Comparing the ‘Drybar The Shot Collection’ to examine how barrel shape and size affect results, highlighting their similarities and differences
Drybar’s blow-drying brushes offer fast, effective styling with high-quality materials, but choosing the right model can be tricky.
- The Double Shot – 1170W, 2.4” oval barrel, highest wattage, strongest airflow, and largest barrel for maximum volume and fastest styling.
- The Single Shot – 1140W, 2” round barrel, mid-sized design, offering balanced airflow and versatile styling for loose waves or a smooth finish.
- The Half Shot – 1100W, 1.5” round barrel, most compact size, providing precise styling, highest tension for straightening, and better control for coily hair.
While all three models share ionic technology, variable heat settings, and an ergonomic handle, their differences come down to hair type, length, and styling needs. Learn which one is best for you based on our thorough testing.
While Drybar’s Shot Collection offers something for every hair type, there are many other great hot air brushes available. For a full breakdown of the top options on the market, visit our guide to the best hot air brushes.
Which One Is Best for You?
The Double Shot (1170W) – Maximum Power & Volume
The Double Shot is best for those with fine, thin, or flat hair in need of extra lift and fullness. Its powerful 1170W motor provides strong airflow, making it perfect for dense or long hair as well. The 2.4” oval barrel grabs a larger section of hair, speeding up styling time
As the only oval-shaped barrel among the three models, it delivers maximum root volume and creates a fuller appearance. The oval shape puts less tension on hair compared to the two round models, making it gentler and reducing breakage.
Read our full review of the Drybar The Double Shot
The Single Shot (1140W) – Versatile & Balanced Styling
The Single Shot, featuring a mid-sized 2″ round barrel, is perfect for both short and long hair. With 1140W of power, it delivers strong performance in a compact size, making it ideal for versatile styling.
Whether you’re looking to create loose waves, added body, or smooth styles, the Single Shot provides quick and effective results. It stretches tight curls, adds volume, and works well for a variety of hair textures, offering a polished finish every time.
Read our full review of the Drybar The Single Shot
The Half Shot (1100W) – Precise & Powerful Smoothing
The Half Shot is perfect for short hair, precise styling, and coily hair. With its 1.5″ round barrel, the smallest and most compact option, it offers more control and creates the most tension to help smooth and straighten tight curls.
Offering 1100W of power, it delivers strong performance in a small size. Its compact design is ideal for getting close to the roots, achieving a sleek finish, and creating defined curls or smoothing out coils.
Read our full review of the Drybar The Half Shot
Side-by-Side Comparison of Technical Specs
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| Model Name | 900-2225-4 | 900-2840-4 | 900-3425-4 |
| Price | $155 | $155 | $155 |
| Weight | 15.5oz | 15oz | 13oz |
| Cord Length | 9ft | 9ft | 9ft |
| Barrel Shape | Oval | Round | Round |
| Barrel Width | 2.4″ | 2″ | 1.5″ |
| Heat Settings | Low: 180°F / High: 210°F | Low: 200°F / High: 225°F | Low: 180°F / High: 210°F |
| Ionic Technology | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Noise Level | 91dBA | 91dBA | 93dBA |
| Barrel Material | Ceramic | Ceramic | Ceramic |
| Wattage | 1170 | 1140 | 1100 |
| Voltage | 125volt (single) | 125volt (single) | 125volt (single) |
| Warranty | 2 year | 2 year | 2 year |
Design
– Barrel Size And Shape
We know that choosing the right barrel shape and size can be confusing. Pay close attention here, this section will make a big difference in making the right decision.
The major difference between The Double Shot, The Single Shot, and The Half Shot is the shape and size of their barrels.
Drybar The Shot Collection gives you plenty of different options;
- The Double Shot is 2.4”, The Single is 2” and The Half is 1.5”
- The Double Shot is oval while The Single and The Half Shot’s barrels are round-shaped.
To get a better understanding of the differences between these three models, we need to talk about shape first.
Oval brushes have a larger surface area compared to round brushes. This helps oval brushes cover more hair in one brush stroke and makes them superior in speed. Oval brushes are gentler on hair, they create less stress than round brushes. They are also best at boosting volume and can create loose waves.
Round brushes, on the other hand, provide more tension to stretch and straighten. And they can really curl the hair.
When it comes to size, the first rule is; the shorter your hair, the smaller the diameter you need. Secondly, the bigger the brush you use, the more volume and looser curls you’ll get. Smaller brushes make them tighter.
In light of this information,
- The Double Shot has the largest diameter. It is ideal for creating smooth styles and loose, beach waves on long hair with its wider base. The Double Shot’s large surface area gently stretches strands and causes less stress than The Single Shot and The Half Shot. It was the fastest hair dryer brush we’ve tested.
- The Single Shot is still large enough to make it better for medium-length to long hair. Its round shape makes it perfect for either straightening wavy and curly hair or adding bounce and texture to mid-to-long hair.
- The Half Shot, on the other hand, is perfect for short hair. It can create defined waves and curls with its small round barrel. The Half Shot works miracles on pixie and bob cuts, but it is not the best choice for long hair. It will take far too long to finish the style, and you’ll run the risk of getting your hair tangled in the bristles.
– Barrel Material
The Drybar Double Shot, Single Shot, and Half Shot all have ceramic barrels. Ceramic helps heat your hair evenly, reduces frizz, and adds shine, providing gentle styling for smooth and healthy-looking hair.
– Bristles
While the topic of bristles isn’t the top consideration for most home stylists, they matter more than you think. When our tools fit our needs, it makes a big difference. Let’s prioritize and make the best choice!
There are two different bristles on hot air brushes; ball tip bristles (nylon pin) and short bristles (tufted).
If your priority is straightening stubborn medium/ coarse hair textures while detangling in a single step, the Half Shot and The Single Shot will do the trick perfectly. Their sparser, longer nylon pin bristles provide a quick and painless detangling experience for thick and curly hair full of tough knots.
The Half Shot has the longest and most dense tufted bristles compared to all the other hot air brushes on the market. They catch every hair and create more stretch and tension to smooth out curls.
The Double Shot, on the other hand, has shorter and less dense bristles compared to The Single and The Double Shot. This allows the hair to slide easily through without applying too much stress, which is optimal for styling wavy or straight and fine to thick hair.
While these three tools are made to fit almost all hair types, our measurements show that Drybar hot air brushes have the thickest and firmest bristles on the market. This quality makes them the best choice for thick and long hair, as they can create enough tension and penetrate unruly hair.
Performance
– Heat Settings
We measured the differences in the temperatures of these three tools since the amount of heat is a very important component of the decision-making process. While high heat can be detrimental for fine strands, too low temperature may be a deal-breaker for unruly hair.
Our thermometer shows that, at high heat setting, The Single Shot gets considerably hotter (190°F) than The Double and The Half Shot (150°F). Heat is necessary, but too much of it can cause damage to your delicate strands. Thick hair can handle high levels, but you should watch out if your hair is fine.
Considering these, The Single Shot is perfect for thick hair, as it gets hot enough to tame unruly hair. The Double Shot, on the other hand, creates safe and smooth results with fine hair as it doesn’t get as hot, with its oval shape that pulls the hair less.
– Ionic Technology
All Drybar hot air brushes—the Double Shot, Single Shot, and Half Shot—come with ionic technology. This helps reduce frizz, smooths the hair, and leaves it shiny, making them great for achieving a polished look with less heat damage.
– Wattage
The Double Shot (1170W) has the highest wattage, followed by the Single Shot (1140W), and then the Half Shot(1100W). Drybar hot air brushes have the highest wattage of any hot air brushes, making them the strongest option available for fast and efficient styling.
Durability & Quality
Drybar is known for its excellent durability and attention to detail. Their hot air brushes are well-built, with sturdy materials that ensure long-lasting performance. You can rely on these tools for consistent results, as they are designed to withstand regular use while maintaining high quality over time.
Ergonomics
If you style your hair regularly, you know that little things can make a big difference in your long-term comfort. Drybar The Shot Collection blow-dryer brushes are luxury products that are designed intelligently. But are they different from each other? Numbers don’t lie.
While the cord lengths and the handles are the same between these three tools, we did notice a couple of differences that might make a difference in comfort.
– Tool Length:
All three Drybar brushes have the same length at 14″, which is a reasonable length, considering the smallest hot air brush we found is 13 inches.
– Weight:
While The Single Shot (14.9 oz) and The Double Shot (15.1 oz) have similar weights, The Half Shot (12.3 oz) is much lighter. It is the lightest hot air brush on our list. Something to definitely consider if you’re agitated by your fatigued arm that you have to endure every day.
– Handle Size:
While the barrel sizes differ, the diameters of the handles remain the same, so as do the overall lengths of the tools. It is important to note that, The Half Shot brings no advantage to women with small hands.
– Noise Level:
The sound of the hot air brush can be irritating too. We know that some of our readers are sensitive to loud noises, so we wanted to be precise.
The Single Shot is the loudest at 95 dBA, followed by The Double Shot and The Half Shot, both at 90 dBA.
– Cord Length:
Each model comes with a standard 9 ft long swivel cord. The manufacturer lists it as 9 ft but we measured it to be slightly shorter. That being said, the Drybars’ swivel cords are the longest among all the products we reviewed.
If you’re mobile while styling or your power outlet isn’t ideally located, you will definitely benefit from the cord length.
– Handle Temperature:
You may think that the handle’s temperature is not a big deal, but if you use your hot air brush every day and for longer periods of time, it will affect your session’s comfort and quality.
While The Double Shot (85°F) and The Single Shot (85°F) have average temperatures, The Half Shot gets considerably hot at 90°F.
We would say none of these are alarming numbers and they’re all safe, under average, and easy to use.
Price And Guarantee
The Drybar The Shot collection is priced above the market average at $150, but it’s worth every penny in terms of quality and performance. Their warranty is limited to 2 years, which surprises us considering the durability of the product.
