Even as a hair-straightener devotee for over 20 years, the best hair dryer brushes have officially converted me. These hot-tool hybrids really work, quickly delivering gorgeous style with less heat damage—some even double as curling irons. If you’ve never tried one, think of your favorite round brush, but with a cord that blows hot air as you shape your hair.
With end-of-summer parties, back-to-school mornings, and holiday events on the horizon, having a reliable two-in-one styling tool feels more essential than ever, so we tapped professional stylists to find out what matters most when shopping for a dryer-brush hybrid, then asked members of our editorial team with a variety of hair types and lengths to weigh in on their favorites.
After testing more than a dozen of the latest and greatest brushes for ease of use, heat settings, and performance, our top pick was the T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit, which is lightweight, quiet, and leaves even long hair frizz-free. Several others impressed us for curly hair, travel-friendly design, or quick morning styling on short pixies and bobs.
The best blow-dryer brushes, at a glance
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We tested blowout brushes by evaluating their temperature levels, how easy they were to use, and whether they gave us salon-worthy results on a variety of hair lengths and types. The best blowout brushes were gentle on hair with a slew of heat settings or infrared technology, and they didn’t leave our strands looking or feeling particularly dry or fried. We also went with models that were easy to use and maneuver around our heads (those that weighed about one pound were our favorites). The hair dryer brushes that rose to the top gave us smooth, silky hair that looked and felt completely frizz-free for hours after our blow-dry.
Over the past three months since our last update, we’ve continued testing new and noteworthy blow-dry brushes. One standout is the Drybar All-Inclusive Air + Active Heat 8-in-1 Multi-Styler, which has quickly become a favorite—especially for its round brush attachment, which delivers fast, smooth, salon-style blowouts with minimal effort.
Best Overall: T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit
Original video from Brigitt Early testing T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit
- What we love: Less heat damage; lightweight and easy to use; comes in an easy-to-store thermal pouch; works quickly
- What could improve: Our testers fingers kept accidentally changing the heat settings
The T3 wins for best blow-dryer brush overall because it strikes a really sweet spot—it’s half the price of some comparable dryers (like the Dyson!) and just as versatile. We were quite impressed with the tool’s styling prowess, too, whether using it as a blow-dry brush or a curling wand. Overall, it’s a fantastic value and beloved by several Glamour editors.
What our tester says: “Using this hair tool felt like a luxury experience, from unboxing to the actual styling. Compared with other dryers, it was relatively quiet. It comes in a beautiful hexagonal box that houses a pouch rather than a bulky, hard-to-store box. The tool is also one of the lighter options we tested, making it possible to style even long hair with little to no arm fatigue. I have very long, wavy hair, so I appreciated the size of the brush and the fact that it does a good job detangling as you work,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley. “I was able to grab larger chunks of hair without sacrificing smooth, frizz-free results, allowing me to dry my hair much faster than I typically can with other hair dryers and dryer brushes I’ve tried.”
Best Value: Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus
Original video from Brigitt Earley testing Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus
- What we love: Great tension; leaves hair soft and shiny; capable of grabbing a lot of hair at once
- What could improve: Short cord
We’ve raved about Revlon’s One-Step Volumizer at length, and now the brand has a new iteration of the beloved hot tool to gush over. The new blow-dryer brush offers everything the OG did—plus a smaller handle, a smaller brush head to give you more control, and a fourth heat setting to suit a wider range of hair types. Earley put it to the test on her mid-back-length wavy hair and was impressed by what she saw in the mirror.
What our tester says: “I tried the original Revlon One-Step and loved it but was wary of how hot it got—even for my relatively thick hair,” she says. “This one didn’t singe the roots (or my forehead!) quite like the original but still left my hair incredibly smooth and shiny in only about 20 minutes, which is great considering how long my hair is,” says Earley.
Best for Curly Hair: GHD Duet Blowdry Hair-Dryer Brush
Original video from Malia Griggs testing GHD Duet Blowdry Hair-Dryer Brush
- What we love: Gentle on hair; leaves strands silky and soft
- What could improve: Can dry out hair a bit
So you may be thinking: Can curly-haired girls use a blowout brush? In short, they can, as long as the brush is suitable for coarse hair types, like this GHD pick. It’s gentle on hair and gives you smooth, blowout-worthy volume at a low temperature, which is gentle on curls.
What our tester says: “Other than my Dyson (which I do love for its versatility), this was my first experience with a blow-dryer brush, and I was super impressed. The GHD is very straightforward—a one-button push to turn on, then it heats in under a minute and takes my curly hair to blowout beautiful in 20 minutes. It’s easy to use, and the results speak for themselves. I do wish it was less heavy, as it becomes cumbersome to hold after a while, and that I could choose between heat settings. But overall, it’s a solid pick,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs.
Best for Frizzy Hair: Amika Blow-Dryer Brush
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Amika Blow-Dryer Brush
- What we love: Quieter than others we evaluated; three speed settings
- What could improve: Some users find the handle uncomfortable
Amika’s popular offering has staggered long and short bristles that make short work of flyaways and frizz, while the large oval brush delivers a mirrorlike finish every time. For customization, the brush also has three heat settings to suit various hair types, from fine to coarse. We also like that this blow-dryer brush was significantly quieter than some others we tried—great for those with roommates or snoozing kids.
What our tester says: Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary is a massive fan of this brush because of the speed with which it allowed her to dry most of her hair. “This hot-air brush allowed me to dry my strands in about 20 minutes, which is a lot faster than how long it usually takes. It also made my hair look super silky and smooth—easy to run my fingers through and totally flyaway free.”
Best for Long Hair: BondiBoost Infrared Heated Thermal Hot Round Brush
Original video from Jenifer Calle testing BondiBoost Infrared Heated Thermal Hot Round Brush
- What we love: The infrared light makes this brush much gentler on hair than some of the other tools on this list.
- What could improve: It’s pricey; your hair may not hold a curl for long after use
If you have thick hair, this infrared heated round brush will be a lifesaver when you’re looking for a quick blowout at home. The infrared tech is gentle on hair (so you won’t have to worry about any breakage or burning) and works to lock in moisturizer and reduce frizz, which is perfect for dry, thick hair types.
What our tester says: “I didn’t expect to love this little dry brush as much as I do. I have long, thick hair, and styling it can be such a long process. (My hair is almost at my butt at this point.) This tiny but mighty hair tool gave me sleek, straight hair in under 30 minutes. The red light isn’t super noticeable, but I know it’s working because it smooths my hair effortlessly. If you have lots of layers, bangs, or even short hair, you’ll love the volume and bounce that this tool will give you. I like to use it to style my front face layers. I tend to use it once my hair is air-dried after showering; just make sure to use heat protectant and styling creams to avoid frizziness,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
Best for Thick Hair: Shark FlexStyle Heated Comb Blow-Dryer Brush
Original video from Anna Vognsen testing Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
- What we love: Very versatile styling tool; four heat settings; works quickly
- What could improve: Doesn’t come with storage case
