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The 10 Best Hair Straightening Brushes for Smooth Hair in a Flash
Meet the easiest styling tool you'll ever use
Allow us to let you in on a little secret: Many of the best hair straightening brushes are tailor-made for people who don't want to try that hard to get salon-ready style. And as these tools quite literally straighten hair and smooth flyaways as they're used, it's almost impossible to not walk away with a sleek, smooth finish.
"Straightening brushes are a great way to instantly add polish and smoothness, especially to wavy hair," T3 stylist ambassador David Lopez tells Bazaar. "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."
Shop the Best Hair Straightening Brushes
If you consider vintage Cher hair a prime source of beauty inspiration but don't have more than a few minutes each day for your hair look, one of the best hair straightening brushes may quickly replace your go-to flat iron. Read on for a few of our top picks that provide plenty of seamless options for easy styling.
Pros
- Boosts shine
- Comfortable handle
Cons
Lopez loves using this hot tool from his clients. It includes a number of features, like a heated edge for increased surface area, digital Rapid HeatIQ technology, and three different heat settings.
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
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. Plus, it even includes an automatic shut-off, just in case you accidentally leave the tool on after leaving the house.
Customer Review: "I’ve had a straightening brush in the past and it got way too hot and left my hair feeling terrible. This brush was the complete opposite. You can control the temp setting and it doesn’t burn your hand if you touch along the outside of it. It left my hair feeling soft and didn’t leave it feeling damaged. Very pleased with this product and makes doing my hair a breeze now!" —ABR
Pros
- Works quickly
- Shuts off automatically
Cons
This top-rated hot brush heats up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and helps enhance shine as it straightens. It also mimics 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
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 detangle and smooth hair quickly.
Customer review: "I was nervous that this might work for me - I have thick coarse chin length hair that really fluffs up after a wash and my home blow dry can make it worse. I have had Ghd straighteners but never had a great result with them so rarely used. This brush is so easy to use and smooths my hair very fast. So glad I bought it." —Margjt
Pros
- Beveled edges
- 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
Pros
- Great for roots
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
Amika ired Polished Perfection Straightening Brush 2.0
Pros
- Works quickly
Cons
This heated ceramic brush from the experts at Amika uses an ion generator to lock in hair's moisture, along with ired technology to speed up the styling process and minimize damage.
L'ange Hair Le Vite Hair Straightener Brush
Pros
- Includes auto shut-off feature
- Features an LCD digital interface
Cons
This hot brush uses ceramic bristles and far-infrared heat to keep frizz at bay, and happens to be on steep sale right now at 50 percent off its original price.
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.
Pros
- Includes ionic technology for faster drying
- Helps minimize heat damage
Cons
Just like Chi's coveted flat irons, its 3-in-1 ceramic Hot Smoothing Dryer Brush is also a hit among beauty lovers. It combines the drying power of a blow-dryer with the straightening prowess of a hot brush to get hair its sleekest, with evenly spaced bristles that help prevent knots and tangles.
Customer Review: "Naturalistas…this one’s for you. Did wonders for 4C hair. Great combo tool." —Sharon H.
Pros
- Features a rotatable wand
- Maintains a consistent air temperature
Cons
While technically this tool counts as a hot-air brush, the 6-in-1 device has a blow-dry paddle brush that uses low heat and intense airflow to smooth hair without damaging it. Customers are raving about how powerful—yet gentle—the multitasking tool is.
Meet the Experts
- David Lopez is a celebrity hair stylist and T3 stylist ambassador.
Can using 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 flat iron instead of a hair straightener brush?
While hot tools are often subjective, Lopez notes that those with thicker hair may benefit more from hair straightener use over that of a straightening 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 wavier 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 (which we've tested firsthand).
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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