Large barrel and dense bristles, combined with a high heat capacity, making it perfect for tackling unruly hair while creating smooth, voluminous styles
BeautiLAB Overall 4.3 out of 5
| RRP: $100 | Model name: HMS0043 |
| Barrel width: 2.8″ | Weight: 16 oz |
| Barrel shape: oval | Cord length: 9 ft |
| Heat settings: 190°F / 240°F | Warranty: 1 year |
| Wattage: 1000 watts | Voltage: 125 volts (single voltage) |
- How it stands out: features one of the largest barrels and highest quality, dense bristles on the market to create voluminous styles with ease
- Hair type/ texture: medium to thick textures, medium to long hair
- Pros: Compact size, long cord, slimmer handle, high heat capacity for fast, sleek results, excellent grip, and long bristles that easily penetrate dense hair
- Cons: The low-heat setting is too high for delicate strands, not very durable, comes with a 1-year warranty
Amika puts a good amount of effort into perfecting their tools and the second generation of their hot air brush shows their success. This tool combines the sleek and smoothness of a perfect blowout and the speed as fast as it can get amongst others.
It has a large (2.85”), oval-shaped barrel which is perfect for medium to long hair and for boosting volume.
It does sacrifice on durability and the sturdiness of the material. But it’s overall a quality option since it provides one of the smoothest sessions on our list.
Below we share our experiences with “Amika Hair Blow Dry Brush 2.0”. If you’re curious about the competition, check out the article about the top hot air brush picks of 2025.
Design
– Barrel Size And Shape
Amika, with a 2.85” barrel, has one of the largest barrels available. Although its brush section is slightly shorter at 3.8” compared to others on our list, it’s still a great option for longer hair because of its wide barrel and long, stiff bristles.
If you have short hair, on the other hand, you might want to consider another option such as Drybar The Half Shot instead. Because this tool won’t be able to come very close to your roots and will fail to style your pixie or bob cut successfully.
This is an oval-shaped tool and oval equals volume. It successfully boosts volume and creates salon-quality styling. If you want to curl your hair though, oval shape is not the best and a round barrel will do a much better job.
– Barrel Material
The Amika has a tourmaline-coated barrel that generates negative ions and infrared heat. This helps to smooth your hair and reduce frizz, leaving you with a shiny, sleek finish.
– Bristles
“Bristles” is a small yet important aspect when it comes to choosing the perfect hot air brush. While the long and soft ones are great at detangling, short and hard ones provide great hold and style.
We measured every detail and found that Amika’s bristles include 1cm tufted bristles and 1.8cm ball-tipped detangling bristles. The 1.8cm nylon-pinned bristles are the longest on the market and its tufted bristles are firmer than those of most other brands we tested. These qualities make Amika an effective styler for thick and dense hair. The long bristles can easily penetrate all the way through, and reach both shallow and deep layers, while the stiff tufted bristles provide strong tension to style your hair.
But if a good detangler is needed for your hair full of knots, there are many other hot air brushes in the market such as InfinitiPRO by Conair The Knot Dr. Smoothing Brush that will fit your needs better.
Performance
– Heat Settings
Amika, like most hot air brushes, has 3 heat settings: high, low, and cool. The high setting goes up to 240°F, while the low setting stays at 190°F.
This range makes the tool effective and safe for both thick and medium hair types. The high setting works well for taming unruly hair, like thick or curly hair (especially afro styles), while the low setting is perfect for smoothing medium thickness hair without causing damage. We give Amika extra points for its high heat capacity. However, if you prefer a gentler starting temperature, we recommend checking out other options with lower heat settings.
– Ionic Technology
The Amika 2.0 features ionic technology, which helps reduce frizz by emitting negative ions. These ions break down water molecules, making your hair smoother and shinier while preventing flyaways and frizz for a sleek, polished look.
– Wattage
The Amika 2.0 has a wattage of 1000, which isn’t very high and doesn’t provide super powerful airflow. However, it makes up for this with a higher-than-average heat setting, making it ideal for those who need more heat to style their hair effectively.
Durability & Quality
Performance is not Amika’s strong suit. First of all, the wattage, with 1000w, is lower than most hot air brushes on our list and users complain about the tool not working as strongly after some time. Another aspect that is worth mentioning is the fact that it doesn’t have a sturdy and durable material. Don’t get us wrong, it will provide a salon-quality blowout, but it might not last as long as many others on our list. So, if you’re planning to use your hot air brush for many years, you might want to consider a more durable hot air brush.
Convenience
– Tool Length:
This hot air brush is relatively short at 12.5″ but still effective for creating smooth, stylish hair. It’s also compact, making it ideal for travel and easy to store.
– Weight
Amika weighs about 16 oz, which is average. It is easy to use for long periods because it’s not too heavy. This makes it great for everyday styling without tiring out your arms.
– Handle Width:
The diameter of the handle is 1.5”, which is average and fits all, even smaller hands. It’s comfortable to handle.
– Noise Level:
It’s also average on the noise department with 91 dBA, so you don’t need to worry about hurting your ears while using it.
– Cord Length:
It has a 9 ft swivel cord which is above average and it would come handy in case you don’t have a plug right next to your mirror.
– Handle Temperature:
The handle temperature is 99°F, which is an average temperature that won’t hurt your hands even in long sessions.
– Detachable Head:
The Amika is not detachable, so it’s not as easy to store or pack away for travel. However, it’s still durable and works well for everyday use.
Price And Guarantee
With a cost of $100, this is not a cheap tool but it’s one of the most effective ones which provides the smoothest possible results. It’s worth the investment if these qualities are your priorities. But we have to say that it’s not very durable and you’re not paying for a long-lasting material. The 1-year guarantee is also not the longest among hair tools. So it’s up to you to decide what you value in a hot air brush and choose accordingly.
Competition
Amika’s a highly efficient hot air brush with great styling qualities but Drybar The Double Shot is our favorite hot air brush this year and for good reason. It outweighs Amika in many ways such as built-in quality and performance. It has higher wattage and it’s very sturdy to hold. They both create similar results as Amika also is definitely a favorite in terms of creating fast and sleek results. Drybar is Amika’s biggest competitor. It’s more expensive though, costing $150, and the decision will be about budget and priorities.
Compare: Amika Blow Dry Brush 2.0 vs Revlon One-Step Volumizer PLUS
