Has your fresh haircut ever gone from 50s starlet vibes to wet-dog limpness? Is the air in the salon different from the one you have at home? Are the curling wands secretly magic? Well you don’t need a fairy godmother to recreate that salon blowout that adds life to fine short hair. All it takes is a hair dryer, a little upper arm strength, and the perfect round brush.
While a paddle brush can be great for smoothing and detangling, a rounded brush gives your hair a curl that’s not so tight or obviously manipulated by a curling iron. If you’re not the type to use heating tools like a flat iron or curling wand, using a round brush and hair dryer styles your hair without the risk or expertise usually required.
But not all round brushes are created equal. For people with fine and short hair, a brush below 4 inches in diameter will suffice. While a wider brush is ideal for thicker hair, fine hair pairs well with fewer bristles that can grip hair without pulling off delicate strands.
Aside from the size, a round brush can also vary in composition. Boar bristles are the most commonly heard name in the world of round brushes and they certainly have earned their fame. But they aren’t the only option and certain materials, like a combination of boar and nylon, can do wonders for blowouts. On the other hand, you’ll probably still need a brush with plastic bristles to untangle wet hair.
With that said, here are our picks for round brushes that will help your thin hair achieve sky-high volume.
#1 Diane Small Thermal Hair Brush for Blow Drying Curly Hair, Mini Round Wood Brush, 3/8″
Despite the name of the Small Thermal Hair Brush for Blow Drying Curly Hair by Dian, its narrow diameter can be perfect for girls Internet hair guru Brad Modo favors this type of brush for blowouts because they’re easy to use and the ability of the ceramic body to heat up while being blow-dried, which helps add the volume need to achieve nice airy waves. This 3/8” model from Diane is perfect for those who find it hard to wrap their short hair around chunky brushes, and medium-length hair for when you want to create lots of thin curls. The stiletto tip of the brush also doubles as a hair-sectioning tool.
#2 Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion Thermal Brush $18.95
This round brush from Olivia Garden is popular among women with fine hair and for good reasons! The ceramic coated barrel heats up faster and retains heat longer than most brushes, which means for faster styling. The larger holes manage the airflow to make sure hair dries quickly and evenly. It’s also available in 8 sizes so it can be enjoyed by different hair types.
The tourmaline ion claims to hydrate the cuticle, give hair some shine, eliminate frizz and flyaways with its anti-static technology, and have soft bristles that are gentle on the scalp. As with other brushes mentioned in this list, this brush is equipped with an unique handle and retractable sectioning pick.
One reviewer commends the brush, saying “this is a salon type styling brush that I discovered from my hairstylist and searched for online. I loved the fact that the bristles did NOT tangle my fine textured hair when I rolled the brush thru as I blew my hair dry. I also loved the volume that the medium size brush gave me and how fast I was able to style my hair with this brush due to the ion metal component of the brush.” But she did warn that the tip of the brush is also metal so users should refrain from accidentally putting the tip of the brush on the body while it is heated up.
#3 Fagaci Small Round Brush for Blow Drying with Natural Boar Bristle, Round Brush $16.97
This Fagaci round brush combines the heating powers of a ceramic brush with the convenience of natural boar bristles mixed with nylon bristles to give you that volume and lift. Did we mention that they cut the boar bristles from live animals, so you can style your hair guilt-free? They even throw in a quartet of hair clips to keep curls in place while they cool.
This all-around brush promotes healthy and shiny hair by redistributing the sebum in the scalp to the tips of the strand. Its mix of nylon and boar bristle give you the healthy look of the natural bristle while serving the untangling powers of a synthetic bristle. A five-star reviewer raved about bristles by saying that “The bristles have enough grip to allow you to properly work with your section of hair, but move smoothly through your hair without tugging or tangling your locks.” The negative ions emitted from the ceramic cylinder protect the cuticles. The brush also features a retractable splitting needle that makes it easier to section hair while blow drying. The brush’s rubber handle makes it easier to grip which can be useful when you’re holding a hefty blow dryer in the other hand.
#4 Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer. $59.99
If at-home blowouts tend to feel like arm workouts after a while, then you’ll love this wonder brush from Revlon that makes blowouts as easy as brushing your hair. This crowd-favorite, with four and a half stars and a whopping 47,464 reviews on Amazon) is built with vented holes that dispense hot air at two possible levels while you wrap your hair around the nylon bristles, allowing the air to circulate and thoroughly shape every strand.
The brush comes with a lot of features that make it easy to use. THe 6-feet swivel cord at the end allows for continuous styling without worrying about the brush entangling into itself. Its oval shape allows more lift at the roots and its ceramic technology reduces heat damage from daily use- all things you’d want to best care for your short hair. Though we should mention that due to the brush’s larger size, it’s best to use some product to aid short hair to be shaped around the brush.
#5 Osensia Professional Round Brush for Blow Drying 1.3”. $14.99
The Osensia Professional Round Brush for Blow Drying claims that its smaller brush gives the user maximum volume by gripping every section of hair and with the help of the section pin tip. The polished bristles also gently massage the scalp and prevent damage and breakage, while the wavy bristles help you style the most amount of hair with the least amount of effort.
The brand believes in their brush so much that if the brush doesn’t satisfy you, Osensia promises to give a full refund or replacement. But four and a half stars and 3,198 reviews, that doesn’t seem to be a common occurrence. One reviewer shares that “I have short layered hair and I love this brush! My hair is also fine, and using this brush gives me more fullness and “style”. I do not hesitate to recommend it.”
#6 Conair Mega Ceramic Hair Brush, Boar Bristle, Round, Small $7.99
If you’re looking for something that’s purely boar bristle, then Conair has got your back. This brush is made of a ceramic round brush body but is composed mainly of boar bristles to distribute the scalp’s natural oils. According to their Amazon page, the ceramic barrel retains heat to help encourage faster blow drying. Conair claims that the brush is suitable for all hair types and uses such as detangling wet hair or creating a blowout.
One customer writes “I have short, fine hair that I blow dry so I hoped this brush would not damage my hair and give it a lift. It does that in spades, really great quality little brush. I got rid of several plastic ones that I just don’t like; and I caught my husband ‘borrowing’ this one. I’m going to order him one of his own!” This brush is surely a treat for every mane!