No knock to the flatiron you’ve been loyal to since 10th grade, but the best hair-straightening brushes—styling tools that combine a flatiron and a hair brush—are changing the game. More intuitive than a traditional straightener, hot brushes are combed through the hair the same way you use a regular brush. They minimize damage and frizz, and transform second-day hair. Unlike many straighteners, they don’t clamp your hair and typically use lower heat to leave strands smooth and bouncy rather than pin-straight. If you’ve dismissed these tools in the past after trying a model that left your hair more scorched than smooth, we promise this new crop of gadgets has majorly turned a corner. We checked in with Allure editors and experts for their takes on the best hair-straightening brushes and got some pro hairstylist insight while we were at it.
Our Top Hair-Straightening Brushes
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x Multi-Styler and Dryer Curly+Coily
Why we love it: The Dyson Airwrap Coanda 2.0 is the brand’s smartest, most powerful multistyler yet—and yes, it’s even better than the original. With double the air pressure, a new motor, and automatic heat adaptation, it smooths, stretches, and styles hair faster than ever. Whether you’re going for a voluminous blowout, loose waves, or sleek, straight strands, each of the six intelligent attachments adapts automatically to your styling needs (and hair type) for salon-level results at home. Reach for the Anti-Snag Loop Brush 2.0 for your straightening sessions because it glides through hair effortlessly (no tugging, pulling, or snags).
Those with thick or curly hair will especially appreciate how effortlessly it smooths frizz and defines texture without the need for a flatiron. The best part? It connects to the MyDyson app via Bluetooth to create a custom heat and airflow profile. And because it automatically shuts off when set down, it’s as safe and thoughtful as it is high-performing. Translation: red carpet hair in minutes.
“This is the best Dyson tool I have ever tried—period. I have type 3A curly hair that I sometimes wear natural and sometimes blow-dry; this version of the Airwrap gets whatever look I want to achieve done in 15 minutes or less (yes!). This is coming from someone with low-porosity hair that takes seemingly forever to dry. The fact that I can get my curly hair handled before one of my two kids notices I’m gone is a miracle in itself. I love to use the round brush to create gentle tension that makes my blowouts last for days on end; the attachment is a vast improvement over the older version, IMO. This new iteration gets far closer to the roots for a more natural finish. There’s zero frizz, all volume, and just the most Farrah Fawcett-like hair of your life—no tugging, singing, or sore arms necessary. And the diffuser? There are two settings, and both are so effective at giving you bouncy and juicy curls. One really amazing feature is that the tool automatically shuts off when it senses that it’s been put down, an unexpected but much-loved perk for routine stylers like me.
If you have the original Airwrap, if you’re new to multistylers, or if you’re Dyson-curious, this is the product to buy—especially in this new Amber Silk color. It’s a pretty warm honey that’s more my style than the classic midnight blue. Any Dyson is an investment, and while this one’s steep, you’ll be able to kiss your curling iron, blow dryer, and straightener goodbye with a single hot tool. For curly girls especially, it’s nice to have a tool that feels tailor-made for your routine. The only person I might not recommend it for? A constant traveler who loves doing their hair on the go; the power cord is heavy and not very compact, making this less frequent flier-friendly than other stylers on the market.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
- Best for: all hair types, especially curly and textured hair
- Heat: up to 302°F
- Weight: 2.14 lbs
- Attachments: 6 (Fast Dryer 2x, Tension Comb 2x, 1.6″ Co-anda2x Curling Barrel, Round Volumizing Brush 2x, Anti-Snag Loop Brush 2x, Wave+Curl Diffuser 2x)
Best for Curly Hair: Shark Glossi Blowout Brush
Why we love it: If you have curly or coily hair and want a blow-dry brush that works with your texture instead of against it, the Shark Glossi Blowout Brush will seal the deal. Its teardrop-shaped barrel hugs the roots and smooths hair from end to end without snagging or tugging. Think of it as a round brush, ceramic hot tool, and air styler all in one: It has two modes to accommodate wet or dry strands (a rarity for straightening brushes) and leaves behind a bouncy, glossy finish every time. The brand’s GlossLock Technology seals in up to 24 hours of frizz-resistant shine, while Smart Heat Sense Technology keeps the temperature below 302°F to help protect fragile curls from heat damage.
Tester feedback from Shipin
“My fastest routine hack ever? Using this Shark Glossi brush. This gets me and my curly hair out of the shower and through the front door in 20 minutes, flat. The handle is smaller than the average blow-dryer brush that I’ve used, making it easier and more comfortable to maneuver around my head (especially important if you’re in a rush to begin with), and it can be used on dry or wet hair. I love how straightforward the product is, but be patient with the motions: You’ll need to practice a bit to ensure you use the straightening section correctly when transitioning from wet to dry. Once you have it down, the whole thing is a breeze. It’s not a tool I’d use for styling—given that the head is so large, I definitely need to get closer to the roots or S-wave my hair with a straightener—but that’s not what it’s for! The Glossi is great for quick and smooth utility drying, and would be great for travel. Don’t want to chance it on a hotel blow dryer, or pack multiple tools? This is your one and done. (PS: The Shark Speed Style has a much smaller head that lets you style and blow-dry simultaneously; I use this one more often when I have time on my hands.)” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
- Best for: curly, textured hair
- Heat: up to 302°F
- Weight: 1.6 lbs
- Attachments: 1
Best Affordable: Revlon One Step Volumizer Plus
Why we love it: Our editors are such fans of the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus that it won a 2025 Best of Beauty Award for Best Brush Dryer. Why? It’s the well-priced secret to at-home blowouts, saving you time and money. Yes, it has a rounded barrel so it can offer that bouncier look, but if you simply just comb it through the hair, it will give you straight strands in no time. And, the barrel of the Plus version is smaller than the original, making it even less of a hassle to pass through each section of hair with the brush’s nylon bristles.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“I’m no expert at styling my hair, so the more straightforward a tool, the better—and I really appreciate that Revlon’s One-Step Plus doesn’t have much of a learning curve. I douse my hair in a leave-in conditioner with built-in heat protectant, wrap everything in a microfiber towel to let it all soak in, and wait until it’s about 60% dry before gently blasting it with medium heat. I work in small sections around my head, running the brush through multiple times to make sure everything is fully dry. I’ll sometimes set my front pieces with the cool shot mode, but I’m not super precious about it. The tool itself is still rather bulky for my liking—even though the top of the handle is slimmer than that of the 1.0—but it gets a good job for the price, and there’s a good chance you can snag the tool when it’s on sale.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Best for: all hair types and textures
- Heat: up to 400°F
- Weight: 1.8 lbs
- Attachments: 1
Best for Thick Hair: GHD Glide Smoothing Hot Brush
Why we love it: The GHD Glide Smoothing Hot Brush is an unassuming powerhouse of a straightening brush. Don’t let its minimalist design fool you—it delivers sleek, salon-level results with zero fuss. Maintaining a steady 365ºF (the brand’s signature “optimal styling temperature”), its oval head smooths strands without causing heat damage or static. A clever mix of short and long ceramic-coated bristles glides through even the thickest sections effortlessly without snagging or tugging. That combo means faster styling, less frizz, and a glossy finish that works on every hair type, from fine to ultra-dense. Plus, its sleek, minimalist design looks just as good sitting on your vanity as it does mid-blowout.
Tester feedback from contributor Annie Blackman
“I don’t know how I wasn’t hip to straightening brushes sooner. I’m so bad with a flatiron, so this totally changed the game for me. I love a tool with no learning curve—especially one that doesn’t fry my hair as I use it.” —Annie Blackman, contributor
- Best for: all hair types, especially thick
- Heat: up to 365ºF
- Weight: 1.2 lbs
- Attachments: 1
Best for Volume: Mane It’s Giving Body Medium Hot Thermal Round Brush
Why we love it: Mane was founded by celebrity hairstylist and Ouai co-founder Jen Atkin, and frankly, you can tell a pro had her hands in this tool’s creation. The It’s Giving Body Hot Thermal Round Brush has one universal heat setting (355°F) for safe styling, and its thin barrel lends to serious volume at the root and either sleek straight strands or soft ringlets, if you want a bit of bounce. It’s quick to heat up (you’ll know it’s ready when you hear a double beep), and the negative ionic construction means smooth, low-static results. Plus, if you have textured or curly hair, no sweat: We’ve found that brush is a good match for all hair types. Keep in mind that since this brush has a narrower barrel, it may take a bit longer to style thick hair (It’s worth the extra 10 minutes, we promise!).
“After multiple days of heat-styling my hair, sometimes my hair looks a little too flat. This heated brush smooths my strands without completely ridding them of volume. Also, styling my hair with this heated round brush goes so quickly. I was able to style my thick hair in under eight minutes.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
- Best for: people who want volume and versatility
- Heat: 355°F
- Weight: 1.3 lbs
- Attachments: 1
Best for Fast Styling: Wavytalk Thermal Brush
Why we love it: If you’ve been on TikTok for over 10 seconds in the past year or two, you’ve probably seen someone raving about the Wavytalk Thermal Brush. Whether they’re swooning over the minimal passes it takes to straighten or the bang-to-buck ratio (it’s often on sale!), this editor-beloved tool is selling like hotcakes. With five temperature settings, an LED display, and double heaters for faster warm-up and styling, it’s as user-friendly as it is time-saving. Plus? The Wavytalk comes with two clips to help section hair.
There’s no auto shut-off or other fancy features, but in our testing, it styled hair in half the time it usually took with a hair dryer and round brush. (We also found that it performed best on hair that’s been air-dried versus blown dry.) Some testers even said it’s “like wizardry” for fine hair, as its smaller size and round barrel get straight to the root to offer mega volume.
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
“I’ll admit there’s a bit of a learning curve with this thermal brush, but overall, I’m really happy with how easy it is to mimic the results of a blowout. For my longer layers, wrapping my hair around the brush before gently pulling, while twisting, did the trick for creating a nice curl all the way through. Its curling capabilities for short hair are a bit more limited; however, I found turning the brush towards my face added a nice ‘swoop’ effect. “So if you’re in the market for a whole lotta volume up front, it’s totally worth the $50.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
- Best for: everyone
- Heat: up to 420℉
- Weight: 1.2 lbs
- Attachments: 1
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a hair-straightening brush and a flatiron?
“A thermal brush has bristles, resembling a brush, and a hair straightener does not have any bristles,” says New York City-based hairstylist Devin Toth. Capisce? Both tools use heat to style your hair, delivering results ranging from pin-straight tresses to bouncy waves, but employ different constructions to do so.
What should I look for when choosing a hair-straightening brush?
Your choice of hair-straightening brushes depends on price range, personal preference on shape and size, and the results you want from your new tool. “I think most tools in this space have similar features, so I would look for a barrel shape and size that resembles the tightness of curl you are trying to achieve,” suggests Toth. “For example, a flat thermal brush will give you straight hair, a thermal brush with a tiny barrel shape will give you curl, and a thermal brush with a large barrel shape will give you more of a bouncy blowout.”
Are hair-straightening brushes safe?
As with any thermal hair-styling tool, hair-straightening brushes are safe as long as you’re smart about use. “Keep them moving and don’t overheat any one area of hair for too long,” says Toth. “And don’t use the highest heat setting unless you absolutely need to.” Finally, before using any heat on your hair, always prep using a heat protectant.
Another tip? Los Angeles-based hairstylist and founder of Trademark Beauty, Joseph Maine, pointed out the importance of keeping your hot tool spick and span (a.k.a. removing hair buildup after use) so it heats evenly and doesn’t snag your hair.
Meet the experts
- Devin Toth, a hairstylist based in New York City
- Joseph Maine, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist and founder of Trademark Beauty
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for any review, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. When reviewing tools, we also take into account testers’ experience levels. For instance, an innovative new hair dryer may feature industry-leading technology, but if the only people who find it intuitive to use are professional hairstylists, we have to consider this when determining whether it is worthy of a recommendation.
For our review of the best hair-straightening brushes, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hair stylists—who have different types of hair, concerns, desired outcomes. Testers considered performance across three primary categories: efficacy, safety and ease of use, and value. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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