Now is the time to explore hair tools. While we’ve finally mastered the art of at-home hair care, from reviving hair masks to indulgent hair perfumes, re-creating a professional blowout requires a bit more work. Not confident in your blow-drying skills? Upgrade your hairbrush to a straightening brush. Designed to smooth strands in a few simple strokes, straightening brushes eliminate the fuss of a multistep blowout.
Here’s how they work: “While traditional straighteners and flat irons use two heated plates to compress the hair, straightening brushes use a heating element at the base in conjunction with bristles that separate the hair and smooth in much larger sections than a traditional flat iron tool,” says Amanda Elaine Killen, lead pro educator and stylist at hair-tools brand amika. “This means you can smooth hair in a fraction of the time while preserving volume at the root.” So, not only do straightening brushes leave your hair silky smooth, but they also save a lot of time.
How to Use a Straightening Brush
Whether your hair errs on the denser, curlier side or is more fine, a straightening brush can give you smooth, straight hair. Think of them as no different from a typical hairbrush: “Glide the brush through the hair as you would a brush. You’ll want to section your hair into manageable sections that fit comfortably in the length of the brush, where the heating element sits,” Killen instructs. “For coarser or more textured hair, work in thinner sections for optimal heat distribution. Prior to straightening, make sure to thoroughly detangle the hair.” Ahead, discover the best straightening brushes worth investing in now, whatever your hair type.
Shop the Best Straightening Brushes
An industry favorite, amika's Polished Perfection Thermal Straightening Brush wins as best all-around brush. A hair tool that delivers the sleek results of a straightener with the ease and simplicity of a traditional hairbrush, this straightening brush gives you that effortless look while actually being effortless to use. You don’t have to worry about this hot tool damaging your strands—its innovative iRED Beam technology protects and preserves the natural moisture in your hair for a silky-smooth look.
When straightening hair, the goal is often to de-frizz and prevent static. Celebrity hairstylist José Eber designed a power-duo tool, the HST Infusion Brush, to not only provide the benefits of a straightener and brush but also to permeate hair simultaneously with argan oils or heat protectants. With both function and aesthetic in mind, Eber designed this straightening brush with anti-static ceramic bristles that impart luxurious sheen to the hair while also reducing frizz.
For the most luxurious shine, opt for the Smooth Style Ceramic Heated Brush by Moroccanoil, the beauty brand known for its iconic Moroccanoil Treatment. This straightening brush delivers the same shine quality as the famous oil. Made for every type of hair, from fine and straight to curly and coily, this hairstyling tool has advanced ionic technology that reduces static for shiny, sleek locks that last all day. Expert advice: For long-lasting shine, gently work a nourishing hair oil through your hair, then brush it through with the straightening brush.
Those with thicker or more dense hair are perhaps hair tools’ biggest skeptics. Due to the coarse texture of the hair, some struggle to see results. however, Using ghd’s Glide Professional Performance Hot Brush, however, the results are almost instantly visible. A combination of high-density short and longer bristles, this straightening brush effortlessly sweeps through hair, taming hard-to-manage strands and leaving thicker hair full of volume and body.
If your hair walks the line between textures — straight with a bit of a wave, for example, or both curly and frizzy — CHI’s Tourmaline Ceramic Hot Brush is the perfect starting point. Because has The ceramic bristles of this straightening brush enable firmer contact to any hair type, ultimately giving you more control when it comes to styling. Whether you're going for a straight, sleek look or voluminous waves, this straightening brush will give your hair a flawless finish.
Second-day styling is a thing, and sometimes second-day hair is actually the best version of your hair. Use Aria Beauty’s Luxury Iconic Straightening Brush for a quick fix that leaves your hair silky-smooth without flattening it. Smoothing hair with oils and elixirs can oftentimes leave it feeling weighed down. But with this straightening brush the volume of your hair is never compromised. Enhanced with top-grade infrared technology, this frizz-and-static-removing hot tool smooths hair in a single pass.
The beauty of a blowout is the volume and body it gives to hair. Blowouts instantly bring limp hair to life, and honestly, what could be better than having a really good hair day? Drybar, the nation’s premier blow-dry bar specializing in blowouts, designed the Brush Crush Heated Straightening Brush to bring its signature blowouts to the comfort of your home. This straightening brush fuses the heat of a flat iron with the structure of a paddle brush to create the ultimate two-in-one hair saver that will make your hair look salon-fresh.
When it comes to straightening curly hair, the repetition of passes with a hot flat iron can be extremely damaging. L’ange’s Le Vite Straightening Brush offers cool-tipped nylon bristles that not only keep your hair and scalp protected but also actually work in straightening curly hair. This straightening brush — essentially curly hair’s dream come true — is consistent in its results and gives the desired look of straight locks while minimizing heat damage and time.
With fine hair, typically it’s best to adhere to the maxims "less is more" and "a little bit goes a long way." For fine or thinning hair, opt for Enzo Milano’s SX Enzocool Professional Hot Comb instead of a straightening brush in paddle form. The delicateness of the comb, balanced with the heat, will do the job without being aggressive or pulling on the hair too intensely Expert advice: Start by sectioning the hair, then start at the root and work your way down, away from your head, to create a bit of volume.
The ultimate travel companion, DAFNI’s Allure Heated Hair Straightening Brush alleviates any stress when deciding which hair care products can fit into your suitcase. This straightening brush not only delivers salon-like smoothing and volumizing, it also makes the easy use of a straightening brush even easier: Thanks to its cordless design, it can be used just like any hairbrush. Whether you’re traveling for a couple of weeks or beach-bound for the day, this straightening brush is the perfect quick fix.
Though straightening brushes strive for sleek professional results, they are brushes, and the main function of a brush is to detangle hair. Revlon’s XL Hair Straightening Heated Styling Brush is expertly designed with ultralong ceramic combs and detangling bristles that gently glide through every hair type, leaving hair incredibly soft. Expert advice: When brushing to detangle and smooth your hair, be sure to move slowly so you have full control without pulling or damaging the strands.
A hair tool that is truly worth the investment, Dyson’s Airwrap™ Styler is the ultimate multitasker in a crowded world of hair-straightening brushes and tools. Designed for a vast range of hair types and styles, the Airwrap can truly do it all, from curling and waving to smoothing and drying. The best part? It's powered Dyson's renowned digital motor, which means no risk of extreme heat damage to your hair while using it. If you are in the market for one product that seems to do it all, this is your answer.
