We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to hair tools on the virtual beauty aisles with new technologies that make at-home styling even easier and speedier than ever before.
You’ve probably already invested in a straightening iron and a curling wand too, but it’s a hot brush that should be in your haircare arsenal if you’re looking to re-create the body and movement of a bouncy blow-dry you walk out of the salon door with.
Hot brushes are hair styling tools that come in different shapes and sizes, but essentially there are two types to choose from.
The first is your all-in-one, also known as a hot air brush, that will dry, detangle, and style strands at the same time. Designed for easy styling and safe to use on damp hair, they recreate that glamorous blowout full-of-volume finish that your stylist creates with a good hairdryer and round brush (which feels impossible to master yourself).
These hybrid hair-dryer brushes have gone viral on TikTok, as they’re super easy to use if you’re looking to curl ends and create enviable lift and volume. They create a similar look to fiddly and harder to get to grips with hot rollers for that 90s supermodel blowout that’s everywhere right now.
The second style of hot brush acts as a heated styling brush only. They should be used on dry strands, so after blow-drying, and are a godsend on second-day strands. Typically, they come in two shapes. Round brush styles that will add volume and curl ends or large paddle heads that smooth and straighten even the thickest, unruly hair types in minutes - still leaving hair with body that’s impossible to create with even the best straightening irons.
With so many different types of hot brushes available, we know it can be a little confusing picking out what’s going to be best for your style and budget. So we’ve rounded up the very best to help you pick the best option that’s going to work for you…
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T3 Airebrush Duo
The newest launch in our hot brush line-up is a next-level air dry brush that comes with two interchangeable attachments. One is a large paddle brush made for straightening and smoothing, while the second is an oversized round brush that creates voluminous looks.
Every hair type and texture can polish up their hairstyling routine, thanks to the customisable settings that allow you maximum control with 3 speeds and 5 heat settings. Even thick and unmanageable styles will love the long ‘smoothgrip’ bristles that detangle with ease.
It was used to create the shape and volume in actress-of-the-moment Zendaya’s glamorous updo at the Oscars, and is as stylish as the Euphoria star with the T3 signature white and rose gold packaging.
Buy now £170.00, Space NK
Beauty Works Speed Styler Hot Brush
Detangle as you smooth and straighten even the longest strands, with this extra-large paddle hot brush. It’s a speedy option, as the name suggests, taking just a few strokes thanks to the ceramic-coated bristles - making fast work of smoothing down frizz, and gliding through strands without any snagging. Those with damaged strands will find the adjustable heat settings particularly useful, giving you total control when you’re looking to reduce heat going down to as low as 80°C and up to 210°C.
You’ll find the more you brush, the sleeker and glossy the hair, depending on the look you’re after. A must-have on non-wash days when bed hair just needs a little extra TLC. And we love how aesthetically pleasing it is with its white faux leather travel case.
Buy now £74.99, lookfantastic
Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush
The brainchild of a curly-haired US hairstylist who was fed up with spending a fortune in expensive salons, Drybar salons and products have become the go-to for first-rate blowouts stateside - and the brand’s products launched here in the UK exclusive to Harrods last year with some impressive styling tools in the line-up, including this hot brush.
Combining hot air like a dryer and the structure of a brush in one makes light work of creating volume in any style, especially for those who struggle using both hands when using a standard hairdryer and round brush like a stylist would. The brush is ideal for creating height at the crown or extra volume, thanks to its oversized oval shape. And it leaves hair silky smooth thanks to its ionic tech that seals the cuticle.
Buy now £125.00, Harrods
Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler
This cult classic tool needs no introduction, but its new redesign does. This is the next-generation Dyson Airwrap that’s just launched with an array of new attachments that make this the ultimate multi-styling hot brush for every hair type, want and need using their state-of-the-art advanced minimal heat damage tech.
The wide selection of soft and firm, small and large brush heads allow you to create the best possible hot brush for your strands - plus, there’s a wide-tooth comb attachment for curly and coily hair types. It’s also worth noting the Airwrap barrels now allow you to create clockwise and anticlockwise curls with one barrel making for easier and faster styling time.
If you already have the Airwrap Styler don’t worry, you don’t have to buy a new one to benefit from these attachments, you can upgrade to the full new set for £149.99. Dyson’s styler is a pricey investment, but if you’re looking for a do-it-all tool it’s hard to beat.
Buy now £479.99, Dyson
Remington Coconut Smooth Hot Air Styler
Turn to this new smaller hot brush to dry and style short to mid-length styles. It comes with two interchangeable round mixed-bristle brush heads, a 30mm and a 50mm, making it the ideal styler for bobs and layered shorter styles as well as longer strands looking for some va va voom and height at the crown.
It may have the lowest price point in our round-up, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less quality. It still uses ionic conditioning and ceramic coating that’s infused with coconut to leave strands silky-smooth and shiny. And there are 2-speed settings to give you a touch of control and let even fine and damaged hair get in on the styling phenomenon.
Buy now £35.00, Argos
Babyliss 9000 Cordless Hair Brush
The latest edition to the cable-free collection from Babyliss is another top-of-the-line brush. Turn limp, lifeless strands into a glamorous bouncy blowout with this easy-to-manoeuvre, travel-friendly tool that you could even tuck away in your handbag (it comes with a handy travel case with heat-protective lining) to take you from desk to dinner – now plans are firmly back in the diary.
The hard large bristles grab strands easily, creating volume and shape at the flick of the wrist, especially on bouncy bobs, layered locks and curtain fringes. You’ll find it ready to use in seconds, after a 3-hour charge giving you 40 minutes of use on the highest temperature (of which there are 3). It’s another pricey option, but that’s standard for the new cordless tech.
Buy now £180.00, lookfantastic
ghd Glide Professional Hot Brush
Turn to this straightening hot brush if you have curly, wavy, thick or unruly hair for a speedier routine compared with straightening irons. Designed to be used on dry hair, one stroke from the roots to ends will ‘glide’ through even knotty locks leaving them smooth and silky-looking. It’s fast because the large head covers a big section of hair, so you can go through your whole head in minutes.
The trusted hair tool brand never disappoints and like the rest of their much-loved collection, this works at what they call the optimum 185°C styling temperature, so as to not frazzle strands. A must-have for smoothing second-day hair, eliminating frizz thanks to the ceramic and ionising tech, and for those who want to cut down on styling time.
Buy now £159.00, John Lewis
Glamoriser London Lightspeed One Multi-Styler
A fraction of the Dyson, this hot air styler similarly comes with multi-attachments so you can dry and style at the same time whether you’re looking for frizz-free curls, volume or a big, bouncy blowout. It’s lightweight to manoeuvre, powerful and quiet to use, thanks to its 3-speed settings. And there are an impressive 7 attachments to choose from including a diffuser for natural curls, so possibilities are endless. Coupled with the 3 heat settings (including a cold shot) that add to how customisable and well thought out this hot brush styler is.
Extra green points go to the brand for thinking about the packaging too. It comes in a 100 per cent recycled and recyclable storage tin and contains an eco-felt storage inside for easy tidying away. And there are no unnecessary plastic bags inside like other brands have.
Buy now £174.99, Glamoriser
Hot Tools Pro Signature Detachable Volumiser
Look to this US brand for another purse-friendly hot brush that will dry and style in one cutting down valuable getting-ready time in the mornings and not breaking the bank in the process. The price doesn’t compromise on performance with ion tech, and it’s ceramic coated for the smoothest frizz-free results.
Create next-level volume, lift at the roots and curl to the ends in one easy stroke. The bristles are even activated with charcoal, great for refreshing styles the next day, which hot brushes are so good at. And for easy storage, the oversized brush head is detachable – hence the name.
Buy now £31.55, Argos
Revlon Pro Collection One Step Dryer and Volumiser
TikTok users may recognise this hot brush, as it went viral as a Dyson dupe on the social media platform in 2020. There’s still so much love for the large oval-shaped styler if you take a look at the constant top reviews this brush gets, and we’re right there with them as it’s as good as its more expensive counterparts just with a simpler 2 heat setting.
Whether you want to lift strands at the roots, create frizz-free volume or curl ends, this top tool does so with its ionic tech for a smooth and powerful simultaneous dry and style. For best results, we still like to rough dry with a hairdryer and style with damp hair.
Buy now £62.99, Boots
Verdict
The T3 Airebrush Duo is the winning combination of a dryer and styler in one, with both a paddle brush for smooth and straight styles and a round brush for the ultimate voluminous blow-dry. And it goes the extra mile with more customisable settings.
