Best Hot Brush for Frizzy, Thick and Curly Hair: Our Top Picks

The best hot brush depends on your hair type. For frizzy hair, a heated smoothing comb like the Shark Beauty SmoothStyle works best; for thick or long hair, a long-barrel infrared brush like the Bondi Boost Infrared Thermal Bounce Brush; for curly hair, a multi-styler with a diffuser; and for short hair, a shorter barrel.

That's the quick answer. Below, we break down what to look for, our top pick for each hair type, and how to use a hot brush without frying your ends. You can also browse the full hair appliances range to compare every option.

Ready to find your match? Let's get into it.

What to Look For in a Hot Brush

Not all hot brushes work the same way, and the right one for your friend's hair might be wrong for yours. These are the features that matter most:

• Barrel size: smaller barrels (around 25–32mm) give more lift and bend at the root, which suits short or fine hair. Larger barrels (40mm and up) give a smoother, straighter blowout on long or thick hair.
• Heated brush or hot air brush: a heated brush warms its own barrel or bristles and is designed for dry hair. A hot air brush blows warm air through the barrel, so it dries and styles damp hair in one step.
• Temperature range: adjustable heat lets you keep fine or colour-treated hair on a lower setting and only turn it up for thick, coarse hair.
• Ionic or ceramic tech: both are designed to help smooth the cuticle and reduce frizz, which matters most if your hair puffs up in humidity.
• Bristle type: denser bristles grip and smooth thick hair, while widely spaced bristles move through fine hair without snagging.

Get these right and the brand name matters a lot less.

Quick Comparison: Best Hot Brush by Hair Type

The Best Hot Brush for Every Hair Type

Shark Beauty SmoothStyle Heated Comb and Blow-Dryer Brush

Best for: frizzy hair

Frizz needs smoothing, not just heat, and this tool is built around that. According to Shark, you start in wet mode, which uses airflow only to dry your hair, then switch to dry mode, where the heated ceramic combs turn on to smooth and remove frizz. Shark recommends starting when your hair is about 70% dry. Ceramic coating and ionic technology help leave hair sleek and shiny. Shop Shark Beauty SmoothStyle Heated Comb and Blow-Dryer Brush.

Bondi Boost Infrared Thermal Bounce Brush - Long Barrel

Best for: thick and long hair

Thick hair needs a barrel long enough to hold a full section at once. This version has a 42mm barrel that's 145mm long, which Bondi Boost recommends for longer, thicker hair. Infrared heat runs from 120°C to 230°C, and aloe-infused bristles help add shine. Bondi Boost reports that in instrumental testing on hair tresses it reduced frizz by 35% after one use. It's designed for dry hair. Shop Bondi Boost Infrared Thermal Bounce Brush - Long Barrel.

Bondi Boost Infrared Bounce Brush

Best for: short hair

This is the original version of the viral thermal brush, with the same 42mm barrel and 120°C to 230°C infrared heat range, but at 101mm long. Bondi Boost recommends this shorter barrel for shorter hair, so you're not wrestling a long brush around a bob or lob. It has a cool tip for safer styling and a 60-minute auto turn-off. Shop Bondi Boost Infrared Bounce Brush.

H2D 7-in-1 Ultra Styler Rose Gold

Best for: curly hair

Curly hair is where a single hot brush often falls short, because it smooths curls out rather than defining them. This styler gives you both options in one tool: a blow out brush, hot round brush and smoothing brush for a sleek blowout, plus a diffuser for drying curls without disturbing their pattern. Two curling barrels let you add back defined curls or waves. Shop H2D 7-in-1 Ultra Styler Rose Gold.

Muk Hot Round Brush

Best for: fine hair and quick volume

Fine hair falls flat when the barrel is too big, so smaller is better here. This hot round brush comes with two interchangeable attachments, 25mm and 32mm, for creating volume, bend, waves and curls. It heats up quickly, which makes it handy for a fast refresh between washes. For more options, see our edit of the best hot brush for fine hair. Shop Muk Hot Round Brush.

Bondi Boost Blow Out Brush 51mm

Best for: drying and styling damp hair in one step

If you'd rather skip the hairdryer altogether, a hot air brush is the way to go. This one has a 51mm oval barrel, three heat and speed settings, 1200 watts of drying power and ionic technology to reduce frizz, according to Bondi Boost. The head detaches so you can rough-dry first, and the smaller barrel also suits shorter hair and soft waves. Shop Bondi Boost Blow Out Brush 51mm.

How to Use a Hot Brush

• Step 1: Check whether your hair should be wet or dry. Heated brushes like the Bondi Boost Infrared range are designed for dry hair, while hot air brushes are made for damp hair. Follow the directions for your tool.
• Step 2: Apply heat protectant. Mist a heat protectant such as Evo Icon Welder Heat Protection Spray 200ml through your lengths before any heat touches your hair.
• Step 3: Section your hair. Work in sections about the width of the barrel, starting underneath and finishing with the top layer.
• Step 4: Start on a low heat setting. Use the lowest temperature that gets results, and only turn it up for thick or coarse hair.
• Step 5: Brush slowly from root to tip. Hold the brush at the root for a few seconds to build lift, then glide down the section, rolling the ends under or out.
• Step 6: Let your style cool before touching it. Hair sets as it cools, so your finish will last longer.

Not sure which protectant suits your hair? Our heat protectant guide breaks it down.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the Difference Between a Hot Brush, a Thermal Brush and a Blow-Dry Brush?

A hot brush heats its own barrel or bristles and is used on dry hair. A blow-dry brush, also called a hot air brush, blows warm air through the barrel to dry and style damp hair at the same time. A non-heated thermal round brush, like the Brushworx Gold Ceramic Hot Tube Hair Brush Medium, has a ceramic barrel that holds the heat from your hairdryer, so you use the two together.

Can You Use a Hot Brush on Wet Hair?

It depends on the type. Heated hot brushes are designed for dry hair, while hot air brushes and tools with a wet mode, like the Shark Beauty SmoothStyle, are made for damp hair. Using a dry-hair tool on wet hair can cause damage, so always check the brand's directions.

What Temperature Should I Use on a Hot Brush?

Start with the lowest setting that works for your hair. Fine, colour-treated or damaged hair usually needs less heat, while thick or coarse hair may need a higher setting to smooth properly. Always pair heat with a heat protectant.

Are Hot Brushes Less Damaging Than Straighteners?

Any heat tool can damage hair if it's too hot or used too often. Bondi Boost says its infrared brushes caused less damage than traditional forms of heat in instrumental testing. Whichever tool you use, keep the temperature as low as your hair allows and use heat protectant every time.

Which Hot Brush Is Best for Short Hair?

A shorter barrel is easier to manoeuvre on short hair. Bondi Boost recommends the 101mm Bondi Boost Infrared Bounce Brush for shorter hair, and smaller barrels like the 25mm and 32mm attachments on the Muk Hot Round Brush give more lift at the root.

Can a Hot Brush Keep My Curls?

Not usually. A hot brush smooths and straightens as it styles, so it's best for a sleek blowout. To keep your natural curl pattern, use a diffuser instead, and see our curly hair guide for the products that help curls hold.

What Is the Best Hot Brush Brand?

There's no single best brand, because the right hot brush depends on your hair type. Bondi Boost's infrared brushes suit thick, long or short hair depending on the barrel length, Shark Beauty's SmoothStyle is built for frizz, and Muk and H2D offer multi-attachment tools for fine or curly hair. Choose by barrel size, heat range and whether you style damp or dry hair.

Do Hot Brushes Really Work?

Yes, for smoothing, volume and a soft blowout finish. A hot brush won't give you the poker-straight result of a flat iron or the defined curl of a curling iron, but it's a quick route to an everyday polished look. You'll get the best results by matching the barrel size to your hair and using the lowest heat that works.

The Bottom Line

Match the brush to your hair, not the hype. Frizzy hair needs smoothing, thick hair needs a longer barrel, fine and short hair need a smaller one, and curly hair is best served by a tool with a diffuser. Whatever you choose, use heat protectant and keep the heat as low as your hair allows.

Shop the full hair appliances range at Oz Hair and Beauty, or read our guide to choosing the right brush for your hair.

So… which hair type are we styling first?