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Gone are the days of dead-straight hair now the most envious look is a perfectly bouncy blow dry. Sadly, popping into a salon every week or investing in a nostalgic 1950s dryer hood, is both impractical and out of most people’s price range.
What’s more, if you’re not quite skilled enough to try your hand at blow dry with a hair brush and your favourite hair dryer – we like the GHD Helios and Dyson Supersonic Travel – achieving that look can seem impossible.
Luckily for you, we’ve reviewed the best hot brushes and multi stylers, including Dyson airwrap alternatives to find you the at-home tools that really work.
So while social media will tell you it takes an army of heat-styling tools and products to replicate the look made iconic by Cindy Crawford in the 90s, we know that armed with the right hot brush and the best volumising hair product, it can be just as easy.
For a hot brush to be effective it needs to maintain a safe heat and leave your hair feeling shiny and sleek all day. When testing, we’ve taken all of this into account, as well as things like design, weight and price for our ultimate list of the best hot brushes on the market.
From tools with multiple attachments to mini brushes that can be taken to the gym, we’ve got the brush for you.
Best hot brush: Quick list
How we test
The Dyson flat brush helped to eliminate my frizz and gave my hair shine, while the barrel creates salon-looking curls that actually hold all day
We tested each hot brush on freshly washed, towel-dried hair. Every styler was used for rough-drying, smoothing, adding volume and creating curls or waves (where attachments allowed).
We paid close attention to how easy each tool was to use, how quickly it got the job done and whether the results actually lasted after the first hour.
Airflow, heat control, frizz reduction and shine were all carefully analysed alongside value for money, because great hair should feel effortless.
Read more about how we test beauty products at the Daily Mail.
The best hot brushes to buy right now
A before and after of the Dyson Airwrap which produced bouncy, blowout curls that lasted through the day
The Dyson Airwrap didn’t take long to become one of the most hyped hair tools write Caroline Peacock
Dyson Airwrap id Multi-styler
What we love
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What we loveResults
It leaves your hair looking like a celeb stylist has done it
What could be better
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What could be betterPrice
Even though results are guaranteed you have to consider whether you will use it enough to justify the spend
Review
Reviewed by: Jordana Seal
It’s the most hyped up hot brush on the market for a reason, working perfectly on wet hair, dry hair and even greasy hair the Dyson really can make your hair look fantastic.
All six tools are fantastic but we particularly love the flat brush and round barrels because they manipulate your hair unlike any other product. The flat brush eliminates all frizz and helps give your hair a shine while the barrel creates salon-looking curls that actually hold all day.
The tools clicked securely onto the main handle and never fell off.
The airflow is really consistent and the strength adjustable so you can adapt it for different sections of your hair. On top of that you have complete control over the heat striking that balance between power and safe styling.
But £479.99 is a huge price to pay for a styling product and we would only suggest buying it if it means you swear of the salon forever and commit to using it everyday. If that’s the case, it’s a fantastic investment.
However, in terms of smoothness, shines and frizz control the product is flawless.
The Shark Glam created perfect, uniform curls and took less than 15 minutes to use
The Shark Glam was the quickest to create curls and bouncy waves.
Shark Glam Waves and Curls Multi-Styler
What we love
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SpeedThe curler is extremely quick and easy to use, and takes less than 15 minutes to finish styling your entire head of hair
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Good for everyday useIt create natural, loose curls for an everyday look.
What could be better
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NoiseThe styler can be very noisy as the air is pushed out.
Review
Reviewed by Piriyanga Thirunimalan
This is another one that is perfect if what you are looking for are slightly defined, yet gentle curls.
It took less than 15 minutes to use, and could probably be done even quicker.
Again, due to the airflow technology, it helps to wrap the hair around barrel and also means heat damage is limited. There is definitely also an added shine to your hair when you are done with styling.
The fact it is a multi-styler means it can also be used on wet or partially wet hair, and in fact works slightly better with a bit of moisture.
The two barrels which curl in different directions is also a brilliant add, and quite unique.
The only downside is that it is extremely noisy, meaning if you’re looking to style your hair late in the night without waking up your family or housemates, it can be a bit of a problem!
Th GHD Duet is perfect for short hair.
It is slightly heavier than the Revlon but still produced great results and can be easily packed away for a trip.
ghd Duet Blowdry Hair Dryer
What we love
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SpeedIt takes around 10 minutes to dry and style short hair
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Easy to useIt only has one setting and beeps when it’s ready to go
What could be better
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PriceIt’s a huge splurge for a tool that only has one setting
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SizeIt’s a heavy and large tool, so it’s not great for on the go
Review
Reviewed by: Sophia Stanford
Looking at the price alone, this isn’t normally something I’d splurge on. But after trying it, it’s safe to say I’m almost won over.
I was concerned that having relatively short hair would make the ghd Duet Blowdry hair dryer brush slightly redundant but I needn’t have worried.
There was slight initial panic as I got used to using it. but after a few attempts, my hair ended up having a lovely look and feel to it that I was really pleased with. In subsequent attempts I did manage to produce a more styled ‘salon’ look that felt quite chic.
It worked well on my fringe as well, though perhaps slightly *too* bouncy for me. However, it held its shape all day and overall I’d say it tamed my curls without taking away their personality.
After my initial trial and error attempts, styling took no time at all – around 10 minutes. It is relatively straightforward to use, with only one setting and a courteous beep that lets you knew when the Duet Blowdry is sufficiently warm to use. The Duet Blowdry also prides itself on being relatively low heat which reduces damage to your hair.
It is a tad heavy and quite large tool to lumber around but it sort of replaces your hair dryer and styler, which is beneficial for travelling.
I’m not sure I could bring myself to pay full price for this, but it’s often on offer, making it a lot more enticing.
If you’ve got fine hair, the Shark SpeedStyle Pro multi styler is an easy way to add volume and bounce to your hair.
The Shark SpeedStyle Pro 3-in-1 High-Velocity multistyle is a hair dryer and hot brush in one
Shark SpeedStyle Pro 5-in-1 Hair System
What we love
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PowerfulIt dries hair quickly
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SmoothingThe FrizzFighter Tool is effective and helps to tame long, unruly hair
What could be better
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Not a true hot brushMight be unnecessary if you already have a dryer
Review
Reviewed by: Alesia Fiddler
The Shark SpeedStyle Pro Hair System is a hair dryer, hot brush and more in one package. It dries hair quickly and to a smooth, professional appearance.
It’s powerful, reaching up to 100mph, and includes handy attachments that help to smooth locks and reduce frizz.
The dryer operates on four heat and three airflow settings, as well as having a Cool Shot, and Scalp Shield Mode.
It’s lightweight at only 660g and easy to use and hold for longer styling sessions
The Aeris multi styler comes with a great range of attachments for the price
Aeris multi-styler
What we love
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Smart techRemembers your last settings, so you can get styling quickly
What could be better
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DesignThe magnetic design means the attachments can twist or come loose
Review
Reviewed by Caroline Peacock
The Beauty Works Aeris Multi-Styler feels like one of the more high-tech options in this round-up, thanks to its brushless digital motor.
Over the week I used it, it dried my hair noticeably quicker than a standard dryer, without sounding overly loud in the process.
The advanced ionic technology helped smooth frizz and boost shine for a polished finish after each style.
It comes with a solid range of attachments for drying, smoothing, adding volume and creating loose waves, and while they’re easy to switch between, the magnetic design means they can twist or come loose if you’re not careful when setting the tool down.
Comfort-wise, it’s well balanced and easy to hold, so my arm never felt like it had just done a workout.
The super-long three-metre cable also made styling far more convenient.
In terms of results, styles held well through the day – especially smooth blow-dries and bouncy waves – without dropping or frizzing too quickly.
I also loved that it remembers your last settings, so you’re not constantly adjusting the controls every time you use it.
While it’s not the cheapest option in this round-up, the Aeris feels thoughtfully designed and delivers reliable, salon-style results.
The Revlon Salon One-Step gave us a gorgeous salon-style blowout at home.
Arguably the Revlon is the blueprint for hot brushes
Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumiser
What we love
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PriceFor £49.99 this is a brush that won’t break the bank
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PowerThe airflow is extremely strong
What could be better
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Too hotThere are only 2 hot heat settings which means it can sometimes over heat
Review
Reviewed by: Jordana Seal
Arguably Revlon is THE blueprint for hot brushes, among other nostalgic 90s beauty tools.
Its hot brush was certainly one of the first on the market and when you can pick it up around £40, it is great value too.
The round brush is extremely large and the airflow strong, making it ideal for thick, long hair. Hair clings to the brush nicely and it can be manipulated really well without losing control of the brush.
For those looking for a bouncy 90s style blow dry it is perfect, but trying to achieve any other look can be a bit of a challenge.
While the brush has two heat settings and one cold, I didn’t ever feel that in control of the temperature. This means that hair can get quite hot and using a heat protectant is very necessary.
The result of the brush is great, however, my hair didn’t hold as well as some others and perhaps needs some additional help from setting sprays.
Verdict
It’s not a fad, hot brushes really can give you a professional looking blow dry but it does require a bit of patience and time to learn which type of barrels, temperatures and speeds work for your hair.
We love that they can be used to blow dry wet hair and style dry hair making them a versatile and worthwhile investment.
It is important to take into consideration hair texture and type, which is why we think that the Dyson Airwrap is the best product for hot brush styling overall, as you can purchase barrels that work for your specific hair.
For those looking to save however, the Shark SpeedStyle Pro 5-in-1 with the hot brush attachment is a great alternative.
If you want a true hot brush experience, rather than a multi styler with an add on, I recommend the Revlon One-Step Hot Brush or ghd Duet.
Why trust us?
Navigating beauty tech is overwhelming and it’s easy to get caught up in wanting products that are being flogged by influencers. But that’s where we come in.
Our team of expert testers have decades of experience between them, testing the very best (and worst) in beauty tech and lifestyle products.
We’ve also tested on a range of different hair types and textures, ensuring that the products we use are suitable for the majority of people.
All of our reviews are honest and impartial, so if a product isn’t going to work for you, we’ll tell you.
Can I use hot brushes on wet hair?
You can use all the products in this article on wet hair apart from the GHD Glide, as this uses classic heat styling and is therefore only suitable for dry hair.
Are hot brushes easy to use for beginners?
All hot brushes can take some getting used to but with a bit of practice and a few YouTube tutorials, we think most of these are well suited to all skill levels
Do hot brushes reduce frizz and add shine?
Most of the products on this list will reduce frizz and add shine to hair, especially when used with styling products. Overall though, the Beauty Works Aeris multi-styler offers the best frizz-free, shiny results.
Do I need to use heat protection when using a hot brush?
Yes, you should always use heat protection when using any heated hair styling tools. Our favourites, linked above will help keep your hair healthy and shiny even after repeated styling.