The Secret to the Perfect DIY Blowout? One of These 12 Round Brushes

I'll be the first to admit that using a round brush is pretty intimidating. Like, how do hairstylists make it look so damn easy?! Here's my theory: It's not so much their technique and skill level as is knowing exactly what round brush works best for every hair type and texture. And that, my friends, is the secret to the perfect at-home blowout.

Whether you’re trying to get a big, bouncy style that’s full of volume or a sleeker, smoother look, using the right round brush will have you looking like you just left the salon. LA-based hairstylist Meri-Kate O'Connor says they're perfect for creating "shape, movement and volume" while blow-drying. Sounds nice, right?

Below, we've rounded up the 12 best round brushes for short fine hair, long thick hair, and everything in between. From ones with natural bristles that leave your hair with soft, undone waves, smaller options that are perfect for bangs and bobs, and ceramic picks that smooth your hair without pulling or tugging at it.

Our top picks for the best round brushes of 2022

No matter what your hair type is, the raved-about round brushes on this list will give you a smooth and voluminous salon-quality blow-out from the comfort of your own home. Seriously—you've gotta try 'em!

Ibiza Hair

amazon.com

$45.85

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A favorite of O'Connor's, this boar bristle brush is ideal for color-treated or fine hair because it won't get stuck or cause breakage. Instead, the natural boar and heat-resistant carbon fiber bristles will leave your hair looking smooth, shiny, and healthy.

THE REVIEWS: "Holy grail styling brush," writes one tester. "My hair is healthier, softer, shinier, and I’m finally venturing back into the land of great hair days virtually every day. I would buy this brush again and again."

AIMIKE

amazon.com

$13.49

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I get it: If you're new to the world of round brushes, you probably don't want to drop a lot of cash on your first one. This top-rated option on Amazon is super affordable without sacrificing on quality (seriously—it's even got a nano iconic technology that helps prevent unwanted frizz and flyaways). It's available in three sizes (including the 3.3-inch version, pictured here) and comes with a few separating clips to make the process even easier. The thousands of 5-star reviews on Amazon aren't too bad either.

THE REVIEWS: "I've been using my old brush for 10-plus years (I know, horrible!). Decided to buy a new one and bought this one based on the reviews. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! I have a lot of breakage due to over-bleaching and my old round brush made it very noticeable. I thought maybe it was just how damaged my hair really is," writes one tester. "BUT with this brush, my hair felt a LOT smoother and the breakage was not as noticeable! I was contemplating cutting off my hair but this brush made me think twice. I'm keeping my hair!"

Olivia Garden

amazon.com

$34.95

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Trust me: The last thing you want to do to your fine or damaged hair is hit it with a blow dryer and a massive round brush—the combination of high heat and heavy, tugging bristles is a no-go (esp if you're worried about hair growth). The super-fine bristles on this round brush mean you'll get soft tension (read: no pulling) and the ceramic-coated barrel helps distribute heat for faster styling.

THE REVIEWS: "Yay, I finally found a large round brush that grips my hair, yet is gentle enough on my fine, overworked hair. I was hesitant to spend this much on a hairbrush but so glad I did," writes one reviewer.

Kitsch

ulta.com

$18.00

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Looking for an easy way to style your thick hair without all the pulling and tugging that usually goes down? This round brush from Kitsch is equipped with flexible nylon bristles that work to smooth and soften your hair and a vented ceramic barrel that helps speed up your drying time. Translation: You can count on quick and painless blowouts when you use this one.

THE REVIEWS: "I love this brush," writes one reviewer. "I do not love drying my hair. This brush can hold a lot of hair at one time which has cut down on my drying time, so I can get on with styling my hair with my flatiron. It is very lightweight and has a nice size handle. I love it."

T3

sephora.com

$40.00

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If you're after seriously good volume, you really can't go wrong with this round brush from T3. It comes in three sizes (2, 2.5, and 3 inches—the longer your hair, the wider you should go), all of which have a ceramic-coated barrel to help retain heat and smooth your hair as you blow-dry. That means you'll be able to easily shape and enhance your volume throughout the entire styling process.

THE REVIEWS: "Wow, I found a brush that holds tension to smooth my type 3b curls for the first time. Love it so much I'm going to buy other sizes," writes one tester.

Drybar

sephora.com

$36.00

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Drybar's version of this nifty hair tool features advanced technology to help smooth and add shine, while the ceramic barrel heats up during the blow dry process to lock in curls and volume.

THE REVIEWS: "This brush has been a game-changer for me...The round brushes are verrrry lightweight and comfortable, have bristles that grip the hair, a nice LONG barrel so you can work with larger sections, and ceramic and air holes to absorb heat and distribute it evenly," one tester writes. "I have a short bob that I style with a gentle curve inward. The Half Pint is perfect for this length, but as I grow it out I will be getting the Full Pint."

Denman

sallybeauty.com

$24.19

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Remember when I said some round brushes aren't great for curls? Yeah, same goes for coils (unless you're into potential breakage. Fun). Instead, try playing around with the tension method and a Denman brush the next time you blow-dry your hair. The nylon bristles on this cult-favorite brush create the perfect amount of tension to help stretch your hair without pulling or snagging.

THE REVIEWS: "I have always struggled with my thick curly hair. I have a middle eastern background, so you can just imagine how thick my hair is. I hated brushing my hair because I always felt like i ruined the curl pattern and it would not look good after I styled it," writes one tester. "BUT AFTER I PURCHASED THIS BRUSH, I HAVE NEVER HAD THOSE FEELINGS AGAIN. THIS BRUSH IS AMAZING, SPECTACULAR, AND THE BEST $20 I HAVE EVER SPENT."

SPORNETTE

amazon.com

$12.00

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As anyone who's attempted to blow-dry their bangs knows well, using a bulky brush on such a tight area can be very difficult (if not impossible). But that's where this itty-bitty round brush comes into play—it's got a 3/4-inch barrel that slips easily under your bangs and soft, nylon bristles for flyaways.

THE REVIEWS: "I have short, fine hair and I find that most brushes can't grip my hair very well. This brush is great for styling and it's not harsh on the scalp. If you have long hair, this is not a brush for you," one reviewer writes.

Cricket

ulta.com

$23.50

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It's true: The longer and thicker your hair, the wider your round brush should be. This classic brush from Cricket has a 2.5-inch barrel, making it the perfect width for your ultra-long hair. Speaking of the barrel, this bb is thermal—which means it helps evenly distribute heat while you style. Score.

THE REVIEWS: "I've never used a round brush before but I wanted to see if it would make my bad haircut look decent. I tried this one for the first time last week, and it was AMAZING," one tester writes. "I feel like I just got out of the salon!!"

RAINCRY

dermstore.com

$69.00

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Boar-bristle brushes are a genius way to get soft tension that doesn't leave you with frizz or flyaways, and this round brush from Raincry is no exception. Its spiral design makes it way easy to twirl through your hair, leaving you with shiny, straight pieces every time. And because the base is wooden, not metal, it won't add as much heat damage during your blowout.

THE REVIEWS: "I love this brush! I can totally tell a difference when I blow dry my hair with a cheap brush and when I blow dry my hair with this brush," one reviewer writes. "It is pretty pricey, but it works so well. I wish I had a bigger one too. The bristles are really stiff, and I think it grips my hair well."

Hot Tools

ulta.com

$14.99

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You know when you blow-out your hair and it looks kinda...dull? Yeah, this round brush is basically the secret to avoiding that. Working in sections, brush your hair and hit it with a dryer and it'll work to build the perfect amount of volume, shape, and shine. And did I mention that shine actually lasts? Because it really lasts.

THE REVIEWS: "This brush is great for daily use on your hair, wet or dry! Gives great volume and shape! It's the only brush I've ever used that doesn't get my hair wrapped in it and pull it out or break it off! Very gentle feel when used," writes one tester. "I love it so much I'm going to buy the other sizes they make! I'm almost 50 and I have fine, wavy hair."

Revlon

amazon.com

$39.87

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Presenting: A hot round brush that styles your hair as you brush it. Yes, that means you can literally run and twirl this tool through damp hair, and it'll leave you with a sleek and ultra-soft blowout, zero skills required. And I'm not just saying that—peep the hundreds of glowing reviews on TikTok to see the hype.

THE REVIEWS: "I LOVE this dryer. It makes my hair so soft and amazing, and it dries it so quickly," writes one reviewer. "My hair looks like I just walked out of the salon and spent $100, every time."