The best hot air brushes
A salon-style blow-dry at home, without juggling a dryer in one hand and a round brush in the other.
A hot air brush dries and styles at the same time, which is why so many people swear by one for a quick, bouncy blow-dry. They make a lovely present for anyone who envies the salon finish but doesn’t have the time or the arm strength.
Barrel size matters most. A 38mm barrel suits shorter or finer hair; 50mm and above works better on longer hair.
What matters
- 38mm for shorter hair, 50mm for longer.
- A cool setting helps a style last.
- Rotating brushes are easiest one-handed.
- Always use heat protection spray.
Best overall
#1 of 5
8.9/10
Revlon One-Step Style Booster Round Brush Dryer (38mm)
££ £15–£40
A round-brush dryer that gives lift at the roots and a smooth, bouncy finish in one go, and brings back second-day hair too.
- 38mm ceramic round brush
- Root volume, curls and flips
- Ionic, less frizz
- Revives second-day hair
- 820W
What owners say: Owners say it works especially well on short, fine or flat hair, is easy to use and good value, and leaves hair looking shiny.
Heads up: It gets hot and is fairly loud, and some find the barrel big for short hair.
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A closer look: It works best on hair that’s been towel-dried and left for ten minutes, rather than soaking wet. Rolling the ends under as you finish gives the salon bounce. A heat protection spray first is worth it with any hot tool.
Best for: Volume on fine or flat hair
- Brush or barrel
- 38mm round, ceramic
- Heat settings
- –
- Rotating
- –
- Attachments
- 1
- Power
- 820W
Best rotating
#2 of 5
8.8/10
BaByliss Big Hair Rotating Hot Air Brush (50mm)
££ £15–£40
The brush turns by itself, in either direction, so a smooth blow-dry doesn’t need two hands and a lot of practice.
- Rotates both ways, 2 speeds
- 50mm ceramic barrel
- 2 heat settings plus cool
- Super ionic
- Boar and nylon bristles
What owners say: Owners find it quick and easy to use one-handed, and love the smooth, frizz-free, salon-style finish.
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A closer look: Let the barrel do the turning and just guide it down the section, reversing direction for the other side of the head. The big 50mm barrel suits shoulder-length hair and longer. The lower heat setting is the one for fine or coloured hair.
Best for: Smooth blow-dries, one-handed
- Brush or barrel
- 50mm, ceramic
- Heat settings
- 2 + cool
- Rotating
- 2 speeds, both ways
- Attachments
- –
- Power
- 700W
Best multi-styler
#3 of 5
8.7/10
Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Air Styler 5-in-1
£££ Over £40
Five air-powered heads (curler, oval brush, round brush, paddle and a root dryer) for curls one day and a sleek blow-dry the next.
- 5 heads in the box
- 32mm vented curler
- 64mm oval and 38mm round brush
- Paddle brush
- Root-drying concentrator
What owners say: Owners think it’s excellent quality and good value, say it takes hair from wet to styled in about ten minutes, and that it works well on natural Afro hair.
Heads up: A few owners say the cool shot doesn’t blow truly cold air.
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A closer look: The root-drying concentrator is the one to start with on wet hair, then switch to a brush or the curler once it’s mostly dry. It’s a good lower-priced alternative for someone eyeing the famous multi-stylers. Keep the heads together in a drawer or bag, as five pieces go missing easily.
Best for: Curls one day, sleek the next
- Brush or barrel
- 32mm curler, 38mm & 64mm brushes
- Heat settings
- –
- Rotating
- –
- Attachments
- 5 heads
- Power
- –
Best value
#4 of 5
8.6/10
BaByliss Flawless Volume Hot Air Brush (38mm)
££ £15–£40
Light, quick and gentle, with a titanium-ceramic barrel and a long swivel cord, and a three-year guarantee behind it.
- 38mm titanium-ceramic barrel
- 2 heat settings plus cool
- Ionic frizz control
- 2.2m swivel cord
- 3-year guarantee
What owners say: Owners find it light and easy, with smooth results in minutes and good volume at the roots. They think it’s great value.
Heads up: Some find the barrel too big for shorter hair.
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A closer look: The 2.2m swivel cord means it reaches from a bedroom socket to the mirror without stretching. It adds most lift when held under a section at the roots for a few seconds. A good first hot brush for someone who usually air-dries.
Best for: A first hot brush
- Brush or barrel
- 38mm, titanium-ceramic
- Heat settings
- 2 + cool
- Rotating
- –
- Attachments
- –
- Power
- 500W
Best for short hair
#5 of 5
8.2/10
TRESemmé Full Finish Air Styler (3 brush heads)
££ £15–£40
Two small curling brushes and a vent brush, with a curl-release button, for short and mid-length styles.
- 19mm and 23mm brushes plus vent brush
- Curl-release button
- 3 heat, 2 speeds, cool shot
- 1.8m swivel cord
- 3-year guarantee
What owners say: Owners find it easy to use and effective for drying and styling, especially on short hair.
Heads up: Some find it not quite hot enough, and it isn’t the sturdiest.
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A closer look: It works best on hair that’s already 80–90% dry, as the listing suggests. The curl-release button opens the bristles so the brush slides out without a tangle. The small brushes make it good for bobs, fringes and shorter layers.
Best for: Bobs, fringes and short hair
- Brush or barrel
- 19mm & 23mm + vent brush
- Heat settings
- 3 + cool shot
- Rotating
- –
- Attachments
- 3 heads
- Power
- 300W
How they compare
| Feature | #1Revlon Style BoosterBest overall | #2BaByliss Big HairBest rotating | #3Revlon 5-in-1Best multi-styler | #4BaByliss FlawlessBest value | #5TRESemmé Full FinishBest for short hair |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picked Rating | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.2 |
| Price | ££ £15–£40 | ££ £15–£40 | £££ Over £40 | ££ £15–£40 | ££ £15–£40 |
| Brush or barrel | 38mm round, ceramic | 50mm, ceramic | 32mm curler, 38mm & 64mm brushes | 38mm, titanium-ceramic | 19mm & 23mm + vent brush |
| Heat settings | – | 2 + cool | – | 2 + cool | 3 + cool shot |
| Rotating | – | 2 speeds, both ways | – | – | – |
| Attachments | 1 | – | 5 heads | – | 3 heads |
| Power | 820W | 700W | – | 500W | 300W |
| Best for | Volume on fine or flat hair | Smooth blow-dries, one-handed | Curls one day, sleek the next | A first hot brush | Bobs, fringes and short hair |
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