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The 12 Best Hair Straightening Brushes for Smooth Hair in a Flash
Meet the easiest styling tool you'll ever use.
An open secret among beauty editors is that we're not all pros at doing our own hair. (That's why we go to the pros.) But hair straightening brushes are tailor-made for people like us: we have a love of hair tools, but don't want to try that hard to get a great style. Because straightening brushes quite literally straighten hair as you brush, they’re impossible to mess up.
"Straightening brushes are a great way to instantly add polish and smoothness, especially to wavy hair," explains T3 stylist ambassador David Lopez. "For hair that is getting blown out often, it is a great way to touch up the blowout. Now with the new technology on the market, they can handle tighter and frizzier textures. For many hair types, it's a great way to add smoothness and with the right technique, some bounce as well."
If you want that sleek, shiny, Cher Hair look, you’ll still want to reach for your trusty straightening iron. But if you want a straighter style in just a few minutes without any additional thought or skill (*raises hand*) one of these 12 hair straightening brushes, as chosen by BAZAAR beauty editors and reviewers, is for you.
The Best Hair Straightening Brushes
T3 Edge Heated Smoothing & Styling Brush
T3 Edge Heated Smoothing & Styling Brush
Pros
- Boosts shine
- Comfortable handle
Cons
Lopez loves this tool from T3. With tons of features (a heated edge for increased surface area, digital Rapid HeatIQ technology, three heat settings, and ceramic heating for a smooth finish, to name a few), T3’s new styling brush might just replace your trusty straightening iron full-stop, especially during rushed mornings.
Customer Review:
"FELL IN LOVE! I have a heated brush I used for 8 years from another brand. I can't believe how much better this tool is! I'm not good with tools, and this is SOOO easy. I have wavy to curly fine hair, so I use heat sparingly. This tool smooths effortlessly and creates waves with a turn of the wrist. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!" – VeniceBeachMom
| Features | 3 heat settings, ceramic plates, digital controls |
|---|
John Paul Mitchell Systems Neuro Sleek Smoothing Hot Brush
John Paul Mitchell Systems Neuro Sleek Smoothing Hot Brush
Pros
- Shine-boosting
Cons
Styling second-day hair just got easier with this tool, which has a bevy of features including a SmartSense microchip for consistent heat distribution, a shine-enhancing ion generator, and five heat settings to suit all types and textures.
Customer Review:
"This hot tool was wonderful, it really worked fast and left my hair looking sleek and shiny. i never got burned or scorched my hair, heated up fast and was easy to store. nice looking design as well to keep on the counter." – Hyde522
| Features | 5 heat settings, automatic shut-off |
|---|
Insert Name Here Insert Sleek Hair Here
Insert Name Here Insert Sleek Hair Here
Pros
- Lightweight feel
Cons
Insert Name Here is known for their hair extensions, so it makes perfect sense that this ceramic brush is designed to be used on both natural and synthetic hair pieces.
Customer Review:
"First, the packaging is so aesthetic and feels pretty lightweight. Also, unlike similar hot brushes that I've used, I don't notice the same amount of hair getting caught in the combs. My hair looks super sleek after use." – Lisa P.
| Voltage | 110-240V (Universal Global Voltage) |
|---|---|
| Features | Ceramic padded bristles |
Conair Diamond-Infused Ceramic Smoothing Hot Brush
Conair Diamond-Infused Ceramic Smoothing Hot Brush
Pros
- Quick styling
Cons
This three-heat brush has a large, paddle-shaped surface to style hair quickly and evenly, while the diamond-infused bristles leave hair extra shiny and smooth.
Customer Review:
"If you have really long and abundant hair, this a great tool. You can save a lot of time thanks to the size of the paddle brush. However, the bristles are too separated from each other, so do not expect to get the same results as if you used a flat iron hair straightener. Overall, it does a good job as a hot brush." – YR
| Features | Nylon, silicone, and diamond-infused bristles, 3 heat settings |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 400°F |
ghd Glide Smoothing Hot Brush
ghd Glide Smoothing Hot Brush
Pros
- Stylist-favorite
Cons
Here's a best-selling brush that heats up to 365 degrees, and features a mix of high-density shorter bristles and longer ones to smooth hair quickly.
Customer Review:
"This is easy to control and the fact that it has only one temperature means I can’t over do it and fry my hair. Needless to say, I am loving this tool. I think I will even be able to use less keratin treatments in the future." – JLH
| Features | 25-second heat-up time, Universal voltage |
|---|---|
| Temerpature | 365⁰F |
Revlon Hair Straightening Heated Styling Brush
Revlon Hair Straightening Heated Styling Brush
Pros
- Helps flatten roots
- Affordable
Cons
This extra-long ceramic-coated brush uses a combination of interior combs and bristles to detangle, which helps minimize over-styling. Plus, it has an LED smart heat memory system, auto shut-off, and a tangle-free cord.
Customer Review:
"My hair is long, to my waist and super curly. Spritzed hair with heat protection spray then slowly brushed my curls with this brush! I couldn't believe my eyes! In no time at all, it's straight as an arrow! I highly recommend this little gadget. Much faster and easier than a flat iron. Easy, quick and affordable!!" – Flossie
| Temperature | 430⁰F |
|---|---|
| Features | Universal dual voltage |
Drybar The Brush Crush Heated Straightening Brush
Drybar The Brush Crush Heated Straightening Brush
Pros
- Works quickly
- Shuts off automatically
Cons
This top-rated hot brush aims to increase shine as it straightens, and uses the structure of a paddle brush to seamlessly glide through wavy, curly, or tightly coiled hair with ease.
Customer Review:
"Love love and love, I bought this brush with low expectations and let me tell u it's amazing I can straighten my waist length curly 2b hair in 2 passes of the brush took me 15 minutes and my hair is silky and shiny" – NewbieR
| Temperature | 450°F |
|---|---|
| Features | one hour auto shut-off, two year limited warranty |
Moroccanoil Smooth Style Ceramic Heated Brush
Moroccanoil Smooth Style Ceramic Heated Brush
Pros
- Beveled edges
- Works for all hair types
- Heats up quickly
Cons
You'll channel the precision of your favorite paddle brush while using this heated tool, which features beveled edges to smooth hard-to-reach areas of the hair.
Customer Review:
"Heats well hair is naturally curly / somewhat dry works so well flat irons in a few minutes" – Pearl
| Temperature | 430°F |
|---|
Amika Polished Perfection Thermal Straightening Brush 2.0
Amika Polished Perfection Thermal Straightening Brush 2.0
Pros
- Safe for sensitive scalps
Cons
This heated ceramic brush from the experts at Amika uses built-in ion technology to lock in hair moisture, and includes cool tip bristles that won't accidentally burn your scalp in the process.
Customer Review:
"The best for 4b-4C THICK natural hair!" – Agehea
| Features | iRed beam technology, multiple heat settings |
|---|
L'ange Hair Le Vite Hair Straightener Brush
Pros
- Tames frizz
- Heats up quickly
Cons
This hot brush uses ceramic bristles and far-infrared heat to avoid frizz, while also sealing the cuticle to keep moisture in.
Customer Review:
"Great product, I’ve owned a few straighteners and this brush is awesome gets up to 450 degrees straightens as good as a flat iron. Auto off great feature for me as I’m forgetful" – Kris M.
| Features | 3-minute auto shut-off, |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 450°F |
Shark FlexStyle Air Drying & Styling System
Shark FlexStyle Air Drying & Styling System
Pros
- Has multiple tools in one
- Lightweight
Cons
This 5-in-1 device has a blowdry paddle brush that uses low heat and intense airflow to smooth hair without damaging it. Customers rave about how powerful yet gentle the tool is.
Customer Review:
"I have medium long hair that is wavy and I prefer a smoother straight style so I have been using the Shark Flex Style system. The hair dryer is very powerful and you have manymultiples choices of attachments depending on how you want to style your hair. Also included is a styling guide which offers multiple styles and the tools and steps how to achieve the look you are after. Love the power and how my hair felt smooth and looked shiny and healthy. Wonderful way to achieve a salon look at home" – Maui
| Features | Regulating temperatures 1,000x per second to ensure consistent air temperature |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.5 pounds |
Lunata Beauty The Lunata Cordless Hot Brush
Lunata Beauty The Lunata Cordless Hot Brush
Pros
- Long-lasting charge
- Good for thick, wavy hair
Cons
We found a rare cord-free straightening brush that lasts for up to 40 minutes per charge, and has adjustable temperature settings reaching up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Customer Review:
"Love it. Heats up fast. Straightens my wavy thick, coarse shoulder length hair quickly. Holds a charge. I am very pleased with this Hot Brush and highly recommend. Glad I found this." – Nina H.
| Temperature | 450°F |
|---|---|
| Performance | 40 minutes on a single charge |
| Temperature Settings | Adjustable temp from 200°F to 450°F |
| Voltage | Dual voltage 100-240V |
Does a straightening brush damage hair?
According to Lopez, "Anything that is adding heat to the hair is causing some sort of damage." Plus, he notes that "With a straightening brush, you are also adding mechanical damage in addition to heat damage. However, the amount of damage is related to the tool you are using. In the T3 Edge, the bristles were specifically designed to be gentle on the hair to not snag or pull, even you are trying to add bends."
When should you use a hair straightener vs. a hair straightener brush?
"I would lean towards using an iron on very curly hair that needs a much more sleek polish," explains Lopez. "Straightening brushes are a great way to touch up blowouts on very curly hair, but more so good for instant gratification on wavy hair types when looking for a quick smooth blowout hairstyle."
Can you use a straightening brush on wet hair?
That's a big no. If you want a tool that styles wet hair, use a blow-dry brush instead, or consider a multitasking tool like the Dyson Airwrap.
Meet the Expert
David Lopez is a celebrity hair and beauty pro and T3 stylist ambassador.
Why trust Harper’s BAZAAR?
For more than 150 years, Harper’s BAZAAR has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.
Tiffany Dodson is currently the associate beauty commerce editor at Harper’s Bazaar, where she specializes in trend forecasting, building relationships with major and emerging brands, and crafting shopping stories—from holiday gift guides to product road tests. Tiffany's work has previously been featured in outlets like SELF, Bustle, and Teen Vogue, and she's been quoted as a commerce and beauty expert in publications and platforms like The Business of Fashion and NPR’s Life Kit podcast.
Lindy Segal is a beauty writer and editor. In addition to regularly contributing to BAZAAR.COM, she also writes for Glamour, People, WhoWhatWear, and Fashionista, among other publications. She lives in New York City with her Chihuahua mix, Barney.
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