Buying guide for best hot air brushes
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With a hot air brush, you can dry and style your hair at the same time. Forget having to fiddle with a blow dryer and a round brush — a hot air brush does the work of both, making the job of creating a smooth blowout a lot simpler.
There’s much to consider when choosing a hot air brush, and not every model is equally effective on all hair types. You’ll want to consider the brush head shape and size, as well as heat and speed settings. If you’re looking for versatility, you may want to consider a multistyler that includes a hot air brush option, as opposed to a product that only functions as a hot air brush.
To find the best hot air brushes on the market, the BestReviews Testing Lab tested models from some of the biggest names to see how quickly and effectively they dried wet hair, as well as how smooth and voluminous the resulting blowout was. We also paid close attention to ergonomics, ease of use, variety of settings and attachments and more.
Ultimately, our favorite is the Shark HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System, which we found comparable to the Dyson Airwrap but far less expensive.
Which hot air brush is best?
Shark HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
Best of the Best
Product specifications
Speed Settings: 3 | Heat Settings: 5 | Barrel Size: NA | Weight: 1.5 lb | Brush Type: Multistyler with oval brush, round brush and paddle brush attachments
If you’re looking for a multistyler hair tool that has an excellent hot air brush function, among other features, our favorite is the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System. As a hot air brush, it offers an oval-shaped brush with dual bristles, a round brush (best for short and medium hair or bangs) and a paddle brush as attachments. It also has a styling concentrator nozzle, which you can use to rough dry your hair to about 70% to 80% before finishing your blowout with one of the brush attachments. (Curling attachments can also be added.)
We especially love that the Shark FlexStyle (which uses 1,300 watts) is designed to minimize heat exposure by drying hair quickly while maintaining low heat, leading to less heat damage than similar cheaper tools. Rather than getting hotter as it runs, the Shark FlexStyle measures and regulates its temperature 1,000 times per second to ensure a consistent air temperature and prevent overheating. Still, it’s half the price of its popular luxury competitor, the Dyson Airwrap.
During testing, this tool was easy to use and, thanks to its ergonomic design, comfortable to hold. It was fast and efficient at creating voluminous blowouts, and we found it comparable to the Dyson Airwrap, despite being only half as expensive. We also appreciated the ability to swap the brush heads depending on our intended style (the oval or round brushes work better for volume, while the paddle brush yields a sleeker style), and we liked that we could rough-dry our hair first by using the tool's styling concentrator.
TYMO Ionic Volumizer
Best Bang for the Buck
Product specifications
Speed Settings: 2 | Heat Settings: 3 | Barrel Size: 4.13” | Weight: 1.26 lb | Brush Type: Oval barrel brush
The TYMO Ionic Volumizer proves you don’t need to shell out hundreds of dollars to get a smooth, effective blowout from a hot air brush. Priced under $50, this hair tool is still effective at drying hair from wet thanks to a 1200-watt dryer, which expels hot air through 360-degree vents in the 4-inch oval-shaped brush head.
Furthermore, the brush (which uses a combination of nylon pins and boar bristles) is designed with a titanium barrel, which conditions your hair while you use it. Meanwhile, it also uses negative-ion technology to reduce frizz and static. The result is a soft, smooth-looking blowout.
Although the TYMO brush is not a multistyler per se, you can create a variety of hairstyles using this brush. You can use it flat like a paddle brush to create straight hairstyles, or you can wrap your hair around the oval brush to create a voluminous hairstyle with flipped ends. If you twist your hair around the brush, you can even create loose, curly styles. At just 1.26 pounds, it’s the most lightweight model on our list.
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0
Best for Short Hair
Product specifications
Speed Settings: 1 | Heat Settings: 4 | Barrel Size: 2.4” | Weight: 1.63 lb | Brush Type: Oval barrel brush
If you’re looking for a basic hot air brush without all the bells and whistles of the luxury models, the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0 is an unbeatable option. In our tests, it dried hair quickly and effectively, and it left us with a smooth, voluminous blowout. On fine, dense hair that was 22.5 inches long, it took us just over 13 minutes to blow-dry our hair from wet using the Medium heat setting. At $70, it’s an excellent value compared to higher-end models.
This version offers some substantial upgrades from the original version (the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer) for a mere $10 price increase. This includes an additional heat setting, a sleeker and slimmer design, an easier-to-maneuver brush handle, upgraded bristles and a more powerful 1,100-watt motor. It also has a detachable brush head, which is an improvement on the fixed design of the original, making it easier to stash in a drawer or fit into a bag for travel. A swivel cord makes it easy to maneuver.
This model uses charcoal-infused nylon pins that elevate the strands of your hair and create less friction when separating it. It’s ideal for shorter hair, as its 2.4-inch barrel allows you to get even closer to the root of your hair. Still, it can be used on any hair type and length to create straight, voluminous blowouts.
Shark HT202 SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush
Best for Thick Hair
Product specifications
Speed Settings: 1 | Heat Settings: 3 | Barrel Size: NA | Weight: 1.5 lb | Brush Type: Oval barrel brush
If you prefer a smooth, sleek blowout over a more voluminous one, the Shark SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush is the perfect tool to achieve this look. It functions as both a hot air brush and a straightening brush, and during testing, we found it was easy and fast to achieve a smooth, straight hairstyle using this brush.
This hair tool works by combining a 900-watt blow dryer and heated comb to dry, volumize and smooth hair without excessive heat damage. For wet hair, use the “Blow Dryer Brush Mode” to dry, volumize and style your hair as you would with any hot air brush. It uses a combination of nylon and boar bristles. Once your hair is dry, switch to “Heated Comb Mode,” which combines heated comb technology with ceramic-coated plates to maximize hair alignment, volume and shape as you dry.
Though this brush uses a slightly different technique than most hot air brushes (you have to spin it continuously to get the full advantage of the heated combs), we quickly caught on to the new method without much difficulty.
Dyson Airwrap
Best Luxury Option
Product specifications
Speed Settings: 3 | Heat Settings: 4 | Barrel Size: NA | Weight: 1.5 lb | Brush Type: Multistyler with two round and two paddle brush attachments
As far as hair tools go, Dyson is known for its luxury lineup, which includes fancy models with all the bells and whistles — and high price tags to match. If you’re comfortable splurging on a top-of-the-line hot air brush, the Dyson Airwrap is our favorite luxury hair tool because of its versatility (thanks to five brush head attachments) and Coanda airflow technology, which dries hair quickly without causing heat damage.
Using 1,300 watts of power, the Dyson Airwrap can be used sans attachments to rough-dry your hair and prep it before using the brush attachments. There are five brush attachments available (sold separately or in various combination bundles), including two large paddle brushes (one is better suited to fine hair and the other is designed for thick hair), two small paddle brushes (one for fine hair and one for thick hair) and a round volumizing brush (which can be used on all hair types). The paddle brushes help create straighter hairstyles, while the round brush uses long, fine bristles to create volume and flipped ends.
Dyson recently re-engineered all of its Airwrap attachments to work with Coanda airflow technology, which allows for more control when styling and less heat, so you don’t risk damaging your hair. In our tests, we found that the Dyson Airwrap created the smoothest results of all the hot air brushes.
How we analyzed the best hot air brushes
To find the best hot air brushes in every category, we conducted hours of research on the top models, including multistylers with hot air brush functions. We considered more than 10 of the most popular models, and we did a deep dive into the specs and customer reviews to better understand how they stack up. Four of our picks were tested by the BestReviews Testing Lab. We examined how quickly and effectively the products dried wet hair, as well as how smooth and voluminous the resulting blowout was. We paid close attention to ergonomics, ease of use, variety of settings and attachments.
What to look for when buying a hot air brush
Hair type
When buying a hot air brush, your hair type is an important factor to consider. The shape of the brush, the temperature capacity and the barrel size will all yield different results on various hair types.
- Thin or heavily damaged hair: Those with thin or heavily damaged hair should avoid styling tools that heat up to very high temperatures. Look for a hot air brush that allows you to change the temperature via a dial or LCD screen to ensure that you don’t accidentally burn your hair.
- Frizzy hair: If your hair easily frizzes, opt for a hot air brush with ion technology to help achieve a smooth, frizz-free look.
- Thick hair: Those with thick hair should look for hot air brushes with tough bristles and tangle-free safety features. Thick hair also requires higher temperatures for quicker drying and styling.
Shape
Hot air brushes come in various shapes, including round, oval and paddle brushes. Round brushes and oval brushes are best at creating voluminous blowouts, while paddle brushes yield straighter styles. Smaller brush heads get closer to the root of your hair and can be more effective at drying the roots and creating volume. Meanwhile, larger brush heads cover a greater surface area to accelerate drying and styling time.
Our top picks: Shape
- The Dyson Airwrap offers the most versatility in brush shape via five possible attachments: four paddle brushes and a round brush. There are two large and two small paddle brushes, with one version in each size being better suited for fine hair and one version in each size being better suited for thick hair.
- The Shark FlexStyle can be used with three brush attachments, including a round brush, an oval brush and a paddle brush.
- The TYMO Ionic Volumizer has a 4.13-inch oval-shaped brush head to add lots of volume to your style.
- The Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0 uses a 2.4-inch oval-shaped brush head for a voluminous look.
- The Shark HT202 SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush uses an oval-shaped brush that’s perfect for adding plenty of volume.
Heat
Different heat settings allow you to customize the temperature based on your hair type and desired style. Fine or damaged hair benefits from lower heat settings, while thick or coarse hair may require higher heat. Most hot air brushes offer between two and four heat settings. Many also include a cold-shot option, which can be used to help lock in your hairstyle once it’s dry.
Our top picks: Heat settings
- The Shark HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System has five heat settings, including a cold shot, the most of any hot air brush on our list.
- The Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0 and the Dyson Airwrap each offer four heat settings, including a cold shot.
- The TYMO Ionic Volumizer and the Shark HT202 SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush each have three heat settings.
Barrel and bristle material
Bristle type
Hot air brushes most commonly use one of these three types of bristles.
- Nylon bristles: Suitable for detangling and smoothing hair, they are gentle on the scalp and can help distribute natural oils.
- Boar bristles: Excellent for adding shine and reducing frizz, boar bristles can be stiffer and might not be as effective for detangling.
- Combination bristles: A mix of nylon and boar bristles can provide the benefits of both, offering detangling and smoothing properties.
Bristle material
Ceramic barrels distribute heat evenly and reduce the risk of hot spots, which can damage hair. Titanium barrels are durable and provide fast heat-up times. Tourmaline-infused barrels release negative ions, which help reduce frizz and static.
Our top picks: Barrel and bristle material
- The Shark HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System uses combination bristles on its round brush, oval brush and paddle brush attachments.
- The Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0 uses charcoal-infused nylon pins and a ceramic barrel.
- The TYMO Ionic Volumizer uses combination bristles and a titanium barrel.
- The Shark HT202 SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush uses combination bristles alongside ceramic-coated heated plates.
- The Dyson Airwrap uses long, fine bristles on its round brush, while the paddle brushes are equipped with thicker, stiffer bristles.
Barrel size
Choose a barrel size that matches your hair length and the type of style you want. Smaller barrels (1 to 2 inches) are ideal for short hair and creating volume, while larger barrels (3 to 4 inches) are better for long hair and achieving straight styles.
Design
Look for a lightweight and ergonomically designed handle to reduce hand and arm fatigue during use. A swivel cord can also improve maneuverability.
Some hot air brushes, including multistylers with hot air brush attachments, allow you to detach the brush head. Attaching different kinds of brush heads makes the hair tool more versatile. It’s also a helpful feature for storage and portability.
Our top picks: Design
- The Shark HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System and the Dyson Airwrap are both multistylers with hot air brush attachments. There are various brush attachments to choose from for each tool, allowing for styling versatility.
- The brush head on the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0 detaches for easier storage and travel.
- The TYMO Ionic Volumizer and the Shark HT202 SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush do not have detachable brush heads.
Ease of use
Features like cool tips (to hold the brush without burning your fingers), easy-to-reach controls, and an automatic shut-off function enhance usability and safety. Some models use buttons or switches to change settings, while others have knobs.
Our top picks: Ease of use
- All five models in our guide include cool tips for safer handling.
- The TYMO Ionic Volumizer, the REVLON One-Step Volumizer PLUS 2.0 and the Shark HT202 SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush all have knobs that toggle among the various heat and speed settings.
- The Shark HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System uses a combination of switches and buttons, while the Dyson Airwrap uses switches.
Tips for using a hot air brush
- Don’t try to style tangled hair. While high-quality hot air brushes have solid bristles that can help detangle hair, always brush out your hair before you use your hot air brush.
- Some hot air brushes reach very high temperatures. It’s harder to burn your hair with a hot air brush than it is with a flat iron or a curling iron because the heat is not as direct, but it’s still worth being cautious. Use the lowest heat setting that effectively dries and styles your hair.
- Make sure to use a heat-protective serum or spray on your hair to prevent heat damage.
FAQ
Q. What’s the advantage of a hot air brush over a straightener or a curling iron?
A. Hot air brushes are great for infusing volume, and they can dry hair, unlike a hair straightener or a curling iron. They also apply heat less directly, so it’s harder to burn your hair with a hot air brush.
Q. I'm worried about damaging my hair. Is a hot air brush for me?
A. Hot air brushes are gentler on hair than other hot styling tools since the heat is not as direct. But always use a protective serum or spray first to keep your hair from getting damaged by the heat, and try to use the lowest heat setting that’s effective on your hair.
Q. Do I need to clean my hot air brush?
A. Yes. Product buildup can occur, and, of course, hair will get stuck. Use a special cleaner to remove buildup, and remove hair from your brush when necessary. You can find special cleaners wherever you purchase your hot air brush or at a salon.
Q. I want to curl my hair. Is a hot air brush a good option for me?
A. With a hot air brush, you wrap sections of hair around the brush and hot air blows out to create volume. You can achieve a soft-curl look with a hot air brush, but you can’t get tight, well-defined curls with this styling tool.
Our expertise
As BestReviews’ Content Editor focusing on Beauty and Personal Care, Talia Ergas brings well over a decade of lifestyle journalism experience to her work. She has specialized in the beauty category for eight years and has tested countless products in every corner of the beauty space, from skin care to makeup to hair care to nails.
She also brings plenty of hands-on experience testing hair-styling tools of all kinds, including hot air brushes. She personally tested four models on this list. To identify a fifth model worthy of attention, she pored over the details of nearly 10 other top sellers, paying close attention to customer reviews to see how real people feel about the product.
