Sick of wrestling with your blow-dryer as you try to reach the back of your head? Tired of having to do that and then reach for the flat iron to get your strands perfectly smooth? Meet your new go-to multi-tasker, a straightening brush.
These brilliant hot tools are exactly what they sound like—electric brushes that pull double-duty, distributing heat quickly and evenly so you can score a smooth, sleek style faster than ever. You will have to dry your hair, but a rough dry is totally fine; the hair shouldn’t be wet, but don’t worry about it blowing it out perfectly. Then, simply brush through as you would with a regular brush. The bristles not only make it easier and faster to disperse the smoothing heat but also greatly minimize heat-induced damage, always a good thing.
Check out the best straightening brushes below, and get ready to ditch the flat iron once and for all.
Best Overall
Drybar The Brush Crush Heated Straightening Brush
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Courtesy of Sephora
Works on all hair types
Adds shine
Decreases frizz
Pricier than other options
No matter whether your hair is fine and straight or thick and coily, a few passes with this brush will have you looking like you just left the salon. It heats up to 450 degrees, though it has a digital temperature control so you can adjust the heat based on your hair texture. Meanwhile, ionic technology works to both tamp down frizz and increase shine.
Price at time of publish: $149
Max Temp: 450 F | Features: Ionic technology, 60-minute auto shut-off, 9-foot cord | Wireless: No
Best Budget
Infiniti Pro by Conair Hot Paddle Brush
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Affordable
Works on all hair types
Decreases frizz
Difficult to get close to your roots
Despite the fact that this rings in for less than twenty dollars, it still offers many of the same features as its pricier counterparts. We’re talking an instant heat-up and automatic safety shut-off, three different heat settings, and a combo of nylon, silicone, and ceramic bristles that glide smoothly through the hair. It does only go up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, though if your hair is fine, naturally straight, or damaged, that’s totally hot enough.
Price at time of publish: $20
Max Temp: 400 F | Features: Nylon, silicone, and ceramic bristles, 3 heat settings, auto shut-off, ion generator | Wireless: No
Best Drugstore
Remington Pro 2-in-1 Heated Straightening Brush
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Courtesy of Bed Bath & Beyond
Affordable
Decreases frizz
Comes in various colors
Not ideal for short or finer hair
Believe it, you can find quality hot tools at the drugstore; this multi-tasker is proof positive. Ceramic bristles glide seamlessly through your hair, while the anti-static coating and ionic technology work in tandem to smooth frizz. There are three heat settings to choose from, and in true drugstore fashion, it won’t break the bank.
Price at time of publish: $30
Max Temp: 450 F | Features: Thermaluxe Advanced Thermal Technology, anti-static coating, ion generator, 3 heat settings, LED indicators, cool tip bristles, tangle-free swivel cord, heat-protective pouch | Wireless: No
Best for Thick Hair
Revlon Hair Straightening Heated Styling Brush
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Courtesy of Ulta
Lightweight
Works on all hair types
Volumizes
Cannot be used on wet hair
Byrdie Senior Editor Hallie Gould is a fan of this option, which boasts an especially large surface area that makes it great for reaching more hair with every pass, a major win for those with thicker textures. It’s lightweight and ergonomically designed to be comfortable to hold, has 10 different heat settings, and the detangling bristles glide through even ultra-coarse strands. And let’s not forget to mention the affordable price tag.
Price at time of publish: $50
Max Temp: 430 F | Features: Ceramic plates, duo detangling bristles, 10 heat settings, automatic worldwide dual voltage, 60-minute auto shut-off, ion generator | Wireless: No
Best for Frizzy Hair
Moroccanoil Smooth Style Ceramic Heated Brush
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Amazon
Can reach your roots
Decreases frizz
Pricier than other options
These multi-tasking tools are perfect to reach for on those days when frizz is seemingly unavoidable, and this one is especially choice. Along with frizz-fighting ionic technology, the brush has unique heated and beveled edges that let you reach even the hairs closest to the root—i.e. the spot where errant flyaways often crop up.
Max Temp: 430 F | Features: Advanced ionic technology, cool-tip bristles, heats quickly, ergonomic grip, 60-minute auto shut-off, heat-resistant pouch | Wireless: No
Best for Damaged Hair
L’ange Le Vite Straightening Brush
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Decreases frizz
Works on all hair types
Cannot be used on wet hair
If your strands are a little beat-up, minimizing any and all hot tool styling is always going to be your best bet. That’s where these two-in-one brushes come up huge, and particularly this one. The ceramic bristles deliver a far-infrared heat to dry hair quickly (this brush works in half the time of a straightener), as well as preserve natural moisture, a major boon for damaged tresses. Plus, they also have a cool-tip to ensure your scalp never gets burned.
Price at time of publish: $89
Max Temp: 450 F | Features: Cool-tipped ceramic bristles, heats up quickly, negative ion technology, infrared heat technology, LCD display, soft-touch rubber finish, swivel cord, 30-minute auto shut-off, dual-voltage | Wireless: No
Best for Curly Hair
amika Polished Perfection Thermal Straightening Brush 2.0
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Courtesy of Sephora
Decreases frizz
Adds shine
Cannot be used on wet hair
At the risk of pulling a Captain Obvious, straightening curly hair requires way more elbow grease, making a brush like this a huge asset. This particular one, another of Gould’s favorites, is especially choice. Double negative ion technology (the maximum type of ionic technology) amps up shine and fights frizz in a major way, while far-infrared heat travels from the inside of the hair cuticle, out. Translation? Hair heat ups—and gets smoothed out—in half the time.
Price at time of publish: $98
Max Temp: 450 F | Features: iRed Beam Technology, ion generator, digital temperature control, temperature lock, 60-minute auto shut-off, 9-foot swivel cord, cool-tip ceramic bristles | Wireless: No
Best for Second Day Hair
GHD Glide Professional Performance Hot Brush
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Courtesy of Sephora
Great for touch-ups
Decreases frizz
Can reach your roots
Pricier than other options
Nothing against dry shampoo, but this just may be the secret to stretching out a great hairstyle for days on end. Because it only heats up to 365 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s perfect to use as a smoothing touch-up on already styled hair, without any extra heat damage. The combination of ceramic and ionic technology also helps combat frizz, and with both short and long bristles, it’s ideal for reaching every layer of your hair.
Price at time of publish: $169
Max Temp: 365 F | Features: Ceramic technology, ionic technology, different bristle lengths, heat-up light indicator, auto shut-off | Wireless: No
Best Detangling
CNXUS Ionic Hair Straightening Brush
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Helps detangle
Affordable
Easy to clean
Doesn't work on all hair types
As a general rule of thumb, you want to make sure hair is pretty much snarl-free before using one of these brushes, but if you’re prone to lots of tangles, this pick is great. The slightly curved design of the brush head helps keep hair smooth, and it also heats up in just one minute. Other noteworthy features include a 360-degree swivel cord and a 30-minute automatic shut-off.
Price at time of publish: $33
Max Temp: 450 F | Features: MCH heating, LED screen, heats up quickly, ionic technology, swivel cord, 30-minute auto shut-off, dual voltage | Wireless: No
Best Splurge
Dyson Airwrap Styler
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Sephora
Can be used on wet hair
Provides lots of styling options
Decreases frizz
Pricier than other options
Yes, this tool is extremely pricey, but for someone who likes to mix up their style—with minimal effort—this is well worth the investment. You’re essentially getting six tools in one, with different attachments that can create different styles. As far as straightening goes, there are two options, both firm and soft smoothing brushes, you can play around with depending on just how sleek you want to go. Also noteworthy is the inclusion of a pre-styling dryer that helps ensure your hair isn’t soaking wet, though this tool can be used on damp strands (unlike the others on this list, which will only work on dry hair).
Price at time of publish: $599
Max Temp: 302 F | Features: Coadana effect wraps hair for you, 8 one-click attachments, cool-touch tips, quick-release button, storage case, filter cleaning brush, non-slip mat | Wireless: No
Best for Travel
InStyler Straight Up Ceramic Straightening Brush
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Comes in various colors
Travel-friendly
Can reach your roots
Reviewers note the bristles break easily
No matter whether you’re looking for something to travel with, or just need a small brush to touch-up your bangs or face-framing layers, this mini fits the bill. Tiny but mighty, it still packs a powerful punch. It heats up to 450 degrees and has a built-in heat recovery feature to ensure you’re getting that same level of heat with every pass ensuring consistent results every time.
Price at time of publish: $60
Max Temp: 450 F | Features: Ceramic heated plates, cool-tip ionic bristles, auto shut-off, swivel cord, 7 heat settings, digital temperature display | Wireless: No
Best on Amazon
Prizm Enhanced Hair Straightener Brush
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Affordable
Comes in various colors
Works on all hair types
Reviewers note the bristles break easily
Happy reviewers (with various hair textures) repeatedly comment on how well this guy works. A whopping six million ion generators work to smooth frizz and minimize damage, while the widely-spaced bristles distribute heat more evenly to decrease styling time. It also has 15 different temperature settings, along with a helpful feature that automatically recalls your preferred temp so you don’t have to mess with it every time.
Price at time of publish: $50
Max Temp: 450 F | Features: Double ionic generator, 15 heat settings, LCD display, ceramic coated comb, temperature lock, recalls last temperature used, 60-minute auto shut-off | Wireless: No
What to Look For in a Straightening Brush
Ceramic Plating
When shopping for a straightening brush, celebrity hairstylist Ryan Trygstad suggests looking for a device with ceramic plating technology. “Ceramic glides through the hair more easily without pulling or catching,” he says. As you know, heat styling can already be damaging to the hair, so by reducing the potential for pulling and catching, you’re helping to further prevent breakage and other damage to the hair.
Heat Settings at or Below 375 Degrees
Trygstad doesn’t recommend using a product that exceeds 375 degrees. “Too hot of tools can damage your hair’s keratin protein,” he says. “Finer hair types can suffer keratin degradation at 390 degrees while coarser hair will start to become damaged at 410 degrees.” With that in mind, it’s best to stay on the safer side when it comes to the temperature of your tool. He also recommends looking for a tool that can maintain even, consistent heat. This will prevent you from having to pass the device through your hair multiple times, thus reducing the chance of damage.
The Right Size Brush for Your Hair Type
Trygstad says the size of the brush is another factor to take into consideration. “I suggest a larger brush for refreshing the style of thicker, denser hair, or a smaller brush to spot treat sections such as the hairline or nape,” he says. Those with finer or less dense hair can get away with using smaller tools.
Meet the Expert
Ryan Trygstad is a hairstylist and the co-founder of Mark Ryan Salon in NYC. A former assistant to the legendary Sally Hershberger, he’s best known for his mastery of haircutting and his ability to translate trends and harness texture to create customized looks. He’s become a favorite amongst celebs such as Laura Dern, Emma Roberts, and Kelly Ripa, and his editorial work can be seen in a number of famed fashion publications.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.