As intimidating as the best round brushes can seem, they shouldn’t be reserved for professional stylist use. With a bit of practice, these barrel-shaped hair brushes have the power to transform one’s at-home regimen, like the thermal brushes and blow-dryer brushes that have dominated our social feeds. “Round brushes, in my opinion, while tricky to get a hold of initially, are the best practice for styling your hair,” pro hairstylist Sam Draper tells Vogue. “The tension and smoothing that it achieves typically can be longer lasting than just rough-drying and styling with a curling iron or flatiron”—making clear why salon blowouts last far longer than attempts in one’s bathroom.
Vogue’s Favorite Round Brushes
It’s no wonder celebrity hairstylists reach for them when working on their clients’ lengths. “Round brushes are a great tool to remove frizz, smooth hair, and add shine—you just have to use them in tandem with the right styling products,” celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos explains. “Overall, finishing off a look with a round brush can just make your blowout look even better! Round brushes are volumizing [when used correctly] and can style waves, curls, or sleek hair.”
Below, the pros break down nine of the best round brushes—along with insight on how to use one like a professional and choose the one for your hair type.
In This Story
- How to use a round brush
- What type of styles can you achieve with a round brush?
- How to pick the best round brush size for your hair
- How to pick the best bristles for your hair type
- How we tested
- Meet the experts
Best Overall: Drybar Full Pint Ceramic Barrel
- Why We Love It: Certainly one of the most popular options on the market, Drybar’s barrel brush works similar to a curling iron—the secret to the brand’s signature blowout you’ve received in their salons. “The ceramic core of this brush holds heat, adding volume and curl while cutting down dry time,” pro hairstylist Martina Ibrahimi previously said. Plus, the circular vents increase airflow throughout the brush, which helps you to achieve your style faster. Keep in mind, though, that its thin nylon bristles (which are common with most vented round brushes) can tug, so brush gently to avoid causing mechanical breakage and prioritize reparative treatments before using.
- Bristle Material: Nylon
- Barrel Material: Ceramic
- Wet or Dry: Damp hair only
- Best For: Heat styling medium to long hair, from fine to thick
- Size: 2.25 inch
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ceramic core for even heat distribution | Thin nylon bristles may tug |
| Air vents reduce drying time | |
| Helps to create sleek styles or bouncy blowouts |
Best for Finishing Touches: Oribe Medium Round Brush
- Why We Love It: Say you’re just looking to add a finishing touch to your hair (think voluminous curtain bangs, smoothing flyaways, or adding that coveted blowout bend), Oribe’s option is a safe bet. “This medium-size barrel is ideal for fine- to medium-thickness hair and shoulder-length to long cuts,” celebrity stylist Willis Galbraith explains. “The boar-style bristles offer grip and smoothing power, making it perfect for creating polished, classic blowouts with soft movement at the ends.” Not to mention, the Italian resin handle is beautiful, making it a luxurious brush that doubles as vanity decor.
- Bristle Material: Mixed—boar bristles with nylon pins
- Barrel Material: Italian cellulose resin
- Wet or Dry: Damp to dry hair
- Best For: Added volume on mostly dry hair
- Size: 2.3 inches
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Creates volume and shine | This pick can pull or tug on hair that’s too wet |
| Features high quality materials: Italian resin ergonomic handle and boar bristles |
Best Dual Bristle: R+CO Vegan Boar Bristle Round Brush
- Why We Love It: R+Co’s round brush combines ball-tip nylon and vegan boar bristles for detangling and static reduction. Best of all, the addition of ball tips on the nylon bristles isn’t just for a passing scalp massage—instead, this helps to cut down snagging and tugging. “The combo of nylon and vegan boar bristles gives both control and polish. It grips and gives tension without any tugging,” Ibrahimi previously told Vogue. That way, smooth, shiny, and and blown-out hair can be achieved with a painless experience and cruelty-free approach.
- Bristle Material: Dual bristle—ball-tip nylon and vegan boar bristle
- Barrel Material: Birchwood
- Wet or Dry: Both
- Best For: Medium to thick hair seeking a bouncy blowout
- Size: 2.2 inches / 55mm
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ideal for creating a rounded bouncy blowout | Not intended for daily hair brushing |
| Dual bristle ensures no tugging when styling lengths |
Best Smoothing: Sisley Hair Rituel The Blow-Dry Brush No. 2
- Why We Love It: Though it is one of the priciest options of the bunch, Luckhurst notes Sisley’s hair brush is a great option for a smooth, polished finish. “The mixed bristles give extra grip and help distribute natural oils, which is ideal for medium to long hair or anyone dealing with frizz,” he says. Draper agrees, cosigning the incredible smoothness and shine it imparts. “I really like this brush due to the fact that it has a mix of the shorter boar bristles and the longer nylon bristles. This combination work wonders in creating tension for long-lasting sleekness,” she says.
- Bristle Material: Mixed—short boar bristles and longer nylon pins
- Barrel Material: Schima wood
- Wet or Dry: Due to mixed bristles, it’s best to use on hair that’s 50–80% dry before styling
- Best For: Adding shine to most hair types—coarse, fine, curly or straight
- Size: 2 inches
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Creates volume and smoothness without frizz | Handle can be uncomfortable |
| Works well on most hair types |
Best for Fine Hair: T3 Volume Round Hair Brush
- Why We Love It: Luckhurst considers T3’s brush excellent for adding lift and soft movement. “Its lighter tension makes it friendly for fine to normal hair density that needs volume without too much effort,” he says. Draper agrees, adding that it’s excellent for a Victoria’s Secret–inspired blowout. “The ceramic of the brush works as both a blowout tool and a curling iron in one,” she says. “The thicker bristles are fantastic for smoothing, while the wider barrel aids in creating lasting volume.”
- Bristle Material: Nylon
- Barrel Material: Aluminum, ceramic-coated
- Wet or Dry: Damp hair only—ensure hair is 80% dry
- Best For: Fine to medium hair thickness, straight to textured hair
- Size: 2.5 inches
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Heat-resistant bristles | Some report durability complaints, with the handle slipping off |
| Vented barrel for faster blow dry time |
Best for Short Hair: Bio Ionic GrapheneMX Thermal Styling Brush
- Why We Love It: As the old adage goes, it’s all in the details—and anyone who’s ever had curtain bangs or a flippy bob knows this especially well. These sorts of looks not only require daily styling, but also a smaller brush to grab shorter lengths. “The smaller barrel means more control and more shape,” says Galbraith. “This Bioionic brush is great for short hair, medium hair with layers, and bangs. It gives root lift, defined bends, and a faster dry time thanks to its thermal core.”
- Bristle Material: Nylon
- Barrel Material: Vented aluminum coated in ceramic
- Wet or Dry: Damp, 80% dry hair
- Best For: Shorter hair lengths (bobs to lobs), or styling bangs
- Size: 33mm
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Vented barrel for faster drying time | Won’t work as well on longer, thicker hair |
| Ergonomic handle | |
| Smaller size is excellent for shorter hair and layers |
Best for Long Hair: Moroccanoil Ceramic Round Brush
- Why We Love It: The longer the hair, the bigger the barrel you need to achieve that coveted bouncy blowout. Moroccanoil’s large round brush is over two inches wide, helping to tame longer lengths without working in painstakingly small sections (a much needed perk when you have a lot of hair). “The oversized barrel is good for medium to long hair, especially if you want sleek lengths and big, bouncy volume,” says Galbraith. “The ceramic barrel distributes heat evenly, making it ideal for smooth, high-gloss blowouts with a wide, soft bend.”
- Bristle Material: Nylon
- Barrel Material: Vented ceramic
- Wet or Dry: Damp, 80% dry hair
- Best For: Longer lengths, medium to thick texture
- Size: 55mm
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ceramic, vented barrel helps to heat up and dry hair fast | Users with thicker hair frequently report snagging when drying |
| Larger barrel works well on long hair |
Best Affordable: Osensia Style Treat Medium Round Brushing Brush
- Why We Love It: Say you’re not ready to drop a pretty penny on a round brush—Osensia’s option is one of the highest rated on Amazon, with more than 25,000 glowing reviews, and it’s just under $20. It has all the same features you’d expect from higher-quality vented brushes: a ceramic barrel, nylon bristles, and an ergonomic grip. It also comes in sizes ranging from 0.75 to 2.5 inches, though the medium size is our favorite because it works well on most hair lengths.
- Bristle Material: Nylon
- Barrel Material: Vented ceramic
- Wet or Dry: Damp hair
- Best For: A budget-friendly option for a vented round brush
- Size: 1.7 inches
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Affordable price point | Some report static as hair fully dries |
| Lightweight feel with vented ceramic barrel |
Best for Definition: GHD Ceramic Vented Round Brush
- Why We Love It: Luckhurst considers GHD’s small vented brush an excellent choice for thicker hair that’s harder to dry. That’s not to say fine hair types can’t use it—Draper notes that with the correct prep (gentle detangling and a heat protectant), any hair thickness can benefit from the vented barrel for a faster, smoother blowout. “The smaller the barrel, the more definition you can achieve in the hair. This ceramic brush is perfect for creating a soft, boho wave,” says Draper.
- Bristle Material: Nylon
- Wet or Dry: Damp hair
- Best For: Adding smoothness and definition to thicker hair and blowing out curly hair textures.
- Size: 1.7 inch
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Frizz fighting and smoothing thanks to vented design | Longer hair types might find this tangles |
| Ergonomic handle |
Everything You Need To Know:
How to use a round brush
There’s a certain finesse to learning how to use a round brush, and the experts break down how to get over the learning curve. “A round brush often seems intimidating for at-home use because people make a common mistake: They try to start a blowout on super-wet hair using the round brush.” Doing this not only increases the chances of breakage and snagging, but also prevents you from achieving the volume and shape you’re after. Instead, Giannetos recommends starting by rough drying the hair or using a paddle brush for added smoothing. “Once the hair is more than around 75% dry, you can switch to a round brush for styling,” he says.
Galbraith agrees, adding that it’s important to always use a heat protectant. Another key step? Sectioning hair for more manageable styling. “Place the brush at the roots, keep the hair dryer nozzle angled downward, and use gentle tension as you slowly glide and rotate the brush through the lengths. Then you can finish each pass with a cool shot to lock in shine and shape,” Willis explains.
What type of styles can you achieve with a round brush?
“There are so many options when it comes to the styles you can achieve with a round brush. Think ’90s bouncy blowouts, beachy boho waves, or even super sleek,” says Draper. Though, not all round brushes are created equally. The style you’re after helps to dictate the type of round brush you choose.
How to pick the best round brush size for your hair
Giannetos reminds us that, when choosing a round brush, it’s important to consider your hair length and type. Below, he breaks down which brush sizes work best.
- Short Hair: Giannetos advises using a round brush with a smaller barrel. “If your goal is to add waves to your look, this will be easier to achieve on short hair with a brush that is between 1 and 1.5 inches,” he says.
- Long Hair: Giannetos applies the same logic to longer hair: The longer the hair, the larger the barrel you should use. “When I’m styling my clients with long hair, I like to use a large brush that is at least 2.5 inches so I can create beautiful, loose waves and add volume,” he says.
- Medium Hair: “Large brushes are also very versatile on medium hair because you can use them for a straighter blowout,” says Giannetos. That said, there are brushes that hit the sweet spot of medium sizes, ranging from about 1.7 to 2 inches.
How to pick the best bristles for your hair type
Professional hairstylist and Pattern Beauty brand educator Ebony Bomani has previously explained how to choose the best brush bristles to match your hair’s specific needs. “It’s less about one-size-fits-all and more about what your strands actually need. Hair texture isn’t just about curl pattern; it’s also about density, porosity, and strand diameter—all of which determine how much tension and friction your hair can handle,” Bomani explained.
Below, she breaks down the different types of brush bristles and who they’re best suited for:
- Natural Boar Bristles: Boar bristles mimic the hair’s cuticle structure, helping distribute oils and smooth the cuticle. She notes that they work best on fine to medium textures.
- Nylon Bristles: Nylon pins offer more grip and tension, making them ideal for styling thicker hair without creating static.
- Mixed Bristles: For the best of both worlds, try a dual-bristle brush for a combination of detangling power and shine enhancement.
How we tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—professional hairstylist who boast celebrity clientele—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to round brushes, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: brush material, bristle material, size, and the hair types they’re best suited for. To do this, we paired expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the experts
- Ebony Bomani is a professional hairstylist and Pattern Beauty brand educator
- Samantha Draper is a New York–based professional hairstylist at SoHo salon Suite Caroline specializing in everything from cool cuts to expert blowouts.
- Willis Galbraith is a London-based celebrity hairstylist. His roster includes Salma Hayek, Alison Oliver, Camille Charriere, Anine Bing, Devon Windsor, and more.
- Dimitris Giannetos is celebrity hairstylist and colorist. His clients include Gigi Hadid, Amal and George Clooney, the Kardashians, and more.
- Merita Ibrahimi is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Ali Krieger, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, Mallory Swanson, and more. She also serves as master hairstylist at Bridal By Alexandria.
- Jack Luckhurst is a London-based professional hairstylist. His roster includes Anais Gallagher, Jess Hunt, Mary Earps, Molly-Mae, and Lottie Tomlinson.
