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Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x Multi-Styler and Dryer vs Shark FlexStyle IonCurl Air Styler & Curler
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x Multi-Styler and Dryer ranks higher (#2 vs #3 of 10) and scores better on curls & waves, drying speed, ease of use, durability.
The biggest complaint about the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x Multi-Styler and Dryer is very expensive; for the Shark FlexStyle IonCurl Air Styler & Curler it's no storage case. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Good for: The strongest air curls and fastest Dyson drying
Its catch: very expensive
Check price on AmazonGood for: Thick or hard-to-curl hair
Its catch: no storage case
Check price on AmazonPaid links. We don't list prices — they change daily. Neither one feels right?
Side by side
| Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x Multi-Styler and Dryer | Shark FlexStyle IonCurl Air Styler & Curler | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in multi-stylers & airwrap alternatives | #2 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$$ |
| Type | Auto-wrap multi-styler | Auto-wrap multi-styler |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | — | 10% |
| Overall score | 4.3 | 3.8 |
| Curls & waves | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Drying speed | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Heat & hair care | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Durability | 4.0 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $100 · $$ $100–300 · $$$ over $300. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x Multi-Styler and Dryer
- Very expensive
CNN says that at $750 it's impossible to call it the outright best or a must-have. W Magazine asks whether any hair tool is worth almost $750, and The Quality Edit calls the price a major commitment, especially for existing Airwrap owners.
- Small step up from older Airwraps
CNN's editor, who has tried every Airwrap, thinks the upgrades have plateaued since the $650 Airwrap i.d. She says the 2026 version arrived a year after the first Co-anda2x, and the main differences are the attachments.
Source: CNN Underscored - Learning curve, hot barrels, no dual voltage
W Magazine's tester needed a couple of tries to curl, was overwhelmed by the speed at first and found the curling barrels get hot. The Quality Edit says it is not dual voltage and some attachments may underperform depending on hair length and texture.
Shark FlexStyle IonCurl Air Styler & Curler
- No storage case
CNN Underscored notes it comes without a pouch or case; Shark sells one for $60.
Source: CNN Underscored - FrizzFighter attachment underwhelms
One CNN tester saw no difference from the FrizzFighter, and the other said it made her wiry flyaways more noticeable.
Source: CNN Underscored - New, with little owner feedback; curls mixed
The Amazon listing has only 115 ratings (10% are 1-2 stars). Amazon's new review summary says owners like the fast drying but give curl performance mixed feedback.
Who should pick which
Pick the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x Multi-Styler and Dryer if
The strongest air curls and fastest Dyson drying
Separate Straight/Wavy or Curly/Coily kits
Wet-to-dry straightening (Airstraightener 2x in the 2026 kit, per CNN)
Skip it if: You already own an Airwrap i.d.; You'll use it abroad (not dual voltage); You're on a budget
Pick the Shark FlexStyle IonCurl Air Styler & Curler if
Thick or hard-to-curl hair
Mixed hair types in one household
Protecting your scalp while rough-drying (Scalp Shield mode)
Skip it if: You want a proven track record; You need a storage case included; You're happy with the cheaper original FlexStyle
We don't list prices — they change daily. Paid links.
Neither one feels right?
If both catches are deal-breakers, start here.
A cheap, popular set of interchangeable blow-dry brushes that CNN Underscored loved for easy blowouts. But it has no auto-wrap curlers, its concentrator and diffuser didn't help, and Amazon owners report weak heat and early breakdowns.
Its catch: breaks earlyA third option · #4T3 Aire 360 Multi-Styler & Blowout System (Next Gen, dual voltage)TechRadar's and Cosmopolitan's favorite Airwrap dupe: its ceramic barrels make glossy curls that last into the next day, and it is dual voltage for travel. It takes practice, the oval brush is bulky, and it suits short hair poorly.
Its catch: takes practice; bulky oval brushAll 10 comparedSee every multi-styler, rankedEach one's biggest complaint at a glance, with the full ranking.
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- Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x Multi-Styler and Dryer vs T3 Aire 360 Multi-Styler & Blowout System (Next Gen, dual voltage)
- Shark FlexStyle IonCurl Air Styler & Curler vs T3 Aire 360 Multi-Styler & Blowout System (Next Gen, dual voltage)
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