The 10 Best Hot Air Brushes of 2025

We put hot air brushes to the test, from high-quality options like Drybar to more affordable choices like Revlon, and many others, to see how well they perform

It’s only natural to get tired of juggling a brush in one hand and a blow dryer in the other. Don’t you think we deserve something better in the 21st century?

Here are our top hot air brush picks of 2025, which run from the budget-friendly model to the most luxurious one. At BeautiLab, we test every tool we review to make sure our opinions are based on real hands-on experience. Each product goes through careful testing, focusing on things like how well it performs, ease of use, and features like different heat settings, design and noise level.

Don’t forget to check our guide on choosing a hot air brush to be sure that you picked the right tool for your hair type and needs.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall Hot Air Brush: Drybar The Double Shot $150
• Best on a Tight Budget: Revlon One-Step Volumizer PLUS 2.0 $70
• Most Versatile: CHI Volumizer 4-in-1 $100
• Gentlest for Fine Hair: Hot Tools 24K Gold One-Step $70
• Best for Thick and Dense Hair: Amika Hair Blow Dry Brush 2.0 $100
• Hottest for Stubborn Hair: Hot Tools Black Gold One-Step Detachable $70
• Largest Barrel for Long Hair: Conair The Knot Dr. All-in-One Dryer $50
• Smallest Round Barrel for Short Hair: Drybar The Half Shot $150
• Superior for Detangling: Conair The Knot Dr. Smoothing Brush $45
• Round Brush for Adding Movement & Texture: Drybar The Single Shot $150

Tips for Buying a Hot Air Brush

1. Look for the right brush shape

Choosing the right-shaped hot air brush is important. Very simply, different shapes serve different purposes.

• Round brushes are ideal for styling short to medium-length hair and are good for creating volume at the scalp. They also spin easier than oval brushes and are better at creating curls, and waves.
• Oval brushes create more volume than a round brush due to the way the hair wraps around the brush at the base. They provide greater stretch and tension than round brushes, which is essential for smoothing hair.
• Paddle brushes, with their wide, flat surface, are best at detangling and drying hair quickly. They are perfect for long and thick hair.
• And lastly, some hot air brushes offer interchangeable brush heads for added versatility in styling and ease of travel.

2. Pay attention to the bristles

If your main aim is to smooth and straighten hair, look for dense bristles. Densely placed bristles provide powerful gripping and perfect tension for stretching and blow-drying hair straight.

Sparsely placed bristles are for easy detangling without putting too much stress on the hair.

3. Avoid heat damage

Unfortunately, hot air brushes do not offer specific temperature settings like flat irons or curling irons, and manufacturers do not provide this information on their websites either.

To determine the exact low and high settings’ temperatures, we tested each hot air brush using a digital thermometer.

For fine hair, choose a hot air brush with a low heat setting of under 150°F, and for very thick hair, opt for a high heat setting of 180°F or higher.

Reviews

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Best Overall Hot Air Brush

Drybar The Double Shot

Who is it for: Users who want a gentle hot air brush with a superior grip, making it easy to create a smooth, voluminous finish

The Double Shot features the densest bristles on the market; they are long, dense, stiff, and yet flexible. It allows the hair to settle into the bristles, providing better grip and tension compared to the others on the list, resulting in smoother, more voluminous hair.

The Double Shot offers two heat settings. The low setting, around 180°F, works well for fine or chemically treated hair, helping to prevent fading and damage. The high setting, at 210°F, provides enough power to style thick hair without causing excessive heat damage. It also uses ionic technology to reduce frizz by releasing negative ions.

The 2.4″ large and oval barrel covers more area at one go which makes it perfect for neck length to long hair, providing a fast and smooth styling session. The oval shape gives great volume and creates loose waves.

It’s light to hold for long sessions, and the handle is comfortable on your hand. It has excellent material quality that will last for many years.

Drybar has 3 different hot air brushes in the market. The difference between them is mainly their barrel size and shape. You can read further on the Drybar Double Shot vs. Single Shot vs. Half Shot comparison.

Read more: Drybar The Double Shot full review

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Best on a Tight Budget

REVLON One-Step Volumizer PLUS 2.0

Who is it for: A budget-friendly option for thick, coarse, or very curly hair that typically needs high heat to style effectively

REVLON One-Step Volumizer PLUS is slimmer than the original model, measuring 2.4″ instead of 2.8″. This size works well for almost any hair length, except very short hairstyles. You can read further on the Revlon One-Step Volumizer PLUS 2.0 vs 1.0 Original comparison.

Unlike most hot air brushes that only offer low and high heat, the Revlon One-Step Plus provides three heat settings (185°F, 200°F, and 225°F) to cater to different hair textures. Whether you have fine, medium, or thick hair, you can adjust the temperature for the best results. The lower setting is perfect for fine hair or refreshing second-day thick hair, while the higher heat tames coarser or curlier hair for smooth, voluminous results.

For the ones that like to keep their beauty routine to a minimum, Revlon Plus offers a fast session backed up by its ionic technology. It comes with a detachable head, making it compact and easy to travel with, but it does not have additional attachments.

It might not be the most durable model in the market, but it’s affordable. With its rich features and ergonomic design, it’s definitely a good value for money.

Read more: Revlon One-Step Volumizer PLUS 2.0 review

Drybar The Double Shot Vs Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus comparison

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Most Versatile

CHI Volumizer 4-in-1

Who is it for: A versatile hot air brush for those with limited storage who need a compact tool with multiple attachments

CHI Volumizer comes with 4 different attachments that cover all sorts of styling needs. The attachments are easy to change and the brush is lightweight.

The CHI Volumizer 4-in-1 is a great tool for daily use. It heats up to 240°F, which works well for medium and thick hair. For fine hair, the low heat setting of 190°F is perfect for gentle styling without causing damage.

This tool has relatively shorter nylon pin (detangler) bristles. This means it can gently detangle normal, fine, or damaged hair without tugging, snagging, or breaking. But cannot penetrate thick or dense hair with ease to grab and style it.

CHI Volumizer 4-in-1 may be perceived as an overpriced tool at $100, but with all the extra attachments you get we honestly think it’s a bargain (especially the nozzle that saves you from buying an extra blow drier).

What we didn’t like about the handle during our test: It’s thick at the bottom, making it hard to grip, especially for small hands. However, this is a small trade-off if versatility is more important to you.

Read more: CHI Volumizer 4-in-1 Blowout Brush review

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Gentlest for Processed Hair

Hot Tools 24K Gold One-Step

Who is it for: Ideal for chemically treated hair (coloring, perming, or relaxing) and a worthwhile investment for those seeking long-term performance

If you have thick, stubborn hair that needs extra time and attention to smooth, the Hot Tools 24K Gold is what you need.

It has a 24K golden barrel that distributes heat evenly, which means no cold or hot spots that can cause heat damage.

The maximum heat level of this tool is 220°F, with a 190°F low setting. These temperature settings are safe and effective for styling fine or damaged hair, while the high heat setting is perfect for taming thick, coarse, and unruly hair without causing damage.

The 2.8″ oval barrel styles large sections of hair quickly, reducing heat exposure. Ionic technology helps reduce frizz, while the extra-long nylon pin bristles glide through dense hair. The soft tufted bristles gently style without pulling or breaking delicate strands, making it safe for processed hair.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a detachable head. This is a downside if you travel often and you need a compact tool or if you want different-sized heads for different purposes. But keep in mind that non-detachable hot air brushes are sturdier, and Hot Tools 24K Gold is a durable and long-lasting hot air brush with its quality material.

Read more: Hot Tools 24k Gold One-Step Blowout review

You may also like: Hot Tools Black Gold vs 24K Gold One-Step comparison

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Best for Thick and Dense Hair

Amika 2.0

Who is it for: The high heat capacity and large brush head, along with dense, stiff bristles that create great tension, make this ideal for styling thick, dense hair

If you’re on the hunt for a hot air brush that provides soft and sleek results for thick and coarse hair and you want these results fast, Amika may be the perfect choice for you.

It has very long nylon pin bristles, which can penetrate and detangle even the coarsest, thickest dense hair. Besides, its tufted bristles are above average length, resulting in a great grip to stretch out the hair and create a smoother, straighter look.

The second generation of the line features a tourmaline-infused barrel and successfully banishes unwanted frizz. With 240°F on high setting and 190°F on low, this tool fits the needs of both thick and medium textured hair.

With its oval and 2.85″ barrel (the second largest on our list!) it provides voluminous results and beach waves to longer hair.

Amika is a practical everyday tool but it sacrifices durability. The users report that its material is not very sturdy and the motor is not long-lasting. While the tool is much safer on the hair than the other budget tools such as Revlon, it is more expensive at the price of $100.

Read more: Amika Hair Blow Dry Brush 2.0 review

You may also like: Amika Blow Dry Brush 2.0 vs Revlon One-Step Volumizer PLUS comparison

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Hottest for Stubborn Hair

Hot Tools Black Gold One-Step Detachable

Who is it for: If your hair can handle high heat, this tool will speed up your styling routine thanks to its high-temperature performance

In our tests, Black Gold reached the highest temperature of all the options. This tool means business with its surface that gets as hot as 260°F. Even in low heat setting, it’s hotter than most hot air brushes at 210°F.

Black Gold is recommended for medium to long hair as its barrel is 2.8″ (one of the largest on our list). Its oval shape is great for creating volume. The length of the bristles is above average, which means it can easily penetrate and grab dense hair. The ionic technology and charcoal bristles do an incredible job of eliminating frizz.

With the lifetime limited guarantee it offers, Hot Tools Black Gold pushes the boundaries of market standards. Like all Hot Tools products, it provides sturdy and long-lasting material.

“Black Gold”, not only is detachable, but it also offers different-sized 4 attachments. If your priority is being compact and versatile styling options, we recommend considering this option.

Read more: Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold One Step review

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Largest Barrel for Long Hair

Conair The Knot Dr. All-In-One Oval

Who is it for: With the largest brush area on the market, this tool is perfect for both drying and detangling fine or thick long hair

Conair The Knot Dr. All-In-One Oval Dryer Brush is a winner for fast and effective styling of very long hair, with its 2.8″ wide oval barrel and 4″ brush section length. This is the widest barrel surface area on the market.

It has sparsely placed, long nylon pin bristles for easy hair brushing. The flexible bristles are gentle on the hair as they effortlessly glide through the tangles, making the detangling process painless. But this tool compromises smoothing hair because its tufted bristles are short and they cannot create enough tension to stretch the hair straight.

With the 6 different attachments available to buy separately, The Knot Dr. is a versatile tool for other styling needs as well. The bottom part also detaches for cleaning the filter, making it a long-lasting product.

This tool uses ionic technology to reduce frizz. The maximum heat (210°F) is strong enough to style thick hair fast while still being gentle enough to protect processed hair.  The low heat setting at around 140°F will treat very fine hair with care.

While it’s a desirable option specifically for long hair, it’s not the most durable one. Some users complain about the bristles coming off after some time, and the tool itself is not very sturdy.

Read more: Conair The Knot Dr. All-In-One Oval Dryer Brush review

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Smallest Round Barrel for Short Hair

Drybar The Half Shot

Who is it for: Provides great grip from the roots, adds volume, helps straighten short to medium hair, and creates waves in longer hair

Drybar The Double Shot is our favorite overall hot air brush and they’ve come up with a little sister.

“The Half Shot” has the smallest barrel size available as of now, specifically designed for shorter hairstyles. It has a round 1.5″ barrel which does magic, especially with pixie and bob cuts. It manages to come close to the roots to add volume and provides great grip with its densely packed high-quality bristles, even with the shortest strands.

The Drybar hot air brush offers a low heat setting of 180°F, which is lower than average, making it a good option for gentle styling, especially for fine or delicate hair. On its high setting of 210°F, it provides enough heat to effectively style thick or coarse hair without causing damage. With 1100 watts of power, it ensures strong performance, delivering consistent heat for faster styling while keeping your hair healthy and protected from excessive heat damage.

It’s also the lightest hot air brush on our list, weighing just 13oz, making it comfortable to hold for extended styling sessions. However, Drybar hot air brushes are not the most budget-friendly tools, and “The Half Shot” is no exception.

Read more: Drybar The Half Shot Small Round Blow Dryer Brush review

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Superior for Detangling

InfinitiPRO by Conair The Knot Dr. Smoothing

Who is it for: with the largest surface area, this tool is perfect for gently drying long hair while detangling

If a fast and gentle tool that can dry your hair while detangling it is your priority, Conair The Knot Dr. Smoothing Brush should be on your shortlist.

The nylon bristles of this smoothing brush are longer than average and very flexible. The epoxy tips glide through coarse hair without snagging or pulling. Unlike others, it doesn’t have tufted bristles, so it won’t cause pain or breakage, even if you use it right after showering. Its paddle shape can cover a large surface area of your hair and can dry your head much faster than a blow dryer and brush combination.

At only 13oz, this brush is a lightweight option. Its 175°F low heat setting is gentle enough for delicate strands, while the 235°F high heat setting is one of the highest available, perfect for styling thick, coarse hair. These qualities make it perfect for everyday use. Finally, at around $50 and often less on sale, it has great value.

Keep in mind that InfinitiPRO paddle brush doesn’t give you bone-straight results. If this is what you’re looking for, you will need to pair it with a flat iron or go for another option. However, if you’re looking to keep your natural curl pattern intact, this tool is perfect for you.

Read more: Conair The Knot Dr. All-In-One Smoothing Dryer Brush review

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Best Round Brush for Adding Movement & Texture

Drybar The Single Shot

Who is it for: the unique mid-size round barrel adds texture and waves to your hair, giving you a styled look without the need for a complex beauty routine

Drybar Shot Series offers two other hot air brushes called “The Double Shot” and “The Half Shot”, and they all serve different purposes with differently shaped and sized barrels. “The Single Shot”, with its round shape, is the right one for you if you want to add some loose waves to remove bulk and add movement to the hair.

It’s also quite versatile; with its 2.25″ barrel, it suits almost all hair lengths. It’s large enough to cover more areas of long hair at one go, yet slim enough to come close to the roots and style even shorter hairstyles.

With its 225°F maximum heat, it provides safe yet effective styling. While the high heat setting is strong enough to tame unruly hair types. The 200°F low heat is too strong for fine hair and can cause damage if used frequently.

The ionic technology eliminates frizz while reducing the time of the session, up to by half.

It also doesn’t have a detachable design, sacrificing being compact. But, one of the sturdiest and most durable hot air brushes on the market. But, keep in mind that this is a luxury tool that is not for every budget. At a price of $150, it’s more expensive than many other hot air brushes.

Read more: Drybar The Single Shot Round Blow-Dryer review

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How We Test Hot Air Brushes

At BeautyLab, we understand that every woman’s needs are different when it comes to choosing the right hot air brush. There are many reviews online, and each one tests products on their own hair type, but those results may not be the same for you. That’s why we test every detail and measure comparable data to give you a clear picture of how each hot air brush performs.

We are committed to providing honest, straightforward reviews. Our goal is to give you the most accurate information by testing each product in real-world conditions. We focus on key factors like performance, ease of use, noise levels, heat settings, and design. While we don’t claim to have the perfect testing method, we do our best to evaluate each product fairly from a consumer’s perspective.

With years of experience and hundreds of hot tools tested, we can easily spot which products stand out and which ones fall short. Our tests reflect how you would use these tools in your daily routine, ensuring our reviews are helpful and reliable. Here’s a closer look at how we test hot air brushes:

Ergonomics Test

In our ergonomics test, we evaluate how comfortable and practical each hot air brush is to use.

Product’s length: We measure the product’s length with a tape measure to check if it’s the right size for easy handling and mevaurvering.

Cord length: We also measure the cord length (in feet) to see if it provides enough freedom of movement during styling.

Product’s weight: We weigh the hot air brush (in ounces) with a digital scale to check if it’s light enough to avoid hand fatigue during longer sessions.

Handle width: We use a digital caliper to measure the handle width (in inches) and make sure it fits comfortably in your hand.

We also check where the control buttons are placed and if there is a temperature lock, making sure they are easy to use and improve the overall styling experience.

This ergonomics test helps us determine how well each hot air brush balances comfort and performance, so you can be confident it will suit your daily styling routine.

Efficiency / Brush Specs Test

In our brush specs test, we check the key features that affect styling results.

Barrel shape: We look at the barrel shape to see how it helps with volume, smoothness, detangling, or creating curls.

Barrel width: We measure the barrel width (in inches) with a digital caliper to match it with hair length.

Brush section length: We measure the brush section length (in inches) with a digital caliper to understand how much hair it can grab with each stroke.

Bristle length: We measure the bristle length of tufted and nylon pins (in cm) with a soft tape measure to evaluate how the bristles grip, stretch, and detangle hair.

This test helps us understand how the design features affect the brush’s performance and how well it suits different styling needs.

Performance / Heat & Speed Settings Test

In our performance test, we measure how well the hot air brush handles heat and speed settings during use:

Barrel temperature: We measure the barrel temperature with an infrared thermometer after 15 minutes at cool, low, and high heat settings to see how hot it gets at each level. This helps us understand how the brush works with different hair textures.

Cool tip temperature: We check the cool tip temperature after 15 minutes using an infrared thermometer to ensure it stays cool enough to touch safely, especially when maneuvering the tool during curling.

Handle temperature: We measure the handle temperature after 15 minutes at the highest heat setting to ensure it doesn’t get too hot to hold comfortably during long sessions.

Maximum noise level: We measure the noise level (in dBA) with a sound level meter at the high-speed setting to ensure the brush doesn’t produce too much noise, which could affect your health.

This test helps us assess how well the hot air brush manages heat and noise, and whether it stays comfortable to use during long sessions.

Hot Air Brush Performance Comparison

After testing each hot air brush, we track and log the results. This method helps us compare the performance of each brush against others we’ve tested in the same category. We consider factors like price, hair type, texture, features, and design to give you the most relevant recommendations. This approach ensures that our reviews are thorough, fair, and based on real-world performance.

Honest Hot Air Brush Reviews

At BeautyLab, we pride ourselves on maintaining independence. We never accept free products or sponsored content. All the hot air brushes we review are purchased with our own funds, which means you can trust that our opinions are unbiased and based solely on performance.

1. Are any of these hot air brushes dual voltage?

Unfortunately, no. Moreover, it is not possible to find a reputable brand, dual voltage hot air brush on the market. Because manufacturing costs increase with dual voltage operations. However, the market demand is not enough to justify the additional investment.

2. Is it better to have a round or oval hot air brush for short hair?

For chin-length hair, round brushes are better for creating a strong grip and root volume. For a bit longer, neck-length hair, you can get a more full and thick appearance with a round brush.

3. Does a hot air brush curl hair?

Round barrel hot air brushes can create defined curls on mid-length to long hair. Oval barrels are better for smoother, straighter styles and adding movement to long hair.

4. Can a hot air brush curl like a curling iron, or straighten like a flat iron?

A hot air brush can curl and straighten hair, but compared to a curling iron, the curls will look more relaxed and natural. It also won’t make your hair as straight as a flat iron, especially for coarse or thick hair.

5. What is the difference between a hot brush and a hot air brush?

A hot air brush uses hot air to style your hair like a hair dryer. It has plastic pins or bristles to detangle and add tension. You can use it on dry or slightly damp hair.

A hot brush, on the other hand, has heated tongs but it doesn’t blow air. It applies direct heat for precise styling. Use a hot brush on completely dry hair.

Conclusion

A hot air brush can make things easier if you frequently wash your hair. It dries and styles your hair at the same time, and this will save you time and space.

We’ve considered factors like shape, barrel size, bristles, heat settings, and design to find the best options. Whether you need volume, smoothness, or detangling, there’s a hot air brush for you. Just choose one that fits your hair type and styling needs.