Heated styling brushes to shop | Meet the experts
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If you've ever had to set your alarm a lot earlier in the morning in an effort to get a salon-worthy blowout at home, then you know that it involves a lot of tools — and an arm workout to boot.
Enter: the heated styling brush.
Thanks to the arrival of the TikTok-viral Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer Brush, a lot more people (like us at home) discovered how quickly attainable a salon-quality 'do can be — one Shop TODAY writer tried the Revlon and loved the "perfect" blowout it gave her in less than 15 minutes. And she wasn't alone — the #revlononestep hashtag has more than 249.8 million views on the app.
But we knew there had to be more blow dryer brushes out there than just the Revlon One-Step that could get the job done, and for all types of hair. So, we set out to find the top brush-and-dryer combo tools that deliver when it comes to results.
Blow dryer brushes to try
Infiniti Pro By Conair 1.5-Inch Hot Air Brush
Temperature settings: Three
If you struggle with frizzy hair and dream about getting shiny, manageable hair with gorgeous volume, you need to get your hands on Conair's Frizz Free Hot Air Brush. The 1.5-inch titanium ceramic-coated barrel can generate thousands of ions to defy frizz, and it can style all hair types quickly with its 500 watts of power.
The brush is ideal for anyone struggling with extra frizz, according to Amazon reviewers who are also big fans its affordable price tag. One reviewer says, “This dryer had my hair sleek and frizz-free in no time.”
Revlon XL Hair Straightening Heated Styling Brush
Temperature control? Yes, up to 430 degrees
Trying to straighten long hair can feel like forever, but this Revlon heated styling brush's XL design makes it easier for you to straighten and style all your hair in a jiffy. The multidimensional bristles smoothly glide from root to tip, and its built-in ionic generator can revive second-day hair with extra shine and no frizz.
I'm (Anjana) here to tell you that Revlon's XL tool is my go-to for second-day hair: I use it to add a little volume at the roots and to tame my ends for a polished finish.
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0
Temperature settings: Four
But just when we thought there couldn’t be anything better than the brand’s OG One-Step Volumizer, Revlon released its PLUS 2.0 Hair Dryer and Hot Air Brush, which gives you 75% shinier hair with 50% less heat damage, due to its ceramic titanium tourmaline technology, according to the brand.
The oval brush is smaller than the original, at a more versatile 2.4 inches, making it extra easy to dry hair closer to the root, the brand says. It’s also suitable for all hair types, even if you have fine or short hair. The 2.0 version has a motor that is said to last 40% longer, making it more reliable.
Tymo Ring Hair Straightener Brush
Temperature settings: Five
As the second bestselling hot air brush on Amazon with over 38,000 verified five-star reviews, the Tymo hair straightener brush is a life-changer. It can straighten the thickest and curliest hair in less time (it's said to heat up in only 20 seconds), all while giving hair an extra smooth and shiny finish with 50% less damage than traditional styling methods, the brand says.
That's because this versatile tool has five different heat settings so that you can personalize it to your hair type and texture. The International dual voltage (110V-240V) will ensure your hair is picture-perfect anywhere in the world while traveling too.
Flower Beauty Ceramic Hair Straightening Brush
Temperature control? Yes, up to 450 degrees
A Shop TODAY favorite, this straightening brush that’s part of Drew Barrymore’s Flower Beauty line smooths and straightens hair in less time than a typical flat iron — mainly due to its ceramic heated plates, which offer consistent and even heating, “delivering better results in less passes,” according to the brand. It also heats up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes, so you can start styling right away.
Calista GoGo Mini Round Brush
Temperature settings: One
Commerce editor Vivien Moon describes this tool as "tiny but mighty! I love it for on-the-go styling and used to keep it at my desk so I could give my hair a little refresh at the end of the day if I had plans afterwards and wanted to give my hair a little extra styling. It’s great for covering small areas and is very portable which can be great for travel, too, if you have short hair and don’t need a lot of maintenance."
Shark® SmoothStyle™ Heated Comb Straightener + Smoother
Temperature settings: Three
When a tool can straighten and smooth hair one minute, and with a quick turn of a dial, style wet hair into a dry, volumized 'do, it's not easy to forget. For associate editor Shannon Garlin, it was love at first pass. "My hair is really thick and can be unruly, and this left it sooo smooth."
The brand promises the hot brush will leave hair frizz free and since it works at a lower temperature compared to traditional flat irons, won't cause any heat damage.
Amika Double Agent 2-in-1 Straightening Blow Dryer Brush
Temperature settings: Three
While you have to wait to use most hot styling brushes on mostly dry hair, Amika's Double Agent can be used right after washing your hair or when it's damp. It's also perfect to style dry hair to give it a little oomph. This brush works on all hair types and textures, the brand says.
Its styling magic lies in its ceramic base and heated bristles, which released far-infrared heat that helps lock in moisture; that's combined with the negative ion technology that helps reduce frizz and promote shine. We'd also be remiss not to mention the flexible outer teeth to help with hair grip.
Morrocanoil Smooth Style Ceramic Heated Brush
Temperature control? Yes, up to 430 degrees
If you have long, thick hair with waves or curls and want to straighten it in less time than it would take with a flat iron, try Moroccanoil’s heated brush. Its ceramic bristles heat evenly and quickly to make the process of straightening lots of hair quick and easy, but their tips are cool to minimize thermal damage. Plus, the beveled edges are also heated to help you style those hard-to-reach areas.
It also has a digital display for temperature control and heats up to 430 degrees. Bonus: It has an instant heat button that heats the brush to maximum heat quickly, as well as advanced ionic technology to help you say “goodbye” to all the frizz.
Drybar The Brush Crush Heated Straightening Brush
Temperature control? Yes, up to 450 degrees
Drybar's heated straightening and brushing tool harnesses its paddle-shaped design and powerful heat settings to give you a frizz-free, salon-quality look. Start out by using it on small sections of dry, detangled hair in order to achieve the best results.
This heated straightening brush is perfect for all hair types, including those with tight coils. The precise digital temperature control heats up to 450 degrees and shuts off automatically after 60 minutes in case you forget to switch it off.
Drybar The Smooth Shot Paddle Brush Blow-Dryer
Temperature settings: Three
Senior SEO editor Jess Bender was lucky enough to be sent Drybar’s paddle hot brush tool last year when it first launched and claims that it’s been working wonders for her frizzy waves. “Easy to use, pretty foolproof in terms of capabilities and temperature controls, EXTREMELY lightweight and it can effectively dry my entire head in a cool fifteen minues,” she raves.
The hot brush is designed to work on fine, medium and thick hair types, as well as straight and wavy textures, says the brand. This would be great option for those who want to boost their hair volume and shine — and if they have locks that easily knot, the tool’s tufted nylon bristles are said to detangle in a snap.
Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush
Temperature settings: Three
This brush is a favorite of associate editor Kamari Stewart. Though she has naturally curly hair and doesn’t blow it out often, she likes to use it to touch up blowouts when her edges start to get frizzy from sweat and heat.
The brand says this brush works on straight, wavy, curly and coily hair to help achieve volume and shine as well as tame frizz. Users with thick and wavy locks, in particular, have had great luck with this styling tool. One such reviewer reports, “Even though I have wavy/curly hair, it holds the style for four days until I have to wash it.”
How we chose the best heated styling brushes
To come up with our list of the best blow dryer brushes on the market, we shared the tools we have personal experience with, ones that come expert recommended and a few more options the internet can't stop talking about.
Questions about heated styling brushes, answered
Are heated brushes good for your hair? Can I use them every day?
Unless you're a professional, it's much easier to dry and style your hair with a heated brush than maneuvering a hair dryer and a brush with both hands, according to experts.
Hollywood-based hairstylist Marco Pelusi says, "Any heat added to the hair during styling can increase the chances of damage to the hair.”
He adds that it's best to use heated brushes or any type of heated tool in moderation. "Allow the hair to have a bit of a break in between uses,” says Pelusi.
Pro hairstylist Jamie Wiley, who's based in Iowa City, Iowa, says heated brushes can be a great styling option in your daily hair care routine.
"Just as long as a heat protectant is being used," she adds, "as it will shield against the potential heat exposure of all of our hair tools." Pelusi echoes her advice on using heat protectants.
Should I use a heated brush on dry hair or wet hair?
Pelusi and Wiley do not recommend using a heated brush on wet hair because it can cause more hair damage.
"Pre-dry your hair gently with your hands before using the heated brush, because the less time the heated brush is on your hair, the better off your hair will be," Pelusi explains.
According to Wiley, a heated brush works similarly to a flat iron, meaning it should never be used on wet hair.
Are heated brushes better than flat irons?
When it comes to straightening your hair, think of heated brushes and flat irons as two different ways to style your hair, rather than viewing them as either-or options.
"I wouldn't say that the hot brush is better than the flat iron but rather another option to choose from," says Wiley.
She adds that both help to elongate the hair strand and smooth and eliminate frizz while maintaining the integrity of the shape and volume.
"Flat irons most often provide texture out services with minimal volume, and neither is better than the other, just different tools for different needs and end results," Wiley explains.
It's all about finding balance for Pelusi.
"Flat irons can be a lot for the hair to handle, so alternating heat styling tools on different days is always a good idea,” he explains. He also recommends giving a break to your hair from hot tools when needed.
Meet the experts
- Jamie Wiley is a hairstylist, founder and published author.
- Marco Pelusi is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist and owner of his namesake salon.