The Best Thermal Brushes for Every Hair Type (2024)

One of the few thermal models Lee recommends, this round brush heats up to a respectable 410 degrees F, has a clear digital display, and a cool tip so you can easily style without burning your hand.

Hair types: All

Customer Review:

"Great, curling brush! I love that I can touch the bristles without them burning me. I love the temperature control ability. It heats up fast. It cools down quickly and comes with a handy little cover. Beautiful product very satisfied with totally buy again." —csm

The Dyson Airwrap is in a class of its own for its ability to dry, smooth, and style hair all at once. Better yet, this model has attachments, including a diffuser and wide-tooth comb, just for curly hair.

Hair textures: Curly and coily

Hair types: Fine, medium, and thick

Customer Review:

"I’ve resisted buying an air wrap for so long due to the nature of my curly hair. When Dyson came out with this long, diffuse air wrap, I decided to give it a try. I use all of the attachments everything from the diffuser to their signature air app is so good! Would highly recommend!" —missyoga

It may say "paddle," but this heated brush is actually on the petite side, making it great for bringing on the go. Simply brush it through your hair and it will straighten as you go as it reduces frizz thanks to ionic technology.

Hair types: Straight, wavy, curly, and coily

Hair textures: Fine, medium, and thick

Customer Review:

"This is such a great tool to get rid of frizz and waves in a short amount of time, super easy to use. Heats up really fast and made my hair smooth and shiny in minutes. It also gave my hair some volume. This will be my new to go to hair tool. Thank you Babyliss." —Shaista

Another great option for both heat styling and blowdrying at once, this tool leaves hair sleek, shiny, and salon-worthy in half the time you'd spend using two tools. Pro tip: Give your hair a head start on drying first, then start using the FlexStyle.

Hair textures: Straight and wavy

Hair types: Fine, medium, and thick

Customer Review:

"I could throw away all of my hair styling tools and be fine with just this! I have super wavy, thick frizzy hair and have tried everything to tame it over the years but this tool is so nice. My hair looks so shiny and healthy when I use this and instead of taking an hour like it used to to dry it, it’s cut in half." —virgoprincess97

This round brush can be used on all hair types and textures, and features a negative ion generator to lock in all the shine.

Hair types: Straight, wavy, curly, and coily

Hair textures: Fine, medium, and thick

Customer Review:

"For me this is a true game changer, it got hot enough and works well with my natural hair and extensions..provided volume curl shine. Best purchase have made." —Jennilyne

T3's thermal brush is unique in its mix of ceramic-coated bristles and tufted nylon bristles so that it passes through hair easily. Plus, the edge-to-edge heated plates ensure each pass is as efficient as possible.

Hair types: Straight, wavy, curly, and coily

Hair textures: Fine, medium, and thick

Customer Review:

"I absolutely love this heated brush! I have 4C hair and it’s so hard to find tools that work with my hair without overly damaging it! It’s very easy to use, and works very quickly! I love to use this hair tool" —GlowbyTess12

Featuring a wider 1 and 3/4-inch barrel, this thermal brush is great for styling longer hairstyles. Bonus: It's still miraculously lightweight, so your arm won't cramp up as you use it

Hair types: Straight, wavy, curly, and coily

Hair textures: Fine, medium, and thick

Customer Review:

"This is one of the best tools I have found that really works on my summer hair. I live near the beach I have spent thousands of dollars on hair straighteners. All I needed was this tool, no chemicals. No worries I know have the perfect tool. it works beautiful. Make sure your hair is completely dry before you use it."—Karie

With a more narrow 1 and 1/4-inch barrel, this brush works with a variety of hair lengths and is ideal for creating volume at the roots.

Hair types: Straight, wavy, curly, and coily

Hair textures: Fine, medium, and thick

Customer Review:

"There’s certainly a trial and error period with this but once you find your perfect rhythm, it’s amazing! It’s replaced my curling iron and is a great partner tool to my AirWrap." —JJNT

This 42 mm (about 1.65 inch) barrel brush uses infrared heat to style with minimal-to-no damage, leaving you with that ultra-voluminous, supermodel-esque shiny wave.

Hair types: Straight, wavy, and curly

Hair textures: Fine, medium, and thick

Customer Review:

"I wasn’t sure about how to use it at first, but after a few tries, I really like it!! It has a long cord that swivels which is great! It only takes a few minutes to do my hair with it." —Katie

Different tools—straightening vs. curling, for example—will have different instructions. But in general, Lee says to avoid daily use and be sure to use a heat protectant first.

"Stay aware of how long your hot tool stays in any section of hair–the point is to heat up the hair to set it, and close off the cuticle to make the hair shine, not burn the cuticle layer," says the stylist, who reminds that practice makes perfect.

• Kevin Lee is the style director at Julien Farel Restore Salon and Spa in New York City.