Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.
Shark FlexStyle comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about users who want styling tools (curl, smooth) integrated with drying — read the strengths below before deciding.
The Buttercup is the salon-tech pick — Drybar's ionic dryer used in their salons. Best for buyers who trust the Drybar brand.
The FlexStyle is the all-in-one pick — Shark's Dyson Airwrap rival at $300 less. Best for buyers who style + dry in one tool.
Salon brand. Ionic tech. Heavier than Shark.
5-in-1 styling + drying. Slower dryer mode. Storage case included.
| Spec | Drybar Buttercup | Shark FlexStyle |
|---|---|---|
| Tech | Ionic | — |
| Attachments | Concentrator + diffuser | — |
| Cool Shot | Yes | — |
| Brand | Drybar | Shark |
| Functions | — | 5-in-1 |
| Tools | — | Curl + smooth + concentrator |
| Case | — | Included |