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The 13 Best Round Brushes for a Salon-Level Blowout
Perfect your next hair look with these expert-loved picks
Perfecting an at-home blowout once required contortionist-level abilities combined with a little patience and a lot of skill, especially when styling the back of your head. But nowadays, thanks to the advancement in hair tools—from high-powered blow-dryers to one of the best round brushes—it's easier than ever to craft sleek styles that rival your local salon without dealing with arm fatigue.
Shop the Best Round Hair Brushes
Unlike a regular boar bristle or vented brush, round brushes feature cylindrical shapes in which hair wraps around for a seamless dry. Though many of these tools are crafted with similar materials, they're also available in a number of sizes depending on your hair texture and unique beauty needs. But regardless of the brush you choose, experts say a polished dry isn't achieved with dripping wet hair. "The key is to get all the moisture out," celebrity hairstylist Priscilla Valles tells Bazaar. "To achieve the smooth look, you need to keep drying until the hair is completely dry."
Here, we've narrowed down some of the best round brushes from Oribe, Sisley Paris, and more, that come highly recommended from experts. Whether your hair is short, extra long, curly, or super fine, these top picks can be game-changing to help deliver a bouncy, full-body blowout from the comfort of your bathroom.
Pros
- Offers a range of brushes
- Easy to use
Cons
When we polled hairstylists, everyone mentioned Olivia Garden's hair brushes. They win best overall round brush because they're foolproof: They come in a full range of sizes (general rule of thumb: the longer your hair, the larger and longer your barrel should be), and it's hard to get your hair tangled in an Olivia Garden round brush. If you need a place to start, the Ceramic + Ion Thermal Hairbrush is a best-seller. But you can also go through the brand's hair brush guide to find your perfect fit.
- Bristle type: synthetic
- Barrel material: ceramic
- Size options: .5 inches to 4.25 inches
Customer review: "Received this item from my hairdresser, as she said this was the best round brush to use for drying hair to get some volume! It works perfectly! The brush is super lightweight, easy to hold, and makes for easy and quick hair drying. Minimal hair gets stuck in the bristles, even wet, so it feels like it's safe to use!" —Erin
Pros
- Features an extended handle
Cons
- Brush may be too slim for some
A boar bristle round brush is ideal for someone with coarse hair texture, as it provides more stretch and tension than a ceramic or ionic brush. Hairdressers love the Ibiza line because the bristles are soft to protect the hair from heat damage but still provide adequate tension and hold to smooth curly or frizz-prone hair.
- Bristle type: nylon
- Barrel material: wood
- Size options: 35 to 85 millimeters
Customer review: "This brush is worth every penny. My hair came out so smooth, it’s so soft and doesn’t hurt your head, all my waves around my temple came out straight, and I didn’t have to use my straightener afterward. I love this. Highly recommend!!" —Natalia
Oribe Medium Round Brush
Pros
- Stylish
- Features an ergonomic handle
Cons
- Over $50
Oribe crafted a brush that's as efficient as it is pretty. Atop the stunning resin handle is a mix of boar bristles and nylon pins that move through hair without damaging or tugging and help distribute the natural oils in hair for more shine.
- Bristle type: boar, nylon
- Barrel material: Italian resin
- Size options: medium, large
Customer review: "This brush creates the perfect at-home blowout! Such a great product- highly recommend. Oribe never disappoints—this is such a high-quality brush and is also lightweight for travel." —Jackie W.
Pros
- Made with soft bristles
Cons
- Over $100
Here's a brush from the experts at Sisley Paris that's literally made for your next blowout. Its boar and nylon bristles are gentle yet effective, and compactly housed in a wooden barrel. The soft bristles provide hold for easy drying and also keep the hair super soft.
- Bristle type: Boar, nylon
- Barrel material: wood
- Size options: medium
Customer review: "Worth the price. This brush is amazing. I have fine, thin shoulder-length layers, and this brush leaves my hair looking shiny, full, and soft. A bouncy blow dry at home at last, which lasted until the next wash." —Sally
Ghd Ceramic Vented Round Brush
Pros
- Helps speed up blow-dry process
Cons
- Some find handle to be a little delicate
Ghd's ceramic vented round brush is especially ideal for at-home blowout fans with extra-long hair. Its thoughtful design features an extra-large hollow ceramic barrel that retains heat to allow for a faster blow-dry and a non-slip handle for control.
- Bristle type: nylon
- Barrel material: ceramic
- Size options: medium, 2.1 inches
Customer review: "I have been using this brush for a couple of weeks now, and I'm so happy with the results! My hair is long and now silky, and has volume and shine. It's just the best styling brush I've ever had!" —Athena
Pros
- Provides multiple styling options
- Great for fine and damaged hair
Cons
- Over $500
If you have long hair and want to invest in your at-home hair tools, you'd be smart to consider the viral Dyson Airwrap. It comes with a round brush attachment, which serves as a blow-dry brush, but it also includes attachments for creating soft waves and curls and smoothing flyaways. Plus, the heat is gentle on the hair. Consider this your souped-up round brush.
- Bristle type: nylon
- Barrel material: iron, nickel
- Size options: 2.21 inches
Customer review: "I love my Airwrap so much. Styling time is a fraction of what it once was. My hair is healthier than when I was previously using other round brush dryers. I’m so happy with this purchase. Truly life-changing!" —Clare
Pros
- Great for smoothing
Cons
- Bristles may not be ideal for fine hair
If you're already a fan of Moroccanoil's coveted hair staples, allow us to introduce you to their top-rated ceramic and ion-infused round brush. It heats up when in use with a blow-dryer, making drying and detangling hair a breeze.
- Bristle type: nylon, ionic
- Barrel material: ceramic
- Size options: 55 millimeters, 45 millimeters
Customer review: "If you’re looking for a hair brush that won’t burn or break your hair, this is it. Believe me. I blow dry my hair three to four times a week, so I needed a brush that protects my hair, this is the best option I have found so far." —Nathalie
Pros
- Can withstand temperatures of up to 482 degrees
- Contains sectioning tip within brush
Cons
- Best for shoulder-length hair or longer
This popular round brush proves that getting a polished, salon-level finish doesn't have to mean spending a ton of money. Ideal for reducing frizz, the staple uses a ceramic-coated barrel for even heat distribution and features an ergonomic handle for extra comfort.
- Bristle type: nylon
- Barrel material: ceramic
- Size options: 1.7, 1.3 inch
Customer review: "I have literally never been able to figure out how to do a blowout with a brush and a blow dryer. However, I finally taught myself with this brush and love it so much. I have naturally wavy/curly hair, and I was able to get a sleek blowout." —danim2009
Pros
- Great for smoothing and detangling
- Features an ergonomic design
Cons
- May not be ideal for fine hair
The three sturdy knobs on the handle of this round brush mean you don't have to worry about the tool accidentally slipping out of your hands mid-blow-dry. Plus, the positioning of bristles in Philip B.'s tool makes it simple to give your roots an extra lift.
- Bristle type: boar, nylon
- Barrel material: mahogany
- Size options: large, medium
La Bonne Brosse N.05 The Volume & Style Round Brush
Pros
- Earth-friendly
Cons
- Over $150
This volumizing round brush is almost too stylish to use, and will quickly become one of your go-tos for blowouts or otherwise. Its boar bristles help distribute your hair's natural oils from root to tip, and help boost shine and volume as you use it.
- Bristle type: boar
- Barrel material: cellulose acetate
- Size options: small
Customer review: "Love the color and size, it’s great for bangs and gives a little movement to my hair. Super soft as well." —Francesca
Drybar Full Pint Medium Round Ceramic Brush
Pros
- Ergonomic
- Features ionic technology
- Great for curly and straight styles
Cons
If you're in search of a round brush with the benefit of frizz control, look no further than this top-rated, ergonomic favorite from Drybar. Its bristles are optimized with ionic technology to mitigate frizz while providing salon-level tension control. It even has a thumbprint grip to help maximize your styling experience.
- Bristle type: boar
- Barrel material: ceramic
- Size options: medium, large
Customer review: "This brush is worth the money and the best blowout brush I have ever owned. It also doesn’t seem to pull or damage hair at all like other brushes." —Anonymous
The Hair Edit Sleek Goddess Boar Bristle Bamboo Round Brush
Pros
- Great for beginners
Cons
- May not be ideal for curly or coily hair
Hair Edit's Goddess Boar Bristle Brush will look nice and neutral on your vanity and give your hair a shiny, glossy blowout. The bristles are made of ethically sourced boar bristles and ball-tipped pins that grip the hair and polish the strands. At under $20, you can't beat the price point, either.
- Bristle type: boar
- Barrel material: bamboo
- Size options: medium
One reviewer says: "Gives good tension when giving yourself a blowout and doesn't heat up to the point it burns you! Plus, the boar bristles make my hair super soft and shiny!" —KT
Pros
- Under $20
- Great for fine and thinning hair
- Bristles are heat resistant up to 240 degrees
Cons
- Some reviewers say the handle hurts their hand while styling
This $14 round brush has earned a five-star rating from beauty lovers. The bristles are heat-resistant vegan boar bristles, and they're pretty densely packed, so you can get a grip and lift on the hair while still allowing strands to glide through without pulling.
- Bristle type: vegan boar
- Barrel material: bamboo
- Size options: 2.78 inches
One reviewer says: "It's like this hair brush was made for my fine and flat hair. Everyone with flat hair of any length should give this brush a shot." —Patti
Meet the experts
- Virginia Gamez is a hairstylist at Rita Hazan Salon in New York City.
- Tylor Johnson is a hairstylist and colorist based in San Francisco and the founder of Nous Haircare.
- Priscilla Valles is a celebrity hairstylist and extension expert.
How should I use a round hair brush?
Like anything worth learning, styling your hair with one of the best round brushes takes practice. "Ask your stylist if they’ll do a lesson," offers Gamez. It also might be helpful to reference a YouTube or TikTok tutorial. The general guidance is: start fresh out of the shower, detangle your hair, and then begin blow-drying and brushing small sections of hair, working your way around your head. You can start in the front or back sections. Professional hair colorist Tylor Johnson recommends starting with the front sections around your hairline, as your hairline pieces are the most important and require the most precision, and you don't want to be fatigued when styling them.
What are the benefits of using a round brush and blow-dryer?
Several top stylists prefer using round brushes and blow-dryers separately as opposed to an all-in-one device, as it enhances control while minimizing hair damage. "Blow-dry brushes tend to be high heat, so if you’re putting that tool on soaking wet hair, you’re going to overdry and damage it," explains Gamez. "A blow-dryer allows you to create space between the heat and the hair shaft as needed. You can control the air direction of a dryer with your nozzle, pointing downwards and sealing the cuticle, resulting in shinier, smoother hair, as opposed to a hot brush that blows air outwards in all directions."
On the other hand, blow-dry round brushes definitely have their benefits. According to Valles, one key factor is their overall ease of use to craft salon-worthy styles at home. "A blow-dry brush makes the process so much easier," Valles says. "Some people aren't as coordinated handling a brush and dryer simultaneously, but the blow-dry brush gives the same results and is easier to manage." At the end of the day, the best round brush for you is one you actually enjoy using regularly.
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For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.
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