When it comes to high-end hair dryers, two names stand out above the rest: Dyson Supersonic and Shark SpeedStyle. Both have lightweight, ergonomic designs and dry hair quickly and efficiently, leaving it smooth and shiny. And both offer a nice variety of attachments to customize hairstyling.
At first glance, the biggest difference between the two products is the price tag, with the Dyson Supersonic retailing for $430 and the Shark SpeedStyle for $200, but this reflects the difference in the number of attachments (Dyson’s five to Shark’s three) as well as some design features.
We put both hair dryers to the test in the BestReviews Testing Lab. While we found lots to love in both products, our testers ultimately preferred the Dyson Supersonic. However, if its cost is too big of a hurdle for some buyers, we think the Shark SpeedStyle is a worthy purchase as well.
The Shark SpeedStyle and the Dyson Supersonic have the same wattage and heat settings, but they differ in the number of included attachments. While the Dyson Supersonic comes with five attachments to address a range of hair types, the Shark SpeedStyle comes with fewer attachments but offers the option to create a custom attachment bundle for your specific hair needs.
Product specifications
Heat Settings: 4 | Wattage: 1,600 | Attachments: 3 per set for straight/wavy or curly/coily hair, or you can build a custom bundle | Cold Shot: Yes | Power Source: Corded electric
The Shark SpeedStyle weighs 1.67 pounds, which is lighter than the average hair dryer and slightly lighter than the Dyson Supersonic, though the difference is negligible. The light weight helps prevent arm fatigue while blow-drying hair. It has four heat settings, which is more than the average hair dryer (usually three). Both models have 1,600 watts of power.
The Shark SpeedStyle is different from most hair dryers, including the Dyson Supersonic, in its approach to included attachments. The hair dryer is sold as part of two bundles: one for straight and wavy hair and one for curly and coily hair. Each bundle comes with three attachments targeted to that hair type. Beyond that, you can also opt to purchase a complete Shark SpeedStyle bundle with five attachments, or you can create your own custom bundle with any two attachments of your choice (additional attachments are sold separately). This is a great feature because it allows the user to purchase only the attachments they need and not pay for attachments they won’t use.
Product specifications
Heat Settings: 4 | Wattage: 1,600 | Attachments: 5 | Cold Shot: Yes | Power Source: Corded electric
The Dyson Supersonic weighs 1.8 pounds, which is lighter than the average hair dryer but slightly heavier than the Shark SpeedStyle. We found the difference in weight between the two to be negligible, and we couldn’t tell the difference when drying hair. Like the Shark SpeedStyle, the Dyson Supersonic has four heat settings. And like the Shark, the Dyson has 1,600 watts of power.
The Dyson Supersonic comes with five attachments to address various hair types. This is great if you’re looking for a versatile product or if multiple people with different hair types will be using the hair dryer (in a household, for example, or if you’re a hairstylist). However, if you have naturally straight hair, for example, you likely won’t end up using the diffuser and wide-tooth comb attachments.
Both hair dryers have four heat settings, which is more than the three offered on the average hair dryer on the market. The additional heat setting was appreciated, providing more heat without increasing airflow to full power.
Both products have three airflow settings, but we preferred the increments on the Dyson to those on the Shark. While the Dyson’s three heat settings increased in regular increments with a good balance between them, we noticed a significant difference between the Shark’s Medium and High settings. In our experience, the Medium setting was a bit too low to get hair dry quickly. When we used the High setting, we could dry hair very quickly, but it was blown around so forcefully that it caused tangles, which can lead to hair breakage. For us, this was a huge knock against the Shark SpeedStyle in favor of the Dyson Supersonic.
The Dyson Supersonic is designed with a long handle and short barrel (as opposed to a traditional hair dryer, which has a short handle and long barrel). It measures 3.8 inches wide by 9.6 inches long. The bottom-heavy design makes the 1.8-pound hair dryer quite comfortable to hold and less taxing on the arm than a more traditional top-heavy design.
The Shark SpeedStyle also differs from a traditional hair dryer in that it’s smaller and lighter, although its L-shaped design is more similar to that of a traditional hair dryer than the Dyson’s. It measures 6 inches by 8 inches and weighs 1.67 pounds. We also found that this hair dryer does not cause arm strain or fatigue.
In our tests, we were partial to the Dyson’s design because we found it a bit easier to hold and maneuver. However, we feel this call is completely based on personal preference and could easily see someone preferring the Shark’s shape and design.
The Dyson doesn’t use fan blades to draw in air. Instead, it draws in air from all sides, then forces it in a powerful blast through the center of the ring. Its digital motor spins up to 110,000 rotations per minute, propelling 13 liters of air to the amplifier every second. The result is a controlled, high-velocity airflow that leads to a shorter drying time. We love the bladeless design because it prevents the possibility of long hair getting tangled in a hair dryer’s fan.
To prevent hair damage, the Dyson Supersonic uses intelligent heat control that measures the airflow temperature over 40 times per second. It uses negative ions to help reduce static. The hair dryer goes to a maximum heat of 212 degrees.
The Shark SpeedStyle also claims to not damage hair. It measures and regulates temperature 1,000 times per second, never exceeding 230 degrees.
Though both hair dryers are considered high-end, luxury models, the Shark SpeedStyle is significantly cheaper than the Dyson Supersonic. The two Shark SpeedStyle three-attachment bundles retail for $200 each. The Dyson Supersonic costs $430, which includes five attachments and a presentation case.
Dyson’s attachments are magnetic, which makes them very simple to attach, rotate and remove. We preferred this attachment mechanism to the Shark’s version, which has grooves that lock in.
We appreciated that the Shark SpeedStyle is available to purchase with either an attachment bundle targeted to straight and wavy hair or an attachment bundle targeted to curly and coily hair. If only one person is using the hair dryer, this can cut down on unnecessary costs for unused attachments.
On the other hand, the fact that the Dyson Supersonic comes with five attachments that between them are useful for all hair types is beneficial for hairstylists or anyone who plans to share the hair dryer with others who have different hair types.
We like that both hair dryers have an attachment that’s designed to smooth hair and control flyaways. We had a good experience with both the Dyson and Shark versions.
Shark offers a unique attachment in the QuickSmooth Brush. This attachment is designed to create smooth, shiny, straight blowouts. Although we found it to be useful for anyone who doesn’t already have a similar tool (for example a hot air brush or a multi-styler with a brush attachment), we feel that people who do own one of these other products would prefer to use that because they’re more ergonomic and easier to maneuver.
Dyson offers a unique gentle air attachment, which diffuses the air to create a gentler and cooler airflow. This attachment functions like a diffuser but is more beneficial for straight hair (while a diffuser works better on wavy, curly or coily hair). Our tester, who has naturally straight hair, enjoyed the option of the gentle air attachment.
Though the Dyson Supersonic and the Shark SpeedStyle are both high-quality products overall, in general, we’re partial to the Dyson Supersonic because of its consistent airflow settings, ergonomic design, magnetic attachments and ability to dry hair without damaging it.
However, the Dyson Supersonic does come with a very steep price tag of $430. The Shark SpeedStyle at $200 would be a great option for anyone looking for a luxury model at a lower price point.
Also, anyone who wants the option to customize the included attachments and not pay for unneeded attachments will appreciate the Shark SpeedStyle. The Dyson Supersonic might be preferable to someone who wants one versatile device that will work on various hair types.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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