June 11, 2025, 4:03 am | Read time: 8 minutes
The round brush is an essential styling tool found in nearly every bathroom. Whether for shine, volume, or waves, it’s so simple and versatile that it has become the foundation of most women’s personal hairstyling routines. But which one is right for you? STYLEBOOK has compiled the best round brushes for every hair type based on star ratings and the number of customer reviews on Amazon.
The round brush is a true styling all-rounder. Combined with warm blow-dryer air, it can create countless looks, from sleek and shiny to voluminous and wavy. Those with fine hair can achieve more fullness and volume with the right technique. Waves and curls almost form by themselves when you wrap individual sections tightly around the brush. Even frizz (frizzy, flyaway hair) is tamed by the styling.
Overview
- What Types of Round Brushes Are There?
- Classic Round Brush or Electric Blow-Dryer Brush?
- The Best Round Brushes for Every Hair Type
- Best Value: BESTOOL “Round Brush with Boar and Nylon Bristles”
- Best Round Brush for Fine Hair: Termix “Evolution Soft”
- Best Round Brush for Long Hair: Ghd “The Blow Dryer” Round Brush
- Best Round Brush for Short Hair: Marlies Möller “Medium Round Brush”
- Best Round Brush for Thick Hair: Olivia Garden “Round Brush with Ceramic Body”
- Best Electric Blow-Dryer Brush: Remington “Rotating Hot Air Brush with Multiple Attachments”
- How Do I Properly Clean My Round Brush?
- For Which Hair Type Is a Round Brush Less Suitable?
- What Are the Alternatives to a Round Brush?
- Why Heat Protection Is Always a Must
- What Happens If You Regularly Style Without Heat Protection?
What Types of Round Brushes Are There?
The selection of round brushes is enormous, making it difficult to choose the right one. Depending on hair texture, styling goals, and personal preference, different models may be suitable. Consider the type of bristles, the material of the brush, and the diameter when making your choice.
1. Types of Bristles
Natural Bristles: ideal for fine hair
Natural bristles, such as boar bristles, are considered particularly gentle on the hair. They distribute the natural oils from the scalp to the lengths, providing shine and a smooth finish. Ideal for fine, sensitive, or damaged hair.
Synthetic Bristles: ideal for thicker hair
Synthetic bristles, such as nylon, are more robust and often have small nubs at the ends that stimulate the scalp. They grip the hair more firmly and are optimal for thick or very straight hair.
2. Coating or Material of the Brush
Wood: ideal for sensitive hair Wooden brushes are sustainable, antistatic, comfortable to hold, and often combined with natural bristles. Since they do not retain heat, the styling is much gentler on the hair but often less intense, and the blow-drying time is slightly longer.
Plastic: ideal for fine hair
Plastic also does not retain heat and is therefore much gentler on the hair than ceramic or aluminum. Plastic brushes are particularly suitable for fine, sensitive, or colored hair that dries out or breaks easily.
Ceramic: ideal for unruly hair Ceramic brushes retain heat optimally, distribute it evenly, and speed up blow-drying. The smooth surface also reduces frizz and adds shine to the hair.
Aluminum: for strong hair Brushes with aluminum coating are lightweight and particularly suitable for quick styling, as their heat retention and conductivity are very efficient. However, for this reason, they can dry out the hair with frequent use. Pay special attention to using a styling product with heat protection to avoid unnecessary stress on the hair.
3. Diameter
Small brushes (about 25–35 mm) create defined curls and are ideal for short hair or bangs. Medium diameters (about 35–45 mm) are suitable for classic volume styling on medium-length hair, and large brushes (from 45 mm) add bounce to long hair and provide a smooth, professional blowout finish.
Classic Round Brush or Electric Blow-Dryer Brush?
The classic round brush requires practice, as handling the blow-dryer and brush simultaneously can initially be a bit cumbersome, but it is very precise. For more convenience, opt for the electric version. Electric blow-dryer brushes dry and style in one step and are ideal for quick, effortless styling with minimal effort.
Also interesting: Tips for Gentle Styling with a Flat Iron
The Best Round Brushes for Every Hair Type
Best Value: BESTOOL “Round Brush with Boar and Nylon Bristles”
The combination of natural bristles and nylon pins provides good grip and gentle care. It is suitable for all hair types, whether fine or strong, and adds shine and smoothness to the hair. The ergonomic handle is comfortable to hold and makes styling easy.
Type of Bristles: Boar bristles, nylon
Material of the Brush: Wood
Price: approx. €12
Best Round Brush for Fine Hair: Termix “Evolution Soft”
Ionized fibers control frizz, improve manageability, and prevent hair breakage. A diamond-shaped perforation increases airflow by 10%, reducing drying time by up to 30%. This not only saves time but also protects the hair. At the same time, the technology ensures long-lasting smoothness and radiant shine.
Type of Bristles: Nylon
Material of the Brush: Plastic
Price: approx. €12
Best Round Brush for Long Hair: Ghd “The Blow Dryer” Round Brush
This round brush is ideal for voluminous blow-dry styles on long hair. Its hollow brush head with a ceramic coating ensures even heat distribution. Specially arranged bristles provide optimal grip and control when styling. For more volume, the brush is pulled upwards; for less volume, it is guided downwards.
Type of Bristles: Nylon
Material of the Brush: Ceramic
Price: approx. €23
Best Round Brush for Short Hair: Marlies Möller “Medium Round Brush”
With its size, this brush is perfect for shorter or medium-length hair. The high-quality natural bristles glide gently through the hair, while the sturdy beechwood body is comfortable to hold. Especially suitable for building volume at the roots and styling short sections.
Type of Bristles: Natural hair, nylon
Material of the Brush: Beechwood
Price: approx. €20
Best Round Brush for Thick Hair: Olivia Garden “Round Brush with Ceramic Body”
This brush is specifically designed for strong hair: The robust bristles reliably grip even thick strands, while the ceramic body efficiently retains and evenly distributes heat. Styling is quick and easy, and the non-slip handle makes it easy to use even on voluminous hair.
Type of Bristles: Nylon
Material of the Brush: Ceramic
Price: approx. €20
Best Electric Blow-Dryer Brush: Remington “Rotating Hot Air Brush with Multiple Attachments”
An all-in-one device with a rotating function, multiple attachments, and variable temperature control. The combination of blow-dryer and styling brush allows you to dry and shape your hair in one easy step. Particularly practical: The three interchangeable attachments adapt to different hair lengths and styles. The ceramic coating is enriched with keratin and almond oil, ensuring smooth, shiny, and healthy-looking hair.
Components: 40 mm and 50 mm round brush attachment, 2 hair clips, 1 root booster
Type of Bristles: Plastic
Material of the Brush: Ceramic
Price: approx. €49
How Do I Properly Clean My Round Brush?
Ideally, remove the hair from the brush after each use. Every two weeks, it should also be thoroughly cleaned. Soak the brush in lukewarm water with a bit of shampoo and clean between the bristles with an old toothbrush, for example. Then let it dry thoroughly.
For Which Hair Type Is a Round Brush Less Suitable?
Heat styling with a round brush is not good for very damaged or extremely dry hair and promotes hair breakage. If you still don’t want to give it up, make sure to strengthen the hair with a rich treatment beforehand, apply strong heat protection, and use low temperatures when styling. Very curly hair can also be more difficult to manage with a round brush. In this case, a flat iron is often the better alternative.
What Are the Alternatives to a Round Brush?
Hair rollers are a gentle alternative if you want to avoid heat. Especially volume rollers with Velcro are easy to use and work overnight or while applying makeup. However, the result is less precise than styling with a round brush. Flat irons and curling irons offer precise styling but often work with higher temperatures and are therefore more damaging to your hair.
Also interesting: Finding the Right Curling Iron – from Coating to Shape
Why Heat Protection Is Always a Must
A good heat protectant acts like an invisible shield around each hair, sealing the surface and significantly reducing moisture loss. This keeps the hair healthy, shiny, and resilient, even with daily styling using a blow-dryer and round brush. Although the brush itself does not generate heat like a flat iron or curling iron, it is always used in combination with a blow-dryer. Hot air streams directly onto the hair, which is also held taut by the brush and pulled over its surface. Round brushes with a ceramic or aluminum core, in particular, store the heat from the blow-dryer to make styling more efficient. This stored heat is additionally transferred to the hair during blow-drying.
Dua Lipa Debuts New Spock-Style Haircut
When Should You Stop Taking the Pill if You Want to Conceive?
What Really Helps With Insomnia During Menopause?
What Happens If You Regularly Style Without Heat Protection?
Regularly styling with a round brush without heat protection risks visible and tangible hair damage. The outer cuticle layer of the hair can become rough, causing loss of shine and smoothness, and the hair can dry out faster, appear dull, and be prone to split ends or even breakage. Especially the ends, which are exposed to heat the longest, suffer from the constant stress. Additionally, the hair becomes more susceptible to frizz and loses elasticity, making it harder to style and look less well-groomed overall.