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The 11 Best Hair Straightening Brushes for Smooth Hair in a Flash
Meet the easiest styling tool you'll ever use
Just like your go-to curling iron and blow dryer, the best straightening brushes are a mainstay for those who prefer straight styles with a little extra volume. There's nothing wrong with opting for your trusty flat iron to minimize frizz, but even the most effective tool doesn't hold a candle to the ease of gliding a straightening brush through your hair.
Shop the Best Hair Straightening Brushes
If you love the polished finish of a blowout but don't have time to put a round brush to use at home, these no-frills tools make getting a smooth finish a no-brainer. "Straightening brushes are a great way to instantly add polish and smoothness, especially to wavy hair," celebrity hairstylist David Lopez tells Bazaar. "For hair that is getting blown out often, it is a great way to touch up the blowout. Now with the new technology on the market, they can handle tighter and frizzier textures. For many hair types, it's a great way to add smoothness and, with the right technique, some bounce as well."
Here, we've rounded up some of the best hair straightening brushes worth adding to your routine, from ghd's Glide Hot Air Hair Brush to T3's Edge Heated Smoothing and Styling Brush. The following picks are beloved by Bazaar editors and stylists alike to get sleeker hair with minimum effort.
ghd Glide Hot Air Hair Brush
Pros
- Helps minimize hair static
Cons
- Reviewers said it's on the heavy side
Here's a best-selling brush that heats up to 365 degrees and features a mix of high-density shorter bristles and longer ones to detangle and smooth hair quickly. And since it uses ceramic heaters to distribute uniform heat, your hair is better protected against damage.
Features: ceramic technology, Pearl ceramic bristles, auto shut-off
Customer review: "I was nervous that this might work for me. I have thick coarse chin-length hair that really fluffs up after a wash and my home blow dry can make it worse. I have had ghd straighteners but never had a great result with them so rarely used. This brush is so easy to use and smooths my hair very fast. So glad I bought it." —Margjt
Bazaar culture editor Bianca Betancourt's before and after using ghd's Glide Hot Air Hair Brush.
Drybar The Brush Crush Heated Straightening Brush
Pros
- Works quickly
- Shuts off automatically
Cons
- Some reviewers said it left hair looking puffy
This top-rated hot brush heats up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and helps enhance shine as it straightens. It also mimics the structure of a paddle brush to seamlessly glide through wavy, curly, or tightly coiled hair with ease.
Features: ionic technology, digital temperature control, auto shut-off
Customer review: "Love love and love, I bought this brush with low expectations, and let me tell you it's amazing I can straighten my waist length curly 2b hair in two passes of the brush took me 15 minutes and my hair is silky and shiny." —NewbieR
T3 Edge Heated Smoothing & Styling Brush
Pros
- Boosts shine
- Comfortable handle
Cons
- Reviewers said it's on the heavy side
Lopez loves using this hot tool from T3 on his clients. It has several features that make it a breeze to get a polished, salon look from the comfort of home, and uses a single button to power it. The high-tech brush has heated edges that increase its straightening surface area.
Features: PrecisionEdge Design, T3 Rapid HeatIQ Technology, 3 heat settings, ion generator, high-performance ceramic heater
Customer review: "Fell in love! I have a heated brush I used for 8 years from another brand. I can't believe how much better this tool is! I'm not good with tools, and this is SOOO easy. I have wavy to curly fine hair, so I use heat sparingly. This tool smooths effortlessly and creates waves with a turn of the wrist. Highly recommend!!!" —VeniceBeachMom
amika Double Agent 2-in-1 Straightening Blow Dryer Brush
Pros
- Works on damp hair to help cut time
- Boosts shine
Cons
- Tool may not get hair pin-straight
This straightener and blow-dry brush in one is a godsend for those looking to cut down their getting routine in half (so, everyone). And because it has a negative ion generator, it gives hair a super-smooth finish sans frizz.
Features: Ceramic base and heated bristles, Negative ion generator, flexible teeth to grip hair
Customer review: "I used it on my wet hair and it straightened it perfectly. No frizz and super shiny! I’ve never had a blowout brush work this well on my wavy frizzy hair before." —Maitimci
Moroccanoil Smooth Style Ceramic Heated Brush
Pros
- Beveled edges
- Heats up quickly
Cons
- Location of the on/off button is inconvenient
This heated tool from Moroccanoil features beveled edges to smooth hard-to-reach areas of hair. Plus, its rows of ceramic bristles allow you to effortlessly channel the precision of your favorite paddle brush.
Features: heated beveled edges, ceramic cool tip bristles, advanced ionic technology
Customer review: "Heats well hair is naturally curly/somewhat dry works so well flat irons in a few minutes." —Pearl
Bazaar associate beauty editor Katie Intner's before and after using the Moroccanoil Smooth Style Ceramic Heated Brush.
John Paul Mitchell Systems Neuro Sleek Smoothing Hot Brush
Pros
- Shine-boosting
Cons
- Location of the on/off button is inconvenient
Styling second-day hair just got easier with this tool, which has five heat settings to suit all types and textures. Plus, it even includes an automatic shut-off, just in case you accidentally leave the tool on after leaving the house.
Features: optimized bristle design, SmartSense microchip, ion generator, five digital heat settings
Customer review: "I’ve had a straightening brush in the past and it got way too hot and left my hair feeling terrible. This brush was the complete opposite. You can control the temp setting and it doesn’t burn your hand if you touch along the outside of it. It left my hair feeling soft and didn’t leave it feeling damaged. Very pleased with this product and makes doing my hair a breeze now!" —ABR
Revlon Hair Straightening Heated Styling Brush
Pros
- Great for roots
Cons
- Reviewers said it's on the heavy side
This extra-long ceramic-coated brush detangles using a combination of interior combs and bristles, which helps minimize over-styling. It also has an LED smart heat memory system, auto shut-off, and a tangle-free cord.
Features: extra-long ceramic-coated surface, ionic generator, LED smart heat memory system, auto shut-off
Customer review: "My hair is long, to my waist and super curly. Spritzed hair with heat protection spray then slowly brushed my curls with this brush! I couldn't believe my eyes! In no time at all, it's straight as an arrow! I highly recommend this little gadget. Much faster and easier than a flat iron. Easy, quick and affordable!!" —Flossie
Photographer and studio coordinator Florence Sullivan tests the Revlon Hair Straightening Heated Styling Brush.
L'ange Hair Le Vite Hair Straightener Brush
Pros
- Includes auto shut-off feature
- Features an LCD digital interface
Cons
- Large size makes it harder to style small sections
Here's a straightening brush from L'ange Hair that uses ceramic bristles and far-infrared heat to get hair as straight as possible. The high-tech tool also heats up to 450 degrees for customizable styling.
Features: LCD digital interface, double negative ion technology, ceramic bristles
Customer review: "Great product, I’ve owned a few straighteners and this brush is awesome gets up to 450 degrees straightens as good as a flat iron. Auto off great feature for me as I’m forgetful." —Kris M.
Chi 3-in-1 Hot Smoothing Dryer Brush
Pros
- Includes ionic technology for faster drying
- Helps minimize heat damage
Cons
- Some reviewers say the blow-dry setting isn't powerful enough
Like Chi's coveted flat irons, its 3-in-1 ceramic Hot Smoothing Dryer Brush is also a hit among beauty lovers. It combines the drying power of a blow-dryer with the straightening prowess of a hot brush to get hair its sleekest, with evenly spaced bristles that help prevent knots and tangles.
Features: includes three different style settings (Heated Air, Warm Air & Hot Air + Heat), ceramic and ionic technology
Customer review: "Naturalistas…this one’s for you. Did wonders for 4C hair. Great combo tool." —Sharon H.
Pros
- Features a rotatable wand
- Maintains a consistent air temperature
Cons
- Some reviewers said it is very loud
While technically, this tool counts as a hot-air brush, the 6-in-1 device has a blow-dry paddle brush that uses low heat and intense airflow to smooth hair without damaging it. Customers are raving about how powerful—yet gentle—the multitasking tool is.
Features: includes wet and dry modes, ceramic coated attachments, three heat settings
Customer review: "Love it. Can take a little getting used to, and it's a bit heavy, but wow! It works great... give it a few test runs before deciding how you feel."
Bazaar beauty director Jenna Rosenstein's before and after using the Shark Beauty FlexStyle Air Drying and Styling System.
Sutra Beauty Heated Straightening Brush
Pros
- Easy to use
- Versatile
Cons
- Must allow hair to cool before applying styling products
Here's a hair straightening brush that uses tourmaline-infused titanium bristles and ionic technology to reduce frizz while getting hair silky smooth. Its five built-in heat settings ladder up to 450 degrees and is best used on dry hair in smaller sections.
Features: dual voltage; auto shut off
Customer review: "It's as easy as brushing my hair!! I love it!" —Jacqueline
Bazaar senior news editor Rosa Sanchez tests Sutra Beauty's Heated Straightening Brush.
Meet the experts
- David Lopez is a celebrity hairstylist and T3 ambassador based in New York City.
Can using a straightening brush damage hair?
According to Lopez, "Anything that adds heat to the hair is causing some sort of damage." He also notes that "with a straightening brush, you are also adding mechanical damage in addition to heat damage. However, the amount of damage is related to the tool you are using. In the T3 Edge, the bristles were specifically designed to be gentle on the hair to not snag or pull, even when you are trying to add bends."
Can you use a straightening brush on wet hair?
That's a big no. If you want a tool that styles wet hair, use a blow-dry brush instead, like the Amika brush above. Or consider a multitasking tool, like the Dyson Airwrap (which we've tested firsthand).
When should you use a flat iron instead of a hair straightener brush?
While hot tools are often subjective, Lopez notes that those with thicker hair may benefit more from a hair straightener than a straightening brush. "I would lean towards using an iron on very curly hair that needs a much more sleek polish," Lopez explains. "Straightening brushes are a great way to touch up blowouts on very curly hair, but more so good for instant gratification on wavier hair types when looking for a quick smooth blowout hairstyle."
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