As far as hairdryers go, it’s always been pretty easy to head down to your local chemist or electronics retailer and purchase one that will do the job. At the end of the day, how hard can it really be to dry your hair?
But, as the technology in hair tools has become increasingly advanced, a hairdryer has become a beauty lover’s closest companion, complete with endless possibilities – as long as you get the right one.
Over the last month, I’ve been testing out the Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer – the newest addition to the Shark Beauty family, known best for the viral Shark FlexStyle.
Advertised as being able to take your hair from wet to dry in mere minutes, the Shark SpeedStyle has been designed to allow users to create almost any hairstyle quickly, and with no heat damage.
In order to do this, the tool comes with five attachments – the Express Touchup Brush, the RapidGloss Finisher, the QuickSmooth Brush, the DefrizzFast Diffuser, and the Turbo Concentrator.
It also has customisable heat and airflow settings, which you can let adjust on their own, or tweak manually to suit your needs.
I will admit, prior to using this tool I haven’t been a frequent hairdryer user. Given my curly and frizzy hair type, I thought that hairdryers should be left to the professionals beyond a rough dry, finding it difficult to achieve a smooth, seamless look. However, this tool has quickly begun to prove me wrong.
When using the Shark SpeedStyle, I’ve found it best to be equipped with the right tools and products – for me, that’s a wet brush, hairspray, and my trusty Colour Wow Dream Coat.
After applying the Dream Coat, I go in with the Turbo Concentrator on my hair in sections until it’s about 70 per cent dry. Though you could do this without an attachment at all, I do find the directed airflow helps to speed up the process.
Then, I like to use the QuickSmooth Brush to completely dry and straighten my hair. For those who, like me, aren’t coordinated enough to manage a brush and hairdryer at the same time, this tool will be a complete game changer, only made better by using the RapidGloss Finisher. This attachment truly is a standout from the suite, smoothing flyaways with ease.
Whilst I haven’t used it yet, I am excited to use the DefrizzFast Diffuser on my natural hair. I love that this attachment enables you to extend or retract the prongs, personalising the airflow for your hair type.
The one tool that I haven’t managed to master, however, is the Express Touchup Brush, as I do find its turning does make it tricky to manoeuvre.
Retailing for a whopping $559.99, the question is then posed of whether you really need this tool.
If you have the Shark FlexStyle already, I would say this product has enough different attachments to warrant you having both. However, if you’re comparing it to its direct competitor, the Dyson Supersonic, you’d be best off choosing one or the other, with the Shark option coming in at a better value for money.
If you’re a beginner looking for an easier way to style your hair, or just someone who wants to cut their time in the bathroom in half, the Shark SpeedStyle is an excellent option.
Cassidy Pearce
Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022.