Shark just released a new multi-styler that can be used to style wet and dry hair, and if you're thinking to yourself, "Didn't they do that about 10 months ago?" then you'd be 100% correct.

Shark announced the new tool, the Shark Glam, in a press release on Aug. 11, calling it "the first multi-styler that has the versatility of air styling and ceramic hot tool styling for salon-quality results that you can do yourself." Which, again, if you have memory of — or purchased — the Shark FlexFusion, that statement might confuse you.

As of Aug. 11, the Glam is available exclusively on the Sephora app, but will be available to the general public on Aug. 12 for $449 at Sephora and Shark's website.

A quick glance at the product listings of the Glam and the FlexFusion on Sephora's site confirmed to me that I wasn't crazy for sensing some similarities:

Left:
The Shark FlexFusion.
Credit: Shark

Right:
The Shark Glam.
Credit: Shark

I've tested the Shark beauty lineup, and I was impressed with the innovation behind tools like the FlexStyle and the FlexFusion, so I was surprised by the marketing for the new Glam tool. Shark's Instagram tease makes it seem like this multi-styler is entirely unique. To get some clarity, I asked Shark about the differences between the Shark Glam and the Shark FlexFusion.

How is the Shark Glam different from the Shark FlexFusion?

Shark's team told me there were three main differences between the Glam and the FlexFusion:

1. The Shark Glam attachments use a new Heat Sense technology that distributes heat better for improved styling and temperature control.

2. The Shark Glam's Silki straightener is "slimmer and lighter" than the Shark FlexFusion Wet-or-Dry air straightener. It also includes a sensor for automatically turning down airflow when it's not being used for styling.

3. The power cord is lighter, making the overall styler lighter.

While I can't personally speak to the lighter power cord or new heat sense tech just yet (the Glam is still on the way to me to be tested), the straightener attachment does appear to be more compact overall in the photos of the multi-stylers side by side.

Like the FlexFusion (and other Dyson AirWrap alternatives), the Shark Glam comes in a couple of different configurations. The starting cost for the styler is $449 for five distinct attachments, making it the most expensive starting price of any Shark multi-styler. That said, it does have the best attachment variety from any Shark base model.

For comparison, the Shark FlexFusion build-your-own models start at $349.99 (for the straightener, plus two attachments) or $399.99 for versions with the straightener, plus three more distinct attachments. (Note: a version of the FlexFusion without the straightener attachment exists and starts at $349.99 for four attachments).

The Shark Glam attachments

The Shark Glam is available in two models: straight & wavy and curly & coily. However, as of this writing, we could only find one Shark Glam model available for sale online.

Here's the breakdown for each:

Straight & Wavy

• Shark Glossi: a ceramic round brush that uses both heat and air for styling

• Shark Silki: an air straightener with ceramic hot plates for styling the hair with air, heat, or both

• 1.25-inch Coanda Auto-Wrap curlers: curlers that "grab" the hair for air styling, found also on the Shark FlexFusion and FlexStyle

• FrizzFighter: a tool that uses Coanda air to grab and smooth flyaways

• Concentrator: a standard blow dryer attachment for focusing airflow while drying

The full attachment lineup for the Shark Glam.
Credit: Shark

For comparison, the Shark FlexFusion does have a model with a near identical product lineup that costs $429.99. However, you won't get the slimmer straightener, lighter cord, or improved heat tech.

Curly & Coily

The curly & coily adds one additional attachment (starred below) over the curly & coily FlexFusion. The lineup in full is:

• Shark Glossi

• Shark Silki

• 1.25-inch Coanda Auto-Wrap curlers

• Curl Defining Diffuser

• Wide tooth comb*

The wide tooth comb is technically available on the FlexFusion, but only as part of the build-your-own sets or for purchase separately.

It is worth noting that Shark's improvements toward the heat tech seem to be targeted for folks with type three and four hair. According to the press release, Shark Beauty CMO Kleona Mack said, “Shark Glam was designed to address an unmet need – especially with textured hair. Hair types 3 and 4 have long been underserved in the styling tool category and we knew that it was time to raise the bar."

If you're most intrigued by the new attachments on both models, the individual attachments will be available for purchase and will work on the main unit of the Fusion. But, you would still miss out on the heat and airflow tech, which is housed in the main unit of the Glam itself, according to a Shark spokesperson.

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Credit: Shark

Shark Glam

$449
at Sephora

Shop Now

Vicky

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: They share the same number

• Green: They all have separate pathways

• Blue: Found in The Big Apple

• Purple: They have openings

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Groups of ten

• Green: Places with lanes

• Blue: Landmarks in Downtown NYC

• Purple: Things with holes

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #794 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

• Groups of ten: BOWLING PINS, COMMANDMENTS, DECADE, FINGERS

• Places with lanes: BOWLING ALLEY, HIGHWAY, SUPERMARKET, SWIMMING POOL

• Landmarks in Downtown NYC: BOWLING GREEN, BROOKLYN BRIDGE, CITY HALL, WALL STREET

• Things with holes: BOWLING BALL, COLANDER, GOLF COURSE, SPONGE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Vicky

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferrined pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Spitting image

The words are twin-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are ways to describe clones.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Copy That.

NYT Strands word list for August 12

• Lookalike

• Duplicate

• Copy That

• Replica

• Facsimile

• Double

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Vicky