Our shopping editors have tested some of the best hair styling tools available, including curling irons, straighteners, hair dryers, and blowout brushes. Most of the time, you’ll find us plugged in (pun intended) to the latest and greatest hair tools that speed up our routines, don’t burn our strands, and keep our flyway and frizz at bay.
Below, we tapped Glamour editors and testers, plus hairstylists, to share the top hair styling tools. Our top pick is the T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit, because, well, you can do just about everything with it (create beachy waves, style a sleek blowout, or add volume with the dryer brush). Plus, it’s safe for all hair types and textures thanks to its easy-to-control heat settings. But we also found an affordable blow-dry brush and a travel diffuser that’ll keep your curls bouncy and can pack into a small bag.
The best hair styling tools at a glance
How we picked the best hair styling tools
What should you look for in a hair styling tool?
“When choosing a hair styling tool, it’s important to consider both your hair type and the technology in the tool,” says Heba Maksad, a hairstylist and founder of Vollie, a line of hair care products. “For thicker, coarse, or frizzy hair, ionic technology helps to smooth hair and control volume by reducing frizz and speeding up drying.”
Ceramic technology, on the other hand, is best for fine to medium hair, while tourmaline ceramic works best for curly or coarse hair, because it won’t strip the hair of moisture. Titanium-clad tools are also better for thick hair because the metal heats up quickly and evenly, but is often too intense for fine hair. And if you have damaged or dry hair, Maksad recommends using infrared technology because it offers gentle heat that helps protect and lock in moisture. “Steam technology is great for adding moisture and shine to dry or brittle hair,” she says.
How we tested hair styling tools
We tested hair styling tools of all shapes, sizes, and technologies, and chose the ones that worked quickly, didn’t burn our strands, and gave us long-lasting results. The hot tools that made the cut had multiple speed and heat settings, and were able to cut down our typical styling routine by 20 to 30 minutes. We also chose ones based on whether they could style all hair types and textures, and relied on those that kept our hair frizz-free and smooth without compromising body and volume.
Best Overall: T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit
Original photo from Jen Calle testing T3 Aire 360 Multi-Styler & Blowout System
Original photo from Jen Calle testing T3 Aire 360 Multi-Styler & Blowout System
Original photo from Jen Calle testing T3 Aire 360 Multi-Styler & Blowout System
This air styler kit is a favorite among Glamour editors because you can do so much with it. It comes with two curling wand attachments, an oval brush, and a drying concentrator to help you perfect all types of hair looks, from curls to waves and even blown-out straight tresses.
“I don’t air-dry my hair anymore after discovering the T3 Aire 360 because it’s so much easier to use and leaves my hair looking so smooth and silky. Before I used this dryer brush, there were always damp spots that didn’t dry simply because I ran out of time when styling or because it would take multiple passes over and over to try to get each section completely dry. But not with this one. After drying, my hair is super silky soft and not staticky in the slightest, ” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary.
Glamour’s senior commerce editor, Jenifer Calle, is also a huge fan and says she likes to use it when she has to rush out the door. “I have thick, coarse hair, so curling it takes forever, which is why this tool is perfect for quick and easy styling. And the curls last. The next day I wake up with wavy strands.”
Best Multistyler for Long Hair: Shark HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
Original video by Glamour reviewer Alanna Martine Kilkeary using Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
If you have long hair that takes some time to dry or curl, let us point you to this air-styling hair tool that will cut down your routine. It has five attachments including a paddle brush, round brush and two directional curling wands which allow you to customize your look every time.
“I love using this before a big event when I want my hair to look voluminous and wavy all night long. It gives me a really nice swooping effect that lasts, and it also takes only about 30 minutes to style and dry my whole head. The longer barrel and handle make it easy to maneuver, too, which is perfect if you have long hair that goes below your shoulders. It’s also quite gentle and never gets overly hot,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best Multistyler for Fine Hair: Dyson Airwrap Multistyler Complete Long
Original video by Glamour contributor Danielle Sinay using the Dyson Airwrap
Original image by Glamour contributor Danielle Sinay
Original image by Glamour contributor Danielle Sinay
Chances are you’ve heard us sing the praises of this Dyson hair tool before, so you shouldn’t see this pick as a surprise. But as it turns out, its a favorite of hairstylists, including Rogerio Cavalcante, a master stylist and owner of The Second Floor Salon in NYC. “I really like the Dyson Airwrap for people with straight or slightly wavy hair—the round brush attachment is my favorite for creating that bouncy blowout look,” he says.
“Not to be dramatic, but my life changed when I tried the first-generation Dyson Airwrap,” says Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour’s senior beauty editor, who has straight, thick hair. “At the time I had just gotten curtain bangs, and the interchangeable attachments made it so easy to switch according to my styling needs, delivering salon-level smoothness and blowouts in less than half the time.”
Glamour contributor Danielle Sinay, who has wavy fine hair says her friends think she gets regular blowouts thanks to this Dyson multistyler. “That’s also how I’ve been able to justify the price—it’s saved me so much money in hair styling and blowout fees, it’s really an investment. It works just as well on short and long hair as it does with extensions (I’ve used it with all three).”
Best Multistyler for Frizzy Hair: BaBylissPro Nano Titanium StyleSwitch Ionic Multistyler & Hair Dryer
Courtesy of Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium StyleSwitch Ionic Multi-Styler & Hair Dryer
Courtesy of Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium StyleSwitch Ionic Multi-Styler & Hair Dryer
This hair dryer does it all, whether you’re looking to get a blow-out finish, soft curls, or waves. It comes with two brushes, a smoother, a diffuser, and a dryer attachment, making it perfect for all hair types and textures.
“This dryer is extremely user-friendly, and there are a ton of fan settings, so you can really customize whether you want a fast drying sesh or to take your time with creating classic, blown-out waves. I used the round brush attachment on my long hair and found that it dried it quickly (about 20 minutes in total), and I love how glossy my strands looked after the fact. Something it did that I didn’t expect: It completely killed my frizz! My hair was soft and velvety, and had little flyaways compared with my usual frizz-ridden look. I’d highly recommend this one if drying your hair makes your hair frizzy. I was thoroughly impressed,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best Diffuser and Dryer Combo: Curlsmith De-Frizzion Travel Dryer
Original image by Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs
Original image by Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs
Original image by Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs
This diffuser is also one of the best travel hair dryers we’ve tried. It has three heat settings and comes with three attachments, including a diffuser nozzle, a concentrator nozzle, and a detangling comb to give you separated, silky curls. “I don’t typically travel with a dryer, as most of them are so bulky and heavy. This is always irritating, since I have curly or wavy hair. A hotel’s dryer, which always lacks any sort of diffuser, is never the answer, and air-drying leaves my hair frizzy—an inevitability I accept when I go on trips,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs. “The Curlsmith was a nice surprise—it folds! And it’s so lightweight (a little over a pound). It has your standard dryer settings (three levels of heat and three levels of air intensity) and comes with a large bowl-shaped diffuser with claw-like teeth. I imagine this is really nice if you have a heavy mass of curls to cradle in its head. I liked that at its highest setting, the dryer never got super hot and burned my scalp. For my curly girls, the Curlsmith is a great option if you’re on the go (perfect for tossing in a gym bag, especially with its accompanying velvet travel bag). Its lightness, the foldable body, and the sizable diffuser are winning features, as are the results.”
Best Flatiron Styler: GHD Chronos Styler 1-Inch Flatiron
Original video by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
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Original image by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
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Original image by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
Cavalcante is also a fan of this 1-inch flatiron for straightening and curling your hair because “it gives a nice, sleek finish.”
“In tests we found that GHD’s Chronos Styler heated very quickly, plus it emits a satisfying ping to alert you that it’s ready to use. We also appreciate the 10-minute auto shutoff, which is much faster than all of the other products we evaluated—a nice safety feature. I did, however, successfully execute a sleek, straight style with plenty of shine and the type of rounded ends you might get from a blowout,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley.
Best Blow-Dryer Brush: Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer
Original video by Glamour contributor Sarah Cassuto
Original photo by Glamour contributor Sarah Cassuto
Original photo by Glamour contributor Sarah Cassuto
Blow-dry brushes are a secret weapon to drying hair fast and efficiently for a smooth, frizz-free finish. Take it from Glamour contributor Danielle Sinay, who swears that this brush has cut her drying time in half. “If you’re looking for something that dries hair within minutes, delivers maximum volume, and can seamlessly create the perfect bouncy blowout on a budget, you really can’t go wrong with this one,” she says. It is important to note that this pick is best for finer hair types because it would need more passes to fully dry really thick strands. For under $40, though, it’s one to not sleep on.
Best Styler for Curly Hair: T3 Lucea 1-Inch Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
Original video from Tanisha Cherry testing T3 Lucea Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
Original photo from Tanisha Cherry testing T3 Lucea Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
Original photo from Tanisha Cherry testing T3 Lucea Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
If you have coarse or curly hair and are looking to straighten it, we love this 1-inch iron that is gentle on hair and won’t cause damage, thanks to its ceramic plates and nine heat settings. “I’ve been using this pick for my silk presses for five years now, and she delivers every single time. With natural type-4 curls, I’m super picky about my heat tools. I want that bone-straight finish without compromising my curls. Depending on how well my blow-dry turns out, I don’t always need high heat, and that’s where this flatiron shines. It heats up fast and has nine adjustable heat settings, which gives me total control. I only use it on freshly washed and blow-dried hair when I’m going for a silk press, so about two to three times a month, and it never disappoints,” says Glamour contributor Tanisha Cherry.
Your hair styling tool questions, answered
How to get a salon-worthy blowout at home
In order to get a salon-worthy blowout at home, Maksad recommends keeping a few methodologies in mind. “First, start by dividing your hair into four sections, then work through each one in smaller pieces. This way makes styling much more manageable,” she says. Next, it’s important to focus the airflow only on the piece you’re working on, especially if you’re using a dryer or multistyler that has a vacuum. “This doesn’t mean pressing a hair dryer nozzle to your strands; it just means that you should direct the air precisely,” she says. Finally, as you blow-dry or style, make sure you’re using a brush (or brush attachment) to smooth the ends. “Switch the dryer or tool off, and hold the ends on a brush to cool before letting it go. That’s the secret to soft, polished ends,” she says.
How can you ensure your hair styling tool is not damaging your hair?
According to Cavalcante, there are a few things you can do to ensure that a hair tool is not damaging your hair. “First, always use heat protectant, even on dry hair if you’re just doing some touch-ups,” he says. Next, limit your direct-heat tools (like curling irons and straighteners) to twice a week, max. “Airwraps and blow-dryers are gentler, but you should avoid holding them in the same spot for more than 30 seconds,” he notes. He notes that if you do straighten your hair every day, you might want to consider a more permanent option like a Brazilian blowout or keratin treatment to achieve your desired look without damage. “Finally, keep up with regular trims, use repairing treatments, and give your hair breaks whenever you can!”