Hot Air Brushes

What is a hot air brush?

A hot air brush is a round brush that blows hot air through its bristles. It dries and styles at the same time, like a salon blow-dry done with one hand. It gives root volume and smooths the lengths.

The principle is that of a blow-dry with a hair dryer and a round brush, combined in a single appliance. Your other hand stays free to hold the strand or to place the clips. It is the solution for people who cannot manage the hair dryer and the brush at the same time.

There are two main families. The fixed brush is handled like a classic brush, which you turn yourself. The rotating brush, like the Rowenta Brush Activ, turns by itself and winds the strand for you. The Dyson Airwrap i.d. goes a step further: it is a multi-styler with several attachments, brushes and curling barrels. Its airflow draws the strand in and wraps it around the attachment, without extreme heat. It connects to an app to adjust the curls.

Compared with a hair dryer, the hot air brush dries soaking-wet hair more slowly, yet it styles at the same time. It is therefore used on towel-dried or already half-dry hair.

How do you choose a hot air brush?

The diameter of the brush decides the result. A small brush forms tight curls and suits short hair. A large brush smooths and gives body to mid-length and long hair. Then look at the settings. Several temperatures let you adapt the heat: low for fine or bleached hair, higher for thick hair. A cold air position sets the hairstyle at the end.

The bristles and the coating matter too. A ceramic coating spreads heat evenly, and an ionic function helps limit frizz. The BaByliss Smooth Finish 1200 thus aims for a smooth, shiny blow-dry. Weight matters as well, because a full blow-dry is done with raised arms for long minutes. A light appliance tires the wrist less. A swivel cord that is long enough stops the wire from tangling when the brush turns around the head.

Finally, check the accessories supplied. Some hot air brushes come with several attachments of different sizes, and the Dyson Airwrap i.d. offers some for smoothing, volumising or curling. A storage case protects the attachments between uses.

For flatter smoothing, a flat iron remains more effective: see our hair straighteners. For more defined curls, our curling tongs and stylers range is made for you.

How do you use and care for a hot air brush?

Towel-dry your hair well: it should be damp, not soaking. Apply a heat protector to the lengths. Then separate your hair into four or five sections held by clips. Place the brush under the root of a strand, lift it upwards, then slide it slowly to the ends. Repeat two or three times per strand. Finish with a pass of cold air to set the volume.

After each use, unplug the appliance and let it cool. Remove any hair caught in the bristles. Clean the air filter at the back regularly, because a blocked filter makes the motor heat up.

To be kind to your hair, avoid passing repeatedly at full heat over the same strand. A medium temperature is enough for most hair. Space out blow-dries on fragile or bleached hair, and treat the ends with a mask once a week.

Hair dryers, flat irons and other styling tools can be found in our styling tools section.