The Ultimate Guide to the Best Hot Brushes in the UK
Hot brushes have revolutionised home hair styling, offering the promise of bouncy blow-dries and voluminous curls without the hefty salon price tag. These versatile tools combine the functions of brushes and heat stylers, making it easier than ever to achieve professional-looking results from the comfort of your own bathroom. In this comprehensive review, we put 14 of the most popular hot brushes through rigorous testing to identify the top performers across various categories.
Why Trust Our Expert Opinion
As a beauty journalist with over 15 years of experience, I've tested countless hair styling tools and developed a keen eye for what works. My personal journey with naturally curly hair has given me firsthand insight into the challenges of achieving polished styles at home. During the lockdown period when salon visits were impossible, I became particularly enamoured with hot brushes for their time-saving capabilities and impressive results. I always keep a hot brush on standby at home, and my testing methodology ensures thorough evaluation of each product's performance.
Our Testing Methodology
I tested 14 hot brushes from leading brands, including both blow-dry brushes and ceramic hot brushes in various shapes and sizes. Each tool was evaluated on medium-length curly hair under two conditions: immediately after washing and on day-old hair. For ceramic brushes, hair was completely dried before testing, while blow-dry brushes were used on dampened day-old hair.
Key evaluation criteria included:
- Time required to achieve both casual daytime looks and more polished evening styles
- Ease of handling and comfort during use
- Ability to achieve desired results consistently
- Hair condition immediately after styling
- Longevity of styles throughout a typical working day
After completing all tests, the hot brushes were either returned to manufacturers or donated to Crisis, a homelessness charity, for resale.
Top Performing Hot Brushes
Best Overall Hot Brush: GHD Duet Blowdry
Price: £278.99 at John Lewis
The GHD Duet Blowdry stands out as our top overall pick despite its intimidating appearance with a black ceramic barrel and spiky teeth. This innovative tool combines GHD's signature ceramic coating with intelligent heat sensing and warm-air styling at a low 120°C temperature.
Why we love it: The Duet represents a departure from GHD's traditional ceramic brushes by incorporating air styling technology. The ceramic-coated plastic bristles glide through hair effortlessly without tugging or snagging, while the even heat distribution allows for quick styling even on type-3 curly hair. This results in reduced styling time and less heat exposure, leading to healthier-looking hair with exceptional shine.
The versatility of the Duet is particularly impressive – by simply adjusting the brush angle during styling, users can achieve anything from bouncy, voluminous looks to sleek, straight styles. The finish it achieves is noticeably healthier and glossier than competitors, especially on drier hair ends.
Key specifications: Wet styling only, 460W motor, single heat setting, no ionic technology, 2.7m cord length.
Best Budget Hot Brush: Revlon One-Step Volumiser
Price: £25 at Argos
Launched in 2016, the Revlon One-Step Volumiser sparked the viral trend for air styling tools and remains a beloved staple in many home styling routines.
Why we love it: This brush excels in simplicity and effectiveness with no complicated settings – just plug in and switch on. The combination of warm air drying and ceramic barrel heating creates smooth, styled hair within minutes. The dual bristle system features nylon bristles for detangling and boar bristles for smoothing the outer cuticle, resulting in a sleek, shiny finish.
Users can achieve different effects by using different parts of the brush: the wider, flatter side creates smooth, straight styles while the curved edges provide root lift and slight curling at the ends. The ionic technology helps reduce frizz and maintain hair health, making this an exceptional value option for wet-to-dry styling.
Key specifications: Wet styling only, 800W motor, two heat settings plus cold shot, ionic technology included, 2m cord length.
Best Premium Multistyler: Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x
Price: £579.99 with diffuser at Argos
Dyson's latest Airwrap represents a significant upgrade to their air-powered styling tool series, utilizing the Coandă effect to wrap hair around curling barrels without direct heat contact.
Why we love it: The air-based styling approach significantly reduces heat damage and dehydration risks while eliminating the need for pre-drying hair. The upgraded 150,000 RPM motor dramatically speeds up drying compared to previous models, though this means attachments from earlier versions are incompatible.
Available in two versions (straight/wavy and curly/coily), each attachment features embedded RFID chips that automatically apply recommended settings. The MyDyson app provides personalised wrapping, drying, and cooling settings based on hair type, creating a foolproof system that delivers consistent, professional results.
The gentle styling leaves hair with soft, shiny ringlets in remarkably fast time, though the premium price point places it among the most expensive styling tools available.
Key specifications: Primarily wet styling (dry touch-ups possible), 1,700W motor, three adjustable heat settings plus cold shot, ionic technology included, 2m cord length.
Best Round Brush for Root Lift: Shark Glossi 2 in 1 Hot Tool
Price: £99.99 at Currys
Shark's Glossi offers versatile wet-or-dry styling capabilities in a compact, well-designed package that excels at creating root lift and volume.
Why we love it: This successor to the SmoothStyle features distinct wet and dry modes. In wet mode, air flows through brush vents for blow-dry brush styling, while dry mode uses heated ceramic plates for straightening brush effects. Three heat and airspeed settings in wet mode, plus three heat settings up to 215°C in dry mode, provide ample customization.
Smart heat sensors maintain even temperatures during styling, reducing heat damage risk and improving efficiency. The compact size allows for better root access, making it ideal for shorter hair styles. The 1,250W motor represents an upgrade from previous models, though very long or thick hair might benefit from larger alternatives.
Key specifications: Both wet and dry styling, 1,250W motor, three independent heat/air settings (wet mode), three heat settings (dry mode), no ionic technology, 2.4m cord length.
Best Cordless Hot Brush: Revamp Straight & Go
Price: £89.99 at Currys
For those needing styling flexibility on the go, the Revamp Straight & Go offers cordless convenience in a remarkably compact design perfect for travel or post-work touch-ups.
Why we love it: Weighing just 320g and measuring under 20cm, this brush easily fits in most handbags while providing effective styling capabilities. The curved design feels comfortable in hand and helps create smooth finishes with gentle flicks at the ends.
Ten temperature settings ranging from 130°C to 210°C accommodate everything from fine to coarse hair types, with the lowest setting even suitable for synthetic hair. The ceramic coating infused with coconut and argan oils leaves hair soft and shiny after styling.
The main limitations include slower heating time (approximately two minutes) compared to corded models and less suitability for very long or thick hair types.
Key specifications: Dry styling only, ceramic heated straightener (no motor), 10 heat settings (130°C-210°C), ionic technology included, cordless design.
Additional Notable Contenders
GHD Glide
Price: £179 at John Lewis
Best suited for straightening long, thick hair, the GHD Glide hot paddle brush serves as an excellent alternative to traditional straighteners. The ceramic bristles smooth, detangle, and straighten effectively while ionic technology reduces frizz and seals in moisture.
While it didn't make our final cut due to preference for more versatile tools, it remains a fantastic option for those prioritizing sleek, straight styles on substantial hair volumes.
Babyliss Air Power Volume
Price: £37.99 at John Lewis
This budget-friendly option offers both wet-to-dry air styling and dry-styling modes with heated ceramic fins. The 1,000W motor efficiently dries hair in under 10 minutes, while the ionic anti-frizz mode adds extra shine.
The main limitation involves the dry mode's insufficient power for fully styling type-3 curly hair without prior blow-drying, but it represents excellent value for money.
Hershesons the Multi-Tasker
Price: £195 at Hershesons
This fun multistyler features interchangeable heads for smoothing, lifting, and curling hair using heated barrels rather than air technology. Available in two hair length variants, it delivers good results with all attachments, though it requires dry hair for optimal performance.
The necessity for pre-drying hair and dry-only operation placed it behind more versatile competitors in our testing.
Essential Hot Brush Knowledge
Understanding Hot Brush Types
Modern hot brushes generally fall into two categories: those using hot plates (similar to straighteners or curling irons) and blow-dry brushes that utilize warm air combined with ceramic barrels. Blow-dry brushes work on damp hair for simultaneous drying and styling, while ceramic brushes require dry hair for optimal results.
Brush shape significantly influences styling outcomes:
- Paddle-shaped brushes: Ideal for straightening and smoothing
- Round brushes: Excellent for root lift and curling (smaller barrels create tighter curls)
- Oval brushes: Offer versatility for both smoothing and curling
Proper Usage Techniques
For blow-dry brushes, start with towel-dried hair, section from bottom to top, and pull the brush through hair from roots to ends while creating tension. Rotate round brushes during styling for added volume and finish with cool shots if available.
Ceramic hot brushes require completely dry hair. Section hair and slowly glide the brush down each section while maintaining tension. Allow each section to cool before proceeding and finish with hairspray for extended hold.
Sustainable and Budget-Friendly Options
For those concerned about cost or sustainability, manufacturer-refurbished models offer significant savings while maintaining electrical safety standards and warranty coverage. Some brands provide trade-in programs for discounts on new models, and several excellent options exist for under £50.
This article represents the most current information available, with updates made to reflect new products and pricing changes. All testing was conducted with rigorous methodology to ensure accurate, reliable recommendations for UK consumers seeking salon-quality results at home.
