The 8 Best Hair Dryer Brushes for Blowout-Quality Results, Tested and Reviewed by Editors

If we’ve learned something in the past decade, it’s that brands that make vacuum cleaners have a knack for creating knockout hair tools. Take Shark’s FlexStyle Air Drying and Styling System, which launched in fall 2022. The tool is often compared to the Dyson Airwrap for its multiple attachments, including curling barrels that feature the Airwrap’s same Coanda technology, pulling strands around the attachment bouncy waves. This top Shark Beauty hair tool includes a joint-like feature that allows the wand to bend in a 90 degree angle — great for those who want the feel of a traditional hair dryer, but with the benefit of additional styling attachments.

To turn the FlexStyle into a hair dryer brush, simply attach the oval barrel head or the paddle brush hair dryer head onto the nozzle and power it on. Its large barrel size and moderate heat make the FlexStyle the best hair dryer for thick hair on the market, according to our tester with type 2B hair.

Editor testing and review notes: “During my two year testing period of the Shark FlexStyle, I found myself reaching for each of the attachments for different looks and occasions — this tool is so much more than a plain old hair dryer brush. It works as a travel hair dryer, straightener, and curling iron, depending on the attachment you click onto the tool, all of which are seamless to click into place and intuitive to use. Some of the FlexStyle attachments, primarily the oval brush head, add noticeable weight to the device. However, the tool’s powerful airflow cuts down the amount of time it takes to style your hair. Those with long, thick hair may experience some snagging where the attachment meets the FlexStyle’s nozzle, so it’s in your best interest to properly section your hair while using the hair styling tool.” — WWD Shop Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Commerce Editor Claire Sullivan

Price upon publish date of this article: $299.99

The majority of hair dryer brushes feature a ceramic-coated barrel, but the Amika Hair Blow Dryer Brush has tourmaline coating instead. Combined with 360 degree airflow through the barrel’s vents, this material swirl negative ions through your hair to slash frizz and lift hair from the root to give mega-volume. A mix of long and short bristles detangles hair first, preventing any breakage from the blowout. For hair dryer brushes with adjustable heat settings like this one, you can customize your blowout to have it exactly as you like it, but Brown cautions against using too much heat and tension while styling the hair for a long time.

Editor testing and review notes: “I have long, medium-thick hair that falls somewhere between a straight and wavy texture. I can usually get away with air drying it, so it takes a star product to sell me on the extra step in my beauty routine. I’m really impressed with the Amika Hair Blow Dryer Brush 2.0 because it gives my hair such a shiny finish, bounce, and overall healthy feel. I tried it for the first time on my birthday (risky, I know) on a humid summer day, and it stayed smooth and frizz-free for over 12 hours. My long, damp dry with just one to two passes, and it became fairly simple to create voluminous curls and flipped ends after I got the hang of it with further use. Due to its large size, I suspect it would be challenging for the bristles to grasp on to shorter cuts for defined curls, though I did find this brush successful in styling my curtain bands in long, draping swoops. My only complaint is in terms of the tool’s design. The notches that toggle the heat settings sit at the bottom of the handle, so they can easily be shifted as you’re turning the brush for a curl. I have accidentally turned the tool off in the middle of styling several times.” — WWD Shop Commerce Writer and Producer Olivia Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $100

One of the newest hair dryer brushes on the block comes courtesy of the hair health pros at Ghd. The Blow Dry Hair Dryer Brush may look similar to the other tools on our list, but rest assured it’s in a league of its own. Rather than relying solely on hot air to dry and style your strands, the tool employs airflow to heat up the barrel of the device — think something along the lines of a round thermal brush — effectively drying and styling your hair at once. For best results, you’ll want to start with hair that’s about 80 to 90 percent dry. Otherwise, expect a few passes per chunk of hair for a smooth, silky result.

Editor testing and review notes: “When I picked up the Ghd Duet hair dryer brush, my first thought was, “wow, this is heavy.” Compared to similar devices I’ve tested, it’s a lot heavier in the hand, however upon clicking it on (there’s just one setting, so that takes the guesswork out of selecting settings), I realized that the weight is due to the high-quality ceramic-coated barrel that’s studded with bristles that conduct heat. Heat plus wet hair usually equals sizzled strands, but that’s not the case here. The subtle airflow and mild heat of the barrel work together to fully eliminate frizz and smooth out any unwanted texture in my type 2B hair. After using the tool a few times, I’ve started to turn to it whenever I need a smooth blowout effect fast.” — Sullivan

Price upon publish date of this article: $399

T3 is known for creating tools that are as pretty as they are powerful. One of the brand’s most recent launches — the Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit — is proof in the pudding. Similar to the Shark Flexstyle and Dyson Airwrap, the tool comes with attachments for multi-styling benefits, however it comes with a tighter edit of those styling attachments and in a more lightweight design. Its cool tip touch point and 9-foot cord that swivels in the socket make it comfortable to work with, too. Our tester with thin hair found the round brush attachment to be the best hair dryer brush for fine hair of the five she evaluated.

Editor testing and review notes: “As someone with thin, medium-length hair, it typically takes me about 10 minutes to blow dry my hair. My go-to tool is a traditional blow dryer with a separate small round brush, which allows me to control my hair styling process and concentrate heat at my wavy roots. Most hair dryer brushes can be too harsh for my hair, so I was pleased to feel the round brush attachment’s smooth bristles move easily through my fine strands, delivering optimal tension and styling control without irritating my scalp or pulling out my hair. While the device doesn’t do much in the way of volume for fine hair types, I was surprised at how quickly and effectively I could dry my wet hair from root to ends.” — Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $300

Once you overcome the sticker shock, you’ll thank your lucky stars that you gave the Dyson Airwrap Styler a whirl, says Brown of the best round brush hair dryer on our list. “The heat control is amazing because it ensures the brush will never get too hot for your hair and I love all of the attachments it comes with. The barrel attachments are similar to curling iron size barrels that you can wrap your hair around to achieve a very bouncy blowout.” The round brush attachment has a narrow barrel size — the smallest we tested — which takes more time to dry long hair, but is particularly handy for finessing front pieces of your hair or curtain bangs. The newest version of the device includes a flyaway attachment that tames unruly strands to perfect your at-home blowout.

Editor testing and review notes: “The Dyson Airwrap is the Swiss Army knife of hair tools — its multiple attachments allow you to curl, straighten, and add volume to your hair, all while drying it. Click on the round brush head, and the tool transforms into a hair dryer brush that’s ideal for all hair lengths and thicknesses. I have long, thick, and naturally curly hair, and the round brush takes my hair from 80 percent dry to smoothed and bouncy in 12 minutes. The two-inch barrel size is narrower than any other hair dryer brush head on the market — the smaller surface area required a few more minutes to dry my hair, but also adds more curl at my ends and lift at my roots. After three years of regularly using this tool and attachment, my hair hasn’t experienced any breakage or brittleness.” — Sullivan

Price upon publish date of this article: $599.99

With over 350,000 five-star reviews on Amazon (yes — 350,000), the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0 Hair Dryer Brush is clearly a game-changer, and one of the best-rated TikTok beauty products and Amazon beauty products. The original version of the tool had a major moment during the peak of the pandemic, and this updated version boasts all the same features, but with improvements. The barrel size is smaller, which allows you to get closer to the roots of your hair for better smoothing and lift, and making it a great hot air brush for short hair. The handle is also slimmer, lending a more comfortable grip as you maneuver the device.

This tool rings it at $40, making it the most affordable hair dryer brush on our list. Although it’s cost-effective, Revlon didn’t short you on special features: Dual bristles detangle while styling, three heat settings allow you to calibrate the temperature to your hair thickness, and it has ionic technology for extra shine.

Editor testing and review notes: “Revlon’s One-Step Volumizer hair dryer brush outperformed every other under $100 hair dryer brush on our list. You’ll get similar heat settings (four) that pricier hair dryer brushes deliver, and a similar result: It left my hair surprisingly shiny and with no frizz in sight. The only downside to the brush is its potential to damage fine hair types due to its high heat, but I found that a solid spritz of heat protectant kept my hair healthy throughout my two month testing period. Having tested the first version of this hair dryer brush, I found this newer iteration is easier to use, quieter, and brings a level of versatility that is hard to find elsewhere.” — Sullivan

Price upon publish date of this article: $40.49

A favorite of Brown’s, this blow-dryer brush from the brand that basically invented on-the-go blowouts features ionic technology to seal the cuticle and reduce flyaways. Its 2.44-inch barrel with slightly curved edges helps create a seamless curl, and the strategically placed vents around the brush maximize airflow to seriously cut down on drying time. “It has flexible bristles that can be used on wet or dry hair, and even extensions, and it’s suitable for all hair types” says Fitzsimons, who counts the Kardashian sisters, Jennifer Lopez, and Megan Fox as regular clients. The best part? It’s impossibly lightweight, and the best dual-voltage hair dryer brush on our list.

Editor testing and review notes: “Out of all the blow dryer brushes we tested, this one is our top choice for medium thick hair. It quickly dries and smooths clean, fresh-out-the-shower hair, creating a voluminous blowout in under 10 minutes. The high heat setting dries a strand of hair in one pass, leaving it straight, long, and shiny. After all my hair is dry, I like to go through with the cool setting for a styled finish. It feels super comfortable in my hand, where it’s not too heavy of a lift to cover my long hair and it allows you to have a lot of control as you style. A small but important standout detail of this blow dryer brush is the extended knob at the top of the barrel. I find myself holding it as I turn the brush to effortlessly flip out the ends of my hair and create loose curls, which isn’t an easy feat with other blow dryer brushes on the market. While I usually feel it necessary to set my curtain bangs in a velcro roller for a long-lasting hold, the Drybar Double Shot curls them in under a minute and their volume lasts all day — with no added product, besides a preliminary heat protection spray.”  — Commerce Writer & Producer Olivia Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $155

$77 $109.99 30% off

$109.99

With four styling attachments and three heat settings, Chi’s Volumizer 4-in-1 Blowout Brush has maximum styling capabilities that come at a low cost. The tool is designed for all hair types, as it has a hair dryer brush head, a concentrator, hair diffuser, and paddle brush head. (Its diffuser attachment also makes this a top choice for those seeking out a hot air brush for curly hair.) These interchangeable attachments makes the tool the best hair dryer brush for curly hair on our list, but it’s also a powerful hair straightener — use the paddle brush attachment and concentrator, and your hair will look sleek without falling flat.

Editor testing and review notes: “Most budget-friendly multi-styling tools fall short with at least one attachment, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself cycling through each of Chi’s Blowout Brush’s four attachments with ease. The concentrator and the diffuser take a minute to get used to, as these attachments are typically used on a traditionally-shaped hair dryer brush, but the two hair brush dryer heads took no time to figure out and get comfortable with. Note that the attachments become hot to the touch with extended use, so rough dry your hair before styling, and you’ll be in shiny, smoothed shape.” — Cigliano

Price upon publish date of this article: $77