The black and gold design isn’t just there to make this Hot Tools brush look good; each material also serves a specific function to deliver your best blowout. According to the brand, the 24-karat-gold plating helps conduct more even heat distribution to prevent potential hot spots. At the same time, those charcoal-infused bristles keep scalp oils in check, helping maintain hair health from root to end (while giving you shiny, bouncy results).
After evaluating this hair dryer brush, we think it’s best for those with coarse and curly hair as opposed to fine hair. It gets exceptionally hot, which is great for taming frizz, but may be too intense for more delicate strands. The brush is also on the larger side (despite being one of the more lightweight options on our list!), which also makes it a great pick for those with long hair.
Best Customizable: Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
- What we love: Very versatile styling tool; four heat settings; works quickly
- What could improve: Doesn’t come with storage case
- Bristle material: Nylon; boar
- Heat settings: Four
- Cord length: 8 ft.
- Weight: 1.5 lbs.
Shark’s FlexStyle is known as another dupe for the Dyson Airwrap, but we think the air-powered hair tool deserves its own spot in the limelight, particularly considering it’s offered at half the price. It comes with a plethora of attachments, too: a drying concentrator, two 1.25-inch curlers (one for each side of the head), and two brush attachments. The oval brush is meant to smooth, de-frizz, and add volume (similar to a salon blowout), while the paddle brush is ideal for straightening and smoothing hair (similar to a flat iron sans the heat damage). You can even customize your styler by purchasing other compatible attachments a la carte to expand styling possibilities. No matter which attachment you use, there are four heat and three airflow settings to choose from. There’s also a cool shot button to lock in your style.
“I was surprised by how quickly and how well this dried my long, coarse, and wavy hair,” says Earley. “The end result was smooth and silky—not all that different from my beloved straightener, but thankfully, so much better for my hair.” If you’re looking for something a little more affordable, Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle loves to use the SmoothStyle Heated Comb and Blow-Dryer Brush on her thick, coarse hair.
Are blow dryer brushes worth it?
Blow dryer brushes, sometimes called hair dryer brushes or hot air brushes, are a newer type of hair product that combines a round or paddle brush and a blow dryer so you can style with fewer tools in less time. Overall, our editors—and the hairstylists we talked to—say these all-in-one styling tools are game-changers for hair styling, especially if you reach for one with even more versatility, like our top overall pick the T3 360 Aire, which can also double as a curling wand. These hair tools are great for travel, too, since you’ll have less to pack to make your hair look great on vacay.
Do stylists recommend a blow dryer brush?
The professional hairstylists we spoke to all recommended blow dryer brushes to make wet hair bouncy and beautiful in the comfort of your own home. Kaitlyn Ellsworth, co-founder of The Roslyn, actually called them “the best thing since sliced bread for at-home styling.” But they caution: These hair tools can get exceptionally hot, so it’s crucial to apply a heat protectant before getting to work to protect your strands from damage. You should also start with your hair at least halfway dry to achieve the best results.
