As a beauty editor, there aren’t many hair tools or devices I haven’t tried at this point, and the Dyson Airstrait is one of the most innovative products to ever come across my desk. Unlike the wet-to-straight styling tools of my teen years (I still cringe at the sound of crackling hair), it actually takes my hair from soaking wet to silky-smooth and dry in under 30 minutes. The downside? It costs $550. So when I heard that Shark launched a similar air straightener at less than half the price, I knew I had to put it to the test.
Shop the new Shark SilkiPRO Straight here
In the name of ~science~, I compared the Dyson Airstrait and the Shark SilkiPRO Straight head-to-head—literally. I used both tools to style my thick, 2B waves, using Dyson on the right half and Shark on the left. I recorded how long it took for each tool to transform my soaking wet hair into dry, straight tresses. And after comparing the results, there was a clear winner.
Ahead, I’m breaking down the key details and differences between Dyson and Shark’s air straighteners.
About the Dyson Airstrait
In 2023, Dyson launched the Airstrait as a first-of-its-kind air straightener that claims to take hair from wet to dry with zero damage. (Sounds like a dream, right?) Instead of using hot plates like a traditional straightener, it projects heated, high-velocity airflow at a 45-degree angle to dry and straighten your strands at the same time.
It has both a wet mode and a dry mode; the wet mode ranges from 175 degrees Fahrenheit to 285 degrees F, while the dry mode ranges from 250 to 285 degrees (along with a temporary “boost” mode that goes up to 320 degrees). Plus, it comes with a cool air button that claims to seal in your style.
Since the Airstrait doesn’t use heated plates, it’s designed to give hair a “naturally straight” appearance, rather than the stick-straight look you might get from an iron. Our team of editors tested it back in 2024, and it earned rave reviews across the board on a range of hair types—from 4B coils to straight, ultra-fine strands.
Read Our In-Depth ReviewAbout the Shark SilkiPRO Straight
The latest addition to Shark’s hair tool family, the SilkiPRO Straight is the brand’s first wet-to-dry straightener. It uses a combination of high-velocity air vents and heated ceramic plates to smooth hair.
Just like the Dyson Airstrait, the SilkiPRO straightener is designed to work on wet and dry hair of all types and textures. Its wet mode ranges from 212 degrees F to 248 degrees F, and its dry mode ranges from 320 to 428 degrees—AKA, a whole 100 degrees hotter than the Dyson. It also has three airspeed settings, while Dyson has only two.
What’s more, it comes with three interchangeable comb attachments to guide your hair during styling: a wide-tooth comb for rough drying, a gentle comb for a more voluminous look, and a precision comb for a sleeker, straighter look.
Lauren Gruber
What are the main differences between the Dyson Airstrait and the Shark SilkiPRO Straight?
Now, here’s where things get interesting: Both the Dyson Airstrait and the Shark SilkiPRO Straight are designed to do the same thing—take hair from wet to dry and straight—but that’s kinda where the similarities end. Dyson uses only hot air to style your hair, while Shark’s is equipped with ceramic plates, more like a traditional flatiron. This feature means you can also use the Shark SilkiPRO to curl and flip the ends of your hair once it’s dry.
My hot take? Between the two, I’d wager that Shark’s air straightener is more likely to cause heat damage than the Dyson Airstrait over time, since it applies a heated ceramic plate directly to wet hair. The Shark SilkiPRO’s overall heat range is also higher than the Airstrait—though Dyson’s highest wet hair setting is 40 degrees higher than Shark’s highest wet hair setting. My advice: Those with fragile hair may want to stick to its lower ranges.
The Shark SilkiPRO also comes with three interchangeable comb attachments—and this is one of my favorite features (keep reading!). Dyson doesn’t come with any attachments, so you’ll have to use it in tandem with your own comb if you want to detangle your hair while styling.
Finally, the biggest discrepancy between the two air straighteners is the price. The Dyson clocks in at a hefty $550, while the Shark is a legit fraction of the price at $250. But which is actually better? Keep reading for my full, unfiltered review of each styling tool.
My Dyson Airstrait review:
Lauren Gruber
As someone with thick, frizzy waves that are almost waist length, the Dyson Airstrait has completely revolutionized my hair routine. I’ve been using this tool religiously since its 2023 debut (I even received a demo from Mr. Dyson himself at its launch event!), and it’s particularly useful on busy nights when I need to go from a sweaty gym session to a fancy dinner in record time.
It doesn’t have any fancy attachments, so the Airstrait is pretty intuitive to use; all you need to do is clamp it around a section of hair to get the airflow going. After a rough dry to my roots, I switched to wet mode and gave each little section of my hair two slow passes. Truth be told, I’m too lazy to straighten each section again once it’s dry, but as a finishing touch, I gave my strands a few passes on boost mode. After all’s said and done, it took me exactly 11 minutes and 31 seconds to dry and straighten half of my head.
But because I’ve been using this tool for so many years, I do have a few complaints. It’s on the heavy side at 2.2 pounds, so my wrist starts to ache by the end of my styling session. Plus, because there’s no clamping mechanism to keep my hair between its air vents, it means you’ll have to use your free hand to hold your hair in place while the Dyson works its magic.
Lauren Gruber
Hair styled using the Dyson Airstrait
My Shark SilkiPRO Straight review
The Shark SilkiPRO feels more lightweight than the Dyson Airstrait and it comes with these genius little comb attachments. They work to help detangle your hair while you style it, and I found that they were a breeze to slide in right next to the plates. (Just keep pushing it until it clicks.) I loved how I only needed to use one hand, since they kept my hair from blowing away. Including the time it took me to switch between combs, I styled half of my hair with the SilkiPRO in 11 minutes and 47 seconds—giving Dyson a serious run for its money.
Another underrated feature about the SilkiPRO? In addition to straightening my strands, I can use it to curl and flip the ends of my hair on dry mode, which I prefer to a pin-straight look. Just note that, if you’re looking for maximum silkiness, I found that the Shark SilkiPRO delivered a slightly puffier finished look, while the Airstrait side of my head was silkier and smoother.
Shop the Shark SilkiPRO Straight
Lauren Gruber
Hair styled using the Shark SilkiPro Straight
Final verdict
Despite using the Dyson Airstrait for years, I have to admit that this test changed my loyalties—I now prefer the SilkiPRO. It feels like an improvement on Dyson’s original design: the comb attachments keep my hair in place while air-styling; it doesn’t feel as heavy or bulky; and I love that I can create curled ends without having to switch to a different hair tool. All in all, the SilkiPRO created near-identical results on my hair for less than half the price.
Lauren Gruber
Shark SilkiPRO results (left); Dyson Airstrait results (right)
That said, if minimizing hair damage is your main priority, I’d splurge on the Dyson. I haven’t been able to test the Shark long term, but its ceramic plates could lead to more split ends than Dyson’s plate-free design. No matter which side you’re on, both air straighteners are sure to make your wash days a whole lot easier.
Lauren Gruber is an commerce editor at Hearst Magazines, where she writes for publications like Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Prevention, Country Living, House Beautiful, and more. She has over four years of professional experience covering a variety of lifestyle topics from home to fashion, with an advanced background in beauty and fragrance. When she’s not researching the most worthy Prime Day deals or hands-on testing all the latest perfume launches, Lauren is probably hanging out with her cat Serafina or flexing her AMC A-List membership at the movie theater. You can find her previous work at Entertainment Tonight, Shop TODAY, USA Today, Self Magazine, L’Officiel USA, V Magazine, and Modern Luxury Media.
