Toying with investing in one of the best hair straightener brushes? This hero tool is quickly growing in popularity as an alternative to traditional flat irons, and it could make a huge difference to the look and health of your hair.
Flat irons haven't always had the best reputation when it comes to hair health. Of course, the best hair straighteners should always come with clever tech to prevent damage and protect locks from breakage, split ends, and weakening. But by using a hair straightener brush you can do away with clamping and dragging altogether, optimise hair health, and open up a world of styling possibilities.
The best thing about these tools is their versatility. You could use one as your main hair smoothing device, particularly if you have a naturally curly hairstyle and don't want to iron out every iota of texture. They also tend to work at lower temperatures than flat irons, so are perfect for anyone wondering how to straighten hair without heat. You could also use it as a quick flyaway smoother after creating a bouncy blow dry with the best hair dryer. Hair straightener brushes can work on wet or dry hair, with those designed for wet hair offering a blow-dried look and those designed for dry hair an excellent solution to keep second-day hair in check.
A selection of hair straightener brushes we tested for this buying guide.
The best hair straightener brushes, as chosen by our experts
Why you can trust Woman & Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
If there’s one hair-tool brand that is sure to catch our attention every time they drop a product, it’s ghd. And while we’re well versed in the magic of the best ghd straighteners including the very swish GHD Platinum+, we never imagined they could make a hair straightener brush this good.
Living up to its name, the brand’s first professional hot brush, which has been dubbed 'the brush that broke the internet,' glides through locks to leave them straight and sleek, with the paddle’s ceramic coating imparting a glossy shine, making it our best hair straightener brush for gloss akin to an at-home keratin treatment. In just minutes, you can take your hair from frizzy to straight, but we have to point out that this isn’t one for when you want a poker-straight look. We found that as it only comes into contact with one side of the hair strands, it’s designed to give you a straight look in a healthier manner, leaving you with body and movement - perfect for glamming up our second-day hair.
By far one of our top choices on this list, the T3 Airebrush Duo packs a punch. With the option of two brush heads - round for a bouncy, volumised look, or paddle for a sleek, straight finish - it offers multiple styling options. Thanks to the densely packed bristles that also help with detangling, we found that styling was much more precise and focused with this than with brushes without the extra bristles. This model also boasts a volume booster switch, designed to add texture and body to the hair - not something we've seen on any other brush.
One thing to keep in mind is that the handle is pretty thick, meaning we found ourselves gripping close to the barrel (and the heat) to achieve precise styling. If you struggle with holding onto bulkier tools, this may not be the one for you. However, if you have tricky-to-manage hair that needs to be styled straight from the shower, this is an excellent option. Plus, if the answer to how often should you wash your hair differs from the reality of how often you actually do due to styling time, a blow dryer and straightening brush hybrid, like the T3, will save you a lot of time. Our hair went from damp and wavy to dry and bouncy, with no frizz in sight. As a much cheaper option than the Dyson Airwrap, this is a good alternative for a simple and reliable look.
For shiny, healthy-looking hair with zero frizz, this is your guy. A cheaper alternative to the ghd Glide, we were amazed at how good our damaged, bleached and dry hair looked after using this brush. It's particularly great for coloured hair, so if you are looking to try out a new fall hair colour and want to make sure that your hair stays looking glossy, the oils infused in the Revamp will nourish without leaving a greasy finish. It has a range of heat settings as well as intelligent heat control that regulates temperature for minimal hair damage - plus it comes with a heat-proof silicone mat that will come in handy for any heat tools.
After using the Revamp brush in a few different instances, we think this brush is most suitable for those with fine, wavy hair who don't need a heavy hand when it comes to straightening. Going from curly to straight using this tool, we found that it did take slightly longer than with other brushes. However, when going from a wavy, blow-dried look to straight, we were in love with the results. It is the perfect finishing tool that locks in gloss and keeps your hair straight and healthy. Certainly one of the best hair straightener brushes in terms of shine, we would recommend this brush for all hair types - just experiment with different ways to use it in your routine and find what works best for you.
With its fancy temperature dial, comfortable grooves, and copper-coloured plates, this exudes an air of premium sophistication. The ergonomic design allows for comfortable handling, while the wide paddle makes for quicker styling on even the thickest of hair types.
We loved the shiny finish to hair after use thanks to the ceramic plates. The variable temperature settings mean that you can tailor it to your own hair type, with thicker hair types benefiting from the higher heat. Fine hair types can avoid extra heat damage by opting for lower settings. The side-waves function sounds super cool, but we found that it doesn’t hold in locks very well. The brush also doesn’t give thick and curly hair the sleekest finish, and there is a potential for flyaways, so we’d invest in one of the best hair styling products for that, like a good serum.
From the first swipe of this brush, we were sold. It gave us that soft, smooth and straight look that we were hoping for in a matter of seconds. This then boosted our confidence and we went in quickly with thicker pieces of hair, which was where this styler fell short. To achieve a salon straight look on thick or curly hair, you will need to stick to small sections of hair and work slowly. However, due to the ease of using this tool thanks to its lightweight build, we didn't find that to be a problem. If you have hair extensions, Beauty Works does not recommend exceeding 180 degrees celsius, so keep this in mind when styling.
We found that the results lasted pretty well, with our hair remaining smooth and shiny for several days without the use of any additional products for hold. For the price point, it is a reliable and impressive brush that gets the job done much more easily than straighteners. As an added bonus, this brush also comes with a faux leather travel case that makes storage a dream.
This humble offering proves that you can get quality without maxing out your credit card. Working more like a dryer than a straightener, we found that this will blow-dry your hair straight while gliding through locks seamlessly, thanks to its detangling bristles. It's advised that you rough-dry your hair beforehand to remove any excess water, but the wide paddle of this let us speed through straightening with the addition of ionic conditioners that tame frizz and leave a shiny finish.
Those with thicker curlier hair might not get the straightest finish from this, owing to its low wattage, so you might have to go over the top with the best hair straighteners if you want a super-straight finish.
Dafni has long been a favourite for hair straightening brushes and this cordless offering proves why. Just like the Dyson Corrale revolutionised high-end hair straighteners with its cordless function, the Dafni Allure has done the same for the best hair straightener brushes. Its multi-length bristles are ceramic-coated for a shiny finish and reach different parts of the hair, which makes for faster styling.
Like the GHD Glide, it leaves even thick heads of hair straight in minutes and with a smooth, bouncy finish. Again, we found that it won’t leave your tresses dead-straight and doesn’t hold all day, but it’s light and compact to catch all of your hair and will fit in your bag for any midday touch-ups.
After the innovation of the GHD Glide, the brand’s newest drop caused a flurry of excitement among beauty fans when it launched. Unlike many of our other top picks, we found that it doesn’t fully straighten your hair but adds a voluminous bounce to drab or flat hair, so is undoubtedly the best hair straightener brush for volume. While we loved the GHD Glide for giving our second-day hair a sleeker look, the Rise will add to that by adding some salon-worthy movement to your ’do.
It does exactly what it says on the tin and can even add in a few curls if you wanted to change up your look a little bit. Our one and only niggle is that it can get caught in your hair slightly, so be sure to properly brush out any knots beforehand.
While professionals make achieving a bouncy blow-dry look painless, anyone who’s ever tried it themselves will understand that it’s not as easy as it looks. But the Dyson Airwrap does all the hard work for you with its well-thought-out attachments, with two brush heads that turn the Airwrap into a hair straightener brush plus the bonus of different-sized rounded barrels if you feel like trying your hand at putting some waves in - so this has to be our best hair straightener brush for using on wet hair.
Unlike most other hair straightening brushes, this can be used on wet hair, although they do recommend that you rough-dry your hair with the hairdryer attachment beforehand to remove any excess water. Using Dyson’s "Coanda" effect - a forceful spinning impeller creates a pressurised flow of air to pull hair towards the attachment, and then blows temperature-controlled air onto magnetised hair - the tools get wet hair into the shape of whatever attachment you’re using while it dries, which is a healthy way to dry your hair straight without exposing it to any surplus heat. While it does come with two different straightening brush heads - one for fine hair and one for coarse hair - we found this one is probably better suited to fine hair, as curlier hair will most likely be left with a pesky halo of frizz unless you go over it with a straightening iron afterward.
If you’re after salon-worthy results without running the risk of damage, this hot brush is for you. Bursting with ceramic bristles that emit infrared heat, the hot tool heats hair from the inside out to straighten it while reducing the risk of damage. Temperature can also be customised from 182°C for fine, thinner hair through to 230°C for curly hair or natural hairstyles that need a bit of extra heat. For the best and smoothest results, we recommend passing the brush underneath the section and as well as on top of the section.
As well as customisable temperature, the brush boasts double negative ion technology that promotes shine and a 360-degree swivel cord that makes styling effortless. Oh, and after 60 minutes the hot tool automatically switches off to give you peace of mind if you’re styling in a rush.
This hot tool has received countless five-star reviews - and we don't disagree! We have nothing but praise for how lightweight and easy to use it is, as well as its ability to heat up quickly, smoothing strands in seconds. A different design to others we’ve seen on the market, Moroccanoil’s heated brush features beveled edges that smooth hard-to-reach edges close to the root.
Asides from smoothing all over, clever ionic technology minimises static for shiny, frizz-free results. If you’re on the lookout for a heated brush that caters to all hair types and you're prepared to splurge - this is a great option. It also comes complete with a heat-resistant pouch that you can rest the brush on in-between sections.
Be it one of the best hair dryer brushes or a standard hairbrush - all brushes serve one main function and that’s to detangle strands. Revlon’s hair straightening brush is designed with extra-long, ceramic-coated bristles that gently glide through hair and get close to the root to detangle. Hair is left smooth and soft and, thanks to the ion generator (which seals the cuticle), frizz is a thing of the past.
We also love the fact this brush is lightweight and features a swivel cord that makes styling super easy. Plus, it features ten heat settings, which we found is a far greater range than most of its expensive counterparts - making this a very well-priced buy that's suitable for all hair types and needs.
How we tested the best hair straightener brushes for this guide
Selecting the best hair straightener brush for your hair type is key to getting the sleek, salon-worthy look that we all crave. From round and paddle brushes to blow drying stylers, each type will work slightly differently and provide unique results. We individually tested each of these hair straightener brushes and stylers on both wet and dry hair, looking at factors including user experience, weight and how they feel to hold, technical information, and, of course, the quality of results on our hair.
How to choose the best hair straightener brush
When looking for the best hair straightener brush, there are a few main things to consider:
- Is it designed to be used on wet or dry hair?
- Does it come with different temperature settings?
- How heavy is it?
- How wide is the paddle?
- What are the bristles like?
“It's important that a hot brush is lightweight, simple, and user-friendly,” says Ricky Walters, director of Salon64. “I always check to see that it does not tangle or matte the hair, as you want something that can glide through the hair with ease. It also shouldn’t be so hot that it burns or overcooks the hair, so a hot brush with a variable heat function or a low optimum temperature is ideal. And I prefer smaller teeth for fine hair and longer or larger teeth for thick or frizzy hair."
"Don’t always feel a hot brush has to replace your usual routine," adds Walters. "Wash, dry, and even home blow dry your hair as usual and you can use a hot brush to tweak and quick-fix your style. Use the brush to add a quick little wave, as in the case with wavy hairstyles, or bend at the ends relatively effortlessly for a smooth, blow-dried look."
Do hair straightening brushes really work?
"Hair straightening brushes do work and can be a great option for fast and easy styling, especially for hair that tangles easily," says Stephane Ferreira, Senior Colourist at Live True London. Although they don't work in the same way as a flat iron, in our experience, they provide very similar results. They are also usually easier to operate as you don't need to clamp down on the hair or hold it in place.
Can I use a straightening brush on wet hair?
"We never recommend using any heated tools like this (except for a blow dryer) on wet hair," says Ferreira. "This is because hair is most fragile and prone to breakage when wet, and when extreme heat is applied (even with a heat protectant) it can burn and break. Any heat tool that comes in direct contact with your hair should not be used when wet."
We recommend that you either give your hair a rough blow dry before styling, or you allow it to dry naturally and follow up with a hair straightening brush afterwards.
Which is best: hair straightening brush or flat iron?
"Flat irons and hair straightening brushes both do slightly different things," notes Ferreira. "A hair straightening brush will smooth out your hair but will not leave it completely straight. It also may not hold the style as long.
"However, as heat is only being applied to one side, it can cause less damage. It still requires some styling as you will need to section and slowly brush through your hair, but it can be easier to use than a flat iron. A brush may also give you a bit more volume. If pin straight hair is what you’re after, a flat iron is what you need."
-
Keira Knightley styles the best chocolate brown blazer with a blush pink skirt, coffee tone jumper and white slingback heelsAn oversized blazer is the answer to our cold-weather styling dilemmas
-
Shetland season 9 ending explained: Who murdered Annie and Bergen?We delve in the Shetland season 9 final episode to unpick everything happened, and find out who was responsible for the death of Annie and Bergen.
