What to Keep in Mind
- Heat Settings: Using a hot air brush that offers a range of heat settings will ensure you can create a mix of versatile styles and finishes. A brush with multiple heat settings also means it can work across all hair types and textures without causing any damage.Fine and thin hair already dries without much effort, so blasting it with extremely high heat will make them vulnerable and more prone to damage. Lower heat settings work best on fine or damaged hair to keep it safe and healthy. Those with thick, coarse or curly hair will need a higher heat setting to get a soft, smooth finish.Regardless of your hair type, finishing your blowout with a cool shot blast will lock your style in place. Michael Dueñas, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Veluer Creative, recommends picking a hot air brush with at least two temperature settings because not all hair textures require the same amount of heat. Being able to toggle between temperatures as you style reduces harmful exposure and brings healthier hair to all.
- Bristles: In terms of design, look for a brush with firm and evenly spaced bristles, which will prevent hair from getting caught as you run the brush through your hair. Material-wise, A mix of materials, like boar and nylon, will untangle hair and impart shine with each stroke. If your hair is prone to knots, plastic-capped bristles will gently remove snags without tugging. Raven Hurtado, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, recommends that anyone with long or thick hair should consider a hot air brush that has ceramic or titanium bristles, as they will add even more shine.
- Cool Shot: If you’ve been ignoring the cool shot button on your hot tools, you’ve been missing out on serious shine and longevity. This setting will really help set and style your hair to keep it in place all day. Hurtado explains when you top off your drying and styling session with a blast of cool air, it closes the cuticle and helps prevent frizz, leaving your hair with a shiny smooth finish.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the difference between a hot brush and a hot air brush?
“A hot brush is usually radiant heat or infrared heat and can not be used on wet hair,” says Dueñas, who adds that a hot air brush is just it sounds—it’s a bristled brush that heats up and blows air to straighten and smooth dry or slightly damp hair. “The hot hair brush is round, and you have to manually rotate so you get more lift and bounce with volume,” adds Hurtado.
Sometimes these tools include attachments, like a paddle or round brush, so you can create a variety of different looks while drying the hair at the same time, making the entire process more efficient.
If you’re only choosing a brush with one attachment, Dueñas tells us to look for one with a cylinder shape because it allows you to wrap your hair around it, thus creating more volume.
Is it okay to use a hot air brush every day?
Short answer: Yes, says Dueñas, who adds that “If you start to feel damage in your hair, as with any blow dryer, add a heat protectant to wet hair before styling.” He also recommends opting for a hot air brush with at least two temperature settings, so you’re not frying hair at high temperatures every day.
Do you use a hot air brush on wet or dry hair?
Unlike a hot brush, a hot air brush replaces your blow dryer, so it’s safe to use on wet or dry hair, says Dueñas. However, because sopping wet strands are super fragile, both of the stylists we interviewed said to wait until your hair is at least damp—although 70 percent dry would be the best—before picking up a hot tool for the fastest and healthiest results.
Why Shop with Us
Bianca Kratky is a commerce writer with over three years of experience covering beauty and fashion. Irene Richardson is a writer covering fashion and beauty trends for InStyle and also contributed to this article. Together they drew from the research done at InStyle’s testing Lab and the many insights provided by InStyle editors who tested at home. We also interviewed two additional stylists for this story, Raven Hurtado and Michael Dueñas.