A hair dryer brush is, in my experience, pretty much the only way to get that post-haircut volume from an at-home blowout. Most of us don’t have the dexterity to handle a round brush with the panache—never mind the arm strength—hairstylists learn at cosmetology school and from hours upon hours of practice. They make it look like something they could do in their sleep, but it takes a lot of skill to pull your hair up and out with the right tension. You know the feeling. It’s so pleasant, it almost lulls me to sleep.
Attempting the same moves on your own head, however, is not relaxing. It’s more like trying to button a dress with a long line of buttons up the back by yourself: frustrating and practically impossible to do in certain spots without calling for help.
A blow dryer brush gives you the assist you need to give your own hair salon-style shine, volume and smoothness. Whether flat or round (we’ll get into which shape is best for who in a minute), most good-quality ones pull warm, dry hair in rather than blowing it out the way a standard hair dryer does. That creates the tension you need to pull sections of your hair up and out while gently heating them. It’s the easiest way for people of all hair types to get the straight and sleek, wavy or polished-curl look they want, plus long-lasting lift and fullness. Below are the best hair dryer brushes for every hair type.
- Best Hair Dryer Brush Overall: Amika Blow Dryer Brush 2.0
- Best Hair Dryer Brush For Novices: DryBar The Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush
- Best Hair Dryer Brush For Short Hair: Revlon One-Step 1.5-Inch Root Booster Round Brush Dryer And Styler
- Best Hair Dryer Brush For Fine Or Thinning Hair: Dyson AirWrap
- Best Hair Dryer Brush For Thick Hair: Easy Blo by Trademark Beauty
- Best Hair Dryer Brush For Curly Hair: T3 AireBrush Duo
- Best Hair Dryer Brush For Volume: Chi 4-in-1 Volumizer Blowout Brush
Best Hair Dryer Brush Overall
A Pro-Favorite Blow Dryer Brush
“The best blow dryer brush out there hands down is made by Amika,” says Shayna Gertman, aka The Ambitious Blonde, a hairstylist based at Sola Salon Studios in Delray Beach, Florida. “It’s great for all hair types. It gets hot, brush is sturdy, it’s good quality, and it’s lightweight.” It has an oval-shaped tourmaline-coated barrel, short nylon-ball-tipped bristles and three heat/speed settings (with a stylist-approved max of 240 degrees F).
Best Hair Dryer Brush For Novices
A Round Brush With A Straightforward Design
LA and D.C.–based celebrity hairstylist Cody Renegar recommends this easy-to-use round brush. It has three heat settings, nylon and tufted bristles and ion technology to seal the hair’s cuticle for frizz-free shine. It has a more straightforward design than its competitors. “It’s lightweight and a little smaller but still easy to work with, and its bristles are far apart and a little thicker so there’s less chance for it to get tangled in your hair,” says Renegar.
Best Hair Dryer Brush For Short Hair
A Budget-Friendly Option For Cropped Cuts
The shorter your hair, the smaller the barrel you should use, says Fantashia Hauss, a hairstylist at Paul Rehder Salon in Chicago. “Revlon makes a very affordable, easy-to-use brush,” she says. “There are different sizes available.” This 1.5-inch version is designed for hair that’s collarbone length and up.
Best Hair Dryer Brush For Fine Or Thinning Hair
A Beloved Styling Brush That Adds Just The Right Volume
In addition to smoothing and flattening frizz, a good hair dryer brush can give texture and body—especially helpful for those with fine hair. The tools that come with this cult favorite Dyson brush allow you to do pretty much everything. “The Dyson AirWrap has many attachments for whatever hairstyle you want: smooth, waves, curls, bouncy, straight,” says Hauss. “It’s definitely worth the price.”
The AirWrap may be the most versatile option out there. “This little machine can do it all,” says Renegar. “It takes very little skill since it creates a wind vortex and does most of the work for you. It’s also very gentle, and has three heat settings.”
Atlanta hairstylist Steve Hightower, who specializes in working with fine hair, adds that the AirWrap comes with a learning curve. He says his clients are about 50/50 on it. “You have to take the time to learn how to use it,” he says.
Best Hair Dryer Brush For Thick Hair
A Lightweight Option That Packs A Punch
“If your hair’s on the thicker, coarser side, I suggest buying a hair dryer that has titanium plates,” says Stephanie Angelone, master stylist at RPZL Hair Extension & Blowout Bar in New York. “It’s more powerful, dries hair faster and is usually a little lighter in weight, so it won’t be harsh on your arms if you have a lot of hair that takes longer to style.” The Easy Blo brush is nearly 20 percent lighter than other dryer brushes, which is great if you have a lot of hair. Plus, the dual bristles detangle and smooth in a single pass.
Best Hair Dryer Brush For Curly Hair
A Flat Iron Alternative
Hauss, who trained with Deva Curl and specializes in curly haircare, says this T3 brush is great for smoothing curly hair because it comes with a flat brush attachment and is infused with negative ions. “A flat brush attachment is key for smooth, sleek hair, and the negative ions help eliminate frizz and add shine,” she says. It also has 15 heat and speed options, so you can customize it to your hair and comfort level.
Best Hair Dryer Brush For Volume
Chi 4-in-1 Volumizer Blowout Brush
This ceramic, ionic option is from Chi—maker of the flat iron one of my best friends has sworn by for more than 15 years (she lives in New Orleans, so she knows humidity). It comes with all the attachments you need to smooth, volumize, curl or blow out your hair. The nylon and tufted bristles also help grip hair securely for good tension. “Even though it only has a 100-watt DC motor, it has plenty of power to give you the complete blowout you desire,” says Renegar. “Plus, it has a very long cord.”
I like that Chi also specifies the heat it puts out with each attachment and on both the high and low heat settings. At its maximum—on high heat with the most intensely focused attachment, the nozzle—this tool reaches 245 degrees F, still well under what’s recommended for at-home use.
