8 Best Hair Dryer Brushes for Gorgeous Blowouts on Every Type of Hair
In Beauty Lab evaluations, we found that this efficient hair dryer brush had the gentlest heat among the products we tested, reaching a maximum temperature of 167°F over five minutes of use, nearly 100ºF lower than the competition — meaning it will prevent hair from getting overly exposed to heat while still effectively styling.
Which Blow Dry Brush is Right for Me?
I love testing out a new hair tool. It’s probably one of my favorite aspects of what I do here on The Small Things. From “first impressions” videos to educational tutorials, I hope my reviews and demonstrations of a hair tool are helpful to you if you’re in the market for something.
As I’m sure you know, there are a lot of blow-dry brushes on the market already and more are rolling out. I recently gave the T3 Airebrush a try and really loved it. It’s different than the Airebrush Duo because it only has one oval-shaped head that is not removable. The Airebrush Duo has a round brush attachment, as well as a paddle brush attachment.
I also recently bought and tested out the Shark SmoothStyle Heated Comb Straightener + Smoother. This is very similar to the T3 Airebrush but it also includes two sections of a heated comb to run your hair through for smoothing, curling, or straightening.
After sharing that video, my comment section was full of questions asking which tool was better. It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison so I’ll break down what the benefits of each tool are so you can make the best decision for yourself and your hair type.
Before I dive in, I just want to remind you that there are always going to be newer, better, more advanced, more customized tools that arrive on the market. That’s just what we do in this society. The arrival of a newer tool does not immediately negate a purchase you made. If a tool works for you, then it’s a win. We are not always going to agree on what makes a perfect hair tool. I read a comment *this morning* from someone saying the Dyson Airstrait is superior and I literally hope to never use that tool on myself again. I did not like it for ME.
If you’re shopping for a hair tool, pay attention to the following things: wattage, temperature, temperature adjustments (if it has that), and material.
The higher the wattage, in a dryer, the stronger the motor. The stronger the motor, the better airflow to dry your hair faster. The highest-wattage blow dryer I’ve ever used is the Rusk Speed Freak at 2000 watts. That dryer is *fast*. It was my favorite dryer to use behind the chair. The Dyson blow dryer has 1600 watts, which is also very powerful.
The T3 Airebrush Duo AND the T3 Airebrush have 900 Watts. It’s not going to be the strongest airflow you’ve ever felt. You will absolutely need to dry your hair to about 80% dry, whether by air drying or blowing dry.
The Airebrush Duo has 5 heat settings, 3 speed settings, a volume burst option, and a cool shot. It has two different brush head attachments. You can get a variety of results with this tool. This would be a nice option for someone with fine, delicate, or hair prone to damage thanks to the wide variety of heat options. The brush attachments are ceramic coated to encourage a smooth finished result.
The new Airebrush has 3 heat settings and 2 speed settings, as well as a cool shot. The oval-shaped brush with a ceramic surface encourages smooth hair with less frizz. You will likely have an easier time getting a big, bouncy blowout-like finish with this tool thanks to the oval shape. This would be great for medium to fine hair, healthy or damaged. If your hair is really thick, you may find that it takes you a long time to dry.
The Shark SmoothStyle is also 900 watts, the same as both T3 tools. This tool has the same shape head as the T3 Airebrush but also has two sections of a fixed heated comb to run through your hair after you’ve finished drying it. You cannot turn the heated comb section on while you are drying, it is a different mode.
This tool would be a great option for someone who really needs extra heat smoothing to reduce frizz. You can also get a nice flip in the hair if you hold the tool vertically (see here). The heated comb is a fixed 420 degrees, which is toasty. You will want to keep an eye on your hair and make sure to use a heat protector. This tool also has ceramic-coated plates, which is a great feature of these blow-dry brushes.
SO WHICH ONE IS THE BEST?!
Again, they all have different features, so it isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison.
The Shark SmoothStyle is the lowest price, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the best option for you. We’ve all seen or experienced the damage from the cheap 1st edition of the Revlon One-Step (before they adjusted the heat settings). The T3 Airebrush Duo is nice for anyone who wants to have a curled end from a round brush or a smooth, straight finish from the paddle brush. And the newer T3 Airebrush, with the oval attachment, is a plain and simple, straightforward blow-dry brush.
With practice, you would get a great result from any 3 of these tools, you just have to decide what you want that result to be in order to make an informed decision.
Ultimately, look at the wattage, the material (like “ceramic coated”), and the temperature options when you’re shopping.
Personally, a blow-dry brush, no matter how perfect, will never fully replace a curling iron and flat iron for me. I like to have styling options by using those tools. I’m really happy with the T3 Airbrush with the oval shape. I also got a great result with the Shark SmoothStyle and liked that I could put a little bend in my ends with the same tool.
Assess your hair, and your ideal result, and use the information you have about the tools to make the right purchase for you!
Want more blow-dry brush information? You’ll love this.
8 Best Hair Dryer Brushes for Gorgeous Blowouts on Every Type of Hair
When it comes to giving yourself a perfect, bouncy at-home blowout, there’s perhaps no tool that’s more valuable than a hair dryer brush. A 2-in-1 solution, a blow dryer brush styles and dries hair in one step, combining the styling of a large round brush with the drying power of a hair dryer. Bristles detangle and smooth hair while heat dries it, giving salon-level results in a single step — usually in less time (and with less arm fatigue) than a traditional hair dryer/brush combo.
In our most recent test of hair dryer brushes in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, our experts evaluated 10 products for ease of use, performance, drying time and more. After evaluating the results from our testing (including nearly 11,000 temperature readings!), we’ve rounded up the best of the best.
Our top picks:
BEST OVERALL HAIR DRYER BRUSH
Amika Hair Blow Dryer Brush 2.0
BEST VALUE HAIR DRYER BRUSH
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer Hot Air Brush
BEST HAIR DRYER BRUSH FOR FINE HAIR
Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush
BEST HAIR DRYER BRUSH FOR SHORT HAIR
Conair Hot Air Spin Brush
BEST HAIR DRYER BRUSH FOR THICK HAIR
Hot Tools Professional 24k Gold Charcoal Infused Blowout Styler
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT HAIR DRYER BRUSH
Style Craft Hot Body Ionic 2-in-1 Blowout Hot Air Brush
BEST HAIR DRYER BRUSH FOR CURLY HAIR
Shark Beauty FlexStyle Multi-Styler for Curly and Coily Hair
BEST HAIR DRYER BRUSH FOR DAMAGED HAIR
Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler
Our pros test and vet hair styling products every day, from styling tools like the best straightening irons and hair straightening brushes to top-rated hair dryers, hair brushes and more — so we know what makes a good hair tool. For more information on what makes a great hair dryer brush from our Beauty Lab pros, scroll to the bottom of this article. And if you want more information on how to get your best hair at home, check out our guide to the best hair tools and how to use them.
Amika Hair Blow Dryer Brush 2.0
Amika Hair Blow Dryer Brush 2.0
Pros
- Top scores for volumizing
- Gentle heat
- Works on all hair types
Cons
Get a shiny, salon-caliber blow-out at home with this easy-to-hold Amika blowdryer brush: 100% of testers agreed this brush was best for creating perfect style and volume on all hair types. Testers found this gives a pro-level blow dry while boosting hair’s fullness, all while having gentle heat. “I also liked that they use two types of bristles (short and long) as it grabbed the strands of hair and glided through,” said one.
This pick has the longest cord for easy styling and was the only winner with wrap for storage. It’s also the quietest hair dryer brush we tested, although we do wish it had a cool setting to help lock in styles.
| Heat settings | 3 |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 9.6 ft. |
| Bristles | Nylon ball-tipped pins and boar-style |
| Weight | 1.3 lb. |
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer Hot Air Brush
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer Hot Air Brush
Pros
- Dried hair fastest in Lab tests
- Reasonably priced
- Unique shape smooths and adds shine
Cons
With over 336,000 Amazon reviews, Revlon’s cult fave One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer lives up to its reputation: It achieved the fastest rate of drying hair in Beauty Lab testing. The brush’s shape allows for smoothing and glides easily through even the roughest hair textures. “I liked how the brush head was large, which allowed it to dry more hair at once,” a tester reported.
“It was good for creating smooth, straight hairstyles,” although it gets exceedingly hot during use, so be careful not to use it on soaking wet hair and use alongside a heat protectant. The tool also ranked highly for having simple-to-follow instructions and boosting hair’s shine.
| Heating settings | 3 |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 6 ft. |
| Bristles | Nylon ball-tipped pins and tufted bristles |
| Weight | 1.3 lb. |
Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush
Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable to hold
- Gentlest heat in Lab tests
- Great for short or medium hair
Cons
In Beauty Lab evaluations, we found that this efficient hair dryer brush had the gentlest heat among the products we tested, reaching a maximum temperature of 167°F over five minutes of use, nearly 100ºF lower than the competition — meaning it will prevent hair from getting overly exposed to heat while still effectively styling.
The brush’s narrow barrel and smaller surface area make it ideal for fine or short to medium-length hair. Minus the cord, the brush itself weighs in at just under a pound, and one tester found it comfortable to hold and that the brush combed easily through her hair. “I got great volume with this, yet my hair felt really smooth — it was comparable to a blow-out from a salon,” another marveled. “Much better results than using a regular dryer and separate brush,” another user noted.
| Heat settings | 3 |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 8.9 ft. |
| Bristles | Nylon ball-tipped pins and tufted bristles |
| Weight | 1.3 lb. |
Conair Hot Air Spin Brush
Conair Hot Air Spin Brush
Pros
- Rotating mechanism makes styling easier
- Slimmer barrel makes easy work of styling shorter hair
Cons
If your arm gets tired from pulling hair round and round, snag this rotating pick that does the work for you. The smaller-than-average 1 ½-inch barrel is perfect for shorter styles, and the spinning mechanism rotates in two directions to create natural-looking curls and waves on dry hair in between washes.
While we haven’t tested this pick in the Lab, the brand claims the ceramic technology dries damp strands and adds lasting shine, although some reviewers say that the rotating mechanism takes some getting used to at first.
| Heat settings | 3 |
|---|---|
| Cord length | Not listed |
| Bristles | Boar-style |
| Weight | 1.9 lb. |
Hot Tools Professional 24k Gold Charcoal Infused Blowout Styler
Hot Tools Professional 24k Gold Charcoal Infused Blowout Styler
Pros
- Best scores for styling hair quickly
- Top scores for easily brushing hair
- Leaves hair looking shiny
Cons
True to its name, Hot Tools won the gold for effortlessly combing through and speedily styling even dense, coarse or curly strands. The controls were also the simplest to use compared with the other models, thanks to a rotating temperature control with three heat settings and vent platforms for faster drying on even super thick and curly strands.
In Beauty Lab evaluations, 100% of expert testers found that it styled hair fast and combed through strands with ease, although it’s among the heaviest traditional blow dryer brush we tested, so be prepared to put some elbow grease into perfecting your ‘do. “I was surprised by the speed and how fast my hair went from wet to dry,” a user commented.
| Heat settings | 3 |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 8 ft. |
| Bristles | Nylon ball-tipped pins and boar-style bristles |
| Weight | 1.4 lb. |
Style Craft Hot Body Ionic 2-in-1 Blowout Hot Air Brush
Style Craft Hot Body Ionic 2-in-1 Blowout Hot Air Brush
Pros
- Top Lab scores for making hair look shiny
- Relatively lightweight
Cons
- Controls can be confusing
- No cool shot
In Lab tests, this brush got the highest scores for leaving hair looking shiny and frizz-free. The mixed pattern bristles give hair height and body; the longer plastic bristles detangle hair while the shorter, bushier bristles smooth hair into a glossy sheet. It’s also one of the lightest-weight dryer brush we tested, clocking in at just 1.3 pounds with its cord, so you won’t get too fatigued halfway through your blowout.
However, this tool got the hottest during use in Lab tests, so be sure you use a heat protectant and use on partially-dried hair. Our testers also found there was a bit of a learning curve when it came to understanding and maneuvering this tool, and we wish there was a cool shot button.
| Heat settings | 3 |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 5.8 ft. |
| Bristles | Nylon ball-tipped pins and tufted bristles |
| Weight | 1.2 lb. |
Shark Beauty FlexStyle Multi-Styler for Curly and Coily Hair
Shark Beauty FlexStyle Multi-Styler for Curly and Coily Hair
Pros
- Diverse attachments for curly or straight styling
- Converts into a hair dryer with diffuser
Cons
Most blow dryer brushes are already perfect for curly-haired people since they combine smoothing and blow drying into one streamlined step, but if you want to embrace your texture, this pick is unique because it allows you to style natural hair straight or curly, thanks to diverse attachments and a swiveling base that also lets the tool function as a traditional hair dryer/diffuser combo. Bonus: the diffuser has adjustable prongs to suit different hair lengths.
The brand claims the tool is less damaging than other tools, and we found it operates around 183ºF on average. One Beauty Lab analysis confirmed it had one of the fastest drying times we’ve seen. One tester with thick, curly hair loved the smoothing brush and found that styles lasted for days. It’s expensive and a bit heavier than a traditional hair dryer brush, but we think the versatility makes it worth it.
| Heat settings | 3 |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 8 ft. |
| Bristles | Various; nylon and boar on oval brush |
| Weight | 1.6 lb. |
Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler
Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler
Pros
- Lower heat is less damaging to hair
- 8 attachments for ultimate versatility
- Innovative design and technology
Cons
In addition to two 1.2-inch barrels and two 1.6-inch barrels for curling, the dryer comes with useful attachments for blowing out hair straight, including a pre-styling dryer, a firm smoothing brush, a soft smoothing brush and a round volumizing brush. The paddle brushes use Coanda technology to guide air flow down the shaft of the hair, mimicking a salon blowout, which is highly effective but takes some getting used to at first.
What makes it even more amazing? It combines powerful airflow with controlled heat to dry your hair as it styles with less damage, making it a favorite amongst GH Beauty Lab pros. One GH editor with thick, curly hair says, “the Airwrap is the only hair dryer brush I can use to keep my hair straight and less damaged than traditional counterparts.” Dyson also just launched a brand new Airwrap for curly hair that comes with a diffuser and an even larger round brush to add more volume — while our pros haven’t Lab-tested the launch yet, our editors say these upgrades are perfect for catering to curls.
| Heat settings | 3 |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 8.5 ft. |
| Bristles | Various: firm plastic, ball-tipped plastic, nylon pin |
| Weight | 1.5 lb. |
How we test hair dryer brushes
In our most recent hair dryer brush tests, we evaluated 10 oval dryer brushes with Lab tests and at-home usability tests. In the Lab, we assessed drying speed and air flow and used thermocouples to measure each tool’s temperature — our Lab pros logged 10,980 temperature readings as part of this test.
We also measured quantitative factors like weight, size and cord length, and partnered with Quiet Mark, a third-party certifier, to assess each tool’s loudness. At home, our expert testers evaluated the dryer brushes and filled out a detailed survey on ease of use, performance and overall satisfaction. After parsing through the data from 784 questions gathered from 49 questionnaires, we found the very best hair dryer brushes you can buy.
How to choose the best hair dryer brush
✔️ Heat settings: Multiple heat settings are ideal to work on a range of hair types and textures; lower heat settings are great for fine or damaged hair while higher heat settings are good on healthy or thicker, coarser hair types. Our Beauty Lab pros recommend a tool with a cool shot to help seal in styles as well.
✔️ Bristles: Most hair dryer brushes are made with either pin bristles or boar-type bristles, or a combination of both. Pin bristles do a good job at detangling hair, while boar bristles grip and smooth hair (though they can sometimes add too much tension, we found in Lab tests). If you’re looking to smooth out frizz or make hair look super shiny, look for a dryer brush with boar-style bristles. If you’re more focused on detangling, pin bristles are great. In expert evaluations, some testers liked bristles of varying lengths to grab every last hair.
✔️ Cord length: The length of cord you’ll need depends on where you’ll be styling and if there’s an outlet nearby. For ultimate flexibility, look for a professional-length cord of at least eight feet. Less expensive models tend to have shorter cords, but that may limit your ability to style freely — you may not have an outlet near a mirror!
✔️ Ease of use: In our tests, ease of use, comfort when styling and intuitiveness of the controls are all important considerations. Look for a tool that feels balanced in your hand, easy to grip and isn’t too heavy.
Are hair dryer brushes damaging?
Like any hot tool, they can be if you don’t prep hair properly. Exposing hair to excessive heat for long periods of time can cause damage to the structure of hair, so to prevent excessive damage, our Beauty Lab pros recommend coating hair in a heat protectant before use and letting hair partially air dry before using a hair dryer brush.