6 best hair straightener brushes for everyday styling
We tried and tested the ghd hair tool that sold out immediately when it first launched — find out why we’re “obsessed” with how easy it is to use.
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For years, hair straighteners have been the heat-styling tool of choice to achieve sleek straight hair.
But as big, bouncy hair makes a comeback (think 90s supermodel hair) your at-home styling repertoire doesn’t have to be limited to a traditional hair straightener with two plates.
Well-known brands like ghd, VS Sassoon and Remington have all brought out hair straightener brushes, while Amazon Australia and Shaver Shop have great affordable options.
Hair straightener brushes can be a great alternative if you want to smooth out your hair while adding a bit of body — read on for our round-up of the best ones available, as well as expert advice on how to style your hair with one of them.
OUR TOP PICKS
EDITOR’S PICK: BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER BRUSHES
ghd glide hair straightener brush, $270 at THE ICONIC
Tried and Tested by Hannah Paine, news.com.au checkout Editor
I am a girl who loves my 12 step skincare routine, religiously wears my LED mask four times a week and will take my sweet time applying makeup.
But when it comes to my hair I’m somewhat more lazy. While I like using a blow-dry brush or the Dyson Airwrap, I can’t muster up the energy to style my hair as often as I should and I often don’t leave myself enough time to do my hair before going out.
Faced with this very pressing (and definitely first world) problem I decided to give the ghd glide brush (mine is in the limited edition champagne gold and comes with a red velvet case — fancy!) a whirl. First released in 2019 it was so popular it sold out almost immediately. The heated brush offers an alternative to the poker straight hair you get with a straightener hot iron.
Using the glide for the first time I’m struck by how simple it is to use. It takes just 30 seconds to heat to 185C (ghd’s signature heat setting for all its tools that won’t damage hair while styling hair perfectly) and the power button’s light will stop flashing when it’s ready for use.
I have fine, naturally straight hair so I can use it just like a regular hairbrush if I want a quick tidy up, or I separate my hair and use the glide in sections for a more straightened look.
When doing any heat styling it’s important to use a heat protector — I like using ghd bodyguard ($38, THE ICONIC) to give my hair a spritz before using the glide.
How to use it
It’s super versatile — you can easily run it over your hair to quickly smoothen frizz and flyaways in under a minute. My favourite way to use the glide is to separate my hair into four sections and run the brush though small sections, flicking the brush upwards as I reach the ends.
After I’ve straightened all the sections I like to turn my head upside down and run the glide brush underneath. I find this gives my hair a bit of volume and more of a blow-dry, rather than a straightened look. All of this takes five minutes flat, making it the most low maintenance hair tool on the market.
Verdict
If you want something that offers a lazy girl blowout in five minutes or less, the glide is a great investment. It’s also ideal if you already have fine or straight hair already and want a polished look that doesn’t leave your hair as flat as traditional straighteners. I’m obsessed with mine and use it almost daily to either smooth my flyaways or style my hair before going out.
BEST BUDGET: BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER BRUSHES
VS Sassoon Mini Straightening Brush VS11PA, $34.95 at Myer
What You Need To Know
The corded brush has three heat settings (180C, 190C and 200C) and uses a combination of silicone bristles that both straighten and detangle hair.
The ceramic brush offers ionic conditioning that won’t frizz hair while it straightens, with reviewers saying it “works well” for a travel-sized straightener.
Others also say it’s great for travel with one five-star review writing, “A perfectly decent straightening brush. The right size for travel, and easy to use.”
MORE OF THE BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER BRUSHES
MOROCCANOIL Smooth Style Ceramic Heated Brush, $199 at Adore Beauty
MOROCCANOIL Smooth Style Ceramic Heated Brush
What You Need To Know
A great option for beginners, this hot brush heats up super quickly so you can get down to business as soon as possible. Featuring heated bevelled edges, you're able to reach closer to the root than other brushes for extra smoothness. Those with thick, wavy/curly hair know that getting the roots is arguably the most important part when it comes to doing your hair.
Reviews on Google rave about how well it works.
"If you need to reduce frizz and straighten your hair, this tool is a quick and easy way to do it," writes one five-star review.
"I was skeptical that this would work on my wavy frizzy blonde shoulder length hair but it does wonders!" another writes.
"I like that it straightens my hair with body not poker straight like with a flat iron! Instead of just smoothing down with the brush on my layered hair, I also section my layers & lift up underneath & down for more volume! I am pleasantly surprised how well this works on my curly/wavy hair!"
TYMO Ring Hair Straightener Brush, $89.99 at Amazon Australia
TYMO Ring Hair Straightener Brush
What You Need To Know
Priced under $100 the brush heats up in just 30 seconds and has five temperature settings from 130°C to 210°C.
The ceramic-coated brush has an anti-burning shell and promises to straighten hair in just three minutes.
Five-star reviewers rave about the brush, claiming it “beats my GHD hands down” and is “not as harsh on my hair as my straightener”.
“Couldn’t ask for better value and quality! The results of my hair after the minuscule amount of time it takes to straighten with the TYMO are amazing,” one five-star review reads.
Remington Proluxe Salon Ionic Straightening Hair Brush, $65.62 (down from $99) at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
This hair tool uses ceramic heated plates with closely positioned bristles for maximum reach when using, while its anti-static ionic technology preventing that all too annoying frizz that can happen when straightening hair.
“It glides through hair without pulling and breaking, the pro heat setting is perfect and doesn’t cause heat damage. The brush is rectangular and with that makes it easier to get to the roots,” wrote one five-star review on Myer. Another said, “I find it very easy to use. I have coarse and frizzy hair so I need the 185-degree setting. The effect is straighter hair that still looks natural but not, flat, stick straight like a flat iron.”
VS Sassoon Frizz Defense Straightening Brush Mahogany, $79.95 at Myer
What You Need To Know
It heats up in 30 seconds and uses detangling combs, gentle heat activated silicone bristles and ceramic straightening fins to target frizz and promote shine.
“From the first sweep through my hair, I knew that Hair Straightening doesn’t get any better than this! The VS Sassoon Frizz Defense Straightening Brush gives me the smooth, conditioned and shining hair I’ve always dreamt of,” wrote one five-star review.
Another happy customer, “I have frizzy half and this works well to straighten without losing all my volume. Heats up quickly which is perfect for my busy morning routine.”
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A STRAIGHTENER BRUSH
When choosing straightener brushes to include in our list, we evaluated several factors:
Heat up time: In this day and age, we're all in a rush so waiting around for our straightener to heat up is not something we like doing. A short heat up time is always a plus in our books.
Auto shut off: We've all been there, we're out and about and then we suddenly forget whether we turned our straightener off or not. With an automatic shut off, this worry is a thing of the past.
Hair type: Does the straightener brush work on all hair types or only thin hair that is already fairly straight?
Cord length: While a long cord is great because it means you can easily get around your head, it can also be frustrating when it comes to storage. Finding the perfect length is a hard ask but very important.
Weight: If you've got thick hair, you know what it can be like after a while of trying to do your hair. Your arms feel like lead. But with a lightweight tool, you don't have to worry about this at all.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With hundreds of models available, it’s impossible to test every model out there. To help you find the best hair tool, we tested a popular model and read hundreds of customer reviews to find the best hair straightener brush.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HAIR STRAIGHTENING BRUSH AND A TRADITIONAL STRAIGHTENER?
According to Sydney hair stylist Anthony Nader, creative director of Raw Hair by Anthony Nader, the difference between the two hair heat tools is “night and day”.
“A hair straightening brush is also electrical, but it generates enough heat and power to smooth over hair strands with the bristles of the brush,” he told news.com.au checkout.
“Think of this method as brushing your hair in sections and bevelling your brush in the direction you want to shape it.”
“A traditional hair straightener flat irons the hair to be sleek and smooth,” adds hair stylist and Joico global artistic director Richard Mannah.
“A hair straightening brush is a brush, and therefore it can smooth the hair and give volume — different outcomes.”
In contrast a traditional straightener has “plates that you glide hair through”.
“The benefit of the plates is that you can iron out any unwanted textures in a flash with one or two goes, and you have your new surface,” Anthony said.
“The plates also give you the versatility of creating waves/curls or poker straight.”
WHEN SHOULD YOU BUY A HAIR STRAIGHTENER BRUSH INSTEAD OF A NORMAL STRAIGHTENER?
A hair straightener brush is a great option for those who want a “more natural finish” when styling their hair, says Anthony.
While a “straightener is for someone that needs to tell the hair what to do and behaves due to the plates and the firmness you can push down with them”.
“A straightening brush is for someone that still wants to embrace their own texture but wants to refine it gently,” Anthony said.
“Refining and making the hair appear more polished and voluminous without distorting the hair shape completely.”
Using a hair straightener brush can also help you achieve that professional blow dry look, adds Richard.
“When you want that beautiful salon blow-dried finish, it smoothes hair and gives bend and volume too,” he said.
HOW DO YOU USE A HAIR STRAIGHTENER BRUSH?
The beauty of a hair straightener brush is you can use it to create as much (or as little) volume and shape as you would like, depending on how you use it.
Here’s how to use a hair straightener brush to style your hair, according to Anthony:
1. “Apply your product of desire in freshly washed hair and then blast dry at least 80 per cent as this will cut down your time, and mostly … your arms won’t get tired,” he said.
2. Next, Anthony advises to “divide your hair into four even sections (ear to ear and middle forehead to nape)”.
3. After dividing your hair “take a least two-inch sections starting from the nape area and start using your brush and moulding sections of hair into shape”, he said.
4. “Take your sections right up to the crown area in the same method, ensuring a beautiful smooth bounce to your hair shape,” Anthony said.
5. Style the front section of your hair in the same way, but “if you want more volume around here, lift your brush upward (away from your root area)” to achieve a “wonderful lift”, says Anthony.
6. Once finished, Anthony advises to “pop your head over and add a little volume of soft spray on the roots and massage in” before brushing your hair into place.
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