We all love good hair days. But juggling between hair dryers, hair brushes, curling irons, and straighteners is tedious. That’s not even considering the myriad of hair care products you need to have on hand from moisturizers to shampoos.
A hot air hair styler is an all-in-one tool with which you can create a variety of hair styles. A hot air styler can blow dry your hair (not all brands), curl it, straighten it, give it volume and so on. It’s basically a multipurpose hair care kit in one tool.
It doesn’t matter what kind of hair you have. There are hot air stylers for every hair type including curly hair, sensitive hair, long hair, short hair and thick hair. You just need to choose the right one.
What to consider when buying a hot air styler
1. Your hair styling needs
Whenever you are buying any hair product, not just a hot air styler, consider your hair needs above everything else. If you have short hair, buy the right products for it. The same applies if you have thick, sensitive, long or brittle hair.
There are many types of hot air stylers for different hair types. When buying a specific brand, make sure it is designed for your hair. A styler for thick hair can be damaging on thin and short hair. A styler for thin hair will be ineffective for long and thick hair.
In our recommendations below, we have listed hot air styles based on which hair they are best for. This should make it easier for you to find the best one for your hair needs.
2. Versatility
Look for a hair styler that offers more than just a couple of features. The more you can do with it, the better and more convenient it will be.
The styler should be versatile in terms of settings and options. For instance, having several speed and heat settings allows you to style your hair effectively and safely.
3. Performance
Performance is especially important for those with thick and long hair. You’ll need a styler powerful enough to dry your hair quickly and style it properly.
When shopping, check things like the number of watts, maximum heat and brush size.
4. Accessories and bonus features
Accessories extend the versatility of a styler. They allow you to try out more styles such as curls and style your hair more effectively.
Some stylers for instance, come with an accessory specifically for adding volume to your hair. Others come with different types of brushes for different hair types and styles.
Also look for bonus features such as ionic treatment, ergonomic handle, swivel cord and travel pouch.
Just be careful not to pay for unnecessary bells and whistles.
Best hot air styler reviews
1. Best hot air styler for short fine hair: TRESemme Ceramic Hot Brush
A 19mm barrel allows you to lift your hair right down from the tips, giving it more shape and volume. The 1.8m cord is long enough that you can style your hair in comfort. The cord also comes with a swivel design to prevent it from tangling around your head and hand.
The brush heats up to 180 Celsius, the perfect heat level for fine hair. It is hot enough to effectively style your hair but not too hot to cause much damage.
The barrel itself is made from ceramic, which gives off negative ions when heated. The ions help to lock in moisture in your hair and give it a glossy finish.
What we like about it:
- Fast heating.
- Easy to use.
- Ionic treatment to give hair a shiny finish.
2. Best hot air styler for frizzy hair: Nicky Clarke Smooth and Shine Frizz Control Hot Air Styler
This styler is made specifically for smoothening frizzy hair. It uses a combination of ceramic ion technology and natural bristles to iron out the kinks and give your hair a glossy finish.
There are two brush attachments that can be used with different hair types. The 38mm attachment is ideal for shorter and finer hair. It gives you precise control, allowing you to smoothen hair from the root to tip while also adding volume.
The 50mm attachment is perfect for longer and thicker hair. It adds volume and styles your hair into large bouncy waves.
You can also choose from two speed and heat settings depending on your hair type and the kind of styling you want. A cool shot setting blasts cool air on your hair, ensuring the style sets in and lasts longer.
What we like about it:
- Ionic technology to reduce frizz and create a glossy finish.
- 2 speed and heat settings and 2 brush attachments for versatility.
- Cool shot setting to keep your hair looking good for longer.
- Natural bristles that are gentler on hair.
3. Best hot air styler brush: BaByliss Diamond Heated Smoothing and Straightening Brush
If you want to smoothen your frizzy hair but without flattening it, get this styler. It uses diamond-ceramic bristles to straighten your hair while also adding volume.
The bristles are flexible, allowing the brush to move smoothly through your hair without tangling. Negative ions from the ceramic are released as soon as you turn the unit on. The ions lock in moisture in your hair and provide a shiny finish.
There are three heat settings to suit different hair types, with the highest setting going up to 200 Celsius. For safety, this styler comes with its own heat mat and a heat protective glove.
There is also a storage pouch for storage and travel.
What we like about it:
- Straightens hair faster than traditional hair straighteners.
- Does not squash hair.
- Three heat settings for versatility.
- Easy-glide and ionic-technology bristles.
4. Best hot air styler for thick hair: Remington AS7051 Volume and Curl Air Styler
Owners of thick hair have always been at a disadvantage when it comes to hair styling products. Getting the right tools that can handle the thick, long and usually oily tresses is a challenge.
If you have thick hair, add the Remington AS7051 to your list of must-have hair tools. It has a 50mm brush attachment that easily penetrates through your hair and styles it from the root.
There are two more 21mm and 30mm brush attachments for those with thinner and shorter hair.
You can use the easy-glide bristles to create smooth wavy hair (with the bigger brush) or smaller curls (using the smaller brushes). An attached hot air dryer quickly dries your hair while a cool shot setting sets your preferred style in place.
To protect your hair, the Remington Air Styler has a protection coating technology that protects your hair from static and heat damage while also giving it a shiny finish.
What we like about it:
- Three brush attachments for style versatility and different hair types.
- Hair protection technology.
- Integrated hair dryer.
- Included pouch for storage and travel.
5. Best hot air styler for volume: TRESemme Keratin Smooth Hot Air Styler
Firm britsles on this TRESemme hot air styler provide a smooth glide through any type of hair. You can easily style your hair however you want, whether it’s a smooth style for formal occasions, a wavy look for a more sensual look or smaller curls for a fun weekend.
The styler heats up to 230 Celcius, significantly higher than in most other stylers. To prevent heat damage, the styler comes with a heat protection spray. Apply the Keratin spray on your hair before styling it.
The styler also includes ionic technology to reduce frizz and leave your hair looking smooth and shiny.
What we like about it:
- Three heat settings for use on different hair types.
- Includes heat protection spray.
- Firm bristles for easier and faster styling.
- Ionic technology for frizz-control and glossy finish.
6. Best hot air styler for curly hair: Babyliss Pro Ceramic Hot Brush
This styler is equipped with soft bristles that work best for curly hair. With the ceramic-coated barely, you can create a variety of styles from small curls to larger and gentler waves.
Depending on your hair thickness and length, choose from one of three barrel sizes: 13mm, 15mm, 18mm.
One of the unique features of the Babyliss Pro is the replaceable bristles. As soon as they start wearing out, just replace them and keep using the brush.
If you travel a lot, you are going to be glad about the multi-voltage feature. You can use this styler wherever you go without any issues.
What we like about it:
- Non-slip handle and swivel cord for easy styling.
- Replaceable bristles.
- Multi-voltage.
- Fast-heating ceramic-coated barrel.
7. Best hot air styler for long hair: BaByliss 2777U Big Hair Rotating Styler
If you have long flowing hair, this is the styler for you. It has a long 42mm barrel to make sure you reach the full length of your hair.
The brush rotates for easier and faster styling. As it rotates, the soft anti-tangle bristles smoothen your hair into long gentle waves. The rotation is multi-directional and you can choose between two speeds.
There are also two heat settings plus a cool setting that comes in handy at the end when you want to set your hair. Read our full review of the BaByliss Big Hair.
What we like about it:
- An in-built ionic generator for a glossy finish and les frizz.
- Extra-long handle.
- Rotating brush for easier and quicker styling.
- 2 heat and speed settings for versatility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a hot air styler?
A hot air styler is the perfect combination of hair brush and hair dryer, and means that you no longer need to juggle with a brush in one hand and a dryer in the other, trying to dry and style your hair at the same time!
A hot air styler will save you a lot of time, because you don’t need to dry your hair and then style it – you can do it all in one go with this clever device.
They are great at creating lift and body for even the finest, most limp hair, and are great at taming unruly locks too. It is recommended that you use a hot air styler when your hair is damp, not fully wet, for best results.
Hot air stylers can be used on literally any hair type too; no need to avoid them if you have very curly hair, or straighter than a ruler – any length or style of hair can benefit.
Q: How do hot air stylers work?
Hot air stylers are like hair dryers in that they use heat to dry your hair, but they don’t blast out hot air in gusts like hair dryers do. They plug into a mains socket, and use the electricity from that to create heat through the brush.
You then use this heat to not only dry your hair but to style it at the same time – they are a great time saving devices, as well as being a more convenient option than drying and styling your hair separately.
Many hot air stylers also have a cool air function, which helps to set the style in place, and can make curls hold better and look more shiny.
Q: What styles are best with hot air stylers?
Hot air stylers can literally create any style you want. If you like a smooth, sleek straightened style then you can achieve this; or if you want waves and curls then you can also get this look with a hot air styler.
Not every hot air styler is equal, and you will have to first decide what sort of style you are looking for before you invest your money on one. You can get:
- Hot air stylers with soft bristles – These are ideal for longer, thicker hair as the hair will not get so easily tangled.
- Stylers for damaged hair – Those who have overindulged with the home bleaching kits will breathe a sigh of relief to know that they can get a hot air styler that is ceramic coated, in order to preserve the hair structure and prevent further damage.
- A hot air styler specifically for light, soft hair – A brush with an ioniser is recommended in this case, as the anti static effect will prevent your hair sticking out sideways as it gets charged.
- Hot air stylers especially for short hair – Some hot air stylers are designed for long hair, and some more specifically for shorter tresses. The shoulder length and shorter crew can now find a hot air styler with their name on it!
- Specially designed hot air straighteners for those with thin, limp hair that needs added body. This is great for many of us that just want their hair to look a bit more lively without completely changing their look.
If you want curls, you can opt for a brush with attachment for large or smaller curls – and you can even have the option of just having a dryer mode that will add fullness to your hair.
For medium to long hair, or that which is heavier than usual, go for a larger brush (between 40 and 50mm diameter) because these brushes can gather more hair than their smaller counterparts.
For short hair, try a brush that is 20 to 25mm diameter because it is quicker and easier to dry and style short hair.
Most hot air stylers come with different attachments for different styles, so you will be able to decide on the day what sort of style you would like to go for. You can go for large, exciting waves, small tight curls, or a smooth flat hair effect – whatever your requirements you should be able to achieve it with a hot air styler.
