Featured Image Source
Almost every time I step into a hair salon, the stylist’s reaction is strikingly the same: Girl, your hair needs some serious TLC.
It invariably does. My incorrigible rat’s nest of split ends has always been my Achilles’ heel, a tangled mess of frizz that refuses to be tamed. It’s not that I don’t try to wrestle my spazzy strands into submission, but I also tend to give up too easily. The sheer amount of work it takes to style my humidity-soaked tresses is more effort than I’m willing to commit.
That’s why my eyes widened with intrigue when I read about early Prime Day deals in haircare. Among the list of discounted deals was the TikTok-acclaimed hot air brush, otherwise known as “the lazy girl’s way to at-home blowout.”
Okay, Internet, you had me at “deal,” then stole my heart at “lazy girl.” I’d already heard the hot air brush was a miracle cure for mangled manes, but until then, I hadn’t bothered to investigate. Surely, I’d assumed, this versatile beauty product was out of my budget.
Not so, I learned while scanning the upcoming sales. For under $200, I could have my pick of some of the highest-rated hot air brushes on the market. But are these highly-rated hair brushes really worth the hype – or are the influencers who tout them full of hot air?
Good news, glamour seekers: According to the styling gurus, these brushes are the real deal. If you’re like me and often find yourself cursing out your crazed curls, you can finally stop scratching your head. Here, hair and beauty experts weigh in on the best hot air brushes you can buy for our stressed out strands.
What Is A Hot Air Brush?
Gone are the days when you had to juggle multiple handheld tools to achieve the ‘do you desired. The hot air brush is a hybrid hair tool with four-in-one capabilities: it can blow-dry your damp hair while it smooths and straightens, volumizes, or adds curls for a snazzy style you can whip up at home.
“It gets the job done quicker and easier [than a blow dryer and round brush separately], especially for those who are not accustomed to wielding a round brush at weird angles around their heads,” says Ghanima Abdullah, a hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles. Basically, you can stop moving like a circus clown and reduce the time it takes to primp for your next party.
How Should You Choose A Hot Air Brush?
As this hot new hybrid tool increases in internet popularity, more and more brands are releasing their own versions of the snazzy styler. While the abundance of choices can, at first, seem overwhelming, there are a few things you should consider as you narrow down your options, say the stylists:
-
Pick the appropriate heat and tension. The amount of heat and tension you’ll need depends on your specific hair type, Abdullah notes. If you have fine, wavy hair, it doesn’t matter much which hot air brush you choose, because your hair will curl easily. But “as your hair gets coarser, it also gets harder to curl, so you’ll need more heat and tension,” Abdullah explains. “For those who have textured hair, it needs more effort to straighten and then curl it – so you’ll need even more heat and tension.”
-
Opt for multiple attachments. If price isn’t an issue, you should look out for hot air brushes with interchangeable attachments, recommends Vivi Mintara, a professional hair and makeup artist. “This will ensure that you can replicate numerous hairstyles easily,” she says. “With multiple attachments, you will be able to change the size and shape of the curls, if that is what you are after.”
-
Pay attention to the barrel. According to hairstylist Lauren Udoh, the best hot air brushes have a ceramic barrel. “Ceramic is a better conductor of heat than other materials, so it helps the brush heat up more quickly and prevents damage to the hair,” she explains. “The barrel should also be wide enough to cover a good amount of hair at once and have multiple heat settings to accommodate different hair types.”
Which Hot Air Brush Is Right For You?
Whether you’re fumbling with frizz or craving luscious curls, there’s a styling tool on the market that can tame your troubled tresses. With the help of our expert panel, we compiled this list of best hot air brushes you can buy right now:
-
BEST OVERALL: Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler
-
BEST FOR CURLY HAIR: Drybar Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush
-
BEST FOR WAVY HAIR: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Hot Air Brush
-
BEST FOR FINE HAIR: Revlon One-Step Volumizer Original 1.0 Hair Dryer And Hot Air Brush
-
BEST FOR DAMAGED HAIR: Revamp Progloss Deepform Ceramic Straightener Brush
-
BEST FOR COARSE HAIR: T3 AireBrush Duo Interchangeable Hot Air Blow Dry Brush
-
BEST BUDGET: InfinitiPRO By Conair
Best Overall: Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler
Sure, it’s on the pricey side for hair products, but this magic wand is the Superwoman of stylers. The versatile styler features a rotating cool tip and enhanced Coanda airflow to deliver swift therapy to all hair types. “The pricing starts at $500, but it’s worth it if your hair is damaged,” recommends Abdullah.
“It’s not a typical brush at all, but uses hot air to whirl your hair into curls. You hold the device close to a section of hair and it catches it and twirls it around the barrel.” According to Abdullah, there is a learning curve with this hot air brush, “but once that is passed, frizz-free, lasting curls are the result.” Plus, you can choose from various-sized barrels and different bristle grades for multiple hair textures.
The Dyson is so popular that it’s out of stock everywhere, but click here to sign up for updates about availability.
Best For Curly Hair: Drybar Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush
This nifty nylon brush pumps up the volume with a gently-curved barrel and multiple heat settings for a customized style. “It has a tip that doesn’t heat, which means you can maneuver it easily – and it’s lightweight,” Abdullah explains. “It also has a flattened oval shape, which really helps when you’re trying to increase the tension to get your hair straight, then curled.” The brush includes silicone bristles that give it a “nice grip on the hair, which is important when it’s textured and curly,” she says.
Best For Wavy Hair: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Hot Air Brush
This small-but-mighty titanium styler features a bi-directional barrel and anti-static bristles to deliver volume and shine. “It’s a good option for thick or thin wavy hair. It doesn’t grab the hair, but works pretty quickly to give you a blowout look,” says Abdullah. Just one caveat, if you’re in a hurry with your hair, as a finishing tool, this hot air brush is meant to work on hair that is at least 80% dry.
Best For Fine Hair: Revlon One-Step Volumizer Original 1.0 Hair Dryer And Hot Air Brush
This one-step styler is the hair gurus’ go-to for a brush that can quickly add volume to the thinnest and limpest hair. “This can be used by all textures with great results as it has a paddle and round-brush option,” points out Laurie Smith, a hair colorist and stylist. “Fine and medium textures can go from damp to a finished style with this one tool.” Plus, this time-saving treasure won’t put a dent in your wallet with its budget-friendly price.
Best For Damaged Hair: Revamp Progloss Deepform Ceramic Straightener Brush
This ceramic progloss brush features deep detangling bristles and nourishing ingredients to dry and style while also rehydrating your hair. “While this one doesn’t come with extra attachments, it is intended to be used on tangled and damaged hair, and the ‘progloss’ means that the brush is infused with oils that help damaged hair,” says Mintara.
Best For Coarse Hair: T3 AireBrush Duo Interchangeable Hot Air Blow Dry Brush
This ionic hot air brush is beloved by reviewers for its multifunctional features, including an interchangeable design, 15 styling combinations, 5 heat settings, and IonFlow technology. The styler’s highly customizable options make it a powerful all-in-one tool for controlling the thickest and coarsest hair. For best results with thick hair, crank up the heat to level 4 or 5, the manufacturer says.
Best Budget: InfinitiPRO By Conair
Don’t let the paltry price tag fool you – this budget brush can dry, style, and volumize like the best of them, no matter what your hair type (but it especially excels at managing frizz!). The catch is that reviewers have found it’s heavy to hold, and it takes longer to dry than its costly counterparts. But for under $40, this combination tool still beats your traditional brush and hair dryer.
Have you tried the hot air brush on your hair? Which one is your favorite? Share your style secrets in the comments below!
Keep Scrolling To Read More Beauty And Hair Articles:
