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Best Thermal Brushes of 2024: Amika, Moroccan Oil, Perfecto, and GHD
Exploring thermal brushes: are these trending thermal brushes worth the hype (and your hard-earned money)?
There’s nothing like getting up from the salon chair and catching a glimpse of yourself with a fresh blowout. You want the style (and feeling that comes with it) to last as long as possible. But how do you freshen up second, third, or even fourth day hair with the same results? This is where a heated round brush enters the conversation.
It’s only natural to wonder if an airless, heated round brush is actually better than your good old blow dryer and round brush combo? Well let me tell you, after reviewing the top contenders on the market, and taking a (longer than necessary) leap down the thermal brush rabbit hole, it’s clear why thermal brushes are all the craze right now.
They’re great for adding volume, taming frizz, and making second-day hair look freshly styled without all the extra heat exposing your hair to heat damage.
As an experienced hairstylist, with two decades of experience, people are always asking me — which heated round brush is the best? We’ll reveal the top thermal brush pick of 2023 in just a moment.
But first, let’s explore the benefits.
Here’s How a Heated Thermal Brush Makes You Look Like You Just Got a Blowout
Here’s a few qualities you want your thermal brush to have for the best results:
1. Heat-Resistant Poly-Flex Bristles: We can’t stress the importance of heat-resistant bristles enough! This type of bristle shields your scalp from the heat and glides through your hair smoothly to minimize breakage and snagging.
2. Interchangeable Barrels for Different Styles: Variety is the spice of life, and the same goes for your hair styling tools! You can create different looks with interchangeable barrels to suit your mood or occasion. From tight curls to voluminous waves, being able to switch up barrel sizes gives you the flexibility to experiment with your style.
3. Ceramic Barrel for Smooth, Shiny Hair: Ceramic barrels are a must-have to achieve smooth, frizz-free styles. Ceramic round brushes are instrumental in even heat distribution needed to create a beautiful, polished blowout.
Bonus – Dual Voltage compatibility. This feature is a lifesaver for those who love to travel. It ensures that your thermal brush works just as well overseas as it does at home, making it a trusty companion for all your global adventures.
Our #1 Thermal Brush Pick Gives You Effortless Volume and Shine
The Perfecto Airless Heated Round Brush makes it easy to get a salon-style blowout look without all the hassle. It’s the ultimate tool for reviving your locks, adding volume and shine with minimal effort.
We love the versatility of this thermal brush. It has three barrels: 45mm, 38mm, and 30mm. This gives you different levels of volume, body waves, and loose curls. The ceramic barrels provide a smoothing effect that helps reduce frizz and flyaways too. It’s also a great way to prep your hair before using Velcro rollers!
After reviewing the top thermal brushes on the market right now, we felt the Perfecto Airless Heated Round Brush was super easy to use, offers stunning results, and comes at the best value.
PROS:
- Comes with three different barrels to easily make big waves or loose curls, depending on your preference.
- Has heat resistant poly-flex bristles that are gentle and prevent breakage.
- Ionic technology helps reduce frizz, making your hair look smooth and polished.
- Ceramic barrels help you achieve smooth, shiny, “just stepped out of the salon” styles.
- Dual voltage feature, so it’s great for travel use.
- Only weighs 7.4 ounces, so it’s lightweight and easy to handle.
- Automatic shut off after 1 hour.
- 360° swivel cord for simplified styling movement.
CONS:
- Only available online
- Sells Fast
The GHD Rise Brush is a solid option for those who want an easy way to get a blowout look at home. It heats up quickly, making it a reliable choice for everyday styling. The brush does a good job smoothing hair and adding basic volume.
However, it’s limited in versatility because it only comes with one barrel size. This means you can only experiment with a narrow range of styles like you can with the Perfecto Airless Heated Round Brush and its three different barrel sizes.
The GHD Rise Brush is suitable for simple, consistent styles. But, if you enjoy changing your hairstyle often, the Perfecto is a better choice with more styling options.
PROS:
- Heats up fast, allowing for a swift start to your styling routine.
- Great for smoothing out frizz and flyaways, giving your hair a sleeker look.
- Ideal for those who prefer straightforward styling without too many complexities.
CONS:
- Lots of reviews stating it’s not user-friendly with a learning curve.
- Only offers one temperature of 365°F, which limits some hair types and textures.
- Lack of interchangeable barrels means you're restricted to one style of curl or wave, reducing the versatility of the tool compared to others that offer multiple barrel options.
The T3 Edge Brush stands out for its hair-smoothing abilities, although it has a few features that might only meet some people’s needs. It’s equipped with three heat settings, which could be limiting for those who prefer more precise temperature control. We also didn’t like that you can’t see these settings on the device.
We found this thermal brush better for achieving a sleek, smooth look. It doesn’t have a round barrel, so it didn’t create the volume and body curls very well.
We chose the T3 Edge as our number three pick because it’s an excellent option for those primarily interested in straightening and smoothing hair.
PROS:
- Great for smoothing hair, providing a sleek and polished finish.
- For some, three heat settings offer simplicity, ideal for those who prefer a straightforward approach.
CONS:
- There are only three heat settings with no visual indicators.
- Product design doesn't work well for volumizing and curling.
- This thermal brush is on the heavier side at 1.88 lbs.
In the number four spot, the Moroccanoil Smooth Style Ceramic Heated Brush offers a unique approach to hair styling. This tool bridges the gap between a flat iron’s heat styling benefits and the gentleness of a paddle brush.
The ceramic cool tip bristles heat up quickly and make it easy to smooth hair even in areas close to the scalp. Heating up in just 60 seconds and capable of reaching up to 430 degrees, the brush also features a temperature lock to ensure consistent heat during use.
While it shares some similarities with the T3 Edge Brush, such as rapid heating and high-temperature capabilities, it also shares limited styling capabilities when it comes to adding volume, curls, and waves.
PROS:
- Multiple heat settings; up to 430°F
- Cute color and design.
- Comfortable, soft grip to support ease of use.
CONS:
- Doesn’t work as well on thicker hair textures.
- Frizz is still an issue after a few passes.
Landing at number five, the Amika Blowout Babe Thermal Brush might catch your eye if you’re after simplified styling. It combines a hairdryer’s convenience with a round brush’s styling ability, but it’s not without its limitations.
You’ll appreciate its capability to add volume, especially near the roots. Its evenly heated barrel and unique bristles work together to smooth and volumize hair, delivering a salon-like finish.
While the Amika Blowout Babe excels in some areas, it doesn’t offer the same versatility in creating diverse styles like curls or waves, unlike some of its multi-functional counterparts.
PROS:
- Easy to use
- Lightweight and ergonomic design.
CONS:
- Limited in creating tight curls or waves.
- May take longer to style very thick or coarse hair.
The Perfecto Airless 3-in-1 Thermal Brush: A Clear Winner for Effortless "Blowouts"
After testing and reviewing the top picks on the market, we found the Perfecto Airless 3-in-1 Thermal Brush to be the best thermal brush for a wide range of styling needs — especially if you want more volume.
We love how the poly-flex bristles are gentle but are most effective in grasping and lifting hair at the root to create volume while eliminating frizz concerns.
If you love the idea of blowouts without all the hard work that usually comes with the territory, this is the hair tool you’ve been waiting for.
