We've all watched enough TikTok tutorials by now to grasp how to craft bouncy, airy curls. What we're yet to master is making them last, especially on longer hair. We look like angels blessed with volume and length in the mirror in the morning, but by the time we've reached the office/the restaurant/the front door, our hair is lifeless yet again.

The length of our hair is like, literally holding our curls down. Long hair edges into 'flat' territory very fast (but we have zero intention of giving it up), and so we went in search of a solution for anyone out there not willing to sacrifice length for longevity.

For reference, these are the kind of voluminous-but-long wavy looks we're aiming to end the day with, not just start...

Loose waves inspiration

How can I make curls last on long hair?

No, it's not impossible - let's just get that out of the way first. You just need to make sure you're working with a tool that has enough power to offer shape, body and hold, even when longer length is weighing hair down. There's only one that you can really rely on for that kind of power (because they just created it to offer just that): the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System ($399.99 at Shark). It was designed especially for long hair styling, and (fortunately) comes with impressively increased power (now hitting 1650 Watt). For reference, 1400 W is pretty much the industry standard, so this is big (and excellent) news if you're partial to a long-lasting curl on long hair.

Some of its other standout features? The Coanda Technology (which translates to the high-speed jet of air that allows your hair to seamlessly wrap itself around the tool's barrel), the heat protection built in (as it measures and regulates temperatures 1000 times per second) and the multi-styling ease you can expect. It's also a real treat visually, thanks to the sleek design and chic 'stone' shade. If you ask us, it'd be a very worthy addition to your vanity (or if you're a professional hair stylist, your kit).

Hair stylists are actually already raving about the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System. Dane Wakefield, founder and director of Wakefields Salon in Surry Hills calls it his "go-to for creating bounce, shine, and smoothness — all with no the heat damage." Huge. "That’s a big deal when you're styling as often as I do. It’s powerful, but so gentle on the hair, which my clients love just as much as the results," Wakefield explains.

Wakefield is also a big fan of its varied talents. "I’m constantly switching between textures and styles, and the FlexStyle keeps up with the versatility of styles with the attachments. Blowouts, soft waves, bouncy curls - it handles everything. Plus, it's super lightweight and easy to use, which makes it a dream tool in the salon and at home.”

See? We're talking salon-quality results here. Whether you want to achieve those at home or grab one for your salon (hi, hair stylists) depends on your preference (AKA your profession).

How to use the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System

As with any Shark tool, it's super easy to get the hang of. The FlexStyle tool actually starts as a powerful hair dryer, before flexing to a versatile multi-styler. That's where the curler attachments (which are each 15cm in length) come in, allowing you to wrap, curl and set hair automatically using that fancy Coanda Technology.

Auto wrap curlers like these are exactly what you need on your side to create the voluminous, loose curls you're looking for, but on longer hair that doesn't always play ball when you're relying on a lesser tool.

The FlexStyle comes with everything you need to craft the perfect soft curls: the hair styler/dryer, a styling concentrator, an oval brush and 2x auto-wrap curlers (one per side of the head).

As much as we love our previous Shark tools (and our appreciation for them truly cannot be overstated), this one's truly in a league of its own power wise. 1650 W is an incredible feat and our long hair's new ability to last in flowing curls all day is about to be proof of said power.

Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System, $399.99 at Shark

Main image credit: Getty

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