Let's just be honest—it isn't always easy to achieve that just-back-from-the-salon look at home unless you have the right hair tools. As someone who has tried for years to perfectly replicate stylist-level sleek hair, I quickly realised that it's all about one particular item in your routine that you might have previously overlooked. Yes, it's time to consider swapping your basic, everyday hair brush for a round brush. Much like hot brushes, round brushes are great for helping you achieve those large, loose supermodel waves or curls.
Celebrity hairstylist Jamie Wiley also loves them for this particular reason. "I like using a round brush when the end goal is volume and bounce in a blowout," she says. "The heat from the hairdryer will heat up a metal or ceramic round brush while also acting as a curling iron. This creates a soft roundness to the overall look." For tips from Wiley on how to choose the right round brush and a few of her favourites, keep on reading.
How to Choose the Right Round Brush for Your Hair Type
Wiley has a few tips on how to select the right brush for your hair length and type. For starters, those with short hair will want to opt for a round brush with a smaller barrel size so that it's able to gather the hair and turn even at a shorter length. Medium-length hair types can opt for a larger brush with an ideal diameter between 1.7 and 2.75 inches. Longer hair types (especially if yours is also thick) can even go for a jumbo-sized brush around three to four inches in diameter.
If you have wavy or curly hair, Wiley also has a few notes on what to do before going in with a round brush. "Wavy, curly, and coily hair textures need different tools and techniques because the hair grows out of the scalp differently," she says. "So as to not create frizz, rough up the cuticle, and damage the integrity of the curl, specific tools are needed. You'll want to detangle and define when starting with wet or damp hair. Great options for wavy, curly, and coily hair are the Wet Brush Shower Detangler (£8) and the Denman Classic Styling Brush (£11). These will detangle and define the curls rather than separate and diffuse."
Wiley's picks and a few of our own favourite and editor-tested round brushes are down below.
The Best Round Brushes for Every Hair Type & Length
- Beauty Pie Super Healthy Hair Pro-Dry Barrel Brush (£22)
- GHD The Blow Dryer Radial Brush (£26)
- Kent Brushes Volumising Bristle Nylon Mix Round Brush (£12)
- Moroccanoil Ceramic Round Brush (£17)
- Christophe Robin Blowdry Hairbrush (£85)
1. Beauty Pie Super Healthy Hair Pro-Dry Barrel Brush
Beauty Pie
Super Healthy Hair™ Pro-Dry Barrel Brush
Price shown is member price.Specifications: Cons: Customer Review:
Comes in 3 sizes
Boar and nylon bristles
Ceramic-coated barrel
Wooden design
Pros: Boar and nylon bristles smooth and create good tension, lightweight, sleek, high-quality wooden design, comes in three sizes to accommodate different hair lengths
Our verdict: "I have to preface this review with an admission—I am awful at using round brushes," says deputy editor, Maxine Eggenberger. "I use my hairdryer in my dominant hand and always find it tricky to get the turning motion required to achieve the bounce my hairdresser manages to create so easily. However, from opening the box I knew this Beauty Pie round brush was a premium option.
"The wood handle adds to the luxury feel of it—I much prefer it to my plastic brush. The barrel itself is large (the brush comes in three sizes—mine was the biggest), which I like as I prefer big, airy volume in place of anything that feels too “done”. When I ran it through my hair, the combination of bristles grabbed every strand and held them in place. This I think was, in part, my problem—I have lots of hair and found it hard to turn the brush as so much of it was held tight in the bristles. However, I’ve had the opposite situation with other round brushes—where my hair won’t stay in place in the brush—so I’d much prefer this scenario.
"While I wasn’t quite able to emulate the bounce I get with my hot brush, I have to say, my hair has never felt smoother or, dare I say, quite as glossy! If you feel confident using a round brush, then I would definitely say this is a great option. Me? I’ve actually just bought the paddle brush iteration, as I was very impressed by how healthy and soft the round brush made my hair."
2. GHD The Blow Dryer Radial Brush
GHD Hair
The Blow Dryer - Radial Brush Size 4
Specifications: Cons: Customer Review:
Comes in four sizes
Vented ceramic barrel
Soft touch handle
Pros: Easy to use, left hair smooth and sleeker, vented ceramic barrel helps to dry and style hair faster
Our verdict: "I’m a real novice when it comes to hair tools—yes, even brushes! I normally just use a hairdryer and standard brush, but, although lazy, I am always looking for ways to achieve that salon-worthy blow-dry look at home," says managing editor, Poppy Nash. "That’s why I was really looking forward to trying a round brush, as I’d heard so many fantastic reviews about different brands and styles from friends and colleagues. And the GHD round brush is, unsurprisingly, really, very good.
"GHD’s blow dryer brush in size 4 has a large barrel, which is perfect for my long, slightly thin hair and promises to reduce drying time, which is always a plus in my books! It was incredibly easy to use, with a sleek and comfortable handle and quality bristles that didn’t pull my hair. After use, my hair felt smoother, silkier and bouncier, and the brush is certainly on par with the other iconic items in the brand’s haircare range. I didn’t quite achieve the waves I was initially hoping for, but I think after a few more practice runs I should be there."
3. Kent Brushes Volumising Bristle Nylon Mix Round Brush
Kent Brushes
Volumising 60mm Bristle Nylon Mix Round Brush
Specifications: Cons: Customer Review: "
Comes in 3 sizes
Soft nylon bristles
Crafted from beechwood
Rubber grip
Pros: Lightweight, high-quality brush, soft bristles are gentle on hair, helps to volumise, easy to hold and grip with rubber detailing on handle, gentle on fine hair
Our verdict: "I've had several hairstylists recommend Kent Brushes, and I can now vouch for their quality round brushes after trying this one myself," says beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden. "First of all, this brush is so lightweight (ideal if it takes a while to dry your hair, as this lessens the inevitable arm ache) and the soft nylon bristles deliver just enough tension to capture the hair without snagging or tugging. However, if you have very thick or heavy hair, you may find you'll get on better with firmer ceramic or nylon bristles to help style your hair. But if you want a soft round brush that is gentle on fine hair, this is a great one to go for.
"I'm a little cack-handed when it comes to using round brushes, but this was easy to use thanks to the rubber grips on the handle, and the slight give in the soft bristles means it's easier to twirl through your lengths without getting tangled. I currently have very long hair with long layers, so while I can't get a really super bouncy finish, this did add great shine and volume through my lengths. I think this is a great high-quality brush for the price."
4. Moroccanoil Ceramic Round Brush
(Image credit: @georgeseago for Who What Wear UK)
Moroccanoil
Ceramic Round Brush
Specifications: Cons: Customer Review:
Comes in 3 sizes
Ceramic barrel
Ion technology
Includes sectioning tip in handle of the brush
Pros: Lightweight, easy to use, bristles glide through hair effortlessly, includes sectioning tip in handle of the brush to help your hair
Our verdict: "I’ve been trying to perfect the art of a DIY blowdry for years, and one thing I’ve learnt is just how important a good round brush is," says copy editor, Georgia Seago.
"The first thing I’d say about the Moroccanoil brush I tried is that the 35mm was too small for my hair length and thickness; the 45 or 55mm would have been better, and this is why my 'after' isn’t all that smooth, because I would have been there for ages drying tiny sections. That being said, I was still pretty impressed. I’m used to brushes with much softer bristles but I found these ceramic ones actually glided through my hair more easily without causing any tangles and left my hair nice and smooth.
"The brush is super lightweight and easy to grip—two things I really appreciate as someone with a lot of hair to get through. I also love the handy hidden sectioning tip stored in the handle, but again, I could do with it being a little longer to get through my hair."
5. Christophe Robin Pre-Curved Blowdry Hairbrush
(Image credit: @maxineggenberger for Who What Wear UK)
Christophe Robin
Pre-Curved Blowdry Hairbrush
Specifications: Cons: Customer Review:
1 size
Boar bristles
Rubber handle
Pros: Sleek design, boar bristles are gentle on hair, adds shine and bounce
Our verdict: "I was especially intrigued to try the Christophe Robin round brush as the brand is widely known for its luxurious haircare tools," says Eggenberger. "Straight out of the box, it felt premium—the wooden handle and combination of bristles give it a high-quality edge over some plastic alternatives I’ve used before.
"Using it on my own hair, which is thick and now mid-length, was a mixed experience. While the brush was light and easy to manoeuvre, I struggled to get the level of grip I need to create that perfect, long-lasting bounce. My hair often slipped out mid-styling, which meant I couldn’t quite achieve the polished blowout I was hoping for. That said, my mum—who has shorter, thinner hair—absolutely loved it. She found the bristles gave just the right amount of hold and lift, and her style stayed put all day after she used it. Overall, I’d say this is an excellent choice for finer hair types. If you’ve got thicker hair, though, it might not provide the control you need for a flawless finish."
Shop More Hairstylist-Approved Round Brushes:
Ergo
ER25 Ionic Ceramic Round Brush
"When round-brushing short hair, I prefer the Ergo ER25 Ionic Ceramic Round Brush. It's small enough to gather the hair and turn even at its short length. I also enjoy using the Ergo Mini Ionic Polishing Paddle Brush and creating lift and movement using the round of the head. When you want to give short hair a lived in feel, this round brush is small and able to fit into the short length of the hair." —Wiley
Hershesons
The Pro Blow Dry Brush
For longer-length hair, Wiley recommends a larger barrel brush (around 3.5-inches or more) to help give bounce and better control when styling long or thick hair. Hersheson's large round brush seamlessly gathers hair without tugging to create bounce and volume even on heavier hair lengths and textures.
Olivia Garden
Ceramic + Ion Thermal Hairbrush
Olivia Garden's Thermal Hairbrush comes in a variety of sizes to suit any hair type. It features a vented ceramic barrel for faster and more consistent styling while the larger holes maximize air flow. Tourmaline ion technology also hydrates the hair cuticle.
Wet Brush
Volume & Body Round Brush
The unique concave and heat-resistant bristles on this brush are designed for thick, coarse, and curly hair types. The design helps to gently detangle the hair while blow-drying and leaves strands extra shiny and smooth with reduced frizz.
This Conair brush comes in both a large and small size with metal barrels that retain heat longer. This helps the hair dry faster, adds body, and natural-looking waves to the hair. It even helps smooth and straighten corse curly or wavy hair.
Revlon
One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumiser
This fan-favorite one-step dryer from Revlon is a hair dryer and round brush in one. This hot brush is a great option for finer hair types, medium- to long-length, and wavy hair. I wouldn't recommend it for coarse, thick, curly hair types, though. Take it from someone who has that hair type and tried it. It was a no from me.
Bio Ionic
GrapheneMX Boar Styling Brush
Bio Ionic's styling brush is infused with a proprietary complex of natural minerals and graphene to deliver faster drying results and extra moisture to the hair. It's a great option for brittle, damaged, or thinning hair since the natural minerals in the brush penetrate the hair shaft for extra conditioning.
Drybar
Double Pint Large Round Ceramic Brush
NanoIonic technology in the barrel and bristles of this Drybar brush reduce frizz and add extra shine to medium-length or long hair. It's super lightweight, locks in curl and volume, and the vents on it allow air to flow freely, decreasing dry time. Plus, the extra large barrel size makes it ideal for styling very long hair lengths.
F3 Systems
Magic Curling Thermal Brush
Another great option is this ceramic-coated brush from F3. Its heat conduction plate delivers heat more evenly to the hair and the barrel size is ideal for creating bouncy curls and even works on shorter lengths.
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