Even if you love your curls, every once in a while, you might want to switch it up. And there’s more than one way to go from waves, coils, and curls to straight hair. Enter these hair straightening brushes. Sometimes, these hot styling tools can be ideal if you want to make the straightening process just a bit easier. For those who aren’t fans of the chase method, the built-in bristles create the right amount of tension to stretch your hair while also relying on gentle heat to straighten it. With that in mind, these are the best hair straightening brushes we recommend.
Buying Guide for Hair Straightening Brushes
Why buy a hair straightening brush?
A hair straightening brush can significantly help you reduce your hair styling time. Conventional hair straightening often requires first prepping your hair with a blow dryer and then following up with a flat iron, preferably using the chase method. This is where you create tension by using either a comb or brush through a section of hair and immediately follow it with a flat iron. But since a hair straightening brush already has bristles, it works to create tension while simultaneously distributing heat evenly through your hair.
What should you consider when shopping for a hair straightening brush?
- Plate Materials: Essentially, a hair straightening brush is a single-plate flat iron with heat-safe bristles. So, just like with any other hot styling tool, you need to match the plate material to your hair type and needs. While ceramic is a baseline favorite that’s ideal for maintaining even heat and preventing tugging at your hair, it may not be enough for people with coarser hair. Meanwhile, tourmaline, titanium, or even combination plates such as ceramic-tourmaline would be better suited for someone with coarser hair.
- Temperature Settings: Similar to other styling tools, being able to effectively adjust your heat settings is going to be critical. Using too much heat can cause permanent heat damage. Meanwhile, insufficient heat means your hair won’t be effectively straightened. Depending on your hair type, you will want to check for two features: the maximum heat settings and the number of adjustments you can make. If you’ve never used hot styling tools before, less is more, and lower temperatures are safer.
- Brush Size: Brush size and style outcomes go hand in hand. Similar to flat irons, if you’re looking for more control to work through smaller sections of hair or have finer hair, you’ll want to opt for a slightly smaller brush. Meanwhile, thicker hair types or people simply seeking more volume and speedy straightening will do well with larger brushes.
- Voltage: This might not be a factor for everyone, but if you’re a frequent traveler whose trips take them abroad, dual voltage support is going to be important. This feature will make the difference between being able to use your styling tools when you leave the United States or having to buy replacements once you’re in your vacation spot.
Can you use a hair straightening brush every day?
It’s no secret that straightening brushes tend to be gentler on your hair than flat irons and blow dryers. But no, you still shouldn’t use them daily. Just like any other hot styling tool, sustained exposure to high heat can lead to permanently damaged hair. This can manifest as extreme dryness and split ends on straight hair and wave or curl patterns that don’t return for wavy, curly, and coily hair types.
Our Picks for the Best Hair Straightening Brushes
Pros: Finding the right temperature setting can be a frustrating process when you’re using hot styling tools. Some products only offer one or two settings, which can be a problem for many people. This straightener from MiroPure offers 16 temperature settings for better precision. Better still, it heats up in just 60 seconds and offers auto-shutoff after 60 minutes.
Cons: While nice, the high 450-degree Fahrenheit maximum output can encourage heat damage for people that don’t know the maximum limits of their hair. Meanwhile, the slightly larger design might not be ideal for people with thin or fine hair or those seeking precision.
Bottom Line: This dual-voltage fast heating ceramic straightener can appeal to a wide range of hair types thanks to 16 temperature settings that reach up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. But that much power and the larger brush head might be excessive.
Pros: There’s nothing worse than sitting around waiting for your hot tools to reach your desired temperature. Thankfully, this pick from Tymo is designed to heat up in just 20 seconds, making it one of the fastest heat styling tools on the market. And thanks to anti-scald technology and a denser bristle pitch, you’ll get smooth hair without the increased risk of heat damage.
Cons: Although this brush offers a slimmer head, the limiting five temperature settings can be a problem for many people who might benefit from a brush that offers a wider range of temperature adjustments. Likewise, this brush only heats up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which might knock this off the list for people with coarser hair.
Bottom Line: People with fine to average hair will appreciate the slim brush head, included accessories, and a customized design that helps minimize excessive heat exposure. But the limiting maximum output of 350 degrees Fahrenheit may make this a no-go for those with coarser hair types.
Pros: Having nice hair doesn’t have to break the bank. This Revlon hair straightener brush proves it with a modest price point that still offers plenty of attractive features. This includes 10-variable LCD heat settings with a range that reaches up to 430 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, you’ll get automatic worldwide dual voltage and a ceramic plate to reduce pulling and tugging on your hair.
Cons: If you’re looking for precision, this might not be a winner for you. With a wider styling plate that measures 4.5 inches in length, it’s built more for speed rather than precision. Additionally, the higher temperature range and bigger brush head might be a difficult combination for thin and fine hair types.
Bottom Line: If you’re shopping on a budget but still want a styling tool that delivers, you can’t go wrong with Revlon’s entry that offers 10 temperature settings up to 430 degrees Fahrenheit and dual-voltage worldwide support. But the higher temperature range and larger brush head may prove difficult for people with finer hair types.
Pros: Let’s face it, hair straightening brushes aren’t always known for being compact. This alternative from Naomi solves that problem with a slim design that barely extends past the length of your hand. You’ll get four temperature settings reaching up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit, which is more than enough for any hair type. And there’s also anti-scald technology with a 30-minute auto-shutoff timer.
Cons: What you get in portability, you trade off with battery longevity. While compact and functional, the brand notes that you’ll only get about 20 to 45 minutes of total use on a single full charge, depending on your temperature setting. So, if you’re using this to straighten coarser hair types like Type 4s, this might not be a realistic pick.
Bottom Line: If you need to smooth your tresses while you’re on the go, this compact hair straightening brush will do just that and won’t take up a lot of space in your bag. But if you’re trying to perform a full hair care session, the maximum output of 20 to 45 minutes of continuous use on a full charge might put a cramp in your plans.
Pros: Frizz is the bane of any beauty’s existence, and that’s why this straightening brush from L’Ange is a great option. It’s designed to work with all hair types thanks to ionic technology that helps to smooth hair and banish frizz. Meanwhile, you’ll get precision temperature control up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and dual voltage support.
Cons: Some people noted that a few of the bristles fell off prematurely. Meanwhile, the higher temperature range and wider brush head mean that while the brand promises this is good for all hair types, people with thin or fine hair should proceed with caution.
Bottom Line: Fast heating, a maximum output of 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and dual voltage support make this a solid choice for a wide range of beauties. But the high temperatures and bigger brush head could prove unwieldy for people with fine or thin hair.
Final Thoughts
While you shouldn’t use a hair straightening brush every day, this tool can make quick work of smoothing hair or adding volume without the frustration of exposing your hair to too much heat in one session. Just remember to match your styling tools to your hair type and to always use a heat protectant before you begin using it.
