A versatile styling tool, perfect for creating sleek, smooth looks or adding volume and body to any hair type with ease
BeautiLAB Overall: 4.8 out of 5
| RRP: $155 | Model name: 900-2840-4 |
| Barrel width: 2″ | Weight: 15 oz |
| Barrel shape: round | Cord length: 9 ft |
| Heat settings: 200°F / 225°F | Warranty: 2 year |
| Wattage: 1140 watts | Voltage: 125 volts (single voltage) |
- How it stands out: with its one-of-a-kind mid-sized round barrel, this tool is versatile and powerful. It smooths hair quickly and creates loose curls for a natural look
- Hair type/ texture: fine to thick hair texture/ neck length or longer
- Pros: lightweight, long cord, strong grip, slimmer handle, features high wattage, high-quality material, provides a strong grip, creates natural-looking loose waves and includes Ionic Technology
- Cons: may be overpriced for some, not detachable, no Velcro band to organize the cord
DRYBAR hot air brushes are appreciated for their high-quality materials and design, which provides healthy-looking, salon-quality results. The Single Shot, being the second one of the three Drybar The Shot Collection, became the favorite of many very quickly. It has a round shape and a smaller barrel size (2.25”) compared to The Double Shot. This tool is perfect for shorter hairstyles and bangs.
The size of the barrel fits almost all hair lengths and provides versatility. It’s a bit of an investment, considering the cheaper tools in the market, but you will feel the difference in the quality of your session.
We analyzed and compared “The Single Shot” for you to be able to make the perfect decision for your hair type, length, and budget. Below, we share our experiences with “The Single Shot”. If you’re curious about the competition, check out the article about the Top Rated Hot Air Brushes of 2025.
Design
– Barrel Size And Shape
The Single Shot, with its 2″ barrel, is the perfect medium size for almost any hair length. While its sisters, The Double Shot and The Half Shot, are designed for shorter or longer styles, the Single Shot offers great versatility.
Compared to other brands on the Top list, the Drybar has a longer 3.9″ brush area, making styling faster and more effective. The round barrel is slim enough to get close to the roots, adding volume and body to all hair types.
While the oval shape excels at adding volume, the round barrel provides a great alternative for those who want loose waves while still getting enough volume. Its also ideal for styling bangs and layers.
– Barrel Material
The Drybar Single Shot features a ceramic barrel that helps distribute heat evenly, making it gentle on your hair while providing a smooth and shiny finish. It’s easy to use and perfect for achieving quick, long-lasting styles without damaging your hair.
– Bristles
The Single Shot hot air brush, like all Drybar brushes, features the thickest and firmest bristles. This makes it great for styling, as it provides a strong grip and can handle thick, unruly hair. It has 1.1cm tufted bristles and 1.7cm nylon pin bristles, which are longer than many other hot air brushes. This longer bristle length helps it manage dense hair more easily, providing a strong grip.
But hard bristles compromise at detangling the hair as wide-spaced and flexible bristles detangle your hair faster, easier, and with less pain and damage.
Performance
– Heat Settings
The Drybar Double Shot has a dial at the bottom to control three heat settings: high, low, and cool. It’s smooth to rotate. It doesn’t have a temperature lock, but we didn’t find it necessary since the buttons are hard to accidentally change.
High setting of The Single Shot is 225°F max, which is high enough to tame unruly hair yet not really aggressive, so it doesn’t cause damage to most hair textures. If you have fragile strands, on the other hand, the low setting will be safe and efficient for you at 200°F.
And finally, the cool shot option is an underrated setting that most people don’t use. But it can change the quality of your session immensely, as it seals the session and makes it long-lasting. It’s especially beneficial for home stylists who want to avoid spending time for their hair every day.
– Ionic Technology
The Single Shot has ionic technology to speed up styling while eliminating frizz. The negatively charged ions help evaporate water from your hair faster, which means less heat damage.
It also smooths the hair and fights frizz by sealing the strands, leaving your hair shinier and sleeker.
– Wattage
With its 1140W wattage, the Drybar Single Shot offers the highest power on our list, delivering strong airflow that helps style hair quickly while minimizing the risk of heat damage. It uses powerful airflow instead of excessive heat to protect your hair and give you smooth, lasting results.
Durability & Quality
The Drybar Single Shot is made with high-quality plastic, ensuring it’s durable and sturdy without feeling flimsy. It has no nasty smells, providing a clean and pleasant experience every time you use it. The solid material quality adds to its overall comfort and reliability.
It’s a luxury tool that is high-priced, and you feel the difference the moment you hold it in your hand. Its non-detachable design also contributes to sturdiness and makes it long-lasting.
Convenience
A couple of extra inches or ounces might not seem like much, but if you style your hair often, these small differences can make your styling routine easier and more comfortable.
The Single Shot is well-designed. It’s lightweight, easy to hold, and makes styling simple.
– Tool Length:
We measured the Single Shot, and it’s 13.75 inches long. This is just a bit longer than the average of 13 inches for the other hot air brushes on our list, but it’s not too big. Its size makes it easy to handle for loose waves and a good choice for people with shorter arms or anyone who wants a tool that’s easy to store and carry.
– Weight:
Home stylists know that hot hair tools can be quite heavy and even if you don’t care in the beginning, it will become quite frustrating if you are a regular user or your session lasts long. With 15 oz, The Single Shot is a quite lightweight tool which is below average on our list. It’s a good choice if you want to avoid arm fatigue.
– Handle Width:
The handle measures quite slim at 1.55″ in width. It’s not a surprise that it fits well with even smaller hands since this tool is very well-designed. It’s also important to mention that The Single Shot is not a detachable tool. While this makes it sturdier, its downsides can’t be ignored. The tool is less compact and less versatile since it doesn’t have different attachment options.
– Noise Level:
Hot air brushes are loud tools, some more than others. The noise level of The Single Shot, with 91 dBA, is average and as much as it will be loud, it’s a gentler option than many in the market.
– Cord Length:
It comes with an 9 ft, swivel cord, which is as good as it gets when it comes to length. (The Drybars’ swivel cords are one of the longest among all the products we reviewed.) It’s especially appealing if you don’t have a plug right next to your mirror.
– Handle Temperature:
The handle temperature of the Single Shot tested at 90°F after running for 15 minutes.. It doesn’t get hot, making it a gentle option for delicate hands.
Price And Guarantee
It’s no secret that Drybar is a high-priced brand and The Single Shot is no exception. With a price of $150, it’s a considerably big investment that may not be fit for every budget. But if you want to give yourself a gift that will last you for many years and provide you with high-quality results while keeping your precious strands healthy, it’s worth it.
The Single Shot also comes with a 2-year warranty, offering peace of mind with your purchase.
Other Models From Drybar
Drybar The Shot series offers 3 different hot air brushes with different barrel shapes and sizes. It simply provides different shapes and qualities for different hair types and lengths so every individual can find one that fits themselves.
While The Double Shot is oval-shaped, The Half Shot is round like The Single Shot.
The Double Shot’s barrel size is 2.4″, The Single Shot is 2.25″ and The Half Shot’s barrel is 1.5″.
You can find the details in our The Double Shot Vs. The Single Shot Vs. The Half Shot Blow-Dryer Brushes comparison.
If we put it simply;
- The Double Shot: Medium to long hair, volume, and loose waves, thick and fine hair texture
- The Single Shot: All hair lengths, bangs, loose curls, thick and fine hair texture
- The Half Shot: Short to medium length hair, intricate styling, fine to thick hair texture
Competition
DRYBAR is one of the most popular hot air brush brands in the market for its durable material and healthy and fast styling. Drybar The Single Shot’s biggest-known competitor is Revlon One-Step Volumizer PLUS 2.0, which falls behind in the quality department with less sturdy material. But its very affordable price of 40$ make it a highly appealing alternative since not everyone is ready to invest 150$ on a hot air brush.
The CHI Volumizer 4-in-1 is another solid option, featuring a detachable design with multiple attachment choices. It’s also on the safe side since it doesn’t get too hot and it’s more budget-friendly than Drybar. It might not be the sturdiest and it doesn’t have the design quality of Drybar, but if you prioritize the versatility that different attachments bring, it may be the right choice for you.
