but how long it lasted – three days after I styled it, it still looked the same. This hot brush head with the addition of the ceramic edge (which means it can be used on dry hair too) has a similar vibe and I know I will be using this the most with my current shoulder length lob.
How to Use the Shark FlexFusion Straight 5-in-1 Air & Ceramic Styling System
This works very similar to other air styler systems, simply add the head you want to use and then switch to the setting depending on your needs. I also really rate the hairdryer. My hair was honestly dry in two minutes, I found it was actually drier than I needed as I wanted to use the wet-to-dry setting.
I would suggest drying hair to 80% before using the tools, as this makes it much quicker and more efficient. I also think it will always last longer if you section the hair off and dry or style in smaller sections. If you take larger sections you are more likely to leave areas slightly damp which is why it may feel like the style falls out or frizzes up.
I would also suggest using a heat protection spray before use – even though this doesn’t heat up to the temperatures of traditional tools it is still adding heat to the hair. For those with thin or flat hair I would add a root spray in too and for anyone with curly or wavy hair ensure you are using a cream or oil to add hydration either before or after you style, the preference is down to you.
What to Consider Before Buying Shark FlexFusion Straight 5-in-1 Air & Ceramic Styling System
I always like to add that I have the perfect texture for heated tools. My hair is medium thickness with a slight wave, minimal frizz and holds a style, so I know I don’t always provide the biggest tests to this type of technology. However I witnessed it being used on type 4C coils and I was blown away. It straightened with ease and a curl was added with the auto wave and it looked perfect. Although I can’t confirm this from personal experience unfortunately.
It has to be said £370 is not pocket change. This is still an investment beauty tool and as I have said a hundred times, things are only reasonable if you use them regularly. You really need to consider the cost per use to see if it fits into your lifestyle and hair habits. If you go to the hairdressers once a week and only use this occasionally it’s probably not worth it. However, if like me you prefer to style your own hair, will use it multiple times a week, if not every day, then cost per use makes complete sense.
Also, the holidays are coming so it’s the ideal time to get that letter into Santa. Just saying.
Where Can You Buy the Shark FlexFusion Straight 5-in-1 Air & Ceramic Styling System
The Shark FlexFusion Straight 5-in-1 Air & Ceramic Styling System is available at Shark Beauty, Boots and Currys
Lauren Ezekiel (she/her) is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism she began her career in 2008. Lauren is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup. A mum of two, Lauren is an advocate for the benefits of beauty and self-care for your mental well-being, which inspired her award-winning charity initiative We C U 2020. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK!, Health & Beauty, The Sun, Asda, Dare and Metro.
