We Tested 10 Hair Dryer Brushes–These Saved Us the Most Time

Hot Tools won the gold for effortlessly combing through and speedily styling even dense, coarse, or curly strands. In Beauty Lab evaluations, 100% of testers found that it styled hair fast and combed through strands with ease, although it's among the heaviest traditional blow dryer brushes we tested, so be prepared to put some elbow grease into perfecting your 'do. It ranked as the simplest to use compared with the other models, thanks to its intuitive rotating temperature control.

TESTERS SAID: “I was surprised by the speed and how fast my hair went from wet to dry,” one tester commented. Multiple testers also praised the end result, describing their hair as “shiny,” “sleek,” and “straight.”

With nine attachments and three heat settings, Sally Beauty’s all-in-one hairstyling system provides multiple options for styling without needing several tools. It also snagged a Beauty Innovation Award. Our testers rave that the round brush tool leaves their hair looking shiny and smooth, is easy to use, and doesn't get too hot. However, some noted that it can be easy to unintentionally switch settings during use due to the button layout.

TESTERS SAID: All of our consumer testers found that the attachments went on smoothly and the tool wasn’t heavy. One noted that it worked particularly well for her thick and wavy hair. "The handle is extremely lightweight—my arm doesn't get tired throughout styling. It's also SO quiet! I can still hear music playing on my phone while holding the styler by my ears."

The latest addition to Revlon’s One-Step line, the Multi-Styler earned a Beauty Award for offering versatility and a more comfortable user experience thanks to its thinner, more lightweight handle compared to previous models. The set comes with three easy-to-use attachments (an oval brush, round brush, and paddle brush) for volumizing, shaping, and straightening. Testers reported that it delivers just the right amount of heat for smoothing hair and adding shine without burning hair or scalp. Some did note that it might not create long-lasting waves or volume, so it’s a good idea to use a bit of holding spray after styling.

TESTERS SAID: “Compared to a traditional blow dryer, this was a thousand times easier to make my hair look smooth, shiny, and healthy,” one tester with thin, fine hair said. Another tester with thick, curly hair said, “It's hot enough to get through my hair and works quickly.”

Most blow dryer brushes are already perfect for curly hair since they combine smoothing and blow drying into one streamlined step, but if you want to embrace your texture, this pick is unique because it allows you to style natural hair straight or curly, thanks to diverse attachments and a swiveling base that also lets the tool function as a traditional hair dryer/diffuser combo. The brand claims the tool is less damaging than other tools, and we found it operates around 183ºF on average. One Beauty Lab analysis confirmed it had one of the fastest drying times we've seen.

TESTERS SAID: One of our consumer testers with thick, curly hair loved the smoothing brush and found that styles lasted for days. "I was impressed by its power, airflow, and versatility," a tester said. "I love that it comes with so many attachments, and that the diffuser has adjustable prongs to suit different hair lengths. It is definitely expensive and a bit heavier than a traditional hair dryer brush. I thought the tool was a bit hot and didn't produce the smoothest-looking style, but the versatility makes it worth it."

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Is the Shark FlexStyle Hair Dryer Really a "Dyson Airwrap Dupe"?

This do-it-all dryer comes with all the tools you need to create almost any style, from a sleek blowout to soft curls, and it pairs with an app to customize the experience for your hair type. Testers with curly hair especially liked the Airwrap i.d. because they found the attachments “work better for their hair type” compared to other mult-stylers. They noted that the large round volumizing brush attachment grips hair well, smoothing strands, and adding volume for hair that looks professionally styled. While it delivers a great blowout, some testers noted that the tool is noisy during use.

TESTERS SAID: “I loved that I was able to get a good grip with the large round brush because it allowed me to get smoothness all the way up to my roots,” one tester said. The included storage case was also a hit, with one tester commenting, “I really appreciate the sleek case that holds everything for convenient storage.”