Top 5 compared
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.
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The top 5 at a glance
A hot air brush blows warm air out through a bristled barrel, so it dries and shapes hair in the same strokes. Most are a single round or oval brush for a smooth, bouncy blow-dry with lift at the roots. A rotating brush turns by itself, which makes it easier to use one-handed, and stylers with swappable heads add smaller curling brushes for shorter styles.
Every one here has a cool setting or a cool shot, used at the end to set the shape, and makers say the ionic ones cut down on frizz. They save most time on towel-dried hair rather than soaking wet, and as with any hot tool, a heat protection spray first is worth it.
What matters
- A small barrel for short hair, a big one for long.
- Two heat settings or more, so fine hair can go lower.
- A swivel cord of around 2m.
#1BaByliss Big Hair Rotating Hot Air Brush (50mm)
£30–£50
- Turns by itself, both directions
- Bristle cover in the box
The brush turns by itself, in either direction, so a smooth blow-dry doesn’t need two hands and a lot of practice. Super ionic conditioning works against frizz, and the cord swivels through 360°, so it stays untangled as the brush moves round the head.
What owners say: Owners say it’s simple to handle one-handed and like the smooth, frizz-free finish, though some say drying takes longer than they hoped and a few report it breaking.
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 large 50mm barrel is made for fullness and body, and the bristle cover keeps the boar and nylon bristles in shape between uses. Start on the slower of the two rotation speeds until the turning feels natural.
Best for: Rotating brush
- Brush or barrel
- 50mm, ceramic
- Heat settings
- 2 + cool
- Rotating
- 2 speeds, both ways
- Attachments
- 1 (plus bristle cover)
- Power
- 700W
#2Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumiser for Mid to Short Hair (RVDR5282)
£30–£50
- Three heat settings
- UK/EU plug adaptor included
A smaller 6.7cm oval head, made for mid-length and shorter hair, dries and smooths in the same strokes, and Revlon says a salon-style blow-dry takes up to half the time. It has two speeds, three heat settings and a cool shot, with ionic and ceramic technology against frizz.
What owners say: Owners say it cuts drying and styling time roughly in half and leaves hair smooth and less frizzy, though some find it heavy and opinions differ on how well it suits short hair.
A closer look: Work in sections no wider than the oval head, drawing it slowly from roots to ends, and keep a clip handy to hold the rest of the hair out of the way. The UK/EU plug adaptor in the box means it can come abroad.
Best for: Using it in Europe
- Brush or barrel
- 6.7cm oval
- Heat settings
- 3 + cool shot
- Rotating
- No
- Attachments
- 1
- Power
- 800W
#3Revlon One-Step Style Booster Round Brush Dryer (38mm)
£30–£50
- Long 2.5m cable
- Suits any hair length
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. Revlon says its ceramic coating spreads the heat evenly, and the 2.5m cable gives room to work round the back of the head.
What owners say: Owners say it does especially well on short, fine or limp hair and dries quickly, though some find the barrel far too big for them.
A closer look: Rolling the ends under as you finish gives the salon bounce, or flick them out for a flip. The 38mm barrel suits layered cuts as well as longer lengths, so do the underneath layers first and save the top ones for last.
Best for: Longest cable
- Brush or barrel
- 38mm round, ceramic
- Heat settings
- 2 + cool
- Rotating
- No
- Attachments
- 1
- Power
- 820W
#4BaByliss Flawless Volume Hot Air Brush (38mm)
£20–£30
- Light at 384g
- Three-year guarantee
- Lower-powered 500W motor
Lightweight and easy to handle, with a 38mm titanium-ceramic barrel that smooths and adds volume, two heat settings plus cool, ionic frizz control and a 2.2m swivel cord, all backed by a three-year guarantee.
What owners say: Owners find it light and quick, with smooth results and lift at the roots, but the barrel is too big for some short cuts and a few had one stop working within weeks.
A closer look: It adds most lift when held under a section at the roots for a few seconds, then rolled out to the ends to smooth them. Work from the back of the head forwards, saving the parting and fringe for last, and it makes a good first hot brush for someone who usually air-dries.
Best for: Cost friendly
- Brush or barrel
- 38mm, titanium-ceramic
- Heat settings
- 2 + cool
- Rotating
- No
- Attachments
- 1
- Power
- 500W
#5TRESemmé Full Finish Air Styler (3 brush heads)
£10–£20
- Light at 300g
- Curl-release button
- Three heat settings
- 300W, for nearly dry hair
Two small curling brushes and a vent brush, with a curl-release button, for short and mid-length styles. TRESemmé suggests starting on hair that’s 80 to 90% dry, and at 300g it’s light to hold up while curling a fringe.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to use for drying and styling, especially on short hair, though views are split on how hot it gets and how long it lasts.
A closer look: Use the 19mm brush for a fringe or tighter curls, the 23mm for softer bends and the vent brush to smooth the lengths first. The curl-release button opens the bristles so the brush slides out without a tangle, which matters most on short layers.
Best for: Choice of brush heads
- Brush or barrel
- 19mm & 23mm + vent brush
- Heat settings
- 3 + cool shot
- Rotating
- No
- Attachments
- 3 heads
- Power
- 300W
Side by side
How they compare
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| Feature | #1BaByliss Big Hair | #2Revlon One-Step Volumiser | #3Revlon Style Booster | #4BaByliss Flawless | #5TRESemmé Full Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | ||||
| Picked Rating | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 8.0 |
| Price | £30–£50 | £30–£50 | £30–£50 | £20–£30 | £10–£20 |
| Brush or barrel | 50mm, ceramic | 6.7cm oval | 38mm round, ceramic | 38mm, titanium-ceramic | 19mm & 23mm + vent brush |
| Heat settings | 2 + cool | 3 + cool shot | 2 + cool | 2 + cool | 3 + cool shot |
| Rotating | 2 speeds, both ways | No | No | No | No |
| Attachments | 1 (plus bristle cover) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 heads |
| Power | 700W | 800W | 820W | 500W | 300W |
| Best for | Rotating brush | Using it in Europe | Longest cable | Cost friendly | Choice of brush heads |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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