Getting salon-quality blowouts at home is now easier than ever.
Choosing the best hair dryer brushes depends on your hair type and styling goals. Look for adjustable heat settings, ionic technology to reduce frizz, and ceramic or tourmaline barrels for even heat distribution. A lightweight, ergonomic design ensures comfort, while multiple brush sizes help achieve smooth, voluminous, or curled results effortlessly.
It’s such a hassle to dry your hair at home (and to be honest, it makes you sweaty and exhausted). But blow dryer brushes have made a total change in the process. These 2-in-1 products dry and style your hair simultaneously and save you a lot of time and effort in styling your hair.
Hair dryer brushes combine the hair styling prowess of a large round brush with the drying ability of a hair dryer. The Bristles untangle smooth hair and heat it to a bouncy, smooth salon-grade blowout in one step, which is less time and skill-intensive than a standard hair dryer/brush combo.
We put our products to the test with actual consumers and tested each on its ease of use, performance, and drying time among others. We have taken the best of the best after considering the outcomes of our testing.
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1
Best Overall Hair Dryer Brushes
Amika Hair Blow Dryer Brush 2.0
PROS
- Achieves amazing results for volume
- Gentle heat feature
- Works beautifully for all hair types
CONS
- Lacks a cool shot feature
Heat settings: 3 | Cord length: 9.6 feet | Bristles: Nylon ball-tipped pins & boar-style | Weight: 1.3 lb.
Get a salon-style blowout at home with this handheld Amika blowdryer brush: 100% of the testers said this blowdryer brush was the best to achieve perfect style and volume in all hair types.
This selection has the longest cord we could find to be easily styled without being tied to an outlet and it was the only one we spotted with a wrap to store. It is also the least noisy hair dryer brush that we tested, but we would like it to have a cool option to fix styles.
Testers claim that this tool provides a salon quality blowout and gives the hair a filler of noticeable volume all with a light heat. One of the testers commented, the mixture of long and short bristles was my favorite–I am sure that the hair was in the right place and slid through the hair with no trouble.
2
Best Budget Hair Dryer Brush
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer
PROS
- Affordably priced
- Dries hair faster than other models tested
- Designed with a unique shape that smooths and enhances shine
CONS
- Becomes quite hot during use
Heat Settings: 3 | Voltage/wattage: 1,100 watts | Cord length: 6 feet | Bristles: Nylon ball-tipped pins & tufted bristles | Weight: 1.3 lb.
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer is an iconic product that has more than 520,000 Amazon reviews and indeed, it lives to the hype, as it was the fastest-drying product in Beauty tests. The shape of the brush is such that it is easy to smooth and slide through even the most difficult textures of hair.
One of the testers loved the big brush head, saying it dried more hair at a time. Nonetheless, it may become extremely hot when in use, and therefore should not be used on wet hair that is soaking wet and should be used with a heat protectant.
Another tester said it was good at making smooth, straight hairstyles, and I concur: It makes it easy to turn my curly, frizzy hair into a sleek, smooth style. The tool was also rated very high in terms of easy to follow instructions and giving the hair a more shiny look.
3
Best Runner-Up Hair Dryer Brush
Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying
PROS
- Features a range of customizable attachments.
- Includes four heat settings and a cool shot option
- Suitable for all hair types
CONS
- Includes two curling attachments that rotate in opposite directions instead of a single flexible one
Heat Settings: 4 | Voltage/wattage: 1,300 watts | Cord Length: 8 feet | Bristles: Varies per attachment | | Weight: 1.54 lb.
The FlexStyle brush by Shark has so much to love. You can buy a ready-made set with the most suitable attachments to straight or wavy hair, a set with attachments to curly or coily hair, or you can design your own air styler and create your set by selecting three attachments on the Shark site.
All attachments are effective to dry, smooth or curl the hair to give a smooth finish. It has four heat options, a cool shot, and three airflow options. The body of the tool is quite big and long, but our home testers and professional stylists reported that it was easy to manipulate and user-friendly.
In case you want to have a brush that will enable you to make a range of hairstyles, we highly recommend this one. This is a premium tool that went beyond my expectations. I appreciate the wide range of attachments—they’re highly effective, and the design’s technology is impressively smart.
4
Best Hair Dryer Brush for Travel
REVLON One-Step Volumizer Plus
PROS
- Offers strong, effective airflow
- Provides milder heat than the original
- Includes a detachable head for easy storage and travel
CONS
- Small brush head may not be suitable for all hair types
Heating settings: 4 | Voltage/wattage: 1,200 watts | Cord length: 6 feet | Bristles: Nylon ball-tipped pins & tufted bristles | Weight: 1.6 lb.
A softer and more flexible version of its predecessor, the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus has a new medium heat/speed option and a removable base that can be stored and used easily. It has a 2.4-inch brush head, which is a little smaller than the original- with its own benefits and limitations based on your hair and style requirements.
According to Beauty testing, the Plus has a far greater airflow than the original version does. We tested the Plus and found that the medium setting of the Plus operates at the same temperature as the low setting of the original One-Step Volumizer, but with a much more powerful airflow on all settings, although it took longer to dry hair swatches, presumably because the brush has a smaller surface area.
The smaller brush head is also somewhat controversial; the people with longer hair might be more fond of the larger size of the original. The testers believed that the Plus was as effective in hair styling and liked that the temperature was softer on the hair. One of the testers said, It is as quick as the old Volumizer, only not so hot–which is so much better.
5
Most Versatile Hair Dryer Brush
Shark Beauty FlexStyle Multi-Styler for Curly & Coily Hair
PROS
- Includes versatile attachments for both curly and straight styles
- Easily converts into a hair dryer with a diffuser
CONS
- Expensive
Heat settings: 3 | Voltage/wattage: 1,300 watts | Cord length: 8 feet | Bristles: Various; nylon & boar on oval brush | Weight: 1.6 lb.
The majority of blow dryer brushes are already designed to suit curly-haired individuals as they have both smoothing and blow drying in the same step, but in case you want to be natural, this option is special since you can have your natural hair straight or curly, as there are various attachments and a swiveling base that also enables the tool to be used as a hair dryer/diffuser hybrid.
The brand claims this tool is gentler on hair than others, and we measured it running at an average of around 180ºF. It was tested on beauty and proved to dry hair quicker than most of the models we have witnessed. A tester who had thick and curly hair was very complimentary of the smoothing brush and said that her styles lasted days.
I liked its strength, good airflow, and flexibility. I adore the fact that it has so many attachments and the diffuser has adjustable prongs to fit various hair lengths. It is certainly costly and somewhat heavier than a conventional hair dryer brush. I felt that the tool was a little hot and did not give the smoothest-looking style, but the versatility makes it worth it.
6
Best Hair Dryer Brush for Thick Hair
Hot Tools Professional 24k Gold Blow Dryer Brush
PROS
- Highest marks for quick styling
- Excels at effortless brushing
- Gives hair a glossy, polished finish
CONS
- Heavy
Heat settings: 3 | Voltage/wattage: 120V | Cord length: 8 feet | Bristles: Nylon ball-tipped pins & boar-style bristles | Weight: 1.4 lb.
Hot Tools scored the highest marks in the category of detangling and styling thick, coarse or curly hair with ease and in a short period of time due to special vents that accelerate the drying process even on very thick strands.
During the Beauty testing, the professionals found that it is fast in styling hair and it moves through the hair with ease. Although it is one of the heaviest conventional blow dryer brushes we have tried, so it takes some effort to get your style right, it was the easiest to operate, with its user-friendly rotating temperature control.
One of the users remarked that I was surprised at the speed and the time it took my hair to dry up.
7
Best Hair Dryer Brush for Fine Hair
Drybar Blow-Dryer Shot Collection | Faster Blowouts
PROS
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Offers the gentlest heat in tests
- Works best for short to medium hair
CONS
- Expensive
Heat settings: 3 | Voltage/wattage: 1,100 watts | Cord length: 8.9 feet | Bristles: Nylon ball-tipped pins & tufted bristles | Weight: 1.3 lb.
It’s not always easy to find a dryer brush that is able to dry fine or delicate hair without overheating it, yet the brush by Drybar is able to do it perfectly. It is more expensive, but it is a good investment to make when one wants to maintain healthy fine strands in the long term.
In Beauty testing, this efficient hair dryer brush proved to have the gentlest heat of all the models we evaluated, reaching a peak temperature of 165°F after five minutes—nearly 100°F cooler than most others. The gentle heat helps protect hair – especially fine or fine hair roots – from damage, while providing smooth, efficient styling. Its slim barrel and compact surface area make it ideal for fine or short to medium length hair.
One tester shared, I got amazing volume with this, and my hair felt super smooth—it was just like a salon blowout. Another remarked, “It gave me much better results than using a regular dryer and brush.” A third user mentioned that it’s comfortable to hold and glides easily through the hair.
8
Best Hair Dryer Brush for Damaged Hair
Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler and Dryer
PROS
- Lower heat minimizes damage to hair
- comes with eight attachments for maximum versatility
- Features innovative design and technology
CONS
- High-priced and takes time to master
Heat settings: 3 | Voltage/wattage: 1,300 watts | Cord length: 8.5 feet | Bristles: Various; firm plastic, ball-tipped plastic, nylon pin | Weight: 1.5 lb.
This dryer has various attachments to straighten and style hair, including a pre-styling dryer, firm and soft smoothing brushes, a round volumizing brush and two curling barrels to create defined curls.
The paddle brushes are Coanda technology, which guides the airflow along the hair shaft, which imitates the blowout effect of a professional salon. Although it might require some practice, this tool is a powerful airflow with regulated heat to dry and style at the same time with the least harm, which is why it is popular among beauty experts.
The Airwrap is the hair dryer brush that I have confidence in to keep my curly hair straight and smooth without long-term harm, as it has a lower heat level than other comparable devices. Its attachments are practical and efficient, and the latest Airwrap version of Dyson with curly hair has a diffuser and a bigger round brush to add volume to the hair- an upgrade that I adore to wear natural curls.
9
Best Rotating Hair Brush Dryer
Conair Hot Air Styling Brush Set
PROS
- The rotating mechanism simplifies styling
- Slimmer barrel makes it easier to style shorter hair
CONS
- It takes some practice to master the rotating brush
Heat settings: 3 | Voltage/wattage: 500 watts | Cord length: Not listed | Bristles: Boar-style | Weight: 1.9 lb.
When your arms are tired of wrapping your hair all the time, pick up this rotating device that virtually does it on its own. Its slightly smaller 1 ½-inch barrel is perfect with shorter styles and the dual-direction spinning capability produces natural-looking curls and waves on dry hair between washes with ease.
Although we haven’t personally tried this model, the brand states that its ceramic technology can be used to dry wet hair and provide it with permanent shine. Nonetheless, other critics observe that the rotating system requires a bit of time to familiarize with.
One user remarked, It’s super convenient to switch brushes or remove them for cleaning. The negative ions really seem to work—my hair feels silky and shiny. The brush can also be used to do in-between styling.
Tips for choosing the best hair dryer brush
Choosing the best hair dryer brush involves considering your hair type, styling preferences, and desired results. Here’s a concise guide to help you make an informed decision:
✔️ Heat settings: It has several heat settings, which are perfect to use on various hair types and textures; lower heat settings are excellent with fine or damaged hair and higher heat settings are excellent with healthy or thicker, coarser hair types. Our Beauty experts also suggest a tool that has a cool shot to aid in the sealing of styles.
✔️ Bristles: The majority of hair dryer brushes are designed with pin bristles or boar-type bristles, or both (in professional reviews, some testers preferred bristles of different lengths to reach every remaining hair):
- Pin bristles are effective in untangling hair. Pin bristles are good if you are more concerned with untangling.
- Boar bristles hold and flatten hair (but may sometimes put excessive tension on it, which we discovered in experiments). When you want to tame frizz or make your hair appear incredibly shiny, find a dryer brush with boar-like bristles.
✔️ Cord length: The length of the cord you will require will depend on the location where you will be styling and whether there is an outlet close by. To be as flexible as possible, seek a professional length cord of at least eight feet. The cheaper models have shorter cords, but this can restrict your freedom of style, you might not have an outlet close to a mirror!
✔️ Ease of use: Ease of use, comfort in styling and intuitiveness of the controls are all important factors in our tests. Find a tool that is comfortable to hold in your hand, easy to hold and not too heavy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are hair dryer brushes suitable for all hair types?
Yes – hair dryer brushes are universal and can be used on fine, straight, wavy, curly and thick hair. Just change the heat and airflow settings according to the texture and sensitivity of your hair.
Is it possible to use a hair dryer brush on wet hair that is soaking wet?
It’s not advised. To apply the brush, your hair should be approximately 80% dry to avoid heat damage.
Are hair dryer brushes harmful?
Like any heat-styling tool, they can be harmful if not used properly. Excessive heat can weaken or damage the outer layer of your hair. To protect your hair roots, experts recommend applying a heat protectant before styling and letting your hair air dry about 70-80% before using the brush.
Is it safe to use a hair dryer brush with adjustable heat or airflow settings?
Yes. Brushes with multiple heat and speed settings allow you to adjust the temperature and airflow to your hair type—use lower settings for fine or fine hair and higher settings for thick or coarse hair.
How should you clean and maintain your hair dryer brush?
- Remove trapped hair and product buildup after each use.
- Let the brush cool completely before storing it.
- Wipe the removable head or attachments thoroughly to keep them clean and in good condition.