Shark SpeedStyle 5-in-1 review: Fast and frizz-free dryer 

Introduction

No longer a name synonymous only with vacuum cleaners, Shark is now firmly on the premium hair tools map. Its first hair dryer, the HyperAIR, launched in 2021, then the FlexStyle – comparable to Dyson’s Airwrap, but more affordable – arrived in 2022. Now the Shark SpeedStyle has landed as a do-it-all dryer which claim’s to be the market’s lightest. It’s supposed to take hair from from wet, to dry, to styled, complete with a glossy finish, in minutes – and promises to do so without any heat damage.

This 5-in-1 digital dryer comes with an extensive accessory arsenal, including a DeFrizzFast Diffuser, Turbo Concentrator, QuickSmooth Brush, Express TouchUp Brush and RapidGloss Finisher. That makes it suitable for all hair textures and types, from curly and coily to wavy or straight, and everything in between.

If you only wear your hair one way, there are two different 3-in-1 bundles (one for wavy hair and one for curly), which are $50/£50 less than the $260/£250 Shark wants for this does-it-all model. Seeing how the GHD Helios dryer costs $279/£179 and the Dyson Supersonic $430/£330, the Shark SpeedStyle, starts to look very competitive. And it comes with a quality carry/storage bag too…

Design

Unboxing the Shark SpeedStyle, I instantly noticed how light and compact the drier is. It weighs just over 750g, making it perfect for travelling. Despite that it feels very well-made, and fit comfortably in my hand. Taking your hair from wet to dry is a lot more enjoyable with the SpeedStyle than a heavy, cumbersome traditional dryer.

More impressive was how easily and instantly the attachments click into place, and how secure they are. There’s an unlock button on the underside of the drier when it’s time to change parts.

Three different heat settings and three dryer intensity settings are accessed via two integrated buttons on the handle. There’s also a Cool Shot button on the inside of the handle, to set styles and help reduce frizz. 

Features

No heat damage was definitely a buzz beauty phrase in 2023 and continues to be in 2024 – who doesn’t want great looking hair without the dryness and split-ends? We’re here for it.

Shark achieves the no heat damage accolade with the SpeedStyle as it doesn’t use extreme heat. Instead it’s kind to hair and clever too, measuring and regulating temperatures 1000x per second – never exceeding 110°C or reaching heat-damaging temperatures of 150°C. 

The digital dryer is also focused on fighting frizz (aren’t we all!) and uses an ioniser to release negative ions, which helps seal moisture and reduce frizz, resulting in healthy-looking hair. 

In terms of drying time, I found the SpeedStyle lived up to its name. I was able to dry my whole head of ridiculously thick shoulder length hair, on the highest settings, in four minutes, which is a record for me. With the Turbo concentrator, which forms a more concentrated air path for precise drying, I was able to dry and style my hair into a smooth, straight style in eight minutes and was happy to skip the straighteners. 

Performance

The diffuser attachment snaps on in a flash, with a lever on the side extending the prongs if you need to lift your roots higher. I was excited to try it as diffusers always remind me of my mom desperately trying to get my hair curly so I’d stop begging for a perm… Following the technique suggested by Shark, via the handy bundled styling guide, I bunched curls from ends between the petals of the diffuser around my whole head, then brought the diffuser up to my roots to dry them. The result was bouncy volume that mades the most of my natural wave. Using the diffuser instead of drying then curling also saved me time, and is obviously a lot kinder on hair too. 

The RapidGloss finisher is a game-changer, which genuinely shocked me at how effective it is when I first used the dryer. It uses Coanda Technology to smooth frizz (of which I have plenty) and flyaways, smoothing hair in seconds. You use this on completely dry hair, starting at the top of your head, holding close to the roots until the hair attracts and then gliding down the length of the hair. It’s like serum, but without the grease.

The QuickSmooth Brush can be used to achieve a sleek blowout, with volume at the roots. Handily the brush has a button on the side which allows you to rotate it to desired orientation. This makes using it so much easier and more comfortable. It’s suggested that you start with the brush when your hair is 80% dry already. You simply place the brush close to the root to engage the bristles, then brush down the length of the hair with the smoothing bristles engaged. This is a great tool for getting that coveted salon blowdry look at home. 

Finally, the Express TouchUp Brush is all about bringing bounce. I found it a good option when you’re short on time and have used the drier to blast your hair, but need to look a little more polished. Beginning with 90% dry hair and working through each section, you start by placing the round brush under the hair, close to the roots. Next you use the knob on the end of the brush to roll the brush outward to engage the bristles and grip the hair while it finishes off drying and styles. I found this great for the hair around my face and sort out the ends of my hair.

Shark SpeedStyle verdict

There’s a lot to love about the Shark SpeedStyle: excellent build quality, the ease of adding the attachments, the fact it’s so lightweight and portable. But most of all because it does a fantastic job, and does it fast.

I found the 5-in-1 kit suited me well due to my thick wavy hair type and encouraged me to style my hair in different ways. Others may be fine with the 3-in-1 kit, but either way it feels well worth the investment. It replaced the need for a hot brush and curling wand during my testing, and I didn’t need to use my straighteners after using the Turbo Concentrator. Still, I wouldn’t ditch them for super straight styles.