The 15 Best Round Brushes For Every Type of Blowout (2024)

When we polled hairstylists, everyone mentioned Olivia Garden's hair brushes. They win best overall round brush because they're foolproof: They come in a full range of sizes (general rule of thumb: the longer your hair, the larger and longer your barrel should be), and it's hard to get your hair tangled in an Olivia Garden round brush. If you need a place to start, the Ceramic + Ion Thermal Hairbrush is a best-seller. But you can also go through the brand's hair brush guide to find your perfect fit.

One reviewer says: "Received this item from my hairdresser, as she said this was the best round brush to use for drying hair to get some volume! It works perfectly! The brush is super lightweight, easy to hold, and makes for easy and quick hair drying. Minimal hair gets stuck in the bristles, even wet, so it feels like it's safe to use!" —Erin

A boar bristle round brush is ideal for someone with coarse hair texture, as it provides more stretch and tension than a ceramic or ionic brush. Hairdressers love the Ibiza line because the bristles are soft to protect the hair from heat damage but still provide adequate tension and hold to smooth curly or frizz-prone hair.

One reviewer says: "This brush is worth every penny. My hair came out so smooth, it’s so soft and doesn’t hurt your head, all my waves around my temple came out straight and I didn’t have to use my straightener afterward. I love this. Highly recommend!!" —Natalia

You'd be hard-pressed to find a NYC hair salon that doesn't stock YS Park hair brushes. They're harder to find in person—the brand was developed in Japan—but not impossible. What makes this brush unique is the alternating boar bristle and heat-resistant nylon pins, which smooth the hair stand and offer control, respectively.

One reviewer says: "My hair stylist used this during my salon visit for blow drying and I immediately had to get it after my appointment." —Rose

"Bouncy" and "shiny" are the words that most people use when describing their hair after using a T3 ceramic-coated round brush. Stylists say the Round Volume Brush is ideal for fine, straight hair types, but according to rave reviews, it proves effective across thicker, curly textures as well.

One reviewer says: "Where has this brush been all my life?? Yes, I love it. I have long, wavy, curly, thick hair and it works great and has cut my drying time in half."—Karyn

Ghd's ceramic vented round brush is a favorite among at-home blowout aficionados. Its thoughtful design features an extra-large hollow ceramic barrel that retains heat to allow for a faster blow-dry and a non-slip handle for control.

One reviewer says: "I have been using this brush for a couple of weeks now and I'm so happy with the results! My hair is long and now silky, and has volume and shine. It's just the best styling brush I ever had!" —Athena

The mint-toned Harry Josh Pro Tools have been a salon mainstay for nearly a decade. Hairstylists consider the brand's round brushes to be effective for all hair types, featuring a seamless barrel to avoid pulling hair. This small brush, with a ceramic-coated barrel, nylon bristles, and a detachable sectioning pick, is ideal for those with short hair looking for a precision styling tool.

One reviewer says: "This brush is great! It helps amp up the volume in my fine, thin hair without getting it all tangled up during the blow-dry process. It's lightweight and I'm pleased with this brush." —Kathleen

A blow-dry brush is the ultimate at-home blowout hack, serving as a round brush and blow dryer in one tool. While most hairstylists still prefer a separate round brush and blow dryer for styling because you get more tension on the hair and a more concentrated airflow, they say some blow-dry brushes do a good enough job. This one by T3 is hairstylist-approved and gets rave reviews.

One reviewer says: "I have curly hair, and when I blow dry my hair with my regular blow dryer, it’s a hot mess. Now I can dry my hair and style at the same time. My hair looks like I just had a blowout and the style usually lasts me a couple of days." —Em

If you have long hair and want to invest in your at-home hair tools, you'd be smart to consider the viral Dyson Airwap. It comes with a round brush attachment, which serves as a blowdry brush, but it also includes attachments for creating soft waves and curls and smoothing flyaways. Plus, the heat is gentle on the hair. Consider this your souped-up round brush.

One reviewer says: "I love my Airwrap so much. Styling time is a fraction of what it once was. My hair is healthier than when I was previously using other round brush dryers. I’m so happy with this purchase. Truly life-changing!" —Clare

For someone interested in another hybrid option, consider a thermal brush. A thermal brush is a heated round brush that doesn't blow air like a blowdryer but is designed to style hair that's already dry. The results you can get with a thermal brush— specifically this one from celeb hairstylist Jen Atkin's brand, Mane —rival a salon blowout (and don't require a curling iron or set of hot rollers).

One reviewer says: "Completely and utterly obsessed with my hot brush. I look like I always have a blowout." —Sabrina

The Denman head-hugger brushes are innovative in design. The hourglass barrel contours the head for maximum root lift. They come in extra-small, small, medium, and large barrels; the smaller sizes are ideal for styling short hair or bangs.

One reviewer says: "Good for styling my short sleek bob." —Alison

Maybe the most aesthetically pleasing brush on this list, Hair Edit's Goddess Boar Bristle Brush will look nice and neutral on your vanity and give your hair a shiny, glossy blowout. The bristles are made of ethically sourced boar bristles and ball-tipped pins that grip the hair and polish the strands. At under $20, you can't beat the price point, either.

One reviewer says: "Gives good tension when giving yourself a blowout and doesn't heat up to the point it burns you! Plus the boar bristles make my hair super soft and shiny!" —KT

This $14 round brush has perfect reviews and 5 stars across the board. The bristles are heat-resistant vegan boar bristles, and they're pretty densely packed, so you can get a grip and lift on the hair while still allowing strands to glide through without pulling.

One reviewer says: "It's like this hair brush was made for my fine and flat hair. Everyone with flat hair any length should give this brush a shot." —Patti

The Sisley Blow-Dry Brush is gentle but effective, and the elegant wood design is one of the reasons our beauty editors are fans of this brush. The soft bristles provide hold for easy drying and also keep the hair super soft.

One reviewer says: "Worth the price. This brush is amazing, I have fine, thin shoulder-length layers and this brush leaves my hair looking shiny, full, and soft. A bouncy blow dry at home at last which lasted until the next wash." —Sally

If you need a round brush in a pinch—maybe you're traveling, and the hotel has a hairdryer, but you forgot a brush—run to CVS or Target and grab a Goody Thermal Round Brush. It's accessible at most drugstores, costs less than $10, and dried hair quickly and gently. Plus, one of our favorite features is the pointed tip at the end of the barrel, which can be used to section the hair or create a sharp part.

One reviewer says: "Love this brush. This is my third one. I replace them after they start losing their tips. Great for blow drying." —Gotham

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This is not a fun answer, but styling your hair with a round brush takes practice. "Ask your stylist if they’ll do a lesson," offers Gamez. It also might be helpful to reference a YouTube or TikTok tutorial.

The general guidance is: start fresh out of the shower, detangle your hair, and then begin blowdrying and brushing small sections of hair, working your way around your head. You can start in the front or back sections. Johnson recommends starting with the front sections around your hairline, as your hairline pieces are the most important and require the most precision, and you don't want to be fatigued when styling them.

For best results, it's important that your hair fully dries. "The key is to get all the moisture out," says Valles, "to achieve the smooth look, you need to keep drying until the hair is completely dry."

Salon stylists prefer using a separate round brush and blow dryer (not a round-brush blowdryer) because it allows for more control and mitigates damage to the hair. "Blowdry brushes tend to be high heat, so if you’re putting that tool to soaking wet hair, you’re going to over dry and damage it," explains Gamez. "A blow dryer allows you to create space between the heat and the hair shaft as needed. You can control the air direction of a dryer with your nozzle, pointing downwards and sealing the cuticle, resulting in shinier, smoother hair, as opposed to a hot brush that blows air outwards in all directions."

On the other hand, a blowdry brush has its benefits. According to Valles, the ease of use is a huge selling point. "A blow-dry brush makes the process so much easier," Valles says. "Some people aren't as coordinated [handling] a brush and dryer simultaneously, but the blow-dry brush gives the same results and is easier to manage."

Either way, the best round brush for you is the one you enjoy using.