Amika Hair Blow Dry Brush 2.0 2-in-1 Hair Styling Tool

Amika’s second-generation hot air brush has the longest bristles, perfect for dense hair, with gentle high and low heat settings

★★★★★ 4.1 out of 5

Price: $100
Heat settings: low: 150°F / high: 195°F
Hair type/ texture: medium to thick textures, medium to long hair
Hairstyle: its large barrel size creates great root volume and stretches hair for a smooth result
Pros: gentle heat settings deliver fast and sleek results, have a long cord, create great grip, and have very long bristles that easily penetrate dense hair
Cons: not very durable, low-heat setting might be too high for delicate strands
How it stands out: features one of the largest barrels and highest quality, dense bristles on the market to create voluminous styles with ease

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.

Barrel Size And Shape

Amika, with 2.85”, has one of the largest barrels in the market. (Conair The Knot Dr. All-In-One Oval Dryer Brush has the largest barrel size which is 3″)

Like all other large-sized hot air brushes, it’s superior at providing the fastest results since it can cover a large area at one go. This makes it perfect for longer hair. 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. There are many round-shaped barrels in the market such as Drybar The Single Shot that are worth checking out in case you would like to have beautiful curls from time to time.

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 style.

We measured every detail and found that Amika’s bristles, at 0.75″ and 0.56″, are the longest on the market and 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.

Temperature

– Heat Settings

Amika, like most hot air brushes, comes with 3 heat settings (high, low, and cool). While the high setting goes up to 195°F, the low one stays at 150°F.

This range makes this tool effective and safe for both thick and fine hair. While the high setting is high enough to tame unruly hair types such as thick and curly hair (especially afro styles), the low setting will smooth your delicate strands without damaging them. We give Amika plus points on versatility in terms of fitting different hair types. However, if you prefer a gentler starting temperature, other models, such as those from Drybar, offer lower heat options.

– Handle Temperature

The handle temperature is 85°F, which is an average temperature that won’t hurt your hands even in long sessions.

– Cool Tip Temperature

The cool tip temperature, on the other hand, goes up to 135°F, which is on the higher side of the spectrum and might get tricky after a while for delicate hands.

Performance And Durability

Performance is not Amika’s strong suit. First of all, the wattage, with 950w, 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.

Ergonomics

– Weight

Amika weighs about 15 oz. 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 Size

The diameter of the handle is 5”, which is average and fits all, even smaller hands. It’s comfortable to handle.

– Length

This hot air brush is relatively short at 13″ but still effective for creating smooth, stylish hair. It’s also compact, making it ideal for travel and easy to store.

– Noise Level

– Cord

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.

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 2-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