Hot Brushes

Which is better, a hot air brush or a straightening brush?

If you love a bouncy blowout with loads of volume, a hot air brush is your best friend. It combines a hair dryer and a hairbrush into one tool, using heated airflow to dry and style damp hair at the same time. A straightening brush uses direct heat on dry hair to smooth and tame frizz, with more natural movement than a flat iron.

Whichever hair tool you choose, always use a heat protectant spray before you style. For second-day touch-ups on dry hair, the ghd Glide Smoothing Hot Brush and Cloud Nine The Original Hot Brush are hard to beat. Try the Silver Bullet Genesis Hot Air Brush 38mm, the Mermade Hair Blow Dry Brush or the BaByliss PRO Rotating Hot Air Styler for a full blowout from damp hair.

To find the right brush for your hair type, visit a Hairhouse store across Australia or browse our range online.

Are hot brushes good for your hair?

Yes, hot brushes are good for your hair when used correctly. Unlike a flat iron, a heated styling brush uses a combination of ceramic bristles and a heated barrel that glide through your hair, giving you better control and less direct heat exposure. The result is smoother, sleeker hair with a more natural finish and a lower risk of heat damage.

Hot round brushes are particularly great for lifting volume at the roots and creating a bouncy blowout finish, all in one pass. Just make sure you detangle your hair before you start styling for the smoothest results.

With the right heat setting for your hair type and a good heat protectant, you can achieve professional-quality results at home without compromising your hair health.

Can you use a hot brush on wet hair?

It depends on the type of hot brush you have.

Hot air brushes like the Mermade Hair Blow Dry Brush and Silver Bullet Genesis Hot Air Brush work best on towel-dried or damp hair, using heated airflow to dry and style simultaneously. Straightening brushes like the ghd Glide Smoothing Hot Brush and Cloud Nine The Original Hot Brush require hair to be completely dry, just as you would with a flat iron.

Either way, never use any hairstyling tool on soaking wet hair. With straightening brushes, applying direct heat to saturated strands causes water to vaporise inside the hair shaft, leading to breakage and damage. When in doubt, check the instructions that come with your hot brush styling tool, as not every tool works the same way.

How to use a hot brush step by step

Using a hair dryer brush is so much simpler than juggling a hair dryer and a round hair brush, and with a bit of practice, you'll get a polished finish every time. Follow these steps to use a hot brush at home.

• Start by detangling your hair with a wide-tooth comb, then apply a heat protectant spray. This sets you up for a smooth, snag-free style and protects your strands from heat over time.
• Give your hot air styler or hair straightener brush time to heat up fully before you begin. Starting too early means going over the same section multiple times, so wait until it reaches the right temperature first.
• Match the heat setting to your hair type. Fine or damaged hair does better on a lower setting, while thick or coarse hair can handle more heat to get the job done.
• Work in sections and use the right technique for your style. For a blowout finish, wrap sections around the barrel and lift at the roots. Glide slowly from root to tip for a sleek, smooth result. If you're using a multi-styler with a brush attachment, the same sectioning rules apply.
• Once each section is styled, give it a moment to cool before touching it, then unplug your tool and place it on a heatproof mat. Cooling your style in place is what makes it hold throughout the day.

How to choose the right hot brush for your hair type

The right hot brush for your hair type makes the whole experience so much easier. Here's what to look for:

• Start with your hair texture: Fine hair needs a hot brush with softer bristles to prevent breakage. If you're blessed with curly hair or frizzy hair, look for ceramic and ionic technology, as these smooth your cuticles for a genuinely frizz-free finish. Thick hair needs higher heat levels and sturdier bristles for better control.
• Check the heat settings before you buy: If your hair is fine or damaged, a lower setting protects your strands. If you have thick or coarse hair, you'll want higher heat to get smooth hair without going over the same section twice.
• Pay attention to bristle and plate material: Ceramic bristles and plates distribute heat more evenly, which is gentler on your hair and helps you get a smooth, shiny finish without hot spots.
• Think about size and barrel width: A smaller barrel gives you more precision and root lift for short hair. For long hair, a wider barrel on your hair dryer brush or straightening brush covers more surface area and speeds up your styling session. If you travel often, look for a compact or dual-voltage model so you can style anywhere.

Best-selling BondiBoost hot brushes

BondiBoost tops our bestseller list at Hairhouse for good reason. The range is designed for fast, everyday styling that gives you a polished, salon-quality finish at home, whether you're starting fresh on wash day or just refreshing yesterday's blowout.

The BondiBoost Blow Out Brush dries and styles damp hair in one step, giving you full body and shine. For shorter hair or quick touch-ups, the Blow Out Brush 51mm delivers the same results in a smaller, more manageable size.

If you want to style with less heat exposure, the Infrared Bounce Brush uses infrared technology on dry hair to reduce frizz and add bounce with noticeably less damage than traditional heat tools. And if you prefer smooth and wavy styles from one tool, the Mini Multi-Styler comes with a hot brush attachment for smoothing and a curling wand for waves.

Get salon-quality results with our best hot brushes

A good hot brush gives you a salon-worthy blowout at home in a fraction of the time, and at Hairhouse, we offer everything you need, from hot air brushes and blow dry brushes to hair straightener brushes, all from professional brands trusted by stylists across Australia.

Looking for other hair tools and other must-haves? We also have hot tools like curling irons and paddle brushes, plus haircare essentials like shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair in great shape between styling sessions. Visit your nearest Hairhouse store or shop our range online and make your first order!