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I wouldn’t say a big, bouncy blowout is my entire personality, but it is an essential part of my routine—and I’ve found the best hair dryer brush to be the easiest way to achieve those luscious shampoo hair-commercial curls. Hear me out. At-home blowouts are hard; even when armed with the right tutorials and top-of-the-line tools, all the maneuvering gets tiring quickly. (Did you sign up for an arm workout? I certainly did not.) That’s why I love a hair dryer brush. It’s a straightforward two-in-one device that works as a dryer and round styling brush, making the process more efficient and controlled. It’s also a great hair tool for beginners.
Vogue’s Favorite Hair Dryer Brushes
- The Editor’s Pick: Drybar The Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer, $155
- The Stylist’s Choice: Dyson Airwrap Multistyler Complete Long, $600
- Best for Wet-to-Dry Styling: Shark Beauty SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush, $99
- Best Multi-Styler: Mermade Hair Interchangeable Blow Dry Brush, $119
- Best Titanium: L’ange Hair Le Volume 2-in-1 Titanium Blow Dryer Brush, 94
- Best Budget: Conair The Knot Dr. All-in-One Dryer Brush Infinitipro, $55
In This Story
- What to Look for in a Hair Dryer Brush
- How to Use a Hair Dryer Brush
- How to Prep Your Hair
- How to Clean a Hair Dryer Brush
“It may take a bit to get the hang of it, but I think it’s much easier to manage a hair dryer brush, versus a brush and hair dryer,” says New York City-based celebrity hairstylist, Davey Matthew. “Navigating a blow dry with a free hand makes the process an achievable feat.”
I was first drawn to hair dryer brushes because I could never quite master the traditional technique of using a round brush and a hair dryer. So, in 2020, I bought one and never looked back. As my hair has gotten longer over the years, I’ve gotten really good at giving myself fast, yet sleek blowouts. And while I owe it all to my trusty Drybar hair dryer brush, I wanted to put some of the other best hair dryer brushes to the test to see which would also allow me to achieve the blowout of my dreams.
Read on for the ones that made the cut, from best sellers to newcomers for salon blowouts from home—plus everything else you need to know about how to best haircare prep, tips for use, and how to maintain your hair dryer brush
The Editor’s Pick: Drybar The Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer
- Why We Love It: I’ve relied on Drybar’s Double Shot blow-dryer to give me a bouncy blowout for years, so I can’t deny that it’s one of my long-time favorites. The oval-shaped barrel seamlessly wraps around all sections of my hair to smooth and volumize them in one pass. The tool itself is fairly lightweight and easy to use, so my drying time is typically cut in half—ideal if you’re in a rush or not looking to break a sweat while blowing out your hair. What’s more, I’ll run the dryer through my already-dry hair if I want to add extra volume.
- Heat Settings: 3 (cool, medium, high)
- Attachments: N/A
- Bristle Type: Nylon, tufted
- Who It’s For: All hair types
- Editor’s Tip: Take advantage of all the heat settings to ensure it works for your hair length, type, and texture. I tend to use the highest heat setting, simply because I have thick, wavy hair that needs a little more power to dry it; I’ll then finish off with the cool shot to keep the style in place.
- Cord Length: 9 ft
- Wattage: 1170 Watts
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Oval shaped, and 2.4 inch barrel is ideal for medium to long hair lengths | The 2.4-inch barrel size might be too wide to create a bouncy blowout on shorter hair |
| Lightweight and ergonomic design |
The Stylist’s Choice: Dyson Airwrap Multistyler Complete Long
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- Why We Love It: New York City-based hairstylist Sky Kim ranks the Dyson Airwrap as her favorite. “It’s just overall a great tool to shorten your time spent getting ready,” she says. “With all of the attachments, it also gives a variety of looks you can achieve.” If you’re looking for big, bouncy curls, then the barrels will give you that classic look. But if you’re seeking that sleek, straight blowout, then the firming brushes are for you. The heat settings and cool shot give you more control while styling, making your blowout last a bit longer, she adds.
- Heat Settings: 3 (low, high, cool)
- Attachments: Coanda smoothing dryer, 1.6” long barrel, 1.2” long barrel, firm smoothing brush, soft smoothing brush, round volumizing brush, filter cleaning brush
- Bristle Type: N/A
- Who It’s For: Those with chest-length or longer hair; works on all hair types
- Editor’s Tip: There’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to the Dyson Airwrap—especially with the barrels. The standalone hair dryer and round brushes are fairly straightforward to use, but getting a hang of the barrels will take some time; the first pass on my hair was…interesting, but I’m still learning! The round volumizing brush did work wonders for my curtain bangs and ends, and gave my hair the bounce and shape I was looking for.
- Cord Length: 8.75 ft
- Wattage: 1,300 W
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Suitable for medium to long hair lengths | Shorter hair lengths or curly/coily hair types should adjust to customized Air Wrap options |
| Varied attachments allow for a 6-in-1 hair tool that can dry, smooth, and curl hair | Beginners may experience learning curves adjusting to the unique tools |
| Ideal for curls that won’t snag or burn, like on a traditional clamp curling iron |
Best for Short Hair: Revlon One Step Volumizer Plus 2.0
- Why We Love It: Compared to the original Revlon one-step hair dryer brush, this is a slightly smaller hair blowout brush that still packs enough power to provide your desired volume. It has a slim handle that’s easy to grip, and the round brush part can detach to be packed easily in a travel bag for on-the-go styling needs. “When blow drying, only take sections as big as, or smaller than, the size of the brush being used,” says Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist Scott King.
- Heat Settings: 4 (low, medium, high, cool)
- Attachments: Detachable head
- Bristle Type: Nylon; charcoal pins
- Who It’s For: All hair types
- Editor’s Tip: King recommends that hair should be rough dried before going in and styling with the round brush attachment. And, to minimize frizz, be sure to apply a styling oil or treatment.
- Cord Length: 6 ft
- Wattage: 1100 W
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ideal for short hair lengths | Requires rough drying before using to style on damp hair |
| Ergonomic and compact for travel, with a detachable brush head |
Best Volume: Amika Hair Blow Dryer Brush 2.0
- Why We Love It: If you’re looking for real volume, then Amika’s hair dryer brush will give you just that. The combination of a round brush and hair dryer lifts roots while detangling and smoothing hair. It works on all hair types and lengths, and will leave you with a bouncy, salon-worthy blowout.
- Heat Settings: 3 (low, high, cool)
- Attachments: N/A
- Bristle Type: Nylon
- Who It’s For: All hair types and lengths
- Editor’s Tip: Depending on your hair type and length, a few passes can give you the sleek shine you’re looking for; if you have shorter, thin hair, then only a pass or two is needed to style your hair. However, if you have long, thick hair—like I do—you’ll need a few passes to do the trick. Don’t forget to use the cool shot at the end to really lock in your style.
- Cord Length: 9.6 ft
- Wattage: 1000 W
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| One of the more quiet blow dry brushes on this list | Gentle heat settings might not be strong enough for coarser hair textures |
| Ideal for volume |
Best for Wet-to-Dry Styling: Shark Beauty SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush
- Why We Love It: If you’re prone to scrolling on TikTok for the latest beauty trends, there’s no denying that you’ve seen the recent spike in interest in hot air and thermal brushes; they work like hair dryer brushes, but without the actual drying part, and tend to not make any noise. However, the Shark Beauty Heated Brush works as a two-in-one blow dryer brush and hot styling tool. Genius! Not only does it dry your hair in a few passes, but it can also be used to touch up your blowout when it’s already dry.
- Heat Settings: Wet hair mode; dry hair mode
- Attachments: N/A
- Bristle Type: Nylon and boar; ceramic-coated plate
- Who It’s For: All hair types and lengths; those looking to smooth already-styled hair
- Editor’s Tip: If you’re looking to blow out your semi-wet hair, use the wet hair mode. If you’re looking to straighten and smooth your hair, use the dry hair mode.
- Cord Length: 6 ft
- Wattage: 900 W
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| The dual action hot brush and blowdryer is great for straightening curly hair | The shorter cord length allows for less mobility when styling |
| Works on both wet or dry hair |
Best for On-The-Go: BabylissPro Compact Hot Air Brush
- Why We Love It: On-the-go styling can be made possible with BaBylissPro’s compact hair dryer brush. The 2-inch barrel can be used on small sections of hair for a straight blowout, or is best used on hair ends for subtle waves or curls. It may be small, but it is quite mighty.
- Heat Settings: 3 (low, high, cool)
- Attachments: N/A
- Bristle Type: Nylon and boar
- Who It’s For: All hair types; works better on short- to medium-length hair
- Editor’s Tip: Because my hair is thick and long, I found it more beneficial to use this tool to add a bit of bounce to the ends once it was already blown out. However, those with short- or medium-length hair can get their blowouts at home or on the go.
- Cord Length: 9.5 ft
- Wattage: 600 W
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ideal for short to medium length hair | Longer, thicker hair may find the compact style takes a longer time to dry hair |
| Compact sizing is perfect for on-the-go traveling |
Best Detangling: T3 Airebrush Blow Dry Brush
- Why We Love It: Smooth, shiny blowouts are a given with T3’s blow dry brush. In just a few passes, the nylon bristles and pins will detangle and straighten hair, leaving you with a sleek finish thanks to the ceramic plated base. Its oval brush will also provide the bounce and volume you’re looking for—no matter your hair type or length.
- Heat Settings: 3 (low, high, cool)
- Attachments: N/A
- Bristle Type: Nylon
- Who It’s For: Most hair types and textures
- Editor’s Tip: Don’t forget to use the cool shot! After passing through my hair using the highest heat setting, I found that the cool shot really locked the style into place.
- Cord Length: 8 ft
- Wattage: 1200 W
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Multiple heat and speed settings to customize your blow dry experience | Not ideal for tightly coiled or textured hair |
| Works for most hair textures, with users reporting positive feedback up to 4a curls | |
| Nylon bristles won t tangle or snag hair |
Best High Powered: Hot Tools One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer
- Why We Love It: If there’s one thing that Hot Tools’ hair dryer brush is going to do, it’s deliver power; the highest heat setting can dry hair in an instant—especially if you have thin, short hair. While longer hair will need more than one pass, it’s still left feeling soft and smooth. This tool is also great for second-day hair touch ups for extra life and volume.
- Heat Settings: 3 (low, high, cool)
- Attachments: N/A
- Bristle Type: Boar; charcoal-infused
- Who It’s For: All hair types and lengths
- Editor’s Tip: Make sure you use the heat setting that will be best for your hair type and length; when I first used the tool, I went for the lowest heat setting to play it easy. However, I found that the highest heat setting is better suited for my thick, long hair to dry it in half the time. And, of course, don’t forget the cool shot.
- Cord Length: 9 ft
- Wattage: 1100 W
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Styles hair quickly—from fine hair to thick textures | Heavy |
| Charcoal-infused hair bristles refresh hair and reduce frizz |
Best Budget: Conair The Knot Dr. All-in-One Dryer Brush Infinitipro
- Why We Love It: If you’re looking to add volume to your roots, allow the Conair hair dryer brush to do the work. It comes with a volumizing attachment that’s designed to detangle your hair, while simultaneously adding some bounce to it.
- Heat Settings: 3 (low, high, cool)
- Attachments: Volumizer
- Bristle Type: Nylon
- Who It’s For: All hair types and lengths
- Editor’s Tip: Since I have incredibly thick and long hair, it took a few passes of this hair dryer brush to get my hair styled the way I wanted. However, if you have thinner, shorter hair, this tool could give you the blowout you’ve been craving.
- Cord Length: 6 ft
- Wattage: 1000 W
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Accessibly-priced | Shorter cord length |
| Lightweight | Thicker, longer hair types may require a few passes of the tool for lasting results |
| Multiple attachments allow you to customize your blowout experience |
Best Titanium: L’ange Hair Le Volume 2-in-1 Titanium Blow Dryer Brush
- Why We Love It: L’Ange’s blow dryer brush merges the advantages of a hair dryer and a thermal brush, offering a simple styling experience. The titanium barrel ensures even heat distribution combined with airflow technology, making it perfect for thick or coarse hair that requires high heat (without fear of heat damage). With its 75mm width, the brush is just the right size for achieving a smooth, bouncy, and frizz-free blowout.
- Heat Settings: Cool, low, high
- Attachments: N/A
- Bristle Type: Combination nylon and tufted
- Who It’s For: All hair types, medium to long lengths
- Editor’s Tip: While this blow dryer brush was a favorite of mine when my hair was longer, I can t quote how to achieve the same rounded ends now that I have chin-length hair. Of course, medium-to-long hair length will have no problem achieving a bouncy at-home blowout.
- Cord Length: 6.6 ft
- Wattage: 1000
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Lightweight | Wider barrel wont work as well for shorter hair types |
| Titanium barrel ensures smooth heat distribution and frizz-free results |
Best Multi-Styler: Mermade Hair Interchangeable Blow Dry Brush
- Why We Love It: For those who don’t need an abundance of styling options, but still want versatility, Mermade Hair’s multi-attachment styler strikes the perfect balance with its three brush heads: a pre-styling dryer (similar to a classic hair dryer, designed to remove excess water at your roots), a volume head for a smooth, bouncy blowout, and a curling head for more defined curls or styling shorter hair.
- Heat Settings: 3 (low, medium, high)
- Attachments: 3 (the pre-styling dryer, volume head 2.3", curling head 1.25")
- Bristle Type: Nylon-hybrid bristles, boar-free
- Who It’s For: All hair types and lengths
- Editor’s Tip: For a quick rough dry, I reach for the pre-styling dryer. Once my hair is damp, I’ll use the volume head for a smoothed-out look in lieu of a hair straightener. Since my hair is short and thick, the curling head helps me achieve a bouncy, French girl bob.
- Cord Length: 8.2 ft
- Wattage: 1200 W
| Love it | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Versatile, detachable design | No cool setting to lock in styles |
| Suitable for wet or dry use |
Everything You Need To Know
What to Look for in a Hair Dryer Brush
Heat settings, speed settings, and attachments are essential elements of a hair dryer brush. You’ll want to align the tool’s temperatures and speeds offered with the length and type of hair you have to prevent any damage—so proceed with caution before picking a high-speed setting. “I always prefer using a lower heat, unless you have medium wavy to coarse curly hair,” suggests King. Matthew adds that “to improve the longevity of your style let the hair cool [after putting heat on it] in your desired texture before further styling it.”
And if attachments are included, they can be swapped in and out for the desired style you’re looking for.
How to Use a Hair Dryer Brush
“The best way to use a hair dryer brush is to make sure your hair is roughly dried about 85-95% prior to using it,” says Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist Courtney Housner. Once it’s dry enough, she then says to take sections of your hair—proportionate to the barrel or flat brush—to pass the tool through. “Never [take sections] wider than, or too thick; otherwise, your hair will get stuck.”
Kim also suggests that you practice the motion of the hair dryer brush before turning the heat on—especially if you’re a beginner, to avoid damaging your hair. “If there is a cool shot option, I would use that to give [your hair] a little more shine, and it solidifies the curl,” she adds.
How to Prep Your Hair
After roughly drying your hair, the most essential step in the blowout process is to incorporate a heat protectant. “Definitely use heat protection that has a claim of protection up to 450 degrees,” suggests Matthew. “This temperature is essential because it gives a full range of protection—your hair burns at 451 degrees.”
How to Clean a Hair Dryer Brush
Regularly removing hair from your hair dryer brush will keep it clean and fresh for each use. Typically, the manufacturer will provide recommendations for how their specific tool should be cleaned, but if you’re in a pinch, Housner suggests using the tail end of a comb to remove hair, and then wipe down the product with a damp cloth.
Meet The Experts
- Sky Kim is a New York City-based hairstylist.
- Scott King is a celebrity hairstylist based in Los Angeles whose clients have included Sofia Richie and Sabrina Carpenter.
- Davey Matthew is a celebrity hairstylist based in New York City whose clients have included Julia Fox and Amelia Gray.
- Courtney Housner is a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist whose clients have included Madison Bailey and Don Toliver.
