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Comparison

Hot air brush vs straighteners: which is better for you

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In short

A hot air brush dries and smooths in one step from damp hair, giving a soft, bouncy blow-dry with volume. Straighteners press dry hair between hot plates for a flatter, sleeker finish, and work best on hair that is already dry. Choose a hot air brush for speed from wet and natural movement; choose straighteners for poker-straight results or quick touch-ups on dry hair.

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

Our verdict

Choose a hot air brush such as the Dyson Airsmooth or ghd Duet Blowdry if you want to dry and smooth in one step with natural volume. Stick with straighteners if you want very sleek, flat hair, especially on thick or curly hair.

Both tools promise smoother hair, but they get there in very different ways. A hot air brush combines a dryer and a brush, using warm airflow and bristles to shape hair as it dries. Straighteners clamp sections between heated plates. Many people own one and wonder whether the other would suit them better, or whether a multi-styler can replace both. This guide compares the finish, the time each takes and the situations where one beats the other. We also look at two hot air brushes from our guides.

How each tool works

A hot air brush pushes warm air out through a brush head. As you draw it through damp hair, the bristles grip and stretch each section while the air dries it. That combination of tension and airflow smooths the hair and lifts the roots. Most hot air brushes keep the air well below the temperatures of metal plates; the ghd Duet Blowdry, for example, lists a 120°C maximum.

Straighteners have two heated plates, usually ceramic or titanium, that you close over a section of dry hair and glide down. Direct contact with hot plates reshapes the hair quickly and gives a flat, glossy finish. Plate temperatures on most straighteners are adjustable, and they are designed to be used on dry hair only.

Finish compared

If you like the look of a salon blow-dry, a hot air brush gets closer. If you want hair that is dead straight and stays that way, straighteners do it more reliably, especially on thick or curly hair.

PointHot air brushStraighteners
Starting pointDamp hair after towel-dryingFully dry hair
FinishSmooth with body and bendFlat, sleek and straight
Root volumeGoodLittle
StepsOne: dry and styleTwo: dry first, then straighten
Heat sourceWarm airflowHeated plates in contact with hair
Touch-ups on dry hairPossible, gentlerQuick and effective
Hot air brush and straighteners: typical differences

Two hot air brushes from our guides

Dyson's Airsmooth and ghd's Duet Blowdry both aim to replace a separate dryer and brush. The listings describe two different approaches: the Dyson uses airflow through anti-snag bristles, the ghd adds heated bristles and a plate.

FeatureDyson Airsmoothghd Duet Blowdry
Rated power1,080 W460 W
Stated weight580 gNot stated in description
Heat monitoringOver 20 times per second400 times per second
Maximum temperatureNot stated120°C
DesignTeardrop brush head, dual bristlesElliptical barrel plate, heated bristles
VoltageAutomatically adapts (universal)240 V
Dyson Airsmooth and ghd Duet Blowdry from the listings

See hot air brushes and multi-stylers →

Can a multi-styler replace straighteners?

For many people, yes, if a smooth, softly straight blow-dry is enough. Multi-stylers such as the Dyson Airwrap and Shark FlexStyle include smoothing brushes, and newer models add air straighteners or heated ceramic tools aimed at sleeker results. See Dyson Airwrap vs Airstrait and Shark FlexStyle vs FlexFusion for those options.

If your hair is very curly, coarse or frizz-prone and you want it completely flat, most air-only tools will not match straighteners. Many people keep a pair for touch-ups even after buying a multi-styler.

Which suits your hair

Our step-by-step hot air brush guide shows how to section and dry for the smoothest result.

  • Fine or flat hair: a hot air brush adds lift at the root that straighteners take away.
  • Thick or curly hair, sleek look: straighteners, or a multi-styler with a dedicated straightening tool.
  • Short hair: a small hot air brush is quick; see our guide to multi-stylers for short hair.
  • Busy mornings: a hot air brush saves a step by drying and styling at once.

Note:Both are hot mains appliances. Never use straighteners on wet hair unless the maker says they are designed for it, rest hot tools on a heat-resistant mat, keep them out of reach of children and unplug them after use.

Frequently asked questions

Is a hot air brush gentler than straighteners? Hot air brushes typically run at lower temperatures than straightener plates, and makers of both stress heat control. Follow each maker's guidance on settings.

Can I use a hot air brush on dry hair? Yes, for touch-ups and adding bend, but it is designed mainly for damp hair.

Will a hot air brush make my hair straight? It gives smooth, straight-ish hair with movement, not the flat finish of straighteners.

Do I need both? Not usually. Pick the tool that matches your usual style; keep straighteners only if you often want a very sleek look.

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