![Amika hair round blow dryer brush](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/14/12/amika.png)
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Whether it’s tousled waves or a sleeker look, you’ll soon be hot to trot, with these hair tools
There’s a whole host of hair products on the market that promise to provide volume but, when it comes to achieving a salon-style finish, the best hot brushes are hard to beat.
Typically, there are two types of hot brushes – some are designed to blow-dry hair and style it simultaneously, while others act as a heated straightening tool with ceramic bristles, to produce tousled waves or poker-straight styles.
Over the past two years, demand has rapidly surged for hot brushes, thanks, in part, to TikTok. On opposite ends of the price spectrum, tools from Dyson and Revlon have achieved viral fame on the app, as fans shared hair tutorials, showing incredibly satisfying before and after clips. The Covid lockdowns also inspired a surge in hot brush sales, as beauty buffs yearned for their beloved salon visits.
With such a booming market, we set about finding the best hot brushes available. We’ve tried oval-shaped brushes on wet and damp hair, as well as thinner barrels – some even come with retractable bristles. Keep scrolling for our full review and verdict.
We test all of our products in everyday settings (rather than in labs), to replicate how you will be using them. Products are rated on several criteria and, while these can vary depending on the type of product being tested, we take into consideration everything from performance to value to design and usability.
For this review, we put the biggest brands in haircare to the test, examining each hot brush on how easy it was to use, how quickly it dried and styled hair, how long those styles lasted and, of course, value for money. Our hair tangles fast, so, we also kept an eye out for the tools that didn’t snag or pull on delicate stands.
Before using a hot brush, don’t forget haircare’s golden rule: always use a heat protection spray to prevent damage and breakage. Keep reading to find out which hot brushes made the cut.
Louise Whitbread is a freelance beauty editor and writer, with expertise across make-up, skincare and haircare. She began working with The Independent in March 2020 and has reviewed hundreds of skincare, make-up and haircare products since then. All the products she features are thoroughly tried and tested for months on end, so you know they’re worth your money.
Taking the top spot is Amika’s hair round blow-dryer brush. It’s incredibly fast, surprisingly lightweight and couldn’t be easier to use. It speeds through wet hair to simultaneously blow-dry and style, plus it’s reasonably priced.
We also love the Revamp progloss volume and wave ceramic hot brush for styling dry hair. The retractable bristles are ingenious for preventing snagging, and it’s a lovely tool to get to grips with if you’re new to hot brushes.
Bad hair day? We’ve found the best hair brushes for every style