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- Easy to use
- Wet and dry styling
- Light and comfortable to hold
- Oddly placed controls
- Similar to other brushes
The Shark SmoothStyle is the latest product in the brand’s move into home hair styling. When Shark first entered the home haircare and styling market in 2021, we were cautiously impressed. The brand aimed its Shark Style iQ hair dryer – with smart technology and a fairly hefty price tag – squarely at the premium end of proceedings, following it up in 2022 with the Dyson Airwrap-rivalling FlexStyle Air Styler.
Shark’s new product, the SmoothStyle Hot Brush, is an all-in-one drying and styling tool similar in function to Revlon’s revolutionary One-Step, with options to style wet or dry. At £100, it’s a more budget-friendly styling option than either of Shark’s previous beauty offerings, but still priced above some more notable hot brushes already on the market. So, will Shark once again make a splash in the world of haircare?
Shark SmoothStyle review: What’s in the box?
Compared to the many attachments that come with either the Style iQ or the FlexStyle, the Shark SmoothStyle is a simple product. In the box you’ll find a single one-piece brush with an oval head, similar in shape but slightly smaller than Revlon’s game-changing One-Step. The brush has both boar and nylon bristles to easily move through tangles and smooth down the cuticle of the hair for a sleek and glossy finish.
The SmoothStyle can be used in two modes: as a hot-air blow-drying brush for styling damp hair in one easy step, or in dry hair mode that functions more like a ceramic hot-styling brush. In wet hair mode, the SmoothStyle’s 900W motor blows air through the brush’s vents at a choice of three heat settings: 50ºC (best for fine and delicate hair), 70ºC and 100ºC, for thicker hair that’s more difficult to dry and style. The blow-drying settings are selected with a simple twist mechanism at the base of the brush.
To use the SmoothStyle in wet hair mode, start by sectioning damp hair and pass the wider sides of the oval-shaped brush along the hair from roots to ends, smoothing the hair as you go. You can use the curved edges to twist, add volume at the roots or flick the ends out or under, as you prefer. There’s a handy styling guide included in the box to help you get started on your smooth-styling journey.
In dry hair mode – which is ideal for styling between wash days, or adding a quick curl to transition you from daytime to evening – the ceramic-coated edges of the brush heat up to 215ºC. The heat indicator light at the base of the brush bristles will show green when the tool is ready to use in dry mode; once the light is green, use the brush as above to smooth, flick or add volume to the hair as desired.
Since the SmoothStyle is a one-stop shop for styling, there are no further accessories or attachments in the box. The tool weighs 730g, which is similar to other blow-drying brushes such as the One-Step, and has a 1.8m electrical power cord.
Shark SmoothStyle review: What’s it like to use?
The SmoothStyle feels very well made, and comfortable and balanced in the hand; while it isn’t too heavy, it has a solid feel. The brush head is slightly more compact than other hot brushes we’ve tried, which has the advantage of allowing the unit to more easily reach the roots for a lifted, voluminous blow-out style. The bristles are a good combination of sturdy nylon for separating out tangles in post-wash hair, and gentler boar for smoothing down tresses. The settings are clearly marked and easy to switch between: simply twist the base of the tool to choose your preferred heat setting in wet mode; and twist again to select dry mode.
In wet mode, our shoulder-length curly hair took around 12 minutes to style from damp into a daytime look; straight through the lengths with a soft curl at the ends. The hair felt soft, smooth and frizz-free after drying. The style lasted through a typical day, and even remained largely intact overnight; the dry hair mode then made light work of re-styling the hair again the following day, again with a soft and smooth finish.
Shark SmoothStyle review: Are there any downsides?
The SmoothStyle certainly does what it sets out to, offering a neat all-in-one styling tool for wet or dry hair. The only real downsides are that, since the hot-brush market is already quite well-served, you may already own a brush that works in a remarkably similar fashion – perhaps a Revlon One-Step (£40), a Babyliss Hydro-Fusion Air Styler (£60) or a Revamp Progloss wet and dry styler. The SmoothStyle has the benefit of being usable in wet or dry mode, similar to the Revamp brush and is similarly priced.
Another very minor downside is that at present, the SmoothStyle arrives in only one colour choice – a demi-glossy off-white shade with pale gold and fuchsia accents. If you’re looking for a tool that does more (and is available in more colour options) you could look instead to the Dyson Airwrap, or even to Shark’s own FlexStyle combi dryer-styler.
Shark SmoothStyle review: Should I buy it?
We certainly like it: the Shark SmoothStyle is very easy to use, lightweight and comfortable to hold, and quickly creates a soft, smooth, healthy blow-dried finish that lasts all day.
However, hot brushes are pretty popular and you may already own one; if this is the case then we wouldn’t necessarily rush to replace the one you have. If you are in the market for an effective blow-drying brush, though, then with its wet and dry styling options and excellent long-lasting results, the SmoothStyle is an excellent choice.
