Have you heard of the hair brush that straightens your hair? No, I’m not talking about any ordinary hair brush, but actually an electric one.
Although they are similar to a hair straightener, they work in a different way. Instead of having flat iron plates, they actually have bristles, working in the same way as a normal brush, except with heat.
And what’s more, straightening brushes seem to be muscling in quite successfully on the hair styling market with DAFNI the leading the way.
Each straightener has pros and cons, and which one you get will more than likely depend on your hair type, budget and hair styling habits.
I personally use both straightening brushes and flat irons (just call me greedy!) and have different uses for each, depending on how much time I have or what my hair is looking like. I like my irons for super straight hair and my brush for a more natural straight look.
If you are interested in the low down on flat irons (like ghd, cloud 9) head on over to my straightening guide.
The brushes are often priced significantly cheaper than the high end hair straighteners, but are they any good?
I decided to dive into the specs and reviews of every brush I could track down. There are a few for sale, some better than others.
TIP: There are plenty of cheap models available for sale – cheap doesn’t always have to equal bad, but do your research and read reviews before purchasing.
Top Heated Hair Straighteners
What Is A Hair Straightening Brush?
Essentially they are a heated hair brush. They plug in like a usual hair straightener does. They tend to have a variable temperature so you can adjust according to your hair type.
Are they better than hair straighteners?
They work on all hair types, but I think they work best on fine hair. They do work on thick hair too, but they may take a little longer to work through.
They are very versatile and you can easily use them to curl and style your hair. As with hair straighteners, make sure you choose a brush that is made with ceramic so that you minimise potential damage to hair. They are not designed to be used on wet hair. Make sure your hair is completely dry first.
They are potentially more portable than a regular hair straightener so can be taken on holiday with more ease. Just check they are dual voltage.
Hair straightening brushes will give you a more natural look. You are able to create curls and a bit more volume than traditional flat irons.
In comparison to hair straighteners they are very new to the hair and beauty market. I think given time these will become the more popular choice when choosing what to buy to effectively straighten your hair. Especially if the prices stay so low.
Straightening Brush Reviews
ghd Glide Hot Brush
Just when you thought you couldn’t love ghd any more, they come along with a hot straightening brush!
If you’ve used ghd straighteners before, but the flat iron style, you’ll know that they produce high quality and long lasting products.
The ghd Glide Hot Brush is at the higher end of the price range of straightening brushes, but when you invest in a ghd you know the quality and customer support will be there.
Let’s jump into what to expect from a ghd straightening brush;
MAIN FEATURES
- Heats at 185C
- Ceramic and ionic technology
- Combination of high-density short bristles with long bristles to enable styling of large sections of hair
- Automatic sleep mode after 60 minutes of non-use
- 2.7m cable
- 2 year manufacturer’s guarantee
AsaVea Hair Straightening Brush (Rose Gold)
AsaVea have recently released this brush, a beautiful and stylish brush that really delivers. I think it’s really upped the quality and effectiveness and set the bar high for the competition.
This model is my favourite by far and so has won the top pick slot. It is also the straightening brush I ended up buying. Read on to find out why it deserves such a title.
WHAT I GOT
The straighteners arrived in a lovely luxurious looking box. Perfect for a gift for others or for yourself (thanks me!) Aside from the straightening brush itself (which is a beautiful pinky gold colour), there is a bag to store it in, or to take travelling with you. There is also a cleaning brush and a basic instruction booklet.
Using the Brush
As I mentioned before, the brush itself looks good. I love the colour. It is lightweight and easy to hold. The booklet explains how the brush works and what buttons to press and when.To switch the brush on you simply push and hold the On/Off button. The LCD display will show the default temperature of 355F (180C). You can switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius by pressing the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ button at the same time.
There is an Auto Lock function to keep the temperature locked in when you are using it. To unlock it (which you will need to do to adjust the temperature) you push the On/Off Button twice to unlock.
The temperature levels are changed by using the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ buttons, going up or down in 20F/10C increments.
As I have thick (and rather unruly) hair I increased the temperature all the way up to the maximum of 450F/210C. It took a few minutes to reach the desired temperature (the LCD display stopped flashing when it was ready).
I needed to section out my hair (as I do with my flat irons). My hair had been left to dry naturally after I washed it.
Side Note: Don’t ever use the brush on wet hair.
As I began to straighten my hair it felt initially quite strange. I am really used to my ghds and holding them and a brush to do my hair. It didn’t take too long to get used to them but I did find myself feeling the need for a glove to protect my empty hand that kept on wanting to get involved!
The end result? I really liked it. My hair wasn’t as dead straight as my ghds get it, but I really like the straight but more natural looking straight hair it achieved.
Since I’ve had them, I have used them frequently. I like the different look they give me.
Would I recommend them? Yes. If you want a more natural straight look they are perfect.
Hair Straightener Straightening Brush 3.0 From Asavea
The 3.0 model from Asavea is a cheaper model than the above Rose Gold brush. Although it is a more budget option, it is still an effective choice that delivers results.
The brush itself is smaller than the other model but still works to straighten hair in the same way.
Users with Afro-Caribbean hair report good results on relaxed hair.
This brush is more comb like and is perfect for regular use.
Some users report problems with accidentally switching the brush off during use so just watch where your hand is placed.
Getting the brush ready to use is very straight forward and quick. You can select the button you wish to use with the plus and minus buttons. The temperature range starts at 130 degrees and goes up to a maximum of 200 degrees.
Remember, if you have thinner hair, stick with the lower temperatures.
Babyliss Diamond Heated Smoothing Brush
The Babyliss Diamond is a popular straightening brush, possibly better suited to medium to long hair owing the style of the brush shape. As we saw with the straighteners post, Babyliss has really wowed us already when it comes to straightening products; and this straightening brush is no exception.
Although this brush is at the higher end of the price range you get quite a bit with it, aside from the trust of a well known brand. The 3 year guarantee is reassuring, as are the other features.
BaByliss are a brand associated with quality. As well as this brush, they also sell hair dryers, curling wands, heated rollers and hair straighteners.
There are 3 heat settings: 180°C, 190°C and 200°C so you can decide how hot you want it to be. This will depend on your hair type – the thicker your hair the hotter you should have it, the finer or more delicate your hair, the lower the heat setting should be.
The brush has an auto shut off which I think should be mandatory on all heated appliances. If the brush hasn’t been used for 72 minutes continuously it will automatically shut off.
The 360 degree swivel cord makes the brush easy to handle and manoeuvre around your head.
Although probably easier to use on longer hair, it is suitable on all hair types; the heated ceramic fins alongside the flexible bristles help to control your hair as you heat and brush at the same time.
The ions help to control the frizz by smoothing the cuticle and reducing static, making your hair shinier and healthier looking.
What is most unique about this straightening brush is the “diamond infused ceramic finish” that claims to help with smoothness and eliminating frizz. I found that this gimmick actually worked. The BaByliss Diamond Heated Smoothing and Straightening Brush works wonders when it comes to smoothing down frizz. Especially when used on the highest heat setting, this brush can tame flyaways and really straighten your hair with a single brush across each section.
It is recommended to first brush the bottom of your section of hair and then go over the outside to enhance smoothness. This tip definitely helps, when I brushed the inner side I instantly felt how straight my hair was but I was a little disappointed in the lack of smoothness – but the second brush just really set everything in place.
Something I really loved about this is that although it recommends working in sections, I felt like I could still get a really thorough job just by brushing through my hair with it. Just treating it like your regular hairbrush can give you really quick flawless results. It’s also amazing that this comes with a heat glove which is super convenient, but also very necessary as this does tend to heat my hair up really dramatically – so much so that I can feel a bit of the heat even through a glove!
Remington Sleek and Smooth Ceramic Straightening Brush
There are so many features that hair tools throw in that are often considered gimmicky. The Remington Sleek and Smooth Ceramic Straightening Brush is definitely one of them. This brush claims to have a Keratin and Macadamia protective technology infused that helps with smoothness – which definitely leads to a lot of scepticism. Let’s see if it actually delivered.
Whether it’s due to the Keratin or not this brush definitely works well. The ceramic bristles work amazingly to really seal in the straightening effect and avoid any frizziness.
A part of me thinks the Keratin might actually play a role because the radiance this gives my hair is comparable to the effect of an amazing hair oil or serum. I think this could be beneficial for thicker and frizzy hair.
This actually has a higher heat setting option to the Babyliss, but surprisingly I actually think it works equally as well. The added benefit of this one is definitely the finish it gives hair, it just smooths everything away even when not using any styling products.
BearMoo Ionic Heated Straightener Brush
BearMoo is not a brand that’s well known or recognised in the world of hair tools, but their take on the straightener brush is definitely commendable. Let’s see how they fared amongst this list of brushes.
This is definitely an impressive release considering how little we hear of the brand BearMoo. The brush works well in terms of heating up really fast, and it definitely gives you amazing results- results comparable to the rest of the list. Something that is particularly amazing about this brush is such a wide range of heat settings; this makes it one of the best when it comes to personalizing the brush to your needs. Whether you hair finer or thicker hair or want a more natural or pin-straight finish; the different heat settings can really help you get a versatile range of finishes.
While this isn’t as insanely smoothing as the rest, it does actually work really well to tame frizziness. You might not get shiny and sleek hair but for those with finer hair that is already sleek- this could work amazingly to avoid giving your hair a greasy look and it can avoid really emphasizing how fine your hair might be.
BESTOPE Hair Straightening Brush
Another unrecognisable brand appears to have delved into the world of hair straightening brushes. You can often find when it comes to straightening brushes that there are a lot of unknown and more affordable brands- it started off that way anyway and then the more well-known brands began to dabble in them. So it’s definitely nothing to steer away from, you may find the less-known brand actually works better! Let’s see if that’s the case here.
This brush is so uniquely designed in comparison to the rest that it just had to make it to the list! The bristles are placed in a unique arrangement of brush bristles on the outer edge with the ceramic normal brushes in the center. This technology is what helps this to be heat-protecting and avoid damaging your hair. Considering that this brush works at the same level to the rest when it comes to heating and straightening; this addition gives it some extra edge.
The heat-protecting and ion technology doesn’t only work to protect against heat, but it also works to give you a more thorough job. You’ll find your hair is completely detangled and straightened all the way through with just two brushes of this. This is another one that works so easily and quickly when used as a regular brush instead of sectioning off your hair- with the added benefit or a scalp massager!
DAFNI Hair Straightening Brush
The DAFNI Hair Straightening Brush has grown to be the most infamous when it comes to hair tools. This unassuming little brush has even earned itself a spot in the Daily Mail. So what is it about this brush that warrants so much chatter?
This is the first release of a hair straightening brush, and though many have followed it- this brush is magical. It is absolutely worthy of all of its fame. The DAFNI Hair Straightening Brush works so quickly that it’s almost unnatural. It is surprising considering that its maximum temperature is 185C while the rest go all the way up to 230C, but somehow the technology behind this grants the fastest process out there. You can complete your entire hair within minutes and still have a salon-quality finish with the added benefit of not damaging your hair.
The DAFNI brush is perfect if you’re looking to save on time. The technology behind the bristles is guaranteed to give you perfectly straightened hair super quickly. This brush is perfect for a more natural-looking finish, instead of pin-straight hair it will give you hair that looks naturally straight- it has a bit more body to it. It seriously helps with frizz and can help with any static you may suffer with. It’s especially amazing at getting the back of your head- you can easily tame everything down with just a few brushes and not worry about burning your scalp. What’s so amazing about this is that the heat-protecting quality gives you the results of a straightener while avoiding the damage. This one is definitely a 10/10.
DAFNI Go
That’s right, this amazing brush comes in a mini travel size too! The DAFNI Hair Straightening Brush was such a hit that the company decided to release a travel size version to make it easier to take with you wherever you go. Is that really necessary?
While straightening brushes are a revolutionary invention, we fail to recognize how hard they can be for certain people to use. For example, people with shorter hair might struggle with the size of the brush- it can be virtually impossible to get a precise straightening finish. That’s why the DAFNI Go is genius! This travel-size version works just as amazing as the original but caters to more people. It’s perfect for shorter hair and can give you a roots-to-ends straight finish without burning your scalp. Its narrowness makes it even easier to style your shorter hair and get an inward or outward wave instead of just pin-straight hair – this can especially helpful if you have layers.
Aside from hair types, this is perfect for convenience. The travel size makes it easier to (obviously) travel with, especially thanks to the safety of the thermal travel case and travel cover. But also for more day-to-day needs such as going to the gym- the size of this makes it perfect to carry around with you anywhere without the hassle with most large hair straighteners. What’s most impressive about this is that despite its smaller size, this still works identically to the original. It has the same features and gives you the same efficiency and smoothness, you just get to use it on the go.
2 in 1 Ionic Hair Straightener
The 2 in 1 Ionic Straightener utilises both MTC Heating and Ionic Technology to provide a popular and highly rated hair straightening brush.
Fast heat up time (less than 1 minute)
4 variable temperature settings from 150 degrees to 230 degre
Heat Resistant Glove
360 degree swivel cord for easier styling
Automatic switch off and temperature lock
360 day money back guarantee
Carry bag included
The 2 in 1 brush heats up quickly and has variable temperature settings allowing users to adjust the temperature according to their hair types. The manufacturers recommend;
· Thin, fine or bleached hair: 150C
· Coloured hair: 170C
· Normal or slightly curly hair: 190C
· Thick, curly or wavy hair: 230C
The Metal Ceramic Heater technology means that the straightener heats up quickly (less than 1 minute).
The Ionic technology helps to reduce frizz and increase the gloss by sealing the hair cuticle.
The Verdict – My Favourite Brush
Each of these brushes ticks lots of boxes and have very positive reviews. If you are after a more natural looking straight hairstyle as opposed to poker straight hair, these brushes are what you should buy.
My one recommendation would be to purchase a heat resistant mat as well to protect your surfaces when placing it down after use.
So which of these should you go for? They all have great reviews and have similar features. However, the AsaVea brand just about wins it for me, and indeed did as I ended up buying it.
It is lightweight, small, has variable temperature settings for all hair types and comes with a travel case.
Top Tips For Using Your Straightening Brush
Get the best out of your brush and enjoy lovely straight hair.
Dry Your Hair
It sounds kind of obvious but I have been asked a few times now if a straightening brush can be used on wet hair. The answer is most definitely no. That is, unless a new kind of wet to dry straightening brush has come out that I don’t know about (please do tell me if there is!)
Either let your hair dry naturally or use a hair dryer to dry it off.
Be Tangle Free
Make sure your hair is free of any tangles. If you have just dried it using a hair dryer it should be – but you may be using the heated straightening brush first without washing your hair first (which is perfectly ok), so make sure you have brushed it through with your usual hair brush.
Section Your Hair
If you have thick or medium to long hair I would recommend sectioning out your hair. Just use hair bands or any clips you might have.
Get Straightening
Once the straightening brush is heated up and ready to use, start brushing underneath the hair section, starting as close to the roots as you can.
If you have a heat glove (not all brushes come with one so you may need to buy one separately) use your other hand to pull your hair taut so that the brush can get through the hair.
Gently pull the brush down your hair until it reaches the end. Continue to do this until your hair is as straight as you want it to be. Shape your hair at the bottom by curling the brush under, as you would with a normal brush when blow drying.
You may want to run the brush over the top of your hair too to smooth away any waves.
Take Care
As with the flat irons, make sure you take care when straightening. Try and use a heat glove so you can protect your other hand and don’t get too close to your scalp – you don’t want to go burning that!
Finishing Off
Once you have worked your way through each section and are happy with the results you might want to use a serum or spray to hold it in place for longer.
Looking After Your Straightening Brush
Once the brush has completely cooled down you can use a damp cloth to wipe away any product residue and remove any hair from the brush.