Anyone with long hair will agree that drying our lovely long locks with the best hair tools is a chore we often dread. A hair dryer brush can help us get our hair from wet to dry in a fraction of the time while leaving our hair smoothed out and styled to perfection (without feeling like your arms are about to drop off).
Ready to achieve that bouncy blow-dry effect at home? This might be just the styling tool you've been searching for. Here's everything you need to know about hair dryer brushes that actually make hairstyles over 50 easy. We discuss everything from how to use them, to the best ones to buy.
Best hair dryer brushes at a glance:
• Best hair dryer brush overall: Revlon Salon One-Step Combo Pack: One Volumiser and One Paddle Dryer - Buy now on ebay
• Best hair dryer brush for damp hair: BaByliss Flawless Volume Hot Air Styler - Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best luxury hair dryer brush: Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler - Buy now on Amazon UK
There are many different types of hot air brushes on the market. From rotating hot air brushes that add volume at the root, to silicone bristles that aim to give your hair serious shine. The best part? They’re super affordable (for the most part), so you can get those salon-worthy results for a fraction of the price.
There are eight hair dryer brushes that continuously receive rave reviews, and we absolutely love them. Read up on them below, plus find out whether our Yours expert, Emily Gilbert, thinks the Dyson Ariwrap is worth the price tag.
The best hair dryer brushes to buy
Best hair dryer brush overall
Ebaywww.ebay.co.uk
This Revlon One-Step Combo Pack is hugely popular and it’s easy to see why. We love that it includes both a volumiser and paddle dryer that produce amazing results in record time. Both tools also feature Ionic Technology to help condition, smooth and make hair shinier, while also reducing frizz and static – something that many of us battle with at Yours.
Reviews also point out really handy features that you don’t always think about, such as: “The brush is big and has different types of bristles,” and “The lead is long so you're not restricted and can move easily.”
Most importantly, when we’re buying a heat styling product, we want something that isn’t going to leave us looking like we’ve been through a bush. We’re after sleek and shiny, and this is where the Revlon really holds its own: “My hair is naturally frizzy and I felt this helped with my frizz and smoothed my hair. It had lots of volume and wasn't static at all. Simple and easy to use. Highly recommended."
Pros
- Oval brush builds volume at the roots and creates beautifully curled ends
- Detangling bristles help dry, smooth, and style hair much quicker
Cons
- Lower power and heat than other drying tools on the market
| Power | 800 \ 820 w |
| Cord | 3 m tangle-free swivel cord |
| Temperature | Cool, Low and High (up to 79ºC) |
- Ionic technology for less frizz and shiny, healthy-looking hair
- Ceramic coating helps reduce heat damage from over-styling
- Tangle-free Combination Mix Bristles to detangle, smooth and create shine
How to use the Revlon One Step hair dryer and volumiser brush
We love this tutorial from YouTuber 'Skin Obsessed Mary' who shows us how she styles her hair with the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer to add some volume to her bob.
Her top tips include going from the root and rotating the brush with your wrist to create volume from underneath. On top, she dries the hair from the crown backwards and the hair at the front forwards to add more bounce on top.
As mentioned in the video, it's always important to use some heat protection spray when styling your hair. And although hot air brushes are much kinder to hair than the very hot ceramic plates on other styling products, it's still important to protect our tresses.
Best hair dryer brush for damp hair
amazonBabyliss are another brand leading the way in the hot air styling market. Their flawless volume hot air styler brush is made with a ceramic barrel for smooth shape and body and can be used directly on damp, towel-dried hair.
If you want “an easy, plug-and-play, blow-drying tool,” then this is the one for you. Reviews are gushing over how easy it is to get to grips with, and crucially, how well it styles, with one saying: “I dried my hair, straight from the towel. I couldn't believe it, it was absolutely amazing. Loads of volume on my fine-haired bob, which stayed in until the next day too with no backcombing or spray.”
It’s also been praised for how quiet it is too, which we love because there’s nothing worse than having to shout over the noise of a hairdryer!
Pros
- No need to pre-dry hair with other appliances before using this
- Small ceramic rotating barrel is ideal for shorter styles, layers and fringes
Cons
- Drying takes longer with coarser hair
| Power | 500 W |
| Cord | 2.2m swivel cord |
| Temperature | 2 heat settings plus cool setting |
- 500W power for use on damp hair to dry as you style
- 38mm titanium-ceramic barrel for smooth body and shape
- Mixed bristles for total styling control
- 2 heat settings plus a cool shot
- Ionic frizz-taming technology
How to use BaByliss hot air brush
BaByliss have many hair-drying brushes, however, one of the most popular is Flawless Volume Hot Air Styler.
Before you begin, use a regular hair brush to detangle and part the hair in the right place. Ensure that your hair is around 80 per cent dry.
Take one section, and start as close to the root as possible, using the brush to lift the hair at the root for extra volume as you go. Move down the lengths of the hair as you go, curling in slightly when you get towards the ends.
The hot air brush can get rather hot, so make sure you select the right heat setting for your hair, and allow plenty of time for the tool to cool before storing away.
The BaByliss Big Hair tool works in a similar way, with the added rotating function and we love this helpful video guide from Lovelygirliebits on YouTube.
Best luxury hair dryer brush
Amazon/dysonWe know this seems rather pricey for a hair tool, but if you've ever used a Dyson product, whether it's one of their fans, vacuum cleaners or their Supersonic Hair Dryer, you know you're getting a very high-quality product that works. With six different brush attachments included, depending on the style you want to achieve, it allows you to style and dry at the same time, without the use of extreme heat.
Yours writer Emily Gilbert tried the Airwrap and although she was pleased with the results, she does warn that “it can feel frustrating to find out that you'll most likely need to pay for pre-styling products to ensure your curls last, given have much you've already paid for the styler.”
Although the Airwrap is expensive, you do get a lot for your money, and Dyson have ensured you won’t have to spend too much in the future, either: “The addition of the attachments and the versatility of the styler is a huge plus in my eyes, allowing users to create a variety of different looks just by swapping out the attachments and I really like that I'll be able to purchase any future attachments that Dyson brings out without having to buy a whole new Airwrap set."
Read Emily Gilbert's full Dyson Airwrap review here.
Pros
- Dries and styles hair
- Attachments mean you can create a variety of looks
Cons
- Curls can fall out pretty fast without the use of extra hair product
- Definitely an investment
| Power | 220V-240V |
| Cord | 2.675 m |
| Temperature | Three precise heat settings (under 150C) |
- Self-wrap
- Multi-directional barrel
- Reduced heat damage
How to use Dyson Airwrap Styler
Dyson just knows how to get it right, whether it's vacuum cleaners, fans or in this case, hair styling tools. Their Airwrap is an extremely popular tool, despite its hefty price tag.
With seven different brush heads included, the possibilities really are endless when it comes to how you can style your hair. We're focussing on the round volumising brush for now, which works as a hot air brush for your hair.
Watch to see how Dyson uses this tool to add curl and volume to the hair using long, curling motions.
More picks of the best hair dryer brushes on the market
Best hair dryer brush for dry hair
look fantasticwww.lookfantastic.com
Made to be used on dry hair only, this hot brush is an alternative to hair straighteners, and it’ll smooth your hair quickly, as this reviewer found: “Heats up very quickly and runs through hair easily and you can also achieve almost poker-straight hair if you take a little more time. I have mostly fine hair, and this is perfect for me."
We think this is ideal for those days you need to tame frizzy hair in minutes without having to spend ages on your hair.
Pros
- Can be used on dry hair to iron out hair for smooth, straight locks
- Ioniser works to soften the look of frizz and flyaways
Cons
- Takes a while to heat, and is very hot
| Power | 220-240 volts |
| Cord | 2.7 m |
| Temperature | 185ºC |
- Automatic sleep mode after 60 minutes of non-use
- High-density short and longer bristles
- Ceramic technology and an ioniser
Best rotating hair dryer brush
bootswww.boots.com
If you think your hair would be better suited to a spinning brush head, the BaByliss Big Hair styler could be ideal. How do you know? Well, rotating brushes work really well on longer hair and, if you’re prone to static as well like my daughter, this brush sends negative ions to the hair to neutralise it.
Reviews praise it for being close to the quality of a salon blow dry, saying “it adds volume, superb shine and an excellent overall finish.” It’s great for frizzy or curly hair, making it sleeker and easier to manage.
Pros
- Rotating brush means a salon blow dry in half the time
- The ionic conditioning system helps combat static and frizz
Cons
- The brush may need to be replaced every year or so due to natural bristles
| Power | 700 W |
| Cord | 2.5m longer length cord |
| Temperature | 2 heats plus a cool setting |
- Large 50mm ceramic barrel
- Soft bristles for ultimate smoothness and shine
- Super ionic conditioning for a frizz-free, high-shine finish
- 2 rotation speeds for total control
- Multi-directional brush
- Hinged rear filter
- Protective cover
Best styling hair dryer brush
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AmazonSuitable for all hair types, this hot air brush will certainly do the trick, with 6 different attachments, including a diffuser to lift those curls. It’s so versatile, as this reviewer found: “I can style my hair in several different ways every time. When I curled my hair for a wedding party, the curls lasted all night. It dries my hair very gently and keeps the moisture in. Very easy to change the heads and it’s very light to use. I no longer need my hairdryer or straighteners to curl my hair.”
From waves, to curls, and straightening too, this really does do it all, and customers are thrilled with the finish as well: "I have shoulder length, fine hair which tends to look flat and lifeless, but since I’ve been using the Progloss Airstyle my hair looks full of volume and bounces as if I just come out of a hair salon.”
Pros
- Create all the styles you'd want: smoothing, waves, volume, curls and flicks
- Super shine ionic jet for sleek shine
Cons
- It takes some time to dry and style thicker hair
| Power | 1200 W |
| Cord | 3m salon cable |
| Temperature | 4 heat, 2-speed settings including cool shot button |
- 6 interchangeable attachments:
- Deep finger diffuser
- 19mm air curl tong with clip
- 38mm rotating air brush with firm bristles
- 32mm bristle air brush
- Smooth & shape cushioned paddle air brush with soft ball-tip bristles
- Drying nozzle to remove excessive moisture
- Progloss™ super smooth oils Keratin, Argan and Coconut infused ceramic barrel for ultimate smoothness
- Hinged rear filter for easy cleaning
Best hair dryer brush for shine
Curryswww.currys.co.uk
If your aim is to achieve glossy hair, this air dryer is a brilliant choice as it's infused with a unique combination of Progloss super smooth oils - including Keratin, Argan Oil and Coconut Oil to create hairstyles with a stunning shine (similar in design to the Untamed Defrizz hair dryer).
Reviews praise the quality of the product and ease of use, but also said the product is quite large which might make it difficult to wield. “I don't need to make a huge effort to get my hair dried, straightened and with a very nice curly finish. My hair also feels very smooth and soft.”
Pros
- It dries, detangles, smooths and styles your hair all at once
- Barrel infused with Progloss super smooth oils for enhanced shine
Cons
- Not suitable for use on shorter hair
| Power | 1200 W |
| Cord | 3m swivel cord |
| Temperature | 3 temperature settings and 3-speed settings |
- Ceramic barrel and Super shine 4 ionic jet emitters offer greater Ion hair coverage for smooth, shiny and frizz-free results with volume at the roots
- Lightweight and Functional design for ease of use and extra comfort while styling
- 46 x 72mm ceramic barrel
- Ionic conditioning
- Cool shot
- Suitable for wet hair
- Boar hair and nylon bristles
- Stay cool tip
- Removable filter
Best steam hair dryer brush
amazonIf you have a more cropped hairstyle, you might find most hot air brushes are a little too thick to use on your hair which is why it's ideal to use a thinner barrel on short styles. This one from Remington uses steam to style the hair how you like it, which is a much gentler way of styling hair, ideal for damaged locks.
Reviews say: “A very simple thing, it's a heated brush, that's what it does. There is a release button to loosen the brushes in case you get stuck which is handy. It's on or off, hot or not.”
Be warned – there is no automatic shut off with this brush so be careful to switch it off properly before leaving the house.
Pros
- Ideal for shorter hair as it has a thinner barrel
- Using the steam sets your curls in a gentler way
Cons
- Takes 5-10 minutes for the steam feature to heat up
| Power | 22 W, 120-240 V |
| Cord | 1.7 m swivel cord |
| Temperature | Unclear |
- Ceramic-coated barrel for even heat distribution
- Steam function for gentle styling
- On indicator light
- Curl release button for easy styling
- Includes a set of longer-length combs
- Worldwide voltage
Protecting your hair when using a hot air brush
Here are some of our favourite heat protection sprays on the market that are suitable for most hair types.
Best overall heat protection spray
amazonWe love this spray as it gives your hair added shine - great for really elevating your style. It’s infused with argan oil, which helps protect your hair from heat styling, and a little goes a long way. Seriously – don’t use too much or hair could end up looking greasy.
Pros
- Smells divine
- Infused with Argan oil for extra protection
- Adds lovely shine
Cons
- Can look greasy if you use too much
Best heat protection spray for fizzy hair
bootswww.boots.com
This works brilliantly on frizzy hair, taming those flyaways and smoothing dry ends. It’s easy to use and doesn’t leave hair looking greasy either. The bottle offers great value for money, but overall the OGX will offer a better finish.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Perfect for eliminating frizz
Cons
- Not as great quality as the OGX spray
Best heat protection spray for all hair types
Bootswww.boots.com
It's a classic and it’s easy to see why. L’Oréal’s iconic Elnett brand is ideal to use with all kinds of heat styling and for all hair types. It can leave hair a little too styled – depending on what you’re after, but it protects hair well and is good value.
How to choose the best hair dryer brush for your hair type
Firstly, you'll want to consider the length of your hair. If you have a shorter cut, like a cropped cut or very short bob, your hair would be better suited to a thinner barrel. Larger barrels such as the Revlon hair dryer may be far too big to use but they are ideal for longer lengths.
If you struggle with moving your wrists, it's probably a good idea to opt for a rotating brush, as this will do all the curling for you. You might also want to make sure your brush is nice and lightweight too, so check the weight before purchasing.
Lastly, you'll want to look at the bristles. Silicone tends to be the most gentle type, making it great for finer, more brittle hair. More natural-feeling bristles are great for smoothing out frizzy or curly hair.
How to use a hair dryer brush
If you’ve never used one before, a hair dryer brush or hot air brush as they're sometimes called is a hybrid of a hair dryer and a hair straightening iron and works to give you voluminous, smooth, blow-dried hair with ease.
The heat from the air dryer dries the hair after you’ve washed it and the bristles grab onto your hair to reduce frizz and smooth out your locks. And they’re not just for long hair, they’re great for all different hair types and lengths including very short hairstyles.
It really couldn't be easier to use a hair dryer brush. They're designed so that you can brush your hair with the dryer, just as you would a regular hair brush. The only difference is that they blow out hot air as you go, so your hair is styled and dried as you brush.
It's advised to use a hair dryer brush on towel-dried hair for best results, so after washing your hair, tie your hair up in a towel, get your skincare routine and make-up done before taking the towel down and styling your hair. You want to aim for around 80 per cent of your hair to already be dry before using.
In terms of products, it's a good idea to use a heat-protectant product before going in with your hair dryer brush to keep your locks protected. Also, you might want to use a specific hair serum or cream if you tend to struggle with frizz or dry ends to keep your hair looking healthy.
When brushing your hair with the dryer, work in sections (especially if you've got a lot of hair), going over each section of hair in long, smooth motions. When you get to the end of a strand, you can curl this inwards to get a bouncy, salon-blow-dried appearance.
Here's a brilliant video tutorial on styling your hair with a hot air brush for voluminous locks, creating ideal hairstyles for women over 60.
Conclusion
Hair drying brushes are a brilliant one-stop drying tool for most hair types. So if you're on a tight budget but still want your hair to look perfectly styled, they're a brilliant option.
One downside is that they still heat your hair, and even though you can achieve a lovely salon-style blow dry, if your hair is on the frizzy side, you may want to use a hotter straightening iron too.
Overall, we think they're brilliant for making your hair look like you've just come out of the salon with minimal effort and at a very affordable price.
Lorna White is a digital writer at Yours.co.uk and MotherandBaby.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team.