:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(2999x0:3001x2)/the-best-hot-air-brushes-peo-tout-8b009d48b0a345b5928b8e647f3137d3.jpg?w=1500&resize=1500,1000&ssl=1 "This Easy-to-Use Hot Air Brush Is 42% Off at Amazon Right Now — Plus More Deals on PEOPLE Tested Picks")
There are so many ways to style your hair and even more hot tools to get the job done — but when it comes to a voluminous blowout, it typically comes down to a really good blow dryer and an even better round brush (plus, you know, actually being able to blowout your hair). Enter hot air brushes, a.k.a. the beauty gods’ gift to those of us who struggle to achieve good-looking blowouts and home, and one of the must-have hot tools of the moment.
Experts Say
“[Hot air brushes] are a timesaver that deliver a smooth and volumized result without needing extra tools, which is convenient.” — Jerome Lordet, celebrity hairstylist and style director at the Pierre Michel Salon
Whether you can achieve an at-home blowout but want something a little more convenient or are looking for a tool that makes DIY salon-worthy blowouts a total breeze, a hot air brush is a must-have for your hot tool arsenal. After testing several options — including a few crowd favorites — we narrowed it down to the seven best options.
Keep reading to discover the best hot air brushes we tested.
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Choose three out of eight available stylers for a customized experience
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Took us only 20 minutes to style our hair
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Uses no-heat-damage air technology
After testing several hot air brushes, we found that Shark’s styling system was super easy to use, gave us salon-worthy blowouts within just 20 minutes, and features an amazing no-heat-damage air technology that left our hair feeling super healthy.
Another reason why we liked this system is all the attachments it comes with and how you can customize your tool to your styling preferences. There are eight compatible stylers for this hot air brush (including a diffuser and a wide-tooth comb, which isn’t common with its competitors), and at checkout, you can select three that meet your styling needs. This way you can get exactly what you need rather than a bunch of attachments you rarely (if ever) will use. This hot air brush also features four heat settings, including a cool setting. However, the hottest setting does get a little hot (especially when close to the face).
While the price tag is high compared to others on our list, this hot air brush is a competitor to the Dyson Airwrap (which costs around $600). Considering its performance and all of the extra attachment options it comes with, we think that the $300 price tag is well worth it.
Heat Settings: 4 | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Cord Length: 8 feet | Voltage: 120
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Shaved down our usual drying time by 15 minutes
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Didn’t need to use the hottest setting to achieve a fantastic blowout
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Provided amazing volume and effectively calmed our frizz
While the Shark Air Styling and Drying System is on the pricey side, you don’t have to splurge to achieve a salon-worthy blowout at home — which we discovered after testing the L’Ange Hair Le Volume 2-in-1 Titanium Brush Dryer. This round brush and blow dryer combination features 360-degree airflow with an oval-shaped round brush to smooth, straighten, and volumize hair while styling.
Albeit a little heavy compared to the Shark and other hot air brushes we tested, it didn’t impact our experience significantly; not only we were able to blow out our hair on our own, but we also cut down our drying time by 15 minutes, which felt like a major win. Despite not coming with a bunch of attachments like the Shark and other hot air brushes, we loved that the barrel can be used as a blow dryer to dry strands to a damp finish before styling with the brush.
Heat Settings: 3 | Weight: 2.67 pounds | Cord Length: 7.9 feet | Voltage: 125
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Comparable to the more expensive tools
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Cut our usual blowdrying time nearly in half
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Features four heat settings including a cool option
For a hot tool under $75, we recommend the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Styler. This brush is a mix between a round brush and a blow dryer and features four heat settings (including a cool one), so you can achieve a salon-worthy blowout in much less time. When testing out this hot air brush, we were most impressed by how quickly it blow-dried our hair, which was about 25 minutes and half the amount of time we normally spend under the blow dryer. While we did notice more flyaways with this tool, it’s nothing a little anti-frizz serum can’t fix. All of this to say, the blow dryer brush gets super hot and, from a hair health perspective, might not be ideal for everyday use, especially for those with dry strands. Overall, though, we were pleasantly surprised by this budget-friendly hot air brush and its impressive performance.
Heat Settings: 4 | Weight: 1.63 pounds | Cord Length: 6 feet | Voltage: 120
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Boar-tech bristles created a silky smooth finish
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Ergonomic handle made it easier to control our hair while styling
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Simple, user-friendly design
When styling fine hair, consider the Hot Tools One-Step Pro Blowout Styler, which has boar-tech bristles that grab the hair easily while drying and help create a silky and smooth finish. From start to finish, it offered a more user-friendly experience, thanks to details like the ergonomic handle that makes styling more comfortable and easier, three different heat settings, and Direct ION Technology for fast-drying. The brush also has a 24K gold styling surface, which provides even heat distribution and can help protect hair from heat damage, too. While it doesn’t come with all of the attachments that some other stylers have, we found that this one had less of a learning curve and was overall super easy to use, even if you’ve never used a hot air brush before.
Heat Settings: 3 | Weight: Not listed | Cord Length: 8 feet | Voltage: Not listed
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After four years of using the Dyson Airwrap, we put the Bondi Boost Blowout Brush Pro to the test and were blown away (pun intended) by the results. Not only did it give us a blowout in 17 minutes (which is approximately three minutes less than the Dyson Airwrap), but it also did a phenomenal job at smoothing the hair and left us with sleek and shiny strands — no anti-frizz serum necessary. When using this product, we were surprised to learn it only costs $70, because we thought for sure that it was worth at least $130. Our only complaint is that we wish the cool setting (which is essential to getting that frizz-free style and setting the blowout in place) had a button, which would make it easier to activate compared to the nozzle.
Heat Settings: 3 | Weight: Not listed | Cord Length: 9.8 feet | Voltage: 120
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Comes with a paddle brush attachment
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Four heat settings and a cool shot setting
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Weighs only one pound
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Temperature settings didn’t feel too hot
When blow-drying hair, one of the most challenging parts of maneuvering the device is the weight of the blow dryer. For a more lightweight solution, we loved the Drybar Reserve 3-in-1 Interchangeable Blow-Dryer, which weighs only one pound and has a super sleek design that is easy to hold and move around while styling strands. In addition to its weight, we love this hot air brush for a sleek and straight blowout look as it comes with a paddle brush (as well as an oval brush and concentrated dryer) attachment that allows you to essentially brush your hair until it dries straight. Also, the brush has ionic technology, which seals the hair cuticle, resulting in less frizz after styling. If you’re concerned about heat, we found that even the highest setting never felt too hot, which makes it less damaging and drying to the hair.
Heat Settings: 4 | Weight: 1 pound | Cord Length: 9 feet | Voltage: 120
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Six styling attachments, plus a box to store everything
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Took between 20 and 30 minutes to style our hair
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Comes with a two-year warranty
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Easy to control airflow speed and temperature
The Dyson Airwrap Styling System is like the holy grail of hot air brushes, and hair styling tools in general. However, with a nearly $600 price tag, it’s a total splurge. Nonetheless, we found that — if you are considering an investment hair styler — this is worth every penny, plus the two-year warranty is a plus. Cost aside, this hot air brush lives up to the hype with six styling attachments that are compatible with hair that is shoulder length or longer and can help you achieve everything from a bouncy blowout to a wavy curl. While there is a bit of a learning curve to this hot air brush, once it clicks, the device feels super user-friendly with an easy-to-navigate temperature and airflow control on the handle as well as attachments that pop and lock in and out of place with ease.
Heat Settings: 3 | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Cord Length: 8.5 feet | Voltage: 120
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While you decide on your next hot air brush, consider these other PEOPLE-Tested hair care products. Our editors and independent testers rigorously test each product to separate the mediocre from the top-tier.
What to Know About Buying Hot Air Brushes
Settings
When shopping for hot air brushes, it’s important to consider the different settings for a more unique styling experience. “You want to look for a brush that has multiple speeds [and] a cool button so you can customize the amount of heat,” says Aviva Jansen Perea, a celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Catherine Zeta-Jones, America Ferrera, and Chelsea Handler. She adds that a cool setting not only helps you control the heat exposure (similar to a blow dryer) but can also lock in a nice wave since cool air sets hair (several options we tested have cool settings, including the Shark FlexStyle and the Revlon One-Step). Having multiple speeds is beneficial, too, because it allows you more control over your blowout and gives you more styling flexibility.
Brush Type
It’s also important to look at the different brush types (and whether or not a hot air brush tool comes with different brush heads). “Thicker and coarse hair textures will most benefit from a mixture of boar and nylon or tufted bristles — this allows for more tension when stretching the hair to desired straightness,” says Darrius Peace, a hairstylist and natural hair expert with experience in the TV and movie industry. “Thinner and finer hair textures will most benefit from nylon bristles as they will not tug on the hair with the same necessity of a boar bristle.” The Hot Tools 24K Gold One-Step Blowout and Volumizer is made from boar-tech bristles infused with activated charcoal for a quick and easy blowout.
With that said, Lordet says a brush with ceramic-coated bristles can also be an excellent choice since the bristles “distribute the heat from the brush when styling and smoothing the strands,” which can reduce damage.
Interchangeable Brush Heads
This isn’t a make-or-break detail, but having interchangeable brush heads in different sizes is preferred by some since it gives you more styling variety. “Depending on the look you want to achieve day to day, you might need a smaller brush head one day and a larger one the next,” says Lordet. “This is why I recommend choosing a brush with interchangeable brush heads.”
Heat Protection
While a hot air brush doesn’t quite replace a blow dryer or hairbrush, Fabio Scalia, artistic director and owner of Fabio Scalia Salons, says they can be more practical. That being said, he says to be cautious about the heat settings since regular use can cause damage (like using a curling iron or flat iron every day). With this in mind, Scalia says to look for a brush that allows you to manage the heat and temperature settings. “Research brushes that get the job done without going over 135 degrees Fahrenheit,” he notes, adding that the heat will provide a sufficient amount of smoothness and hold at the same time without causing damage.
Similar to using other hot tools, it also helps to use a heat protection spray on your hair before styling, since this can add a layer of protection between delicate strands and high heat.
People / Tamara Staples
Behind the Scenes
To find the best hot air brushes, we put a variety of types to the test both in our PEOPLE Tested lab and in the real world, including tools at different price points and options with multiple attachments. We brought in expert hairstylists to our lab to test each hot air brush, and then we later had testers try out their tools at home for four weeks to get a sense of how each performs in real life. These are the qualities we looked for:
- Drying Ability: We turned on our stopwatches and timed how long each brush took to complete the job, from wet strands to dry styles.
- Design: A huge factor that went into our decisions was the way each product was designed. We took into account the placement of buttons, arm fatigue, measured each tool’s cord length, took decibel readings for noise levels, and used temperature readers to record each heat setting — leaving no stone unturned.
- Effectiveness: Arguably the most important step was seeing how each tool performed when styling with different attachments. We also took note of how user-friendly each brush was, how easy it was to switch out attachments and change settings, and how heavy the devices felt in hand.
- Value: The last step was to decide whether or not we believed the tools’ performances were up to par with their prices. From there, we rated each hot air brush accordingly.
After using each brush at least twice a week for a month, we compiled our testing insights and rated each hot air brush on a 1 to 5 scale for the following categories: ease of use, design, drying ability, effectiveness, durability, and value. The hot air brushes with the highest average ratings earned a spot on this PEOPLE Tested list.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is a hot air brush better than a flat iron?
This depends entirely on your desired result since both tools are used for different hairstyles. “If you want pin-straight hair, you will need a flat iron to get those results, but if you want volumized hair, you will get better results from a hot air brush,” says Lordet.
In terms of hair health, Lordet says that a hot air brush is better than a flat iron because it’s healthier for your hair since it uses a lower temperature setting. This can keep hair looking shiny and is recommended for everyday styling over a flat iron.
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What is the best hot air brush?
After testing dozens of hot air brushes, we determined that the Shark Air Styling and Drying System is the best heated hairbrush because it’s super easy to use, only takes 20 minutes to achieve professional-level blowout, and you can choose from eight different attachments to create a more customized device (and not get stuck with a bunch of attachments you never us). For something a little less expensive, we also loved the L’ange Hair Le Volume 2-in-1 Titanium Brush Dryer, which is a combination of a round brush and blow dryer and helps you achieve a voluminous hairstyle with ease. If you’re looking to splurge, we also swear by the Dyson Airwrap Styling System which, albeit an investment, includes six different attachments and ways you can use this product to create several different styles, not only a bouncy blowout.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Jessie Quinn is a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE and has written for publications such as Byrdie, InStyle, The Spruce, NYLON, and more. For this piece, Jessie thoroughly reviewed PEOPLE Tested insights and reached out to top hair experts, including celebrity hairstylists Jerome Lordet and Aviva Jansen Perea, natural hair expert Darrius Peace, and Fabio Scalia, artistic director and owner of Fabio Scalia Salons, to learn more about the benefits of hot air brushes and what to look for when shopping for these popular styling tools.
Our Expert Panel
- Jerome Lordet is a New York City-based celebrity hairstylist and founder of Jerome Lordet Salon. Lordet has cut, colored, and styled the likes of Bianca Jagger, Jessica Simpson, and Sandra Bullock and practices a characteristically French style in his craft.
- Aviva Jansen Perea is a Hollywood-based celebrity hairstylist as well as the CEO and founder of Day Rate Beauty, a sustainable hairpin company. Perea’s celeb clients include Catherine Zeta-Jones, America Ferrera, Chelsea Handler, and more.
- Darrius Peace is a natural hair expert and hairstylist with experience in the television and movie industry. He works with the Hayah Beauty Style Network to educate hairstylists and beauty lovers alike on the care and styling of natural curls and coils.
- Fabio Scalia is the artistic director and owner of Fabio Scalia Salons in New York. Born and raised in Italy, Scalia trained and worked in hair academies and salons across Europe before establishing his own salons in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Scalia is also an expert in hair growth and trichology and has come out with a line of luxury hair brushes specifically designed for all different hair types.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.