While nothing beats a salon blow out, you can achieve almost the same style at home with a blow dry brush.
The hot tool has always been around, but innovations and launches like the AirWrap (not to mention, the pandemic) have seen us look for DIY options — and who doesn’t want smooth, shiny, voluminous hair without needing to leave the house?
From the aforementioned AirWrap to ghd and the TokTok-viral Remington, find the RUSSH edit of the best blow dry brushes below.
What is a blow dry brush?
A blow dry brush is a styling tool that involves a brush and hot air flow for bouncy, blown out hair at home. The features and characteristics will vary depending on the tool, but most use bristles to hold hair, while concentrated hot air dries it off for a smooth, voluminous finish.
How to use a blow dry brush?
This will depend on your individual hair type and the tool you’re using, but most blow dry brushes are best used on almost-dry hair (use a standard blow dryer first, or you’ll risk heat damage). Working in sections, take your hair and wrap it around the tool, brushing it under until the strands are completely dry. It might even rotate, doing most of the work for you. You can focus on the roots for lift, or twist the hair for a soft wave. Some blow dry brushes even have additional attachments to add bends, curls, or stretch out coils.
Dyson AirWrap
Best for creating multiple styles with one tool
Some will argue that the AirWrap popularised the at-home bouncy blow dry (and they’re probably right). While it’s the most expensive on the list, the AirWrap uses innovative technology to regulate heat distribution, maintaining the integrity of the hair. It also comes with six attachments to smooth, relax coils, straighten and ‘twist’ the hair for a perfect style, zero skill required. It even doubles as a hair dryer. Also, as someone with a chin-length bob, this is truly the best for short hair.
Details: Six attachments, connects to an app, enabling you to pre-set and save styling settings.
Price: $849
BondiBoost Blowout Brush Pro
Best for thick hair
This brush is easy, but has all the features you need for a smooth blow dry with plenty of volume. While it doesn’t come with additional attachments, the 75 mm barrel contains hard and soft bristles to capture the hair, leaving it shiny and lifted.
Details: Three heat and speed settings.
Price: $65
Mermade Hair Blow Dry Brush
Best for short hair
This brush has a 60 mm barrel, making it ideal for short or fine hair. It combines nylon and boar bristles for firm hold, and two heat settings depending on your preference. Use it to cut your blow dry time down, or to revive day-old hair that needs volume.
Details: Two heat settings.
Price: $109
Silver Bullet Genesis Hot Air Brush
Best to cut down styling time
Silver Bullet is an OG stylist brand, so you know you can trust the quality and ease of use. The Genesis Hot Air Brush is like a blow dryer and round brush in one. It doesn’t rotate, but that means it’s great for beginners (no tangles). Glide it through your hair for a straight look, or wrap the hair for more of a curl.
Details: $113
Price: Two speed and heat settings.
ghd Rise Volumising Hot Brush
Best for curly hair
This hot brush has widely-spaced bristles to reduce tangles, making it an ideal choice for thick, coarse or curly hair. It has a controlled heat setting at 185 degrees, smoothing and lifting the hair for shine and bounce.
Details: Soft bristles, controlled temperature setting.
Price: $295
ghd Duet blow dry 2-in-1
Best for fragile or damaged hair
The ghd Duet is similar to the Rise model, but it has a flatter barrel, plus innovative Heat-Air exchange technology for a smooth finish without heat damage. It is also designed to reduce humidity and frizz for a long-lasting finish.
Details: One temperature-controlled heat setting.
Price: $595
Silverbullet Superstar Multistyler Set
Best for frizz and flyaways
This tool is similar to the AirWrap in that is has multiple attachments, including a blow dryer, a brush and two directional curling attachments for a voluminous, Scandi-girl blow out.
Details: Four attachments.
Price: $350
Revlon One Step Volumiser Blowout Brush
Best for all hair types
This viral styler does a little it of everything: it dries, smooths, builds volume, and has an oval-shaped barrel for subtle waves. It’s also top-rated by those with curly hair as a way to cut down on drying time.
Details: Multiple heat and speed settings.
Price: $120
Images: @pernilleteisbaek, @vittoriacerutti
