As someone who used to dread wash day, discovering the hot brush has been a game-changer – it's dramatically reduced my styling time in half. My old routine involved wrestling with a hair dryer and a comb attachment, a truly back-breaking experience. My arms would ache, and the heat from the dryer was simply unbearable. I'd constantly have to pause to cool down, interrupting the flow and extending the entire ordeal.
The hot brush, however, has revolutionised my routine. The design ensures comfortable handling, eliminating the risk of burns and allowing for smooth, uninterrupted styling. I've noticed a significant reduction in drying time, making wash day a much more manageable.
Many hot brushes on the market boast a range of versatile attachments, allowing users to achieve salon-quality results from the comfort of their own homes. But it's almost impossible to tell just by looking at a product how good it's going to be on your hair. This is why we decided to test them all for you, so you can figure out which is worth your money.
How we tested the best hot brushes:
As a team of beauty journalists, we’re constantly on the lookout for the best products to o keep our hair in check, even amidst our busy schedules. After thorough testing and reviewing countless options sent our way, we’ve narrowed down our top picks for hot brushes that truly deliver. From affordable to high-end, these tools have earned our seal of approval for their ability to keep our hair soft, shiny and glamorous, no matter what the day throws our way.
The Best Hot Brushes At A Glance:
The Best Luxury Hot Brush: Dyson Airwrap, £449
The Best Affordable Hot Brush:Revlon One-Step Blow Dry 5-in-1, £53
The Best Hot Brush For Curls: BondiBoost Infrared Bounce Brush, £90
The Best Hot Brush For Wet-To-Dry Styling::a[ghd Duet Brush, £389]{href='https://www.harveynichols.com/ghd/duet-blowdry-volumising-hair-dryer-brush-gift-set-13237-204002/?' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener nofollow' class='add-referrer-link'}
Shop: The Best Hot Brushes 2025
The Best Luxury Hot Brush: Dyson Airwrap
Sameeha Shaik, beauty writer said, 'It's not surprising how this revolutionary styling tool has become a cult hair classic. I gave the Airwrap another go and quickly shed my amateur status. Now an Airwrap pro, I'm the first to recommend it to my friends and family who always ask if it's worth it or if a dupe will do. My answer is always a resounding yes, followed by a quick lecture about its gold-standard status which just doesn't compare to any dupe I've tried, honestly. The Airwrap is slick, seamless and, let's be honest, sexy. It helps me to create a number of styles - bouncy blow dry, super straight, Hollywood-style waves, voluminous curls – with little time and fuss, plus the style really lasts, sometimes up to a week. Since getting to grips with it, I've found it easy on the hands and hair thanks to its pretty lightweight nature, the ease of use and the all-important tech that ensures hair is left looking hot sans damage.'
www.spacenk.com
It's not surprising how this revolutionary styling tool has become a cult hair classic. With its various attachments that harness the power of Dyson's gold-standard technology, the Airwrap tends to hair with ease while creating show-stopping, varied looks that last.
The Best Hot Brush For Wet-To-Dry Styling: ghd Duet Brush
Rachael Martin, beauty editor said, 'I was lucky enough to get my hands on a sample of the ghd Duet Blowdry back in April. Since then, it’s become integral to my hair routine. I've managed to whittle down my wash days to just twice a week and I've used this as the perfect excuse to get to grips with the tool over the past few months. I apply it to towel dried hair, initially rough-drying and then creating volume at the roots via a combination of tension and heat - I'll hold it in place for around 3 seconds. I'll then pull the brush through in a twisting motion to create the blowdried finish - the smaller the section the more pronounced the curl and the bigger the section the more voluminous the finish. I’ve also used it to refresh my dry hair for special occasions - but not without a hefty dose of heat protectant.'
For long lasting wet to dry styling
www.ghdhair.com
Introducing ghd's latest launch, the Duet Blowdry. Hot off the success of the original Duet (the hairdryer straightener in one), this new tool promises wet to dry styling with snag-free heated bristles to prevent tangling, elliptical shaped heated barrels for creating volume and controlled airflow for a flyaway-free finish.
Pros
- Ideal for taming flyaways
- Less damage than with traditional heated brushes
- Lightweight
Cons
- Still an investment purchase
The Best Affordable Hot Brush: Revlon One-Step Blow
Renee Washington, digital fashion and beauty assistant said, 'I think Revlon really leads the way with its Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumiser. You need only look to TikTok for the proof, where beauty buffs have endlessly shared their love for the tool. And I'm with them. The easy-to-use styler works on all hair types including thick and afro textured hair types, and provides a smooth, sleek, bouncy finish with little faff. This newer offering from the brand allows you to create more looks with the help of a multiple brush heads that can be popped on and off as you style.'
Save £30.00
www.boots.com
This Blow-Dry Multi Air Styler comes with 5 interchangeable attachments which makes for versatile styling, just switch the head.
The Best Hot Brush For Curls: BondiBoost Infrared Bounce Brush
Sameeha Shaik beauty writer said, 'After using it weekly for the past month, I've found it truly mimics the look of a salon-worthy bounce, all without having to leave the house. As advised by the user guide, I use it post-wash, once my hair is fully dry. Working section by section, I brush through my hair with one pass of the tool for an extra sleek finish, then starting at the ends, I hold the brush at a 45 degree angle and roll my hair around the brush. I keep the brush in place for no more than 15 seconds before unraveling gently in the opposite direction. To create a more defined curl I twist once unravelled.Once complete, I'm left with healthy-looking, smooth hair that boasts lasting volume and bounce, and could easily pass for a salon 'do. In fact, when I arrived at the office this morning, a colleague took one look at my freshly done hair and said, 'You have Hollywood hair!' Enough said.'
www.beautybay.com
This tool uses infrared technology to create va va voom, if a '90s supermodel bouncy 'do is your MO, look no further.
Pros
- Uses infrared technology to heal and style hair
- Causes zero heat damages, according to the brand's instrumental tests
Cons
- Leaves a slight toasted smell to your hair
The Best Hot Brush For Styling: Shark FlexFusion Straight 5-in-1 Air Styler & Dryer & Ceramic Straightener
Rachael Martin, beauty editor said, 'I’ve had the Shark Hair Wrap for some time, and have only just upgraded to this version. Although I was a fan of the original I would say that I’d have to refresh frequently to ensure a blow-dry that really stays put. If you’re someone who can’t get Shark FlexFusion Straight 5-in-1 Air Styler & Dryer & Ceramic Straightener airwrap styles to stay, then I suggest giving this one a whirl. Not only is it a simple way to easily flit between hairstyles - you can wear it smooth and sleek one moment a bouncy and curly the next - but the staying power is much improved thanks to the addition of the ceramic plates. I typically like to smooth my hair before curling it and as the straightening attachment is specifically designed for wet-to-dry styling, it cuts out a full step for me. And rest assured that the intelligent heat control helps to keep damage at bay– no stressful sizzle to be heard.'
sharkclean.co.uk
This is considered the closest thing to the Dyson on the market, with five attachments included you can whisk through your hair routine - wet, straight, curled.
The Best Hot Brush For Volume: The Beauty Works XXL Volume Hot Brush
Annie Vischer, health and beauty director said ‘I’d swerved hot brushes up until now because I’d never used one that made an ounce of impact on my long hair. I’m a hair tong devotee and have recently hit on TikTok’e trend for sock curls - they really work! So when we set about testing the newest hot brushes on the beauty block, I was more than dubious. Imagine my surprise, then, when the Beauty Works Professional offering delivered. Here’s what impressed me: firstly, you’ve got total control over the temperature. I like to keep mine below 200 degrees to minimise hair damage (note, always kick off your styling session with a good heat protection spray!) and I’m pretty rigorous about not going over the same piece of hair multiple times with a heat styler, so I was delighted to see results from the very first swipe. The barrel is large, so suited to delivering a blow-dried look, not waves. Use it to style each section of your hair back from your face and you’ll end up with salon-style flicks that any hair influencer would be proud of. Once you’ve made your way up to the last few sections at the top of your head, use the hot brush to style them back, as if you were putting in a velcro roller at the top of your head. That’s how you get a blow-dry style finish on those face framing sections. My hair was left full of body, bouncy and shiny. Like I said, I have long hair so those flicks did drop after an hour or so, but even then my hair wasn’t left poker straight. A good buy as long as you’re realistic about the staying power of hot brush styling on long hair. I’d imagine it’s an absolute winner for anyone with a 90’s style bob or shoulder length hair with layers.’
www.lookfantastic.com
If bouncy hair is the M.O, it's best you pick this up, the flexible bristles smooths through strands to create a gorgeous blow out.
The Best Hot Brush For Quick Styling: CLOUD NINE The Original Hot Brush
Renee Washington, digital fashion and beauty assistant said, 'When my hair is straight, I like to avoid adding extra heat as much as possible to minimise heat damage. That’s why this brush is great for touch-ups and quick styling. With five temperature settings and a super-fast heat-up time of about 20 seconds, it’s incredibly convenient. I can swiftly go over frizzy pieces of hair minimal heat. Weighing just over 250g (compared to a standard hairbrush at around 150g), it’s light enough that my arm doesn’t feel dead while using it, and out of all the brushes tested it looks the most like a typical brush! It genuinely feels like brushing your hair and the included cute pouch also makes it perfect for traveling, as it doesn’t add bulk to your bag.'
www.lookfantastic.com
It feels most like a typical brush out of all the tools tested and is perfect for second-day styling. The flyaways will be at bay.
Renee Washington, Grazia's digital fashion and beauty assistant, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie..