Ella Bella Vs. Shark FlexStyle: Which Multi-Styler Does Your ’Do Best? 

Over the past couple years, the Shark FlexStyle has been one of the most buzzworthy styling tools as a way more budget-friendly option compared to its biggest competitor, the Dyson Airwrap (which is crazy expensive).

But like a dark horse, the Ella Bella 6-in-1 is multi-styling tool that not only offers as much (and sometimes more!) versatility, it comes with an even lower price tag and a super luxe design.

(Plus a brilliant storage case, but more on that later.)

Comparing Ella Bella’s 6-in-1 Against The Shark FlexStyle:

Before we get into the good stuff, let’s take a quick side-by-side comparison of these two airstyling systems. I tried the Ella Bella 6-in-1, as well as the Shark FlexStyle in Indigo Rush.

Overview:	Ella Bella 6-in-1	Shark FlexStyle
Tool Variety	Dryer, smoothing brush, volumizing oval brush, round brush, two 1.25” auto-wrap curlers (left and right)	Dryer, concentrator, oval smoothing brush, two 1.25” auto-wrap curlers (left and right); other versions include different tools
Price	$199	$299–$450 depending on model
Color Options	Black, champagne, pink	Varies based on availability and model
Shipping	Free on orders over $100	Free on orders over $99
Warranty	2 years	2 years

Both multi-stylers promise salon-worthy results at home without needing an arsenal of hot tools, but how do they actually compare to one another in practice? In this review, I’ll break down what each airstyler offers (and what it doesn’t), as well as how they perform and which one I think comes out on top.

(TL;DR version: It’s the Ella Bella. Read on to find out why.)

My Experience With The Ella Bella 6-In-1

When my Ella Bella 6-in-1 arrived, the first thing that impressed me was the hard case that all of the tools arrived in. Considering the number of attachments included (dryer, paddle brush, oval volumizing brush, round brush, and two air curling wands), the fact that each has a dedicated place inside takes all the guesswork out of organization.

(And of course, traveling. You can pack everything up, put it in your suitcase, and never worry about a thing shifting inside.)

The base of the Ella Bella features a ring that locks each attachment into place, so once they’re secured, you know you’re good to go. And for most part, the styler is lightweight; the heaviest combination is the base and the large oval volumizing brush, but even so, it’s not difficult to wield.

There is an “ideal” styling process with this. Starting with washed, wet hair:

1. Use the dryer attachment to dry your hair (to about 90% completion)
2. Use the paddle brush attachment to detangle and smooth
3. Use the volumizing brush (starting at the root) to add volume
4. Use the round brush as needed
5. Use the curling wands (left and right) as needed

It sounds a little involved, I know, and if I’m being honest, it’s more than I normally do. But the fact that the 6-in-1 provides ALL of those tools and they’re easily swapped out, it’s surprisingly fast!

And for what it’s worth, the results are way nicer than what I’d normally do, so as far as I’m concerned, you’re never too old to learn new tricks.

The volumizing brush, on its own, is worth its weight in rose gold; the lift at the root is crazy and it holds, even without hairspray or styling products. (Both of which I’m generally adverse to.) And I love what the round brush does for my fringe in a matter of seconds:

This was my first-ever air styler, so there was a bit of a learning curve when it came time to use the curling wands. There are arrows on each one, denoting which direction the air flow (and curl) will go, but they aren’t clearly marked with a “L” or “R” to make it 100% obvious. 

(It’s not that confusing, really, but you do need to look closely and then think about it for a moment or two.)

Once I got that figured out, though, the results were… wow:

I like a looser curl focused on the lower third or half of my total hair length, with some around my face-framing pieces, and the 1.25” barrels that come with the Ella Bella 6-in-1 are perfect for that look. 

Although I didn’t use heat on my hair very often before getting the Ella Bella, this multi-styler is designed to minimize damage, and as I’ve been using it day after day, my hair is showing no signs of breakage.

That said, I do a weekly moisturization masque on my natural waves (Texture ID Deep Treatment Masque, if you’re curious). If you heat-style often, I highly recommend using some kind of deep treatment to keep your hair in the best health possible.

Pros & Cons Of The Ella Bella

I love the Ella Bella 6-in-1 multi-styler, but depending on how you want to style your hair daily, it does have some pros and cons to consider before you buy.

Pros:

• Includes just about everything you need for drying, smoothing, volumizing, and curling, in one set, including a smaller round brush that’s perfect for my fringe.
• Dries and styles with minimal heat damage to your hair.
• Provides three temperature settings (cool, medium, and hot) with every tool, along with two air speeds (low and high).
• Operates more quietly compared to standard hair dryers.
• Offered in a few colors (black, champagne, and pink) that seem to always be available.
• Comes with a hard-shell case (in pink!) that has a cut-out space for every single attachment; it keeps everything organized when storing at home but also prevents movement during travel.

Cons:

• This doesn’t include a diffuser or concentrator for drying; if that’s important to you,however, you can find both with the ionic hair dyer.
• If using high heat, the tools (and the locking ring that holds them in place) can get pretty hot, especially if you’re styling for a while.
• Does not offer precise heat control (in specific degrees).
• As of this writing, Ella Bella only delivers within the United States.

My Experience With The Shark FlexStyle

I was excited about this one, because I managed to get it in the (somewhat rather coveted) Indigo Rush. I love the color blue, and this set is just so pretty:

The version of the Shark FlexStyle that I got (for $299) includes a hair dryer, concentrator, large oval volumizing brush, and two 1.25” autowrap air curlers (left and right). 

I have to admit that drying with the Shark FlexStyle is pretty awesome. I don’t know why it tickled me so, but the way the dryer flips down feels a little futuristic and just… cool as hell.

I mean, look at it:

Maybe I’m easily entertained, but I really love that. And unlike the Ella Bella, the dryer attachment is always attached, so it’s one less attachment to store and switch out when you’re styling.

The volumizing brush on the FlexStyle is huge, and in my experience, works just as well as Ella Bella’s. I didn’t really notice much of a difference between them, although the brush on the Ella Bella 6-in-1 seemed to be a little easier to wield.

Speaking of brushes, though, my FlexStyle did not come with a regular round brush the way my Ella Bella did, and that’s something I’ve grown accustomed to using to style my fringe:

I could possibly style my bangs with an air-curler, but the wands are a little too tight of a curl for that since I like a really loose “swoop” shape.

One thing I really appreciate about the curling attachments included with the FlexStyle is the fact that they are clearly marked with an L or R on the end so you always know, without a doubt, which side is for styling on the left and right. The Ella Bella only marks that with an arrow that designates the direction of the curl, but it’s easy to get it wrong if you aren’t paying close enough attention.

The curling wands on the Shark FlexStyle are the same 1.25” size so the results are basically indistinguishable from the Ella Bella 6-in-1.

Like the Ella Bella, I found the “pick up” to be a lot more effective at a higher air speed. I’ve (thankfully) gotten really good at styling with air curlers, so there was not much of a learning curve involved by the time I got around to testing the Shark.

One thing that I really love about the Shark is the “cool shot” button. Whether you’re drying with heat, volumizing, or setting curls, you can finish with a cool shot to set the hair shape, quickly, without having to adjust the overall styling temperature like you do with the Ella Bella.

Comparing the FlexStyle against Ella Bella, the results are essentially the same (minus the round brush my Shark doesn’t have). Considering the Ella Bella 6-in-1 is considerably less expensive… well, you can guess why I recommend that one more.

Pros & Cons Of The Shark FlexStyle

The FlexStyle is a great multi-styling tool, but it’s not necessarily right for everyone, so I’ll share the pros and cons below if you’re thinking about pulling the trigger on a purchase.

Pros:

• Tools lock into place and release easily with a small button, rather than a locking ring.
• Offers three air speeds (low, medium, and high), along with four temperature settings (no heat, low, medium, and high).
• Features a separate “cool shot” button for setting your style quickly.
• Provides the option to build your own Shark by selecting the three tools you desire most (along with optional add-ons) for incredible versatility, albeit with a varied price tag.
• Actually marks the left and right air curling wands with an L or R, so there’s absolutely no guesswork when you’re trying to figure out which one to use.

Cons:

• Does not include a diffuser with every model; some do, at higher price points.
• Although it includes a large oval brush for volumizing, it doesn’t come with a smaller round brush.
• Comes with a soft bag for tool storage, which isn’t ideal for travel since the tools are clustered together inside it.
• Limited color options come and go and popular ones (like Indigo Rush) may or may not be available.
• Might sound petty, but it isn’t lost on me that the Shark Flexstyle doesn’t include Ella Bella’s 6-in-1 in their “competitor” graphs on product pages, as of this writing, likely because the Ella Bella offers more for less, and is just as effective.

The Final Verdict

The Shark FlexStyle has definitely set a high bar (although I suppose it has to, given it’s competing against Dyson), but the Ella Bella 6-in-1 proves that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get the same gorgeous results.

And in some cases, better results, because the FlexStyle doesn’t necessarily include a smaller round brush. The models vary, so you’ve got to be really careful to make sure you’re picking one that actually has all of the tools you want.

Ella Bella, on the other hand, provides just about everything you need with no guesswork involved, and all for under two hundred bucks. It might not (yet) have the same brand recognition as Shark, but dark horses… well, they have a way of winning in the end, and my money (and hair) is on Ella Bella.