90s style flicky blowouts are back with a vengeance, and along with them are new styling tools to help achieve the look - the blow dry brush and the thermal brush. Both tools use a round brush and will help you get sleek, straight hair with a glorious flick at the bottom, but that is about where the similarities end.
Thermal brush vs blow dry brush: Which is better?
We might make money if you buy something through these links. Click as many as you want.
What is the difference?
The main difference between the two devices is the type of heat used. A thermal brush is made for dry hair, and uses high heat on a heated barrel to manipulate the hair follicles, while a blow dry brush is designed for use on wet air and uses hot air to dry and style simultaneously.
Both have the capacity to straighten, add volume, and create beautiful movement in your hair but which one is best for you will depend on your styling routine, and hair type.
What is a thermal brush?
A thermal brush is a high-heat styling tool similar to a hair straightener. Instead of the flat irons within a straightener, a thermal brush has a cylindrical barrel which uses ceramic or infrared technology to evenly heat around the surface. Think of it like a giant curling iron, except this one has bristles. The bristles both detangle, and straighten the locks creating a smooth finish as the thermal brush is guided through the hair.
Ultimately a thermal brush takes all the same principles of using a round brush and a hair dryer, and instead applies them to dry hair. This also makes the styling process significantly faster than opting for a blow dryer and a round brush. Since these tools are designed for use on dry hair only, they require higher heat to break down the keratin proteins within the hair strand, and reset it into shape.
As such thermal brushes will be better suited for people with thicker, or coarser hair, with minimal colour damage. Those with thin or damaged hair can still benefit from thermal brushes, but be sure to pop in your favourite heat protectant.
What is a blow dry brush?
Blow dry brushes take the technology of a hair dryer and combine it with a round brush to streamline styling. Along the bristled barrel, there are gaps for the heated air to blow through and dry the hair in shape. These styling tools make it easier to get a bouncy blowout, while still having one hand free to scroll your phone at the same time.
Hot air styling has become prevalent with devices like the Dyson Airwrap, the Airstrait, and the Shark Flexstyle to name a few, but its roots have always been with a trusty hair dryer. Air styling generally requires less heat since wet hair is more malleable than dry hair, and can hold its shape without the need for extreme heat. This makes it far gentler on all hair types, and can result in longer lasting styles.
This is a double edged sword though. Since most blow dry brushes use lower temperatures, people with thick, and curly hair may find the heat isn’t enough to manipulate their hair, or it takes significantly longer to style when compared to a high-powered dryer. Funnily enough, the cheaper the blow dry brush, the hotter it tends to be, so it could end up as a win-win - just be sure to check the temperature settings match what your hair needs.
Our top picks
Shark SmoothStyle: Best of both worlds


A combination product, the Shark SmoothStyle is both a blow dry brush and a thermal brush. In wet mode it blows air out by the combination bristles, across the large oval brush, while in dry mode the ceramic combs along the side heat up instead.
In our testing we found the tool gave excellent hold, past just a few hours and into multiple days. It made blow drying my thick hair significantly faster in wet mode, and was just as effective in dry mode. The downsides are that it is quite heavy, and the controls can be difficult to use mid styling session (especially if your hands are slippery from product).
Shark FlexStyle: Blow dry brush+


Ok, we like Shark products, but can you blame us? The FlexStyle went viral for good reason, it represents excellent value for the amount of styling options it gives you, including a blow dry brush.
Our reviewers found the FlexStyle was powerful enough to create curls, sleek styles, and of course bouncy blowouts. The accessories were intuitive and easy to use, and of course streamlining your styling products is always a plus. While the hold does tend to fall slightly after a few hours, even those curls are still gorgeous.
What bristles should I look for?
Both kinds of brushes come with different bristle types which can affect how well the tool handles your hair. When it comes to round brushes there are usually two kinds of bristles; boar bristle, and pin bristles. Boar bristles can be genuine or synthetic, while pin bristles can be metal or plastic. Natural fibres will always be better than plastic, but they’re also significantly more expensive so it's unlikely you’ll find them on either device to be honest.
Regardless as to what they’re made out of, the bristle types serve the same purpose. Pin bristles detangle, and boar bristles smooth. Ideally you’ll want a brush with a combination of both to create the smoothest finish, but if you can’t find that opt for pins on a thermal brush and boar bristles on a blow dry brush.
On the blow dry brush this will create less flyaways from the air pressure, and with a thermal brush the pin bristles will let your hair sit closer to the heat source.
Related Articles



