Top 4 compared
The best hot air brushes
A salon blowout at home without juggling a dryer in one hand and a round brush in the other.
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The top 4 at a glance
A hot air brush dries and styles in one pass: warm air blows out through the bristles while the oval barrel smooths the lengths, and its rounded edges lift the roots and turn the ends. Smaller barrels get closer to the roots and suit chin-length to mid-length hair; bigger ones suit long hair and a full, classic blowout.
It works best on hair that’s been towel-dried rather than soaking wet, with a heat-protection spray on first, and most have a cool setting to finish each section and set the shape. Some add ionic airflow, which their makers say helps against frizz. Revlon’s smaller brush has a head that pulls off, which packs flatter and leaves a plain dryer.
What matters
- A low heat setting, for fine or color-treated hair.
- Both pins and bristles on the barrel.
#1Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer and Hot Air Brush (2.8 in)
$30–$50
The 2.8 in oval barrel smooths mid-length to long hair while its rounded edges give lift at the roots and curl the ends, with cool, low and high settings and a mix of nylon pins and bristle tufts to grip each section. It’s the original one-step blowout brush.
What owners say: As simple as brushing your hair, owners say, and it halves drying time while leaving hair silky, shiny and frizz-free. The one thing they warn about is how hot it runs.
Heads up: It runs hot on the high setting, so keep it moving through each section and switch to low for fine or color-treated hair.
A closer look: Rough-dry hair to about three-quarters dry with the brush pointing down the lengths, then take sections from the back forward and roll the ends under on the last pass for the bounce. Revlon pitches this larger barrel at longer hair; anyone with a bob should look at the smaller Plus below.
- Rounded edges lift the roots
- Ceramic-coated barrel
Best for: Big blowouts on longer hair
- Brush or barrel
- 2.8 in oval
- Pins and bristles
- Nylon pins and tufted bristles
- Heat settings
- 2 + cool
- Detachable head
- No
- Attachments
- 1 (fixed)
- Power
- 1100W
#2Hot Tools 24K Gold One-Step Blowout Brush (HT1076)
$30–$50
The salon brand’s take on the one-step brush: a gold-surfaced 2.8 in oval barrel that Hot Tools says heats evenly, tourmaline ionic airflow against frizz, three heat settings on a rotating dial and an 8 ft cord that reaches from the outlet to the mirror. It comes with a seven-year limited warranty.
What owners say: Curly hair comes out straight, silky and shiny, owners say, and plenty count it among their better buys. Some wish for a clearer heat setting, and a number report theirs giving up after around ten months.
A closer look: Hot Tools builds it for 120V outlets only and says a voltage converter will damage it, so it stays home on overseas trips. Two bristle types grip the hair as the air comes through, so work slowly from roots to ends; the long cord means the outlet by the sink is enough.
- Gold-surfaced barrel heats evenly
- Ionic airflow against frizz
- 8 ft swivel cord
- US 120V outlets only
Best for: Curly hair blown out straight
- Brush or barrel
- 2.8 in oval
- Pins and bristles
- Two bristle types
- Heat settings
- 3 (dial)
- Detachable head
- No
- Attachments
- 1 (fixed)
- Power
- 1100W
#3Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus Hair Dryer and Hot Air Brush (2.4 in)
$30–$50
The smaller Revlon: a 2.4 in oval barrel that gets closer to the roots for lift, flips and soft waves on chin-length to mid-length hair, with four settings instead of three and a brush head that pulls off for packing, which also leaves a plain dryer. Charcoal-infused pins help detangle as it goes.
What owners say: Drying and styling in one effortless step, with frizz tamed and hair left smooth and straight, is what owners like. A share of them have had one fail within a few months, and some find it runs too hot.
A closer look: Pop the brush head off and it packs flat in a suitcase, with the base left as a small dryer for a quick rough-dry. On a bob, work in small sections and twist the barrel under at the ends; the medium setting is the one for fine hair, saving high for thick sections.
- Doubles as a small dryer
- Packs flat for travel
- Pins help detangle
- Ceramic titanium tourmaline coating
Best for: Bobs and mid-length cuts
- Brush or barrel
- 2.4 in oval
- Pins and bristles
- Charcoal pins and tufted bristles
- Heat settings
- 3 + cool
- Detachable head
- Yes
- Attachments
- 1 (detachable)
- Power
- 1100W
#4L’ANGE Le Volume 2-in-1 Titanium Blow Dryer Brush (60mm)
$30–$50
A 2.4 in titanium oval barrel from a hair-tool specialist, with air coming through all the way around, high, low and cool settings behind a twist of the handle, ionic airflow against frizz and a long swivel cord that doesn’t tangle.
What owners say: Far easier than a dryer and a brush, owners find, and it smooths and straightens as it dries. Whether it earns its price divides them, and a few would like it hotter.
A closer look: The titanium barrel heats evenly without running as hot as some rivals, which suits fine or color-treated hair that scorches easily. Twist the handle to change setting mid-section, and fit the protective cover over the bristles before it goes in a drawer.
- 360° airflow around the barrel
- Twist handle changes setting
- Ionic airflow against frizz
- 9 ft swivel cord
- Bristle cover and cleaning brush
Best for: Styling fine hair more gently
- Brush or barrel
- 2.4 in (60mm) oval
- Pins and bristles
- –
- Heat settings
- 2 + cool
- Detachable head
- No
- Attachments
- 1 (fixed)
- Power
- 1100W
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 4.
| Feature | #1Revlon One-Step 2.8 in | #2Hot Tools 24K Gold | #3Revlon One-Step Plus 2.4 in | #4L’ANGE Le Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for shorter hair | |||
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.4 |
| Price | $30–$50 | $30–$50 | $30–$50 | $30–$50 |
| Brush or barrel | 2.8 in oval | 2.8 in oval | 2.4 in oval | 2.4 in (60mm) oval |
| Pins and bristles | Nylon pins and tufted bristles | Two bristle types | Charcoal pins and tufted bristles | – |
| Heat settings | 2 + cool | 3 (dial) | 3 + cool | 2 + cool |
| Detachable head | No | No | Yes | No |
| Attachments | 1 (fixed) | 1 (fixed) | 1 (detachable) | 1 (fixed) |
| Power | 1100W | 1100W | 1100W | 1100W |
| Best for | Big blowouts on longer hair | Curly hair blown out straight | Bobs and mid-length cuts | Styling fine hair more gently |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
