Get Salon-Quality Blowouts at Home—Here's How: Our Editor-Tested Hot Air Brushes (2024)

Our Top Picks

Type 1: Color us impressed: Not only did this tool dry our hair faster than we’ve ever experienced, but it did so on the medium heat setting, sparing our hair from getting burnt in the process. It was very easy to achieve the blowout effect, creating a smoothness and shine typically only attainable with straightening products. To mimic a rotating curling iron to get a similar voluminous style, we moved this round brush in circles around our hair to add volume at the root and a full-bodied bounce to our ends. Our finished style looked soft and smooth and lasted well into the next day.

Type 2: Even on our type two hair, we noticed how much faster it was to dry our hair compared to a traditional hair dryer. Our hair also looked far less frizzy than usual—the difference was almost astounding. We loved how healthy our hair appeared and were excited to spend the day with a fresh blowout.

Type 3: The heated comb feature was very helpful in smoothing our type three hair here. The hot air brush managed to straighten and smoothen, but we had to be somewhat careful as it tugged on this hair type a little. Still, the end results were impressive enough to make us want to get this tool to keep forever.

Expert Tip: One of the best parts of this tool is how lightweight it is. There are also two modes to play with: a wet hair and dry hair mode. We would recommend this product for anyone with dense or long hair as it does a fantastic job and quickly gets the hair styled.

Brush Type: Comb + round brush | Heat Settings: 2 | Bristle Type: Ceramic | Cool Shot: No | Cord Length: 72 inches | Weight: 1.6 pounds | Barrel Size: 3.8 inches

Type 1: The Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer was extremely easy to use, so anyone who’s a beginner at styling their hair will love this piece. It only took about 10 minutes to completely dry the hair and we were impressed with just how efficient it was. Significantly reducing frizz, we were able to create a beautiful blowout with volume at the roots that lasted well into the second day.

Type 2: On our curly yet thin hair, this divide achieved a shine and smoothness otherwise only attainable with a curling rod. Much like with our type 1 hair, the hot air brush went through the whole head of hair in under 10 minutes. Despite getting almost uncomfortably hot, the dryer didn’t fry or overwork the hair. The beautiful curls that were created also lasted longer than they typically would with a standard blow-dryer and brush combo.

Type 3: Perhaps this was not the best option for women with type 3 hair. Although the ergonomics were great (loved that we only needed one hand to go through everything) it neither brushed well (we needed to brush our hair first to properly detangle), nor did it create a desirable end-look. The hair remained rather frizzy, and while the tips turned crisp and dry the roots remained a little moist. The airflow was simply not strong enough to be considered effective on this hair type.

Expert Tip: The brush portion can smoothly go through hair for the most part, but the device itself is a little hot and heavy (too much to the point where it can get uncomfortable to hold for an extended period). Luckily, it never takes too long to dry the entire head of hair so it doesn’t become a true issue.

Brush Type: Round brush | Heat Settings: 4 | Bristle Type: Charcoal-infused nylon | Cool Shot: Yes | Cord Length: 71 inches | Weight: 1.63 pounds | Barrel Size: 2.4 inches

Type 1: Once you get past the rather heavy handle, you’ll get to appreciate the shiny look this brush creates. It’s not the hottest of air brushes which makes it ideal for thin and fine hair. No heat damage or frizz is to be expected with this tool, which is a major win for this hair type. That did mean it took a little longer to achieve a fully dried head of hair, but we appreciate the fact that we could use this almost daily without worrying too much about heat damage.

Type 2: The best part of this tool was that it had a two-in-one function, combining the styling ability of a hair straightener with the power of a blow-dryer in one tool (and of course, a paddle brush). In other words, we didn’t need to go over our hair with a separate straightener in the end, making this hot tool quite handy when traveling. Keep in mind that the shape of this brush makes it difficult to create a bouncy blowout look—it’s better for straightening. On our type 2 hair, it did not tame all the frizz the way it did with type 1 hair. Nothing we couldn’t fix with a little hair oil, however.

Type 3: This tool was perhaps not the best for a type 3 hair as it doesn’t get hot enough to get all the coils to straighten. It certainly helped to create a much smoother and less frizzy look, but it was a little hard to reach the roots due to the shape of the brush. The brush is perfect for a soft, everyday straight look that doesn’t make your hair look too burnt or pressed.

Expert Tip: This tool is ideal for travel, due to its multifunctional purpose, and fine hair, due to its low heat setting. You can use it daily with a heat protectant spray for minimal damage.

Brush Type: Paddle | Heat Settings: 3 | Bristle Type: Ceramic inner bristles coated with nylon ball-tips | Cool Shot: No | Cord Length: 108 inches | Weight: 2.4 pounds

Type 1: We really liked how smoothly the brush moved through our type 1 hair. We did not feel as though we lost much hair while using it, which with other products, typically happens. The brush never got too unbearably hot, which made it easy to brush it against the scalp sans-problem. It tamed our usual flyaways and got the job done quickly despite the lower temperature setting. Our hair was less frizzy and the blowout effect lasted well into the next day.

Type 2: It only took about 10 to 15 minutes to get our short type 2 hair dry, which is significantly less than with other products. We noticed that the hair looked visibly smoother and shinier, with the added bonus of achieving a nice volume and shape for our tester's bob cut. It should be called out, however, that this tester has thinner hair, which is why the lower heat intensity was so effective. On thicker hair, it was slightly more difficult to get the desired volume.

Type 3: For type 3 hair, you really want something that’s slightly stronger that this option from Drybar. We didn’t manage to get our hair completely straight with this tool. That being said, we found it very useful in between wash sessions to touch up and freshen up our hair.

Expert Tip: Short hair and thin hair types will love this hot air brush as it creates an effortlessly bouncy look without damaging the hair.

Brush Type: Paddle | Heat Settings: 3 | Bristle Type: Nylon | Cool Shot: Yes | Cord Length: 108 inches | Weight: 2.8 pounds

Type 1: We were blown away (pun very much intended) by how fast and easy it was to achieve a blowout with a plush texture to our type 1 hair. It created a full and thick appearance without a single stray hair of frizz poking out, thanks to the ceramic plates. No heat damage could be detected either—all it left behind was a photo-worthy soft set of hair that bounced around the entire day.

Type 2: The hot air brush was less effective on thicker hair. While it certainly tackled our waves, it created more of a thick and fluffy appearance rather than silky smooth. It comes down to preference, therefore, to decide whether this hot air brush is for you or not.

Type 3: We’ll give it to this brush: it’s fast. On type 3 hair, it only took 45 minutes to complete a job that usually takes an hour. The brush felt like it truly dried our hair without pulling and yanking at it. In the end, however, we did find that it did not completely straighten it the way we had hoped.

Expert Tip: The bottom of the barrel has two rings for dialing the heat and airflow settings, making this great for customization. We did find that the handle was quite heavy, however, which can cause a strain on the arm. Luckily, it’s quick to get the job done so it ever bothered us for too long.

Brush Type: Paddle | Heat Settings: 3 | Bristle Type: Ceramic | Cool Shot: No | Cord Length: 108 inches | Weight: Not listed

Type 1: We’re impressed—from the ergonomics to the versatility, the heat and pressure options to the final result—this styling tool had both our hair stylist and our model chanting wow in unison. No matter the hair type, the Shark Air Styling device created airbrushed hair that was simply chef’s kiss. A few things we particularly liked: There is an “L” and an “R” label indicating which side the curl wraps into. For short hair, the round brush attachment was a little larger than preferred as we would have loved to create tighter curls. Still, there’s no complaining about the soft beachy waves it gave us. We loved how easy it was to attach the various nozzles as well, which is a huge upgrade from some of the other hot air brushes we’ve tried.

Type 2: There’s nothing this device can’t do. It can be used as a regular blow-dryer by twisting the rod at a 90-degree angle. When we were ready to style, we attached one of the four nozzles and got to working in the curls. On our slighter thicker hair, the brush doesn’t quite glide smoothly but it’s nothing too cumbersome, especially when considering the flawless results. Our hair was significantly smoother, straighter, and less frizzy than when using a regular blow-dryer. Our method was using the blow-dryer mode to get it 80 percent dry, then adding the brush attachment to do the last 20 percent and style it. This method took about 10 minutes to complete which used to take 30 minutes and three different tools in the past—simply amazing.

Type 3: Even on type 3 hair, the Shark tool aced its assignment with flying colors. Much like we experienced on type 2 hair, it doesn’t glide particularly smoothly through the hair. This didn’t bother us as, again, the results were impeccable. A glossy finish on our normally coarse hair could be found. The frizz wasn’t completely gone, but far less compared to when we were using other styling tools. What was truly mind-blowing was how fast everything was completed. We timed it to 13 minutes (!) and the results lasted a whole three days. Our hair looked bouncy and felt light as a feather.

Expert Tip: Despite having decades of experience, this brush managed to blow our hair stylist away, calling it top-tier and exceeding her expectations. The multiple attachments can cater to the client’s hair, and the brush itself swivels into a 90 degree angle making maneuvering around the head a breeze. A cool shot helped to set the style and create a sleek look.

Brush Type: Round brush + other interchangeable attachments | Heat Settings: 4 | Bristle Type: Boar | Cool Shot: Yes | Cord Length: 96 inches | Weight: 1.54 pounds | Barrel Size: 1.25 inches

Type 1: The Dyson Airwrap brought our fine and thin hair from soaking wet to perfectly dry in less than 10 minutes. And while it had some strong pros—like creating a stunning straight-out-of-the-salon blowout thanks to its evenly distributed and powerful airflow, there were also some cons. The brush portion had some trouble gliding through the strands and would occasionally get stuck. It also didn’t create that silky finish on the naturally frizzy hair. Flyaways were present after completing the styling session which could only be tamed via a curling wand. Still, we were impressed with the ease of use, ergonomics, and design of the product—as a matter of fact it was the best we’ve ever seen.

Type 2: This hair type is the Dyson Airwrap’s best friend. In just under 30 minutes, our hair achieved its desired look. And compared to other devices we’ve used in the past, this one added an effortless volume to the roots (while being super gentle on the scalp). It glided beautifully through the hair no matter which of the attachments were used. The consistency and heat distribution were amazing making even the lowest heat setting effective and thus, sparing us unnecessarily overheating our precious hair.

Type 3: Compared to other styling products we’ve tried on 3b/3c natural hair, the Dyson Airwrap was much easier to handle and achieved the desired shiny and smooth look. Not only did it look better, but it lasted longer, holding onto the style even after a full night’s rest. The wand was very much like a hair dryer and a curling iron at once, but without completely burning the hair.

Expert Tip: The Dyson Airwrap is lightweight and has a good grip, making it easy to maneuver around the head. The various attachments allow for different styling options as well as suitable for multiple hair types. The distribution of the airflow is particularly impressive.

Brush Type: Multiple interchangeable attachments, including curl wand, paddle brush, round brush | Heat Settings: 4 | Bristle Type: Ball-tip | Cool Shot: Yes | Cord Length: 104 inches | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Barrel Size: 1.2 inches

Type 1: Looking to create that '90s blowout bob? It's not always easy to find styling tools or curling irons that work with short hair, but this one is a true winner. The L’ange Hair Le Volume 2-in-1 device was easy to use and quick to accomplish the job. It successfully removed frizz (which our on-site hair stylist said is due to the titanium plate) and locked in bouncy curls at the ends. It's airflow power is gentle, making it ideal for shorter hairstyles, especially those prone to flyaways.

Type 2: Never did we think we could achieve hair-salon-esque styles from our bathrooms, yet here we are. We were blown away at how well this worked on type 2 hair, creating a super smooth and shiny finish in just over five minutes. Not only that, but we noticed more body in the hair as well. We do want to caveat that this hair was on the thinner side to begin with, which makes it easier to add volume.

Type 3: We were impressed with how well this hot air brush worked on type 3 hair as well. They didn’t snag any of our curls and instead created smooth strands with bouncy curly ends. We did notice some frizz or flyaways, but a few drops of hair oil and one more pass with the dryer almost instantly resolved that issue. Much like with our type 1 hair, we do wish the hottest setting was slightly hotter so that we could really get the kinky parts, but it was nothing that bothered us too much.

Expert Tip: It was very easy to switch heat settings using the dial at the bottom of the wand, and because the device is so lightweight and easy to grip, it was one of the most user-friendly blow-dryers we tested on-site.

Brush Type: Round brush | Heat Settings: 2 | Bristle Type: Nylon and tufted | Cool Shot: Yes | Cord Length: 88 inches | Weight: 1.4 pounds | Barrel Size: 3 inches

Type 1: From the get-go, we appreciated how high-end and easy-to-use this blow-dryer was. It took three bulky products and merged them into one lightweight (and beautiful) hair styling tool. It never got too hot which made it possible to touch the other end of the tool while styling our hair. The airflow itself (of which there are three strengths) was also consistent and not overpowering. Out of the four heat settings, the highest heat didn’t feel volcanic, so it simply took a bit longer to fully dry our heads. In return, it didn’t fry our hair, making it feel healthier overall. The end-result was a stunning healthy glow, not unlike what we achieve at a salon.

Type 2: Up until now we’ve been using powerful blow-dryers on our slightly thicker hair, so in comparison, the Drybar felt a little weak. Still, because we didn’t have to go in with a second tool to style after drying, in total this actually reduced the time to achieve our desired look. We can’t confidently say this took away any frizz or created a smooth surface on this hair type, but it certainly was an elevated experience and a much more seamless process thanks to its lightweight body and styling nozzles.

Type 3: The best part of this hot air brush was that it glided through our type 3 hair effortlessly. Our tester here has thick hair that frequently gets knotted, so the fact that it never tangled was a big feat. And although it tamed the mane it did not completely remove the frizz, which was an experience we felt with type 2 hair as well. Still, having the lower heat and airflow settings made it easier to style our bangs, and the overall results were very appealing. A surprise benefit was how soft and bouncy it made our curls—we couldn’t stop touching it! Out of all the hot hair styling tools this particular tester tried in her lifetime, the Drybar Reserve was by far the best.

Expert Tip: We noticed that the cool shot button is right where the fingers rest, which accidentally caused us to switch to cool mid-styling session a few times. Still, as someone with tons of experience dealing with all types of hair tools, this option stood out for its lightweight body and ease of use. Everything glided smoothly and the nice long cord was a plus.

Brush Type: Paddle + round interchangeable brushes | Heat Settings: 4 | Bristle Type: Nylon and tufted bristles | Cool Shot: Yes | Cord Length: 108 inches | Weight: 1 pounds | Barrel Size: 2.44 inches

Type 1: The Bondi Boost Blowout did well in straightening the hair and creating smooth lines. That being said, it fared better with our thicker hair than our thin hair. The fine strands were perhaps too fine for the bristles and they kept getting stuck between them. And while we appreciated the silky straight look in the end, we would have loved to see a little more volume that typically comes with a blowout.

Type 2: Simple, easy to handle, and quick to deliver results, we loved the whole process from start to finish. The brush was very self-explanatory to use, and the handle was comfortable to grip as it curved into the hand. The air never got too hot and the detangling nylon tip allowed for a pleasant, no-tug brushing session. In the mirror we were met with a very sleek and shiny result, not unlike an effortless '90s supermodel. The curved brush made everything a breeze to style and the ends looked more natural than that with a curling iron.

Type 3: We’re quite amazed at what a brush under $60 could do for curly hair. To begin, this completed a job that typically takes a good hour (blow-drying and then styling with a curling wand) in 32 minutes. This opened up the opportunity to create a fresh blowout in the morning and save precious time. Our thick, coarse, and curly hair typically tangles or knots easily and takes a skilled hand and a hair brush specifically for curly hair—but the Bondi Boost seemed to have no issues gliding right through. The final result was a shiny and smooth finish (although the Oribe heat protectant spray probably played a role in that). We completely swapped this product in for our usual hair blow-dryer and after several weeks, we actually think it made our hair look healthier and refreshed.

Expert Tip: For a budget brush, our stylist was very impressed with the ergonomics and results of this brush. The tip remains cool so it’s easy to hold. The airflow is not particularly strong but that helps to protect the hair from burning. While other brushes struggle to get rid of frizz, this one managed to do so.

Brush Type: Round brush | Heat Settings: 3 | Bristle Type: Nylon, tufted | Cool Shot: Yes | Cord Length: 115 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Barrel Size: 3 inches

Type 1: We had nothing but great things to say here. Ever since receiving this Hot Tools blow-dryer, all our other hot styling tools have gone untouched in our cabinet. It’s because this device cut down our usual drying and styling session time in half (from 15–20 minutes to seven minutes). Not only that, but the results were much more appealing, with less frizz and smoother, healthier ends compared to when styled with a traditional blow-dryer for fine hair. The extra volume it created also awarded it five stars in our books. The bristles were extra gentle on our fine hair, not tugging or ripping delicate hair out, making the experience painless.

Type 2: We had similar experiences with our type 2 (and fine) hair. With our hair properly sectioned, the brush’s strong bristles got through chunks of hair quite smoothly. We were able to tame the curls and frizz to create a fuller yet sleeker texture. It was not only fun but easy to add curls that go both inward and outward to create that professional look. We were also impressed with the quality of the product—it was a very heavy-duty tool that did not feel cheap or easy to break. One thing to note was that the highest heat setting made the device squeal a little loudly.

Type 3: On our curly, fine, and frizzy hair, we were pleasantly surprised with how evenly the heat distributed and as a result, tamed the locks effortlessly. Much like our previous two experiences, the brush got through our hair sans-tugging. Even after weekly use, the bristles didn’t look to be destroyed as we had experienced with some other brands. With frizz being one of our biggest concerns, this tool flattened flyaways and added a much-desired shine. We did think the tool got quite hot and sometimes uncomfortably so at the roots, so just be careful not to stay in one section for too long. At $75, the tool is the equivalent cost of two salon blowouts, making it a great bang for your buck.

Expert Tip: This tool impressed our hair stylist quite a lot, noting that it glided through hair like butter while serving consistent and powerful airflow. It gets the job done quickly and efficiently, and she would 100 percent recommend this product to consumers. Although she recommends being mindful of the heat, the device certainly creates that smooth finish it promises.

Brush Type: Round brush | Heat Settings: 3 | Bristle Type: Boartech, charcoal-infused | Cool Shot: Yes | Cord Length: 96 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Barrel Size: 2.8 inches

Unlike a hot brush, a hot air brush replaces your blow-dryer, so it’s safe to use on wet or dry hair, says Dueñas. However, because sopping wet strands are super fragile, both of the stylists we interviewed said to wait until your hair is at least damp—although 70 percent dry would be the best—before picking up a hot tool for the fastest and healthiest results.

Sometimes these tools include attachments, like a paddle or round brush, so you can create a variety of different looks while drying the hair at the same time, making the entire process more efficient. If you’re only choosing a brush with one attachment, Dueñas tells us to look for one with a cylinder shape because it allows you to wrap your hair around it, thus creating more volume.