The more you know: This brush gets hot, so be sure not to go too hard with the highest heat setting and risk singeing your strands. Start low to see what temperature your hair tolerates best.
Best for: everyone | Heat: up to 430⁰F | Weight: 0.9 lbs
Most Lightweight: Conair Instant Heat Styling Brush
Why it’s worth it: Conair’s Instant Heat Styling Brush features a whopping, inclusive 25 heat settings, meaning if you’ve felt like an outsider in the thermal brush game before, consider yourself in. The long, unheated tip helps fend off burns, and the barrel boasts stiff bristles and a chromium, nickel, copper, and steel blend construction. This cheap and cheerful lightweight pick weighs under 1 lb and works like a charm, making it a great travel option.
The more you know: While the 25 heat settings are a pro for some, it can be a bit daunting for beginners.
Best for: people who want to travel with their brush | Heat: up to 390°F | Weight: 0.7 lbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a hair-straightening brush and a flatiron?
It turns out that telling the difference between hair-straightening brushes and flatirons doesn’t require any rocket science. “A thermal brush has bristles, resembling a brush, and a hair straightener does not have any bristles,” says hairstylist Devin Toth. Capisce? Both tools style your hair with heat, yielding results ranging from pin-straight tresses to bouncy waves, but employ different construction.
What should I look for when choosing a hair-straightening brush?
Choosing a hair straightening brush depends on price range, personal preference, and the results you want from your new tool. “I think most tools in this space have similar features, so I would look for a barrel shape and size that resembles the tightness of curl you are trying to achieve,” suggests Toth. “For example, a flat thermal brush will give you straight hair, a thermal brush with a tiny barrel shape will give you curl, and a thermal brush with a large barrel shape will give you more of a bouncy blowout.”
Are hair-straightening brushes safe?
As with any hair thermal hairstyling tools, they’re safe as long as you’re smart about use. “Keep them moving and don’t overheat any one area of hair for too long,” says Toth. “And don’t use the highest heat setting unless you absolutely need to.”
When using heat on your hair, always prep using a heat-protectant product. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King previously told Allure readers to look for products with ingredients that “form a shield” to seal and protect follicles from heat. These ingredients include meadowfoam seed oil, VP/DMAPA acrylates copolymer, aloe, and argan oil. What’s more, hairstylist and founder of Trademark Beauty, Joseph Maine, previously pointed out the importance of keeping your hot tool spick and span. “Also,” he said, “it’s important to keep the flatiron clean to ensure it heats evenly and doesn’t snag your hair.”
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for any review, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. When reviewing tools, we also take into account testers’ experience levels. For instance, an innovative new hair dryer may feature industry-leading technology, but if the only people who find it intuitive to use are professional hairstylists, we have to consider this when determining whether it is worthy of a recommendation.