Best Hot Brushes 2025: The internet’s most-wanted hair stylers and blow-dry brushes tried & tested

HERE’S the thing: I’m pretty rubbish at styling my hair.

While this is possibly the last thing you were expecting a Beauty Writer to say, it’s the truth, so I’m glad we’ve got that out of the way.

SUPPLIED

I put six bestselling hot brushes to the test[/caption]

Despite dedicating hours to trialling all of the latest hair tool innovations, researching all of their features, and being shown exactly how to use them by hair stylists, I’m no hairdresser.

But here’s the good news – rather than writing a complicated review that describes how to twist, wrap, and stack your hair into difficult hairstyles with a hot brush, I’ll keep this one straightforward.

A hot brush can be a game-changing tool for simultaneously volumising, shaping and (sometimes) drying hair, and I take a very simple approach to reviewing them:

Will it simplify my hair routine or overcomplicate it?

If a hot brush falls into the latter category then it’s failed the test, as I believe that beauty tools should solve problems and not create them.

Here’s a list of the very best…

AMIKA

These are the industry’s *hottest* hot brushes[/caption]

Best Hot Brushes: How I tested

Usually, I don’t do much with my hair (washing, brushing and occasionally tying it up is as far as I usually go), but I’ve recently been looking very glam.

Across a couple of weeks, I’ve twisted, brushed, and swept my hair with six of the industry’s most-wanted hot brushes to hunt down the best.

I tested each hot brush on clean hair (slightly damp for wet-to-dry stylers), and prepared it with the same heat spray each time – I love Arkive The Prologue Hair Primer.

Hot brush results and styling time can differ depending on your hair type – FYI, I have very thick, straight, waist-length hair.

BABYLISS

These hot brushes are straightforward to use and won’t break the bank[/caption]

Best Hot Brushes 2025 at a glance

Best for short hair – GHD Rise

While it won’t style wet hair, GHD Rise reigns superior at volumising locks.

I’m impressed with its nylon bristles which lift hair from the roots, and its sleek barrel that’s perfect for creating detailed waves.

Best for damaged or coloured hair – Dyson Airwrap

The Dyson Airwrap does it all.

Featuring six attachments for drying, smoothing, curling and waving, its innovative design dried and styled my hair in seconds.

Best overall – BaByliss Air Wand

With seven heat and speed settings, this hair tool has got gusto.

Its ionic straightening head smoothed my hair effectively, while its detangling hot brush attachment created a quick and bouncy blowout.

Best budget – Lily England Deluxe Hot Brush

You’ll struggle to curl your hair with this hot brush but its chunky barrel excels at lifting and texturing hair.

Its soft bristles glided through my locks, leaving it bouncy and refreshed.

Best for sleek styles – Amika Blowout Babe Thermal Brush

Supercharged (literally) with ionic technology, this space-saving tool promotes smooth, glossy hair.

While its bristles struggled to grip onto my locks, it left my hair looking sleek.

Best for thick hair – Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Styler 3-in-1

Boasting three clever attachments for drying, volumising and curling, this tool’s got bang for buck.

I created quick and easy waves with its curling wand, which had a defined, bouncy appearance.

The best hot brushes: find out which hot air brush gave the bounciest blow-dry

BaByliss Air Wand

BABYLISS

Dry and style your hair in minutes[/caption]

BaByliss Air Wand, £120

Pros: Ultra-powerful tool that dries hair in moments, two innovative, detachable styling heads, total of seven clever heat and speed settings

Cons: Hottest setting can produce a burning smell, fast wind speeds can make styling tricky, difficult to create curls

Rating: 5/5

My hot-take on Babyliss hair tools is that they’re very underrated.

I’m a huge fan of the Air Power Pro Hairdryer – once I’ve prised it out of the hands of my sisters, that is – and I’ve used the BaByliss Travel Hair Dryer for years, too.

So, I had high hopes for The Air Wand, which is Babyliss’ latest piece of kit.

A hairdryer, straightener, and hot brush, rolled into one, this clever, space-saving tool looks and feels like the Dyson Airwrap.

With its long wand with detachable styling heads, the Air Wand boasts seven heat and speed settings for optimising styling.

The styler can be used on damp hair, so I started with the Air Wand’s built-in hairdryer on its fastest and warmest setting.

While the tool never felt too hot or overheated my hair, it did produce a burning smell, so I knocked it down to its medium settings, which felt much more comfortable.

MIA LYNDON

This tool is excellent value-for-money[/caption]

Normally, it takes (what feels like) hours to dry my hair, but the Air Wand did it in minutes – probably thanks to its 123km/hr drying speed.

The styler also features smoothing technology, à la a dual-ionic system, which emits ions into the hair, sealing cuticles and reducing frizz.

Next, I clicked the Straightening head onto the wand, which features detangling prongs and a ceramic core for swift, fluff-free styling.

This attachment works in a similar way to the Dyson Dryer+Flyaway Smoother head and blows concentrated air onto hair to smooth and seal flyaways.

While its shallow bristles struggled to glide through my thick hair, I noticed that it instantly slicked down baby hairs and never felt too hot against my scalp.

MIA LYNDON

Babyliss hair tools are underrated[/caption]

BaByliss Air Wand, £120

A word of warning, though– thanks to the Air Wand’s high wind speeds, this attachment can get a bit blowy and throw your hair around your head like a leaf blower, so divide and conquer by splitting your hair into small sections.

The Air Wand’s straightening attachment won’t leave your hair poker-straight like a traditional straightener would, but it does help smooth and elongate your strands, leaving your hair neat and frizz-free.

The Volume Brush is another fantastic attachment, featuring a curved face and a combination of polishing and detangling bristles.  

This clever design glided through my hair without any friction, meaning I could sweep my locks into my desired shape and style.

Unlike other hot brush heads, this attachment isn’t round, meaning it’s tricky to create waves or curls, but it is effective at shaping fringes and adding flicks to the ends of your hair.

I used the Air Wand’s cool setting to finish off and lock in my style, and was impressed that it remained in place for most of the day.

This is a powerful, innovative tool which isn’t too heavy on the wallet – I’m calling it a real standout.

Dyson Airwrap Complete Long

DYSON

The clever tool does it all[/caption]

Dyson Airwrap Complete Long, £480

Pros: Six attachments address all of your styling needs, styles and dries hair almost instantly, cool shot button helps lock in your style

Cons: Requires homework – attachments can seem confusing at first, one of the pricer options on the market, hot brush attachment creates friction and doesn’t glide through hair

Rating: 5/5

While it’s not strictly just a hot brush, this review would be incomplete without mention of the Dyson Airwrap.

Arguably the most-wanted beauty tool of the decade, this hair styling tool has the industry wrapped around its finger – literally.

Famed for its innovative design, the Airwrap has clocked up supporters for its (so-called) quick and damage-free styling.

But is it worth its hefty £480 pricetag?

MIA LYNDON

I styled my hair into bouncy waves[/caption]

While I’ve been very impressed with my Airwrap overall, we have a bit of a love-hate relationship.

Admittedly, things usually stay very civil between me and my Airwrap – which I adore for its speedy, stunning results – but it’s not always straightforward to use.

I (over)confidentially assumed that I knew exactly how to use the Airwrap as soon as I opened it, which led to knotty hair and plenty of swearing the first time I used it.

So, while the Airwrap can curl, wave, and smooth hair in minutes, doing your homework and learning how to use it is key (YouTube will be your best friend for this).

The Dyson Airwrap is a wet-to-dry styler, meaning it styles and dries damp hair simultaneously.

Encased in a sleek, space-saving case, the Airwrap features six styling heads: 2x curling barrels, Dryer+Flyaway Smoother, Firm smoothing brush, Round volumising brush, and Soft smoothing brush.

MIA LYNDON

The Airwrap does it all[/caption]

You’ll likely recognise the curling barrels, AKA the Insta-famous curling wands which suck hair into effortless curls, but the other attachments are impressive, too.

While its design initially looks confusing, the Dryer+Flyaway Smoother attachment does a speedy job of drying hair and also features a handy cuticle smoother for tackling flyaways and frizz.

If blow-drying your hair typically results in frizzy, windswept locks, then the smoothing brush attachments will be the perfect addition to your routine, enabling you to brush and smooth your hair as you dry it.

All of the above are impressive, but this is a hot brush review after all, so let’s jump into the Round Volumising brush attachment.

Identical to a round brush you’d see in a salon, this attachment features fine, spikey bristles that glide through hair.

I used the attachment on damp hair, rolling my hair around the barrel, which quickly dried and neatly styled my locks.

The attachment’s bristles have a dense, spikey texture, meaning they’re prone to friction, so ensure you exercise caution when removing your hair from the styler to avoid pulling and breakage.

MIA LYNDON

It’s worth reading up on how to use the Airwrap first[/caption]

Dyson Airwrap Complete Long, £480

The most common complaint that I hear about the Airwrap is that its styling quickly falls flat, but there are a few ways to avoid this.

First up, utilise the cool-shot button after styling to seal your hair’s cuticles and lock in your style, and always follow up with a hairspray or gel.

Preparing your hair for heat styling with a primer or heat spray is also crucial for minimising damage – I love the Pre-Style Cream which Dyson launched last year.

Overall, the Dyson Airwrap is a pricey bit of tech, but it does everything – just do your homework and learn how to use it.

GHD Rise

GHD

GHD Rise lifts hair from the roots[/caption]

GHD Rise, £179

Pros: Simple, sleek design, quickly heats up to optimum styling temperature, can be used close to roots for lifted, volumised styles

Cons: Styling drops quickly, pricier than some competitors, short bristles struggle to grip onto hair

Rating: 4.5/5

GHD is a brand I’ve always looked up to.

I still remember when my mum splashed out on her first pair of GHD straighteners; my sisters and I gasping and cooing as she prised them from the box.

Ever since, I’ve been hooked – which is largely down to how effective and uncomplicated GHD products are.

When the brand launched GHD Rise in 2020, social media stood up and listened.

A hot brush that volumises hair by 50% without damage? Surely not.

But low and behold, Rise had become one of GHD most coveted hair tools – and with good reason.

Unlike other hot brushes I’ve tried, GHD Rise has a simple, sleek design and features a slim, heated barrel.

I was pleased to discover that it only has one button (‘On’), and heats up in a matter of seconds, playing a tune when it’s ready (which my boyfriend initially thought was the smoke detector going off).

All GHD tools are programmed to operate at 185ºC – considered the optimum temperature for detailed, stay-all-day styling that doesn’t overheat your hair.

MIA LYNDON

I wrapped my hair into detailed waves[/caption]

I tend to get very fed up with hair tools – I’ve never actually thrown one across the room but have been tempted on occasion – but Rise’s smooth, innovative design meant less frizz, less frustration, and quicker styling.

Its nylon bristles glided through my hair without pulling or tangling, meaning I quickly became a dab hand – or at least I’d like to think so.

I swept the tool through my hair, twiddling it into waves as I went, which resulted in slim, detailed curls that had plenty of bounce and texture.

While the barrel heats up hot, the bristles stay lukewarm, meaning you can use the tool close to your roots, resulting in fuller, bouncier hair.

MIA LYNDON

The tool leaves hair bouncy and loosely curled[/caption]

I already have thick, full hair, but the tool helped lift my hair from its roots, giving me an extra dose of volume and texture.

While this dropped within a few seconds, it didn’t fall flat and continued to stay in place for most of the day.

As for my waves, they began to unravel after a couple of hours but still held their texture, resulting in an elevated, put-together look.

While it doesn’t quite fit into the fool-proof category (it took me a few attempts to get a hang of twisting its barrel), the GHD Rise is one of the simplest – yet effective – hot brush tools I’ve used.

Amika Blowout Babe Thermal Brush

AMIKA

Amika Thermal Brush features ionic technology[/caption]

Amika Blowout Babe Thermal Brush, £95

Pros: Ionic technology leaves hair smooth and glossy, compact, lightweight design, flexible, detangling bristles

Cons: No heat indicator button, can’t be used to volumise roots, short bristles struggle to grip to hair

Rating: 4/5

Similar in size and shape to a standard hairbrush, Amika Blowout Babe is a bit of a pocket rocket.

Initially, I was expecting this blow-dry brush to be a wet-to-dry styler, and work similarly to a hairdryer, like the Lily England or Revlon stylers.

Instead, its thin, thermal ceramic barrel heats up like a curling tong and can only be used on dry hair (sadly, I learnt this after wetting my hair – which will teach me to read instructions properly). 

Its barrel is covered with fine, spiky bristles and has a built-in stand, which is handy for propping up the styler while you wait for it to heat up.

Speaking of which, the hot brush heats up very quickly, yet doesn’t have an optimum temperature indicator, meaning you have to do a bit of guesswork. 

MIA LYNDON

The styler glides through hair[/caption]

While its bristles feel sharp and scratchy to the touch, they sweep through hair effortlessly, detangling as they go.

Thanks to the styler’s petite barrel, I wrapped and twiddled my hair into loose waves without creating frizz or experiencing much friction.

Its flexible bristles are fairly shot, meaning they struggled to grip onto my thick hair, making styling slightly tricky, but this shouldn’t be a problem for those with finer hair. 

The barrel gets very hot, so you can’t use the styler close to your scalp, meaning it’s tough to volumise and lift your hair from the roots.

MIA LYNDON

The styler has a petite, simple design[/caption]

Amika Blowout Babe Thermal Brush, £95

However, I’m impressed with the styler’s iconic technology, which promotes a smooth, glossy finish.

Rather than just heating up your hair, this styler works by releasing ions that help seal your hair’s cuticles and tackle frizz during styling.

Usually, my hair has a fluffy, slightly frizzy look post-styling, but the Amika hot brush helped keep flyaways and baby hairs at bay.

After a busy day out (in windy weather), my hair still looked smoother and sleeker than usual, even if my waves had unravelled.

So, whether you’re a curling-pro, or just looking to brush and smooth your hair, you don’t need to be a hair whizz to master the Amika Blowout Babe Hot Brush, as it provides plenty of styling options.

 

Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Styler 3-in-1 Tool

REVLON

The Revlon styler features three attachments[/caption]

Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Styler 3 in 1 Tool, £74.99

Pros: Great budget alternative to the Dyson Airwrap, lightweight and easy to manoever, detachable styling heads help you achieve various styles

Cons: Hot brush attachment creates some friction when passing it through your hair, feels very hot against your scalp, style fell flat within a few hours

Rating: 4/5

Hailed as the ultimate alternative to the Dyson Airwrap, the Revlon One-Step caused a bit of a stir.

Following its success, the brand has since launched the Revlon One-Step Multi Styler – boasting them same technology plus three detachable styling heads.

Scanning at £405 less than Dyson, it’s one of the best value hair tools on the market – but can it cut the mustard?

This is one of the largest hot brush tools I’ve used, but also the most lightweight, and features a clever swivel cord, making manoeuvring it around your head very easy. 

Its styling heads attach with a satisfying click and operate on four heat settings: low, medium, high and cool shot.

You can use the Revlon styler on damp locks, so I began by using the root-drying concentrator, a clever attachment that quickly dries the hair near your scalp.

MIA LYNDON

The hair tool dries, styles, and waves hair[/caption]

While its thick, plastic bristles struggled to pass through my hair, causing some tension, the attachment is a game-changer, as many other stylers fail to dry the hair at the top of your head.

The Oval Shaped Brush attachment also does a brilliant job of drying your roots – meaning you could actually skip using the root-drying concentrator – and has a wide barrel covered in soft bristles.

This attachment passed through my hair with ease and both detangled and lifted my hair from its roots – resulting in a gorgeous, elevated look. 

With my hair dry and volumised, I went in with the curling tong which, unlike other curlers, uses hot air to style and shape your hair. 

MIA LYNDON

This is the upgraded version of the cult classic styler[/caption]

Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Styler 3 in 1 Tool, £74.99

Its long, sleek wand made wrapping my hair into curls easy, but it felt very hot when used near my roots, meaning I had to knock the temperature setting down to ‘Low’.

At first, I was very impressed that the curling wand features a clip (which helps hold everything in place as you wrap your hair around the barrel), but its strong grip left a noticeable kink in my hair.

It took me a long time to style my hair, thanks to styling it in small sections on a low heat setting, but the result was gorgeous.

I don’t usually wear my hair wavy, but I fell in love with the floaty, dainty waves that the Revlon styler created – even if they fell flat a few hours later.

Lily England Deluxe Hairdryer Brush

LILY ENGLAND

The Lily England brand is growing fast[/caption]

Lily England Deluxe Hairdryer Brush, £29.99 (was £49.99)

Pros: Smooth, snag-free bristles, lightweight design reduces aching hands, one of the most affordable options available

Cons: Large barrel makes creating waves and curls difficult, ineffective at simultaneously drying and styling hair, not much variation between speed settings

Rating: 4/5

Despite being one of the smallest brands on this list, Lily England is doing big things.

Now one of the industry’s fastest-growing cosmetic tool brands, the brand offers an impressive line-up of make-up bags, brushes, and hair tools.

But let’s not get sidetracked – the Lily England Hot Brush is one of the brand’s most-discussed products, and with good reason.

MIA LYNDON

The tool gave my hair plenty of lift[/caption]

First of all, this hot Brush is huge.

Unlike the sleek GHD Rise or the bite-sized Amika Brush, the Lily England Hot Brush features a wide, flat barrel design that’s set with soft, tangle-proof bristles.

Designed for use on wet hair, it sounds identical to a hairdryer once switched on, and has three settings, Cool, Low and High.

Initially, I assumed that these were heat settings, but soon learnt that they refer to airspeed – much like a hairdryer.

A ‘Cool’ setting is always a great addition to any hair styler – as cool air helps seal cuticles and lock in your style for longer – but this setting on the Lily England Hot Brush seemed unusually warm, so I’m doubtful of whether it’ll have its usual benefits.

I used the High setting on semi-damp, towel-dried hair, but it wasn’t powerful enough to both dry and style my long, thick locks.

Therefore, I had to do multiple passes to dry my hair first, before going back in again to style it, which proved very time-consuming.

However, I couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly the hot brush’s bristles slid through my hair without snagging or creating tension, which reduced frizz and – most importantly – meant my hand never became achy.

MIA LYNDON

The styler glides through hair[/caption]

Lily England Deluxe Hairdryer Brush, £34.99

Some of the other hot brushes on this list are perfect for creating waves and loose curls, but Lily England isn’t one of them.

Thanks to its chunky barrel, it’s nearly impossible to wind your hair into waves, but one thing this hot brush does excel at is creating texture and bounce.

Achieving this is very straightforward, and can be done by bringing the styler close to your scalp, which helps lift the hair from the root.

So if, like me, you’re not fussed about creating waves or intricate styles, then the Lily England Hot Brush is a failsafe option for quickly elevating your hair.

Best Hot Brushes 2025: the verdict

So here we are, six hairstyles later.

Hair tools are not made equal, meaning their results, ease-of-use, and price points can vary – but all of the above are pretty darn good.

Despite pulling together a list bestselling hot brushes, I was still unsure of how good they’d actually be, but the results say it all.

Now, I don’t want to get too cocky, but thanks to each of the tool’s user-friendly designs, I’m feeling much better about my hair styling skills, which speaks volumes.

But if you’re waiting for me to tell you which one is the best, then I’m afraid you’re about to be disappointed.

While I think that some are more superior to others (Babyliss and Dyson were real standouts), the right tool for you depends on what you’re looking for.

For big, bouncy styles that instantly elevate go for Amika, Lily England, or Babyliss, and for detailed styling, waves and curls go for Dyson, GHD or Revlon.

Whichever one you pop into your basket, you’re in for a treat as they’re all excellent, problem-solving, morning-routine-simplifying tools.

Now I just have to decide which one I’m going to use today…

Hotbrush and heat styling FAQs…

What’s the difference between a hot brush and a hair dryer?

While both devices can be used to dry and style hair, there are some key differences between a hot brush and a hair dryer.

A hairdryer is typically used on damp hair and works by blowing hot air onto a concentrated area.

On the other hand, not all hot brushes can be used on damp hair, and these devices typically have cylindrical barrels and are used for shaping, plumping, or curling hair.

Many models have multiple settings, meaning they save money on buying additional tools, and are easier to use and more time-effective than using a barrel brush and a hairdryer to style your hair. 

What’s the best way to use a hot brush?

Using a hot brush is a great way to lift and volumise your hair – but only if you use the tool effectively.

Portion your hair and gently sweep each section around the barrel, holding for a few seconds, twiddling it into a gentle curl as you go – this will create a bouncy lightweight blow-dry look.

Avoid pulling or applying too much pressure, as this can lead to breakage.

For the ultimate ‘lift’, section your hair and sweep the tool under your roots, close to your scalp, in an upwards motion. 

How to protect hair from heat damage

You should always use a heat protection spray, cream, or gel before styling with hot tools.

Arkive The Prologue Spray (£13) is a brilliant budget-friendly option, which protects hair without leaving it feeling heavy or greasy – plus,  it helps eliminate frizz.

Avoid using heat tools every day, and instead, reduce your usage by perfecting your technique for longer-lasting results. 

How to make a blow-dry last

While most blow-dry styles are performed on freshly washed hair, dirtier hair will hold its shape and curls longer.

Always prep your hair with a heat protection spray, opting for a shape-retaining option like Arkive The Prologue Spray (£13), and finish with a hairspray.

Opt for a flexible, lightweight option like L’Oreal Hairspray by Elnett for Normal Hold & Shine (£3.86).