Still haven't managed to bag aDyson Airwrap? Don't worry, us neither. If the £450 price tag was simply too extortionate (sobs) there are still plenty of great hair styling tools that can give you salon-worthy locks from home.
Enter the hot brush, which promises to give you the bounciest blow out from your own bedroom. What dreams are made of, eh?
What is a hot brush and are they bad for your hair?
Hot air brushes aren't bad for your hair overall, but they can be if they heat up too much. If you're using a hot air brush on a really hot setting then you can experience heat damage on your hair. The best way to avoid this is by buying a brush with temperature controls and using a heat spray before you style.
Can you use a hot brush on wet hair?
It really depends on what type of hot brush you're using. As a general rule, try to towel or air dry wet hair before using a hot brush, especially one with ceramic barrels.
Check out our picks of the best hot air brushes
Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections.
The best hot air brushes for an at-home blow dry
Reviews say: "It's sooo easy to use and even my limp hair looks like it's got a little bit of life to it after I've used it. I can imagine as I use it more the results will get better; however, for someone who's really bad with hair I'm so pleased with the results."
Pros
- This brush has three heat settings and two speed settings including a cool setting for setting your style
- The barrel size suits short - medium hair best and has been going viral on TikTok for its blow-dry abilities
Cons
- Some reviews say the design is a little bulky and drying takes quite some time for medium-length hair
Reviews say: "The larger brush is great for smoothing and adding style to long hair but the smaller brush is great for fringes and adds more curl. So I am absolutely thrilled with this Dual brush - I get the best of both worlds!"
Pros
- The brush comes with two different barrel sizes, 50 and 42mm for creating different looks
- Diamond infused ceramic barrel with frizz-control ionics for perfectly smooth styles
- There's two temperature control settings
Cons
- Some reviews say this one's not great for thick hair that's prone to frizz
LookFantasticwww.lookfantastic.com
Reviews say: "My hair is usually frizzy and hard to manage/hard to style, but this brush makes it so much smoother and I love the style."
Pros
- Soft bristles, a rotating brush head, and a ceramic barrel make this an all-around fab tool to create big, bouncy hair
- It also has temperature control settings - a must
Cons
- It's one of the more expensive hot air brushes out there, and it doesn't come with multiple size brush heads
AmazonReviews say: "This Hot Air Styler is truly a godsend. I found it easy to master the technique and can do my hair in twenty minutes. So happy, particularly when I think of all the money I'm saving not going to the hairdresser weekly!"
Pros
- This funky purple and gold brush has a 50mm ceramic barrel, heat control settings and soft polishing bristles.
- It also has a multi-rotational brush head for that blow-dry effect
Cons
- Some reviews say it takes a little bit of time to get used to using this brush, and it can tangle hair
AmazonReviews say: "I've been using these Remington steam brushes for about 20 years now. They are great on my long, fine hair leaving ringlets, curls or waves that last the whole day. The brushes last for ages, the bristles can be taken out and cleaned and the whole thing is so easy to use."
Pros
- This hot air brush is a total bargain, plus it has a super unique steam function for sleek voluminous locks
- It has two lengths of comb for creating different styles and a ceramic-coated barrel
Cons
- There's only one temperature control on this one, so be careful
Amazon
Reviews say: "The Glide is very easy to use and doesn't catch or pull the hair. The on-off switch is at the top of the handle near the brush head and is switched on by pressing it once and off by holding it for a few seconds. This is rather handy as you do tend to press it accidentally whilst styling."
Pros
- This one is slightly different from your usual blow-dry type brush, and it's more for hair straightening than voluminous waves
- It dries hair quickly and the mix of bristles allows easy, smooth styling
Cons
- It's pretty expensive, and some reviews say the brush is a bit heavy
AmazonReviews say: "It doesn't tangle your hair like I was scared it would, and it's not too hot to touch so I imagine it's far more gentle than all the heat I've been using up to now. I genuinely don't think I'll ever use my hair dryer again."
Pros
- This 2 in 1 dryer and hair styler is a great all-round product for people missing their pampering salon-worthy blow-dry
- It has three temperature controls and can straighten and curl hair too
Cons
- Some reviews say the barrel is too wide to create much of a curl
Bootswww.boots.com
Reviews say: "I have long fine hair and wanted to create curls without using excessive heat. This styler is perfect for acheiving this. It heats up quite hot , enough to make beautiful curls but not hot enough to do any damage."
Pros
- This absolute bargain of a styler has three interchangeable brushes, three heat controls and a curl release button for kinkier styles
Cons
- This brush is only really good for shorter haircuts because of the barrel size
AmazonReviews say: "I had reservations initially about the bristle brush, fearing it would tangle & break my hair, but the opposite has been true. My hair is left smooth & shiny, something I am impressed with."
Pros
- This ceramic-coated brush has three heat settings and two-speed settings for all your styling needs.
- The barrel sizes make this brush suitable for medium and even longer length hair
Cons
- It's a little more expensive and the power buttons are on the bottom of the brush, meaning they're not as easy to access while you're styling
Revolvewww.revolve.com
Reviews say: "Love the way brush straightens hair and gets rid of frizz! The size works well for me and it appears less harmful to hair then flat iron. I love the cute case too! Excellent product!"
Pros
- This mini brush is great for travelling, a troublesome fringe or even touch-ups throughout the day
Cons
- It's for use on dry hair only and only has one temperature control
AmazonReviews say: "Brilliant hairstyle product. Light and easy to use, heats up quickly too. Perfect for taming down my wavy hair, when I am in a hurry. In fact I think this value for money Hotbrush styler is one of the best on the market."
Pros
- The hot air brush is one of the cheaper styles out there and is great for short hair.
- The ceramic barrel adds shine to your hair and the bristles make it easy to give volume to your roots
Cons
- Some reviews say the heat control isn't good enough on this brush, and that it gets quite hot
AmazonReviews say: "With this styling devise you can have a new look/hairstyle every day. It has lots of features for wavy or ways to straighten your hair. Really good value and not overpriced. Excellent product."
Pros
- This lovely affordable styler comes with two heat and speed settings and a grand total of four attachments for flexible styling
Cons
- Some reviews say the refurb isn't as good as the original release of this product
AmazonReviews say: "Works well, has a nice solid premium feel to it. Comes in a nice box too if you are planning to give it as a gift. Doesn't get too hot."
Pros
- Although this is technically a bear comber, it's great for short hair or simple touchups or fringes
- We love the sleek design and it's at a pretty good price point too
Cons
- Some reviews say it's easy to accidentally turn it on and off while using it due to the placement of the power button
Bootswww.boots.com
Reviews say: "I really like this brush, it heats up quickly and grips your hair well so that you don't have to use both hands so much. It gives a really nice curl and good volume to roots."
Pros
- This compact hot air brush has three heat settings, including a cool one, a ceramic barrel, and ionic frizz control for sorting out those unruly locks
Cons
- Some reviews say it can take a little longer to use on medium or long hair
Superdrugwww.superdrug.com
Reviews say: "I have had this brush a while it's fantastic takes static out leaving my hair soft and shiny."
Pros
- The unique bristle pattern gives your hair a super shiny finish and sorts out your flyaway frizz pronto
Cons
- There's no heat control settings and some reviews say the brush itself doesn't get hot enough
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Things to consider for different hair types
Short hair: You'll need a brush with a slim barrel.
Long hair: A brush with long bristles is what you need, so you can capture lots of hair in each stroke.
Fine hair: Choose a model with temperature controls so it doesn't frazzle your fine locks.
Thick hair: Thick-haired honeys need a higher heat to lock in that style, so choose a model with temperature controls.
Afro hair: Harder bristles can de-tangle coils as you style.
How do you use a hot air brush to curl hair?
Hurrah! We love a multifunctional tool. You can indeed use a hot air brush to curl your hair, although you probably won't get super tight curls.
To curl your hair using your hot air brush by twisting the hair section out of the brush on the last pass through. The way you use a hot air brush is really similar to using a round brush for a blow dry, so
How do you clean a hot air brush?
It's important that you keep your hot brush clean to avoid product build-up and make sure you get that perfect blow-dry look every time.
To clean your hot air brush all you need to do is wipe is down with a hot towel, making sure to get rid of any hair or bits of product trapped in the bristles.