The new Shark SilkiPro wet-dry straightener made my wavy hair glow-up

I test a lot of beauty launches.

Actually, let me rephrase that: I test pretty much every good beauty launch that catches my eye.

If it’s buzzy, claims to cut my routine in half or promises “glass hair” in one pass, it’s probably already sitting on my bathroom counter.

So when I became one of the first people to get my hands on the Shark SilkiPro Straight Wet to Dry Straightener + Rapid Blow Dryer (yes, #workperk), I went in equal parts excited and skeptical. Wet-to-dry tools have a history of overpromising. This one? It outperformed my expectations.

“When listening to our consumers, we found that many are looking for a better way to a sleek, straight style without sacrificing time, hair health or simplicity — that insight led to SilkiPro Straight, our first free-standing air straightener and the only wet-to-dry straightener with RapidDry Technology, HeatSense Ceramic Plates and integrated combs,” Julie Bailey-Blanche, vice president of global marketing at SharkNinja, exclusively shared with the New York Post. “It both dries and styles hair at the same time, smoothing frizz and boosting shine for a silky finish across all hair types and textures with no heat-damage.”

Plus, it streamlines your routine into one tool and cuts styling time in half^* so you get a wet-to-dry styling experience that’s efficient.

If you’ve followed my beauty reviews for any length of time, you already know I’m borderline obsessed with Shark’s beauty lineup. The Shark FacialPro Glow lives permanently on my vanity, the Shark Cryotherapy LED Mask (review upcoming!) makes me look like a chic sci-fi villain three nights a week and the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System has replaced more hot tools than I care to admit.

So when Shark teased a true wet-to-dry straightener that also functions as a rapid blow dryer, I was ready to be impressed. And honestly? I was.

Shark SilkiPro Straight Wet to Dry Straightener + Rapid Blow Dryer

Amazon

The concept alone feels like a direct challenge to the category. Instead of rough-drying your hair, then going back in with a flat iron to smooth and polish, the SilkiPro compresses that two-step dance into one streamlined motion. It uses high-velocity airflow to dry damp strands while ceramic plates refine and straighten at the same time.

Add in three comb attachments that guide and smooth the hair as you pass through each section, and suddenly your post-shower routine feels almost suspiciously efficient.

“SilkiPro Straight was designed to work across all hair types, including textured, curly and coily hair,” Bailey-Blanche told The Post. “That universal performance is intentional and guided by our For All Hair Kind™ platform, which informs how we design and test every tool. Before launch, each product must deliver consistent, 5-star results across hair types to ensure it truly performs for everyone. The result is a tool people can trust to work with their hair, not against it.”

Color options: 3 | Technology: RapidDry high-velocity airflow and Intelligent HeatSense ceramic plates with integrated heat sensors that measure temperature (1,000× per second to help prevent heat damage while drying and straightening) | Modes: Wet-to-dry drying + straightening; also functions in “dry” mode for finishing and refining styles | Wattage: Approximately 1000 watt peak power (for drying and styling performance) | Voltage: 120 voltage (standard US voltage)

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My Review

Victoria McDonnell

From the moment I unboxed the Shark SilkiPro Straight, I could tell this hybrid blow dryer and straightener was something special.

Its plum satin finish feels luxe, and the intuitive design makes it easy to start styling right away (I mean, salon vibes?) I began with damp hair and clipped in the gentle comb attachment, selecting the wet-to-dry mode to rough-dry and stretch my strands. The high-velocity airflow combined with the Intelligent Ceramic Heat gave my hair a smooth start, noticeably reducing frizz without tugging or pulling at my roots — a huge relief compared to traditional flat irons that often snag.

How I use It

Using it is refreshingly straightforward: start with damp (not dripping) hair, divide it into manageable sections, and choose the appropriate comb. The wide-tooth for thicker or tighter textures and the precision comb for sleeker results. I slowly guided the SilkiPro through each section from root to tip, letting the RapidDry Technology do its thing.

Because the integrated comb maintains tension and the tool dries and straightens at once, I was able to cut my styling time in half without any of the usual heat damage or hair fight.

Once my hair was mostly dry, I switched to the dry mode to refine and polish each section, gently gliding the tool to lock in shine and smoothness. The result was immediately visible, with my hair looking significantly shinier than usual, with a glossy finish that really stood out under light.

Even at the roots, I didn’t experience the pulling or snagging that can come with clamping traditional irons, which made the whole styling experience more comfortable.

By the end of my routine, the ease of use and performance had turned this device into a new staple in my haircare lineup. Whether I was rushing out the door or doing a more meticulous blowout, the SilkiPro Straight delivered consistently shiny, straight results with minimal effort.

If you’re looking for a multifunctional tool that dries, smooths, and straightens without tug (and makes your hair noticeably shinier), this plum satin gem is a winner in both design and performance.

It’s amazing at fighting frizz and adding shine

Victoria McDonnell

My hair is naturally wavy, and to make things even more interesting, I have a stubborn curly cowlick right at the front that fights against every brush, flat iron and blow dryer I’ve ever used.

Usually, no matter how careful I am, that little section either sticks up or twists oddly, creating that “out of control” look by mid‑morning. Even on good hair days, my waves can turn frizzy or poofy.

With the Shark SilkiPro Straight, though, the frizz reduction was absolutely unreal.

The combination of the RapidDry airflow and the Intelligent Ceramic Heat smoothed out every strand, including my pesky cowlick, without tugging or pulling. My waves stayed controlled yet soft, with a polished shine that felt almost glossy in the light. Even the sections that normally rebelled seemed to lie perfectly in place, making my hair feel healthier and more manageable than it ever has with traditional straighteners or brushes.

It has been a total game-changer for taming frizz in wavy, cowlick-prone hair.

The slight learning curve

That’s not to say there’s zero learning curve. Like any hybrid tool, it takes a couple of tries to master your sectioning and pacing. The head is slightly bulkier than a traditional flat iron because of the airflow component, so getting ultra-close around the ears or nape requires a bit of maneuvering. But by the second or third use, the motion becomes second nature.

Its modernity and value

What really elevates the experience is how modern it feels. There’s no frantic back-and-forth between tools, no blasting your hair with maximum heat just to finish faster. The temperature regulation works in the background, adjusting as you go, so you’re not cooking one section while waiting for another to dry. It’s controlled, deliberate styling.

And let’s address value. Premium wet-to-dry tools aren’t cheap, and the category has largely been dominated by ultra-luxury price points. The SilkiPro delivers comparable innovation with a noticeably lighter feel and arguably shinier finish, but without veering into “rent-money” territory. That makes it accessible in a way some competitors aren’t.

How does it compare to the Shark Flexstyle straightener attachment?

Now, let’s talk about how it compares to the straightener attachment on the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System, because I know that’s on your mind if you already own one. The FlexStyle is a multi-styler first. Its straightening attachment works well for smoothing and refining, but it’s still part of a modular system designed to curl, volumize and shape. It’s versatile — and I love it for that — but it’s not purpose-built for soaking-wet-to-pin-straight efficiency.

The SilkiPro, on the other hand, was engineered specifically for that workflow. It’s not trying to be a curling wand or a volumizing brush. It’s focused. The airflow is stronger and more concentrated for drying. The plate design is better for creating tension from root to tip. The result is sleeker, straighter and closer to a salon finish in fewer passes. If the FlexStyle is your all-in-one stylist, the SilkiPro is your specialist.

Shark SilkiPro vs. Dyson Airstrait

Naturally, the comparison everyone wants is to the Dyson Airstrait — a tool I’ve also reviewed and genuinely liked. The Airstrait was revolutionary when it launched, using heated air (not traditional plates) to straighten hair from wet. It delivers a sleek, polished result and feels undeniably high-tech. But here’s the thing no one talks about enough: it’s heavy. After a full head of hair, your wrists know it.

“What sets SilkiPro Straight apart is the Silki Smooth Comb Collection,” Bailey-Blanche shared. “The three interchangeable combs are designed to replicate the professional stylist’s ‘chase method,’ guiding hair through the straightening process for expert, salon-quality results. They help create the tension and alignment needed for more controlled styling from root to tip while drying and straightening in a single motion to deliver the silkiest straight results on all hair types.”

The SilkiPro feels noticeably lighter and more ergonomic. It sits in your hand like a traditional straightener, which makes it intuitive right out of the box. There’s no awkward angling, no strange hand choreography to get sections to feed through properly. Midway through styling, I realized something small but significant — my arms weren’t tired. For anyone with thick or long hair, that alone is a selling point.

And then there’s the shine. This surprised me most. While the Airstrait gives a smooth, controlled finish, the SilkiPro produces a more noticeable gloss right away. My hair looked reflective but not oily.

I didn’t reach for a finishing serum, which is rare for me. The combination of airflow plus plate tension seems to lock the cuticle down in a way that amplifies light. It’s the kind of shine that makes you tilt your head slightly in the mirror just to double-check.

For more, check out my side-by-side review of the Dyson Airwrap versus the Shark FlexStyle.

Is it worth it? The verdict is in

Victoria McDonnell

For me, the biggest endorsement is this: the SilkiPro earned a permanent spot in rotation. Not as a novelty. Not as a once-a-week experiment. But as a legitimate replacement for my blow dryer and flat iron combo on days when I want sleek hair fast.

As someone who tests nearly every promising beauty launch that crosses my desk, I don’t say that lightly — this passed the test.

The SilkiPro doesn’t merely chase the wet-to-dry trend — it refines it. Its hype is entirely deserved.

How I Tested

After testing this device for one month, here’s the strict testing criteria I put the Shark SilkiPro through each time I used it:

• Ease of use: I assessed how intuitive it was to switch between wet‑to‑dry and dry modes and attach the different combs.
• Frizz reduction: I monitored how effectively the tool smoothed my naturally wavy hair and tamed my curly cowlick without extra products.
• Shine and finish: I evaluated the glossy, polished appearance of my hair after styling to see how much it enhanced natural shine.
• Comfort and hair safety: I checked whether the tool pulled, tugged or caused any heat damage while straightening sections of my hair.
• Styling speed: I measured how quickly it dried and straightened damp hair compared with using a separate blow dryer and flat iron.

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Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Victoria McDonnell, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include testing the best sheet masks on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos for all hair types and budgets. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.

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