These Hair Straightening Brushes Will Make You Want To Break Up With Your Flat Iron

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If you’re a pro at styling your hair, you probably already own a handful of heat tools. But if you’re looking for a quicker way to smooth and straighten your strands, we’re here to help you find the best hair straightening brushes recommended by experts.

Meet Our Experts: Cynthia Alvarez, celebrity hairstylist and groomer, Allison Kaye, celebrity hairstylist, Jennifer Korab, hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon in New Jersey, Michelle Cleveland, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon

Hair straightening brushes are desirable thanks to their many functions and benefits, like smoothing hair, combating frizz, and adding volume. These brushes “cut your styling time in half and are a gentler way of straightening your hair,” says celebrity hair stylist Cynthia Alvarez. And most prefer them over flat irons because “they’re good for all hair types and help add volume to fine or thin hair. Lower temps are good for fine or damaged hair, and the higher temps are good for thick and coarse hair.”

Alvarez also explains that the brushes are made for dry hair, so remember to apply a leave-in spray with a heat protectant like this one while your hair is damp. “While the straightening brush is meant to create less damage to your hair than a flat iron, protection from all heat is still necessary,” she adds.

Ahead, see the best hair stylist-approved straightening brushes for all hair types:

If you’re a pro at styling your hair, you probably already own a handful of heat tools. But if you’re looking for a quicker way to smooth and straighten your strands, we’re here to help you find the best hair straightening brushes recommended by experts.

Meet the experts: Cynthia Alvarez is a celebrity hairstylist and groomer. Allison Kaye is a celebrity hairstylist. Jennifer Korab is a hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon in New Jersey. Michelle Cleveland is a celebrity hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon.

Hair straightening brushes have many functions and benefits, like smoothing hair, combating frizz, and adding volume. These brushes “cut your styling time in half and are a gentler way of straightening your hair,” says celebrity hair stylist Cynthia Alvarez. Most prefer them over flat irons, because “they’re good for all hair types and help add volume to fine or thin hair," Alvarez adds. "Lower temperatures are good for fine or damaged hair, while higher temperatures are better for thick and coarse hair.”

Alvarez also explains that these types of heat tools are made for dry hair, so remember to apply a leave-in spray with a heat protectant while your hair is still damp after washing. “While the straightening brush is meant to create less damage to your hair than a flat iron, protection from all heat is still necessary,” she adds.

Ahead, see the best hair stylist-approved straightening brushes for all hair types.

Ring Hair Straightening Brush

A great hair straightening brush doesn't have to break the bank. If you're looking for a cost-effective option, head to Target to pick up the TYMO Ring Hair Straightening Brush. The 3D "teeth" heat up and comb through hair from root to tip. And there are five settings for different hair types that range up to 410 degrees.

Rave review: "It cut the time it usually takes to straighten my hair in half, and my hair was the straightest I’ve ever gotten it. I have really [thick] wavy/curly hair and I’ve never been able to get it so straight."

Edge Heated Smoothing & Straightening Brush for Styling

Hairstylist Allison Kaye dubs this brush a favorite thanks to its fair price and unique technology. “T3 products are unmatched when it comes to the heat technology," she says. The brush also has three heat settings, so that you can customize it to your hair's needs. "Use lower heat on fragile or damaged hair,” Kaye adds.

Rave review: "Wow. Game changer. I can not use a flat iron with the results I want. I love that this does not cause frizziness, does not fry my hair, it smooths my hair, creates shine, and leaves body unlike flat irons."

The Brush Crush Heated Straightening Brush

“This brush has a 60-minute automatic safety shut-off, so you never have to worry about your tool still being on once you leave home,” Kaye explains. It also has a digital temperature control, making it suitable for all hair types.

Rave review: "I relax my hair every three months (4C natural) and this straightening brush is great in between relaxers! It gets my hair really straight, it’s easier and quicker to use than a regular straightener!"

Glide Smoothing Hot Brush

There's nothing like saving your blowout after a workout or running errands all day. Instead of dealing with frizz, flyaways, and hair that's curling up again, reach for this smoothing brush that makes second-day hair look the best it's ever looked. The hot brush uses ceramic plates that warm up to 365 degrees, which leaves hair sleek in a few strokes.

Rave review: "Love this tool. Doesn’t give you the same appearance as a flat iron but that’s what I love about it. It gives you smoothness with volume and bounce. Also shine!"

Paul Mitchell Neuro Sleek Smoothing Hot Brush

This brush heats up fast thanks to its ionic technology that effectively smooths each strand. It also adds shine and maintains the hair's natural body. The straightening brush also makes giving your hair a touchup a breeze.

Rave review: "This brush untangles hair in one brush. I can brush my hair from an uncontrolled mess to camera ready for work in minutes. Works great—long cord and easy to travel."

Smooth Operator Straightening Styling Brush

No bad hair days here. This brush detangles and straightens simultaneously, and it's crafted with tourmaline and ceramic that reduces frizz and adds shine. And once you find a setting you like, the Smooth Operator remembers to keep it there for your next hair session.

Rave review: "This has been a life saver and it is so much better than other similar brushes I have had. It leaves my hair nice and smooth."

Nano Titanium Thermal Paddle Brush

Looking to pump up the volume? Then this straightening brush is the perfect addition to your collection, as it gives the sleek and straight finish of a straightener, and adds the volume of a blowout without all the extra steps.

Rave review: "I have thick wavy hair and this brush works great! Easy to use and keeps my hair shiny and straight."

Straightening Heat Brush

“I recently started using the NuMe straightening heat brush, and I have to say I’m pretty impressed,” says Michelle Cleveland, a celebrity hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon. “The combination of tourmaline-plated bristles and infrared heat technology creates a super smooth result. It’s also designed to fit perfectly in your hand, just like a regular brush."

Rave review: "Best straightener brush I have ever used. I have long, thick hair and I finally found a product that gets the job done. My hair feels so soft and smooth and straightens very fast! Love it!"

Smooth Style Ceramic Heated Brush

This heated brush has a non-slip handle that makes it easy to move through your hair. The ceramic bristles heat up to straighten hair without causing damage.

Rave review: "So much quicker to use than a flat iron or curling iron, and less damaging to my long hair"

Ionic Hair Straightener Brush

If you're looking for an extremely affordable option, this one is currently on sale for less than $35. Not only is the price right, but the brush's features will make it a sealed deal. Instead of causing breakage, the ionic design penetrates the hair's core, which helps to reduce breakage. In addition to being able to use it daily to detangle and straighten without creating too much damage, plenty of reviewers also claim that it works incredibly for straightening beards.

Rave review: "This thing worked like a charm and tamed my unruly beard!"

Double Agent 2-in-1 Straightening Blow Dryer Brush

Hairstylist Jennifer Korab prefers this multitasker "because it dries the hair quickly and evenly without causing any damage."

Rave review: "Got this brush a few weeks ago after getting a new hair cut. Makes it so easy for me to style my curtain bangs and long layers."

Airwrap™ Multi-Styler

If you feel like splurging on yourself and want a faster way to straighten your hair, then this is one of the best products on the market. It does it all: dries, curls, and straightens, thanks to the included attachments in the set. Dyson's proprietary Coanda airflow smooths hair and reduces frizz while drying and straightening.

Rave review: "This was my best purchase. My hair drys so quickly with this and the curls are fantastic!"

Remington Shine Therapy Heated Straightening Brush

This brush is sleek and straightforward. Its bristles are taller and heat up faster. The larger bristles also make smoothing hair easy, and you can typically straighten the hair with one pass depending on how curly your hair is.

Rave review: "I love that this felt no different from brushing my hair. I sectioned big chunks and just brushed maybe 3 times at most. I don’t use product and this is my natural wash and wear hair."

CHI 3-in-1 Hot Smoothing Dryer Brush

For those with thicker hair, consider this 3-in-1 brush. It not only dries strands with hot air, but the brush also produces heat to help straighten simultaneously. There is also a built-in generator that neutralizes static and frizz, which produces fewer flyaways.

Straight Up Mini Ceramic Straightening Brush

This mini-sized styling brush makes it stress-free to straighten your hair while traveling. The brush is compact and fits into any bag, but don't mistake the small size for minimal results. It contains 45 ceramic plates that add instant heat to your hair, making styling your hair quick and easy.

Rave review: "This is a small, heated brush that does a great job straightening and smoothing hair. I find it very easy to use on my shoulder-length, fine, thin hair."

How our team chose the best hair straightening brushes

For months, Women’s Health editors, including writer Taylor Lane, have been researching the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated hair straightening brushes. Our team consulted four hairstylists—Cynthia Alvarez, Allison Kaye, Jennifer Korab, and Michelle Cleveland—and then evaluated thousands of customer reviews and ratings to narrow down the best hair straightening brushes for a wide range of needs and preferences.

Do straightening brushes damage hair?

"As long as your hair is in good condition and you are using a heat protector on your hair, a hair straightening brush is less damaging than a flat iron," says Katelyn Ellsworth, a stylist and founder of The Roslyn in San Diego. It's worth noting, however, any heated styling tool can cause heat damage over time. Some indicators of heat damage include split ends, visible breakage, white nodules on the ends of your hair, and an overall rough texture that tangles easily, says Ellsworth.

Is a hair straightening brush better than a flat iron?

Even though a straightening brush might not be quite as damaging as a flat iron, the tool you choose is ultimately a matter of personal preference and the look you're going for, says Ellsworth. "I recommend using a straightening brush and then a flat iron to finish if necessary, in that order," she says. "And always use a heat protectant before styling with heated tools." You can also prevent damage by sleeping with a silk or satin pillowcase and towel or air dry your hair as much as possible to limit time spent blow-drying.

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