Skip the Salon—We Found 8 Dryer Brushes That Will Give You the Perfect At-Home Blowout (2024)

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It’s no secret that achieving a sleek blowout at home using a hair dryer and a round brush can be challenging—it requires coordination, arm strength, and skill. Enter: Hair dryer brushes. Part blow-dryer, part curling iron, and part straightener, hair dryer brushes dry hair and style it in one fell swoop. “The best part of a hair dryer brush is that it cuts down on styling time,” says pro hairstylist Zoya Ghamari. Celebrity hairstylist Alex Brown adds that hair dryer brushes can give you the look of a round brush blow-dry without using multiple tools.

We narrowed down the best options for you by conducting two comprehensive tests—one in our lab facility in Manhattan with testers and professional hairstylists and one in the real world, where we each took home one tool to try out in our daily lives. We evaluated each tool based on how well it dried the hair, how it made the hair look, how easy it was to use, its design features, and its value. And ahead, we’re sharing the hair dryer brushes that impressed us the most.

  • TL;DR

    The Dyson Airwrap is the best of the best. It's high-tech and versatile, with six magnetic styling attachments and three heat and speed settings. The Shark FlexStyle System is a similar option that offers its own attachment lineup at a more affordable price point. For something even more affordable, you can’t go wrong with the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0, one of the most iconic hair dryer brush innovations to date.

  • What to Look For

    • Bristle Type:According to Ghamari, you want to pay attention to what kind of bristles a hair dryer brush has. Ceramic-coated bristles, for instance, do a great job of distributing heat so you don’t damage your hair. Meanwhile, boar and nylon bristles work to smooth and detangle strands.
    • Cord Length:Ghamari says to check out the cord length of a hair dryer brush too. A long cord will make the brush super easy to use, no matter where you are. (A cord length of 6 to 9 feet is best for ease of use.) It’s also wise to choose an option with a swivel cord so that the tool and the cord move with you.
    • Features:Heat and speed settings are important; Ghamari says that having the ability to control the temperature of the brush is key. That’s because being able to choose the temperature will prevent you from overheating your precious hair. Have fine or damaged hair? Simply set it to the lowest temperature setting to avoid damaging your hair further. Ghamari also suggests looking for a hair dryer brush with cool shot functionality. Ending your drying and styling session with a cool shot may help lock your look in place and add shine.
  • How We Tested

    We believe in using the products we recommend, so we prioritize testing them in real-life settings and in our NY-based Lab.

    • Hair Dryer Brushes Tested: 14
    • Testing Period: Three years (and counting!)
    • Methodology: Hair dryer brushes were tested in our lab with the help of professional stylists and at home in our everyday lives. Each hair dryer was tested on three different hair types (type 1-2, type 2-3, and type 3-4).
    • Factors Considered: Features (like heat and speed settings), attachments, power chord length, weight, design, overall results, and value.

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Our Top Picks

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Best Overall, Runner-Up:

SALE

Shark FlexStyle System at Amazon$300$229
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What We Like

  • Comes with 6 attachments

  • Can create a range of styles

  • Multiple heat and airflow settings

What to Consider

  • Curls aren't as long-lasting in fine hair

Heat Settings: 3 | Voltage/wattage: 1,300 W | Barrel Size: Varies per attachment | Cord Length: 8.5 feet | Cold Shot: Yes

This hair dryer brush is a favorite of Ghamari, who says it's the best in terms of quality and versatility—and we agree. The do-it-all tool comes with six different attachments that work to dry, blow out, smooth, or curl the hair. Each attachment glides smoothly through the hair without tugging, and the dryer head even has a special flyaway attachment that quite literally works to banish flyaways in one pass. It has three different air pressure and heat settings, making it usable for people with different hair types. It is also a cold shot that can be used to set the curls in place if you’re using the wand attachment. Plus, every attachment does what it claims to do. It’s also worth noting that it comes with a two-year warranty—so you can ensure your big purchase is protected.

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The Dyson Airwrap Testers

Stella, tester with straight hair: “My hair looks extremely shiny and healthy. I'm pleasantly surprised by how healthy my hair looks. The flyaway attachment defrizzed around 90% of my flyaways, and the curls at the end of my hair also looked really nice.”


Irene, tester with thick, curly hair: “It glides seamlessly—no dragging, pulling, or tugging (which helped tone down the frizz). Plus, I have thick hair that gets frequently knotted, so the fact that it never got tangled in my hair is a big feat.”


Dawn, pro hairstylist: “It’s very lightweight, and the brush attachment glided through the hair very well.”

What We Like

  • Comes with a variety of customizable attachments

  • Has four different heat settings and a cold shot

  • Great for all different hair types

What to Consider

  • Comes with two curling attachments that each turn a different way rather than one that can be flexed

Heat Settings: 4 | Voltage/wattage: 1,300 W | Barrel Size: Varies per attachment | Cord Length: 8 feet | Cold Shot: Yes

There's so much to love about Shark's FlexStyle brush. First, you can purchase a premade set with the best attachments for straight or wavy hair, a set with attachments for curly or coily hair, or you can design your own set and choose three attachments on the Shark website. Each attachment works beautifully to dry, smooth, or curl the hair, creating a sleek finish. We love that it features four heat settings, a cool shot, and three airflow settings. While the tool's body is fairly large and long, our at-home testers and professional stylists said it was pretty easy to maneuver and intuitive to use. If you’re looking for a brush that will allow you to create a variety of hairstyles (at a more affordable price than the Dyson Airwrap), we absolutely recommend this one.

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The Shark FlexStyle Testers

Elise, tester with long hair: “Compared to the $600 Dyson, $280 is a reasonable price for such a quality hair dryer brush with three to four attachment types. This price is reflective of its performance and quality.”


Hannah, tester with thick, wavy hair: “My hair was significantly smoother, straighter, and less frizzy than when I dry it with a regular blow-dryer.”


Geneva, pro hairstylist: “It is top tier. It exceeded my expectations. I love the number of attachments—they're really effective, and the technology behind the design is smart.”

What We Like

  • Affordable and accessible

  • Nice, powerful airflow

  • Easy and intuitive to use

What to Consider

  • Entire tool gets very hot when using the highest heat setting

Heat Settings: 4 | Voltage/wattage: 1,110 W | Barrel Size: 2.4 inches | Cord Length: 6 feet | Cold Shot: No

This is our go-to pick for an affordable blow-drying brush. This updated version of the original Revlon tool features a more compact design and a smaller brush head for a more defined blowout. With four temperature settings and four airflow settings, our professional stylists who participated in our lab test agree that the airflow is smooth and powerful enough to be incredibly fast-drying. It’s intuitive and easy to use, and we love it for beginners simply looking for one tool to quickly style their hair at home. Easily create a straight hair look with a bit of flip at the ends and volume at the roots with this one-step hair dryer brush. While people with thicker and less frizzy hair were able to create a sleek, smooth style, we didn’t find this tool to be the best option for eliminating frizz or flyaways on those with frizzy hair.

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The Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0 Testers

Krissy, tester with fine hair: “My hair is smooth after using this, but I wish the product had more heat levels so that you could get real straightening with lower/less damaging temperatures.”


Sophie, tester with curly hair: “It takes me significantly less time to blow-dry my hair with this hair dryer brush than with a traditional blow-dryer. I'd say it probably takes me 10 minutes at absolute most to dry my entire head from being completely wet.”


Geneva, pro hairstylist: “The brush went through the hair smoothly, and the airflow is powerful and even. However, this tool does get pretty hot. It's one of those where if the temperature was the same but the airflow was less powerful, it would work great.”

What We Like

  • Under $150 and comes with four attachments

  • Lightweight and comfortable to hold

  • Sleek design that comes in two colorways

What to Consider

  • Could add more volume for blowout styles

Heat Settings: 3 | Voltage/wattage: 1200 W | Barrel Size: Varies per attachment | Cord Length: 6 feet | Cold Shot: Yes

If you’re looking for a blow-dryer system with multiple attachments for less, we recommend this pick from Conair. For only $130, you get four attachments that can dry, smooth, and curl. While using, our testers noted that it was able to dry their hair quicker than other blow-dryers they’ve used in the past, and it cut down their styling process significantly. It felt lightweight while using, and all of the attachments were gentle on the scalp and never tugged on the strands. While we wish it could add more volume, it made the hair much smoother and softer in a quarter of the time as a standard blow-dryer. We also loved the chic design that comes in two colors.

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Conair InfinitiPRO Digitalaire Stying System Dryer Testers

Saleam, tester with coarse hair: “My hair was stretched out to its true length (or close to it). It was detangled, smooth, and easy to style. The results lasted all day long and well into the evening.”


Katie, tester with straight hair: “I used the nozzle attachment then the round brush to style, so it took about 25 minutes to fully dry and style. It's much quicker than what I would usually have to do, using a blow-dryer and then following with a curling iron. With just the round brush, I get an effortless blowout look quicker than I expected.”

What We Like

  • Teardrop shape brush head easy to maneuver

  • Lightweight with comfortable grip

  • Creates smooth results

What to Consider

  • Airflow and heat could be a bit more powerful

Heat Settings: 3 | Voltage/wattage: 1100 W | Barrel Size: 2.4 inches | Cord Length: 7.9 feet | Cold Shot: No

If you’re new to styling your hair on your own, we recommend checking out this blow-dry brush. People often struggle to smooth their roots and add volume, which is why we love that this brush has a unique teardrop shape—the round part is perfect for smoothing the lengths and ends, while the narrow end is great for targeting the roots. Aside from the shape, we also appreciate that this tool helps to reduce frizz, is lightweight and easy to use, and has multiple heat settings. The curved grip with a matte coating fits nicely in your hands, and it’s a great option for those with thin or fine hair because it never feels too hot.

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L’Ange 2-in-1 Titanium Brush Dryer Testers

Sunita, tester with medium weight hair: “My hair looked and felt beautiful after using this brush. The low setting was just right for my hair. It did not feel hot on my scalp and at the same time it smoothened my hair quickly.”

Martha, tester with wavy hair: “I love the shine and smoothness that this product gives my hair. I didn't think it was possible for my hair to feel so sleek and smooth from home styling since I typically only feel that way after a visit to the hairdresser.”

Geneva, pro hairstylist: “I think the airflow is great and both the airflow and temperature are consistent from start to finish. It’s super lightweight and because of the matte finish it gives a nice nonslip grip.”

What We Like

  • Weighs less than one pound

  • Glides smoothly through hair

  • Intuitive and easy to use

What to Consider

  • Could do a better job at taming frizz

Heat Settings: 4 | Voltage/wattage: 125 V | Barrel Size: Varies per attachment | Cord Length: 9 feet | Cold Shot: Yes

Giving yourself a blowout at home takes arm strength, but this tool helps to alleviate some of the struggles because it weighs less than one pound, making it ideal for those with limited upper body strength or anyone with hair that takes a long time to dry. In addition to the lightweight design, we love that it comes with three different attachments—a dryer, a round brush dryer, and a paddle brush dryer—to create a variety of results. Both brush attachments glide through the hair seamlessly without tugging or creating knots. The tool features four heat settings, three airflow settings, and a cool shot, all easy to access via buttons near the bottom. Compared to other options we tested, this one didn’t blow us away in terms of its frizz-taming capabilities, but we love the volume it adds.

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The Drybar 3-in-1 Interchangeable Blow Dryer Testers

Joanna, tester with long hair: “This hair dryer brush gave me a very sleek straight blowout. I like that my ends have a very healthy bend in them from the expert using the round brush head attachment.”

Sarita, tester with thick, straight hair: “I liked the shape of the oval brush to achieve volume, but did not experience the shiny finish it said that attachment would do.”

Dawn, pro hairstylist: “It's really lightweight and I like the smaller attachment because it gives really nice volume. I would use this in a professional setting, but for the average person, I don't think it's worth the price.”

What We Like

  • Dries long hair in less than 15 minutes

  • Quiet

  • Easy to switch the heat and air settings quickly

What to Consider

  • The attachments get very hot after use, so you have to wait a bit before switching them

Heat Settings: 3 | Voltage/wattage: 120 V | Barrel Size: Varies per attachment | Cord Length: n/a | Cold Shot: Yes

Drying and styling long hair can often take some time, and it’s usually a two-step (and two-tool) process. While testing, we were pleasantly surprised to find that this multi-styler brush from BondiBoost dried long hair fully in less than 15 minutes and created a beautiful blowout style at the same time. It comes with six attachments to dry and curl all hair types, and our testers praised the multiple speed and heat settings that made it easy to dry the hair quickly without leaving any damp spots throughout the hair. The attachments locked into the tool securely, and it felt lightweight and comfortable to hold during use.

The best part, of course, was its salon-quality results. All our testers reported smooth, sleek hair with little to no static, and that freshly done look lasted all day. At a quarter of the price of more popular hair dryer brushes, we definitely think this pick is worth it.

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BondiBoost Everlast Airstyler Cereamic Blow Dryer Testers

Brittany, tester with straight, long hair: “After using this hot air brush, my hair looks sleeker, shinier, and straighter. It provides long-lasting results and gives my hair that ‘just got a blowout’ look for the whole day. It’s also easy to touch up if your hair does get a little tangly or frizzy from being out—just run your hair through the hot air brush a few times, and it’s as good as new.”


Ashley, tester with fine, wavy hair: “My hair looked and felt smooth after using the hot air brush, and each attachment provided something different. I used the larger styling brush and the curling attachments the most, and my hair was smooth and shiny with less frizz than that of a traditional blow dryer.”

What We Like

  • Bristle brush gently and effectively smooths coily hair types

  • Doesn’t feel overly hot on the scalp while in use

  • Attachments lock securely and don’t budge

What to Consider

  • A little heavy

Heat Settings: 3 | Voltage/wattage: 1500 W | Barrel Size: Varies per attachment | Cord Length: 9 feet | Cold Shot: Yes

When it comes to drying natural hair, the biggest priority is smoothing or diffusing your coils effectively while minimizing damage. We love this brush from T3 because it does exactly that. The brush attachment locks onto the tool securely and stays put while using, and the bristles don’t get caught in snags or coilier pieces of hair. We love that it also has ceramic curling attachments to add volume and bounce to your style. It took only about 20 minutes to blow-dry our whole head from root to tip, and there were no wet spots that we had to go over again. The best part is it didn’t fry the hair—our tester’s 4b curls bounced right back after washing. We think this is a great pick for preparing the hair before a protective style or for a smooth blowout before a silk press, as it can dry the hair quickly sans any damage.

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The T3 Aire 360 Testers

Bianca, tester with coily hair: “The bristles were gentle on the hair and scalp and didn't tug or snap my ends, which I always look for. It didn't get too hot on my scalp, even at its highest temperature. I also loved that it got my roots very straight and smoothed my ends without frying them.”


Gwen, tester with thick, curly hair: “It took about a half hour to dry my hair, which is fast for my extra long, thick hair—it usually takes me about 45 minutes to fully dry my hair with a traditional hair dryer. I believe the reason why it worked so fast is because the brush size is enormous, so I could work on larger sections. I also felt like the speed styling attachment, which helps rough dry hair, was more powerful than its competitors.”

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    FAQ

    • How do you use a hair dryer brush to curl hair?

      Ghamari points out that using a hair dryer brush is very similar to using a round brush, except there’s no struggle to hold a blow-dryer in one hand and a round brush in the other. Brown, meanwhile, shares this tip for using one to curl hair: “You can curl hair with a hair dryer brush by twisting the hair section out of the brush on the last pass through,” she says. “Adding a light hairspray to the section before twisting will also help the curl hold.”

    • Do hair dryer brushes damage hair?

      “Hair dryer brushes can only damage hair if they get too hot,” says Brown. She suggests reading reviews and doing your research to factor in heat settings and your hair type. A hair dryer brush with temperature settings will help you control the heat so you don’t hurt your hair. And if your hair dryer brush has soft bristles, such as nylon and boar, this can help reduce any unnecessary tension. We also always recommend using a heat protectant.

    • How do you clean a hair dryer brush?

      To clean, remove all of the shed hair using your fingers or tweezers after every few uses, says Brown. “Wiping it down with a hot towel will also help remove any excess product buildup,” she says.

  • Meet Our Experts

    We also spoke to experts to learn more about what to consider when shopping for a hair dryer brush. Those experts include:

    • Zoya Ghamari is a hairstylist and owner of Zoya Salon in Dallas. She specializes in hair extensions, top hairpieces, and wigs. She caters to clients in both Texas and California.
    • Alex Brown is a celebrity hairstylist and the founder of Space by Alex Brown in Chicago. She’s worked with Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, and Bella Hadid, splitting her time between New York, LA, and her Chicago home base.
  • Why Trust Byrdie

    Austen Tosone is a beauty writer and content creator based in NYC. She tests dozens of beauty products for a living and aims to share the very best with readers. She is a big fan of the L’ange Brush Dryer mentioned in this article. She updated this story in 2024.

    Shannon Stubbs is a commerce writer on staff at Byrdie. She updated this story with more picks based on testing insights. She’s tested multiple blow-dryers and even a few hair dryer brushes during her time at Byrdie, and she’s been with the team since 2022.

Skip the Salon—We Found 8 Dryer Brushes That Will Give You the Perfect At-Home Blowout (2024)

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