There has been a lot of development in hair tech since GHD first launched its hair straighteners in the 00s. Back then we balked at the £100-ish price tag, and while many hair tools now cost well into the hundreds, there are also some great options to suit every budget. Let’s distinguish between two types of hot stylers. Hot brushes are like a paddle brush meets a hairdryer. They’re good for smoothing and fast hair drying combined, and are designed to be used on dry and damp hair. The Shark SmoothStyle hot brush and smoothing comb is super lightweight, dries hair fast and creates shine and smoothness on all hair types. It takes a bit of trial and error to add volume, and turning it as you style can help, but it can also tug a little bit on the hair. Amika Double Agent 2-in-1 Straightening Blow Dry Brush gives a similar effect, doesn’t tug and is particularly brilliant for thick and straight or wavy hair types.
Hot air brushes are round and designed to give volume and deliver a cheat’s blowdry at home. They can also be used on dry and wet hair, and the Babyliss Big Hair is a classic; the round 50mm barrel brush rotates as you dry your hair, mimicking the way a hair stylist might dry it. The barrel is pretty big so it does work best for long and thick hair types, but the tension also means it’s good to style curly or coiled hair. But if you have extensions or fine hair like me, it might pull too much.
I tried Revlon’s One-Step dryer and volumiser recently and was impressed; though it can feel a little clunky, it sped up drying my hair and added a bit of volume and style, too. I don’t think it’s hot enough for tight curl patterns, however.
The Amika Blowout Babe thermal brush is a better choice for curly and fine hair. It gives smoothing and a little volume easily, plus it’s easier to wield than the Revlon – but also three times the price. Personally, I think it’s worth it.
Got a beauty question for Anita? Email her at beautyQandA@theguardian
